Quality Improvement Initiatives ( Create an executive summary along with and a strategic plan in SWOT Analysis Format)

Scenario

Assume the role of the chief operations strategist for a multi-specialty health care organization. You have determined that the organization could benefit from creating a workforce management strategy for the purpose of optimizing staffing levels. With worsening staffing shortages in critical areas such as nursing and primary care physicians, there is a concern that staffing shortages will result in higher labor costs across the healthcare spectrum. This could pose a significant challenge to the goal of balancing costs, quality, and access to care.

Instructions

Prepare an “executive summary and a strategic plan” regarding current evidence-based quality improvements and make recommendations to integrate evidence-based practices into the quality improvement initiatives. The summary should include the following information:

1. Differentiate between evidence-based practice and quality improvement processes.
2. Summarize common threats to quality and patient safety initiatives and the role of quality improvement processes that can neutralize these threats.
3. Develop a strategic plan based on a quality improvement model to address patient safety.

Rubric is attached and Notes are Attached for this assignment. 

Rubric below:

A – 4 – Mastery Detailed recommendations to integrate evidence-based practices into the quality improvement initiative with complete explanation of how it will improve initiative.

A – 4 – Mastery Comprehensive list of differences between evidence-based practice and quality improvement processes. Included multiple supporting rationales for each item on the list.

A – 4 – Mastery Clear and thorough summary of the common threats to quality and patient safety initiatives. Provided multiple supporting rationales for how quality improvement processes can neutralize these threats.

A – 4 – Mastery Clear and thorough summary of the common threats to quality and patient safety initiatives. Provided multiple supporting rationales for how quality improvement processes can neutralize these threats.

Who are you: Leader of the Assurance Think Tank “Quality 4 our system” in a healthcare system?

What are we preparing: 
Executive Summary including a Strategic Plan (In SWOT Analysis Format)*** (Criterion #4)

About: EB QI (Evidence-based quality improvements)

Ultimately making: Recommendations to integrate the EBP into the QII’s

Include:

1. Difference between EBP and QI processes (LIST)–What is the difference between evidence-based practices/processes and quality improvement processes? (Include MULTIPLE supporting rationales for EACH ITEM on the list) – You can use a CHART or FIGURE and insert as such and then explain the rest in paragraphs.

2. Threats (summarize threats) to BOTH:

a. a. Quality Initiatives

b. b. Patient Safety Initiatives

The role QI processes play in neutralizing those threats. (Multiple (3 or more) Supporting Rationales)

3. Recommendations to integrate the EBP into the QII’s (how will it improve the initiative)?

4.
Develop a WHOLE Strategic Plan based on ONE Quality improvement MODEL to address PATIENT SAFETY (Vision, Mission, Values, Goals/Objectives, SWOT analysis)

What is a strategic plan?

·
Analyze the current state of the organization or initiative. There are many tools out there to accomplish this; one of the most popular is a 

SWOT analysis

.

·
Determine where you want to go. What issues are a priority to be addressed? How do they align with the mission of the organization or initiative?

·
Set goals for the organization or initiative. What do you want to achieve, and over what period? 

·
Figure out who is accountable for reaching those goals. How are you going to achieve the goals? How much time and money needs to be allocated where to make this achievable?

A SWOT analysis is a tool used as a planning and brainstorming tool to organize information, identify issues, determine solutions, and suggest opportunities. It is used to determine how internal and external factors contribute to outcomes.

S  

Strengths: Factors likely to have a positive effect

W  

Weaknesses:  Factors likely to have a negative effect

O

Opportunities:  External factors that have not been previously considered and are likely to have a positive effect

T

Threats:  External factors likely to have a negative effect

How do I create a SWOT analysis?

You can start by asking yourself these questions:

Strengths

· ​What do we do well?  

· What are our strengths? 

· What do others see as our strengths?

· What resources do we have that we can use?

· What would the community say we are best at providing?

· Do we have strong name recognition?

· Do we have a stable workforce?

Weaknesses

· What do we need to improve?

· What areas are less strong?

· What would others see as our weaknesses?

· What other resources are needed?

· What currently causes us trouble in providing exceptional care?

Opportunities

· What opportunities are open to you?

· How can we turn our strengths into opportunities?

· How can we eliminate our weaknesses?

· What other resources can we access? 

· Who else can help us?

· What can we learn from others?

Threats

· What challenges/barriers are there

· How could our weaknesses become threats?

· Who could hinder us?

· What could make our goal unnecessary or unachievable?

How do I format a SWOT analysis?

The most common way to see a SWOT analysis presented is in a four-square model followed by an analysis of each section.

Strengths · List your strengths here · List your strengths here · List your strengths here · List your strengths here	Weaknesses · List your weaknesses here · List your weaknesses here · List your weaknesses here · List your weaknesses here
Opportunities · List your opportunities here · List your opportunities here · List your opportunities here · List your opportunities here	Threats · List your threats here · List your threats here · List your threats here · List your threats here