Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals Order Instructions: You volunteer with a nonprofit organization that works to connect low income populations with health care resources.
The volunteer coordinator expressed an interest in determining how quality improvement was incorporated at each site.
Research five regional Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and federally qualified health centers. In an essay of 850-1,000 words, summarize your findings for each hospital or health center in regards to current quality improvement measures. Focus on continuous quality improvement and the benefits these have for the populations receiving care.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
1
Unsatisfactory
0.00%
2
Less than Satisfactory
65.00%
3
Satisfactory
75.00%
4
Good
85.00%
5
Excellent
100.00%
80.0 %Content
80.0 % Paper on Veteran Affairs Hospitals and Federally Qualified Health Centers
Paper does not demonstrate an understanding of the assignment. Paper does not include number of references as specified in the assignment. Paper does not demonstrate critical thinking and analysis of the references listed.
Paper demonstrates minimal understanding of the assignment. Paper does not include the number of references as specified in the assignment. Paper demonstrates minimal abilities for critical thinking and analysis of the references listed.
Paper demonstrates knowledge of concept of the assignment, but has some slight misunderstanding of what to include. Paper includes the number of references as specified in the assignment. Paper provides a basic idea of critical thinking and analysis of the references listed.
Paper demonstrates acceptable knowledge of the concept of the assignment. Paper includes the number of references as specified in the assignment. Paper develops an acceptable response and rationale for the references listed.
Paper demonstrates thorough knowledge of the assignment. Paper thoroughly develops an understanding of the references as specified in the assignment. Paper clearly develops a very strong rationale for the references listed.
10.0 %Organization and Effectiveness
5.0 % Paragraph Development and Transitions
Paragraphs and transitions consistently lack unity and coherence. No apparent connections between paragraphs are established. Transitions are inappropriate to purpose and scope. Organization is disjointed.
Some paragraphs and transitions may lack logical progression of ideas, unity, coherence, and/or cohesiveness. Some degree of organization is evident.
Paragraphs are generally competent, but ideas may show some inconsistency in organization and/or in their relationships to each other.
A logical progression of ideas between paragraphs is apparent. Paragraphs exhibit a unity, coherence, and cohesiveness. Topic sentences and concluding remarks are appropriate to purpose.
There is a sophisticated construction of paragraphs and transitions. Ideas progress and relate to each other. Paragraph and transition construction guide the reader. Paragraph structure is seamless.
5.0 % Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice and/or sentence construction are used.
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence structure, and/or word choice are present.
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are used.
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used.
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
10.0 %Format
5.0 % Paper Format (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
Template is not used appropriately, or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.
Appropriate template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken. A lack of control with formatting is apparent.
Appropriate template is used. Formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.
Appropriate template is fully used. There are virtually no errors in formatting style.
All format elements are correct.
5.0 % Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
Sources are not documented.
Documentation of sources is inconsistent and/or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
100 % Total Weightage
Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals Sample Answer
FEDERAL HEALTHCARE
Introduction
In the past one decade there has been rapid expansion of medical knowledge and technology. However, some of healthcare facilities continue to perform poorly in areas that address patient needs and patient safety. The Institute of Medicine publication To Err is Human highlights the increasing public demand for quality improvement in healthcare facilities. For instance, it has been estimated that medical errors in the USA caused approximately 44,000 to 98,000 deaths annually. This indicates the importance to create reliable as well as sustainable healthcare improvements (Pittsburg VA, 2013) . This paper explores 5 regional Veterans Affair (VA) hospitals and federal healthcare centers Pennsylvania in regards to continuous quality measures being integrated in these healthcare facilities and the benefits of these improvements to the populations receiving these care.
VA Pittsburg Healthcare system, Highland Drive Division and Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals
This VA healthcare facility has implemented several measures to improve quality of care. For instance, the new staffing model and its total adherence for call center has enabled reduced waiting times from 50% to 5%. These efforts have also improved the appropriateness and efficiency and improved quality of care. The patients have praised the fewer busy schedules and shorter waiting time which have been improved by the new customer care service model. New primary clinics have also been opened at Heinz and University Drive campuses which have expanded delivery of cases including behavioral health and mental health emergencies (Pittsburg VA, 2013).
The primary care at VAPHS utilize Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) model with the aim of promoting patient centered care and life-long health as well as wellness leading to a timely access of individualized care. These customer services remind the patients of their upcoming appointments and additional vital clinical reminders. These measures have resulted in reduction in spent in healthcare facility by allowing more patient-physician quality interaction. This is associated with high levels of patient satisfactions, care quality, fewer readmissions and fewer hospital stays. The facility is also involved in a number of Geriatric Research Education, Simulation Center, and mental illness research in order to improve quality of care (Pittsburg VA, 2013).
Erie VA medical Center and Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals
Erie VA is committed to delivering quality care to patients as ever. The healthcare facility has put every measure to raise awareness on quality, safe and cost effective care to the veterans and their families. The primary care facility has revamped its care delivery process using Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT). Through these technological quality improvements, veterans and their relatives have more choices when it comes to where and how to receive their care through programmed primary care visits, Telehealth services and primary care services (Erie VA, 2011).
