The Importance of Positive Approaches to Assessing Healthcare Essay

Total Length: 1096 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 3

Page 1 of 4

Measuring Outcomes, Assessment and Research

When it comes to evaluating the effectiveness, efficiency, performance, efficacy and quality of a healthcare outcome, there are important components to focus on. There are several levels of "value," including business value, the value of an employee (whether it be a nurse, orderly, doctor, and other medical specialists), the value attached to the ability to learn new procedures and technologies in the healthcare field, and certainly the value of the customer.

Assessment and Measuring Tools vis-a-vis Healthcare Outcomes

However, there are other considerations to take into account when performing tasks related to evaluation (effectiveness, performance, et. al.). For example, in the Journal of Advanced Nursing the authors present data from the National Prevalence Measurement of Care Problems (LPZ is the acronym in Dutch), which is a study that looks into the " ... prevalence, prevention, treatment and quality indicators" of six basic care issues (Halfens, et al., 2013). Although the results have universal applications, this peer-reviewed research was conducted in Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland; and the six basic care issues are incontinence, malnutrition, ulcers, intertrigo (a skin disorder), falls and restraints (Halfens, e6). The data used in the LPZ is based on an annual comprehensive, standardized questionnaire taken at the patient level, the institutional level and by department.

The results of the LPZ research shows that the prevalence of "pressure ulcers" in Holland is higher in hospitals and lower in nursing homes in comparison with rates of prevalence in Austria and Switzerland (Halfens, e14). Also, incontinence shows up more often in Austrian hospitals and nursing homes than in Holland and Switzerland.

Stuck Writing Your "The Importance of Positive Approaches to Assessing Healthcare" Essay?

These studies indicate the differences in how "care problems" are addressed in different cultures, and they could become benchmarks in the implementation of international guidelines (Halfens, e16).

Meanwhile, a scholarly paper in Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine offers insights into how best to reduce errors when it comes to assessing the quality of methods used in laboratory studies. The reason this is important is that typically the assessment testing of lab results -- in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) -- has been " ... fraught with uncertainty" in spite of the ambitious work of lab technicians to minimize uncertainty (Topic, 2015). And while the methods used to assess and measure healthcare lab results are generally validated ahead of time by diagnostic companies, end-users must verify the methods "independently" -- especially when performance in labs has "worsened with time" (Topic, 1710). The best solution in terms accurate laboratory results is to focus on ensuring that "... blood collection systems fulfill specific requisites of quality, workability and efficiency" (Topic, 1716).

The Milbank Quarterly (Journal of Population Health and Health Policy) published research -- drawing data from three countries, England, the United States, and The Netherlands -- showing that patient-reported outcomes (PRO) can be used for more than improving patient-centered healthcare. In fact when PRO-is used in a way that involves….....

Show More ⇣


     Open the full completed essay and source list


OR

     Order a one-of-a-kind custom essay on this topic


sample essay writing service

Cite This Resource:

Latest APA Format (6th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Importance Of Positive Approaches To Assessing Healthcare" (2016, February 28) Retrieved May 13, 2024, from
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/importance-positive-approaches-assessing-2159069

Latest MLA Format (8th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Importance Of Positive Approaches To Assessing Healthcare" 28 February 2016. Web.13 May. 2024. <
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/importance-positive-approaches-assessing-2159069>

Latest Chicago Format (16th edition)

Copy Reference
"The Importance Of Positive Approaches To Assessing Healthcare", 28 February 2016, Accessed.13 May. 2024,
https://www.aceyourpaper.com/essays/importance-positive-approaches-assessing-2159069