Quality and Performance Indicators.

Posted: December 5th, 2022

Quality and Performance Indicators.

As nurse practitioners continue to expand their role in delivering health care, it is imperative for NPs to provide the data and evidence to demonstrate