The healthcare facility utilized team based care, where teamlet (nurse, physician and technician) consistently provide comprehensive patient centered care. In addition, the utilization of PACT ensures continuity and coordination of care as well as patient satisfaction. An example of such includes integration of primary care and mental health which is aimed at improving patients emotional and physical needs are met in a seamless transition. Erie VA have stepped quality care further by completing the Specialty Care expansion which has provided additional specialty clinical services. Plans are underway to improve the facilities nutrition and food services, ambulatory surgery and behavioral health (Erie VA, 2011).
James E. Van Zandt VA Medical center and Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals
This VA healthcare facility has undergone significant changes in the last few years with patient centered goals. A patient-centered strategy ensures that the healthcare providers establish an effective partnership with patients and to focus on the whole person instead of focusing on a health condition or disease. The healthcare facility quality improvement approaches that will improve quality care including Patient Aligned Care Teams (PACT) and integration of new and innovative technologies that facilitate efficient prevention initiatives and health promotion (James E. Van Zandt VA, 2011).
The healthcare providers in this healthcare facility have been trained on PACT practices and principles. These quality improvement measures has led to reduced wait times, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced cost of care and reduction of medication errors. The healthcare facility is expanding on the existing telehealth services to cover for behavioral, Nursing Education, homeless clinics, dermatology and nursing education. The healthcare facility is also aligning their telehealth services. The employees are trained on ways to improve and prevent diseases (James E. Van Zandt VA, 2011).
Lebanon VA Medics for Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals
This healthcare facility provides quality and flexible quality care in for veterans and their relatives. Lebanon VA medical Center is one of the largest healthcare systems in the USA. The healthcare facility has integrated technology in its system which has improved communications between healthcare providers and service users. For instance, the use of information technology during delivery of care improves decision making process which in turn improves the efficiency and quality of care. Technology improves preventive diseases, frequency in screening, prescription and improved services such as computerized physician order entry (CPOE), which is associated with reduction in repeated procedures and tests, cost saving and less medication error (Lebanon VA,2014).
Integration of technology in this healthcare facility has also improved delivery of healthcare services such as proactive planning, post discharge follow-ups. The use of electronic records have improved patient satisfaction, patient-physician communication, reduction in waiting time and in comprehensive decision making processes. The main challenge in this healthcare facility is limited resource to cater for a large population of patients with dynamic needs. The healthcare facility is seeking new measures to eradicate this complication such as expanding the emergency department and surgical center and laboratory buildings in order to accommodate more patients and to avoid unnecessary delays (Lebanon VA, 2014).
Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals in Beaver County CBOC
Beaver County CBOC healthcare facility provides primary care health care services including physical exams, radiology, dietary, podiatry and laboratory services. The healthcare mission is to improve the community’s health status by delivering safe, cost effective and quality care. The leaders in this healthcare facility have committed to raise quality of care by sharing evidence based practice and committing to quality improvements as well as promoting transparency in healthcare so that each time patients seeks medical services, they obtain the highest standards of care as much as possible. For instance, the healthcare facility provides coordinated care so as to reduce hospitalization days. The efficiency of inpatient resource utilization is measured by the number of hospitalization days, costs of emergency department visits, control of ancillary services such as unnecessary imaging and laboratory testing. These quality improvement measures has led to reduced wait times, increased patient satisfaction, and reduced cost of care and reduction of medication errors (Beaver County Outpatient Clinic, 2013).
One of the most challenges in this healthcare facility is eradication of readmissions. However, the healthcare facility continues to work on strategies to prevent unplanned readmission within 30 days. This remains an issue of concern due to patient inherent characteristics such as difficulty in understanding discharge instructions, poor support from patient’s relatives and care givers, medication non adherence among other factors. The healthcare facilities have expanded their knowledge base to establish strong relationship with their patients, peers and leaders in the healthcare facilities so as to coordinate care. The healthcare facility can integrate care by combining primary care appointments with comprehensive patient education, follow up calls, post-discharge call backs in order to ensure efficient exchange of information between healthcare providers and the patients (Beaver County Outpatient Clinic, 2013).
Federal Healthcare and Veterans Affairs Hospitals References
Pittsburg VA. (2013). VAPHS continuously improving. Retrieved from http://www.pittsburgh.va.gov/news/docs/2013-annual-report.pdf
James E. Van Zandt VA. ( 2011). Caring for Veterans of all generations. Retrieved from http://www.altoona.va.gov/docs/2011AR.pdf
Erie VA. ( 2011). Annual Report to the Community. Retrieved from http://www.erie.va.gov/news/newsrelease/ErieFY10Report.pdf
Lebanon VA. (2014). Report to the community. Retrieved from http://www.lebanon.va.gov/public_affairs/2014AnnualReport.pdf
Beaver County Outpatient Clinic. (2013). Quality healthcare system. Retrieved from http://www.pittsburgh.va.gov/locations/beaver.asp
