The Quality and Sustainability Paper is a practice immersion assignment designed to be completed in three sections. This is part three of the assignment. Learners are required to provide a theoretical framework that supports the design and implementation of their evidence-based quality and/or safety program and discuss expected outcomes.

General Guidelines:

Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:

• This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
• Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
• This assignment requires that you support your position by referencing at least six to eight scholarly resources. At least three of your supporting references must be from scholarly sources other than the assigned readings.
• You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Directions:

Write a 2,000-2,500 word paper that provides the following:

1. Identify a quality, change, or safety theory you will use to support the implementation of your quality and/or safety program. Provide evidence that supports the use of this theory within the program you designed.
2. Provide the design of your evidenced-based quality and/or safety program that can be implemented to improve quality or safety outcomes in your identified entity.
3. Discuss expected outcomes of your implementation and how to ensure their sustainability.

Support your position by referencing at least five to six to eight scholarly resources. At least three of your supporting references must be from scholarly sources other than the assigned readings.

Portfolio Practice Hours:

Practice immersion assignments are based on your current course objectives, and are intended to be application-based learning using your real-world practice setting. These assignments earn practice immersion hours, and are indicated in the assignment by a Portfolio Practice Hours statement which reminds you, the student, to enter in a corresponding case log in Typhon. Actual clock hours are entered, but the average hours associated with each practice immersion assignment is 10.

You are required to complete your assignment using real-world application. Real-world application requires the use of evidence-based data, contemporary theories, and concepts presented in the course. The culmination of your assignment must present a viable application in a current practice setting. For more information on parameters for practice immersion hours, please refer to the DNP resources in the DC Network.

To earn portfolio practice hours, enter the following after the references section of your paper:

Practice Hours Completion Statement DNP-835

I, (INSERT NAME), verify that I have completed (NUMBER OF) clock hours in association with the goals and objectives for this assignment. I have also tracked said practice hours in the Typhon Student Tracking System for verification purposes and will be sure that all approvals are in place from my faculty and practice mentor.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Quality Change Theory in Healthcare: Implementation and Evaluation

Introduction

Quality change theory (QCT) is a widely used framework for understanding and improving quality in healthcare. In this blog post, we will explore QCT and its implications for healthcare quality improvement. We will also discuss how QCT can be implemented and evaluated in order to maximize its impact. 

The Model for Improvement

The Model for Improvement is a three-stage process that helps organizations systematically identify and test changes that will lead to improved outcomes. The Model for Improvement has been used extensively in healthcare to help organizations improve a variety of patient care processes.

The three stages of the Model for Improvement are: 1) identify the problem or opportunity to be addressed; 2) develop and test a change or intervention; and 3) implement the change or intervention on a larger scale.

The Model for Improvement is a flexible framework that can be adapted to specific circumstances. It is often used in conjunction with other quality improvement tools, such as process mapping and root cause analysis.

The PDSA Cycle

The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle is a tool that can be used to test a change in healthcare. It is also known as the Deming cycle or Shewhart cycle. The PDSA cycle has four steps: plan, do, study, and act.

1. Plan: The first step is to develop a plan for testing the change. This includes identifying the problem or opportunity, developing measurable goals, and selecting a change strategy.
2. Do: The second step is to implement the change on a small scale to see if it works as intended.
3. Study: The third step is to collect data and analyze it to see if the change resulted in improvements.
4. Act: The fourth step is to decide whether to continue using the new practice or return to the original way of doing things based on the results of the study.

Implementing Quality Change in Healthcare

There are many ways to implement quality change in healthcare. One approach is to use a quality improvement (QI) team. This team should be composed of representatives from all levels of the organization, including front-line staff, middle management, and executive leadership. The team should also include representatives from different disciplines, such as nursing, medicine, and administration.

The QI team should meet regularly to discuss progress and identify areas where further improvement is needed. They should also develop quality improvement plans that outline specific actions that need to be taken to improve care. These plans should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

Another key component of implementing quality change is education and training. All staff members should be educated on the importance of quality improvement and the role they can play in making changes. they should also be trained on how to use quality improvement tools and techniques.

Finally, it is important to have a system in place to track progress and measure results. This will help ensure that improvements are being made and that goals are being met. It will also provide data that can be used to make future changes.

Evaluating the Impact of Quality Change in Healthcare

When it comes to quality change in healthcare, it is important to evaluate the impact of the changes being made. This can help to ensure that the changes are having the desired effect and that any problems are identified and addressed early on.

There are a number of ways to evaluate the impact of quality change in healthcare. One approach is to look at clinical outcomes, such as mortality rates or infection rates. Another option is to survey patients and staff to get their feedback on the changes.

It is also important to consider costs when evaluating the impact of quality change in healthcare. For example, if a new treatment process is introduced, you will need to look at how much it costs to implement and whether it results in any savings down the line.

Finally, it is also worth considering the social impact of quality change in healthcare. For instance, if a new policy is introduced that affects how staff treat patients, you will need to think about how this might affect morale and patient satisfaction levels.

Conclusion

Quality change theory provides a framework for healthcare organizations to systematically assess, plan, and implement quality improvements. This process should be ongoing and involve all members of the healthcare team. Evaluation is essential to determine if the changes made are having the desired effect and whether further changes are needed. By using quality change theory, healthcare organizations can continually strive to provide the best possible care for their patients.