IDENTIFYING PRACTICE GAPS FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Discussion: Identifying Practice Gaps for Quality Improvement

Identification of practice gaps in healthcare organizations is essential for quality improvement. This is more so the case given that identification of gaps helps in assessing and examining the performance of an organization so as to identify differences between what should be happening and what is happening in practice. From the gap analysis, healthcare organizations are then able to come up with actions or projects that could be implemented so as to close the gaps and improve quality of care. Essentially, identifying gaps initiates the implementation of knowledge in practice (Kitson and Straus, 2010). There are various approaches which can be used to identify quality improvement practice gaps. For instance, there may be need to carry out a gap analysis at the hospital level. According to Kitson and Straus (2010), a needs assessment determines the nature and the size of the gap in practice and the desired behaviors and outcomes, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. Further, the authors suggest that the strategy used for the needs assessment is dependent upon the resources available, the type of data, and the purpose of the said assessment. For instance, to identify...

The said records would facilitate the process of capturing data on diagnostic tests and medications. Apart from chart audits, another tool that could be used to address the said gap happens to be the decision support tools. According to Buchbinder and Shanks (2016), decision support tools of literacy could be of great relevance on this front given that they help patients better understand certain crucial aspects of disease. The said decision support tools are generated from computers and can be used by patients at home to access their assessment (Buchbinder and Shanks, 2016). Other methods such as explanations, personal stories, and narratives could also be utilized so as to communicate cardiovascular risk…