Reference no: EM132610435

Assignment: Clinical Quality Assessment/Improvement

Select a diagnostic or procedural topic relevant to patient care that would be suitable for a quality assessment and improvement project.

Prepare a three- to four-page paper in which you:

1. Define the purpose or focus of the assessment process. (Ask: What are we trying to accomplish?)

2. Identify/develop at least four key indicators or parameters (performance measures) for the selected topic that provide data to support the purpose or focus of the assessment process. (Ask: What will tell us that a change is an improvement?) Use resources on this topic to help decide which indicators to use. Indicators may include, but are not limited to:

• Admission criteria/suggested population

• Continued-stay review criteria

• History of illness

• Lab values

• Symptomatology/indications for the disease or procedure

• Vital signs

• Medications

• Ongoing monitoring

• Length of stay

• Type of treatment

• Complications/management of care

• Comorbidities

• Management (for example, of therapy or education)

• Discharge planning

Your paper must:

• Be three- to four-pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages and charts and graphs) and formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

• Include references for a minimum of three scholarly sources published within the past three years, in addition to your textbook.

• Include a title page with the following:

• Title of paper

• Student's name

• Course name and number

• Instructor's name

• Date submitted

• Begin with an introductory paragraph that has a succinct thesis statement.

• Address the topic of the paper with critical thought.

• Include a conclusion that reaffirms your thesis.

• Include a separate reference page that is formatted according to APA style as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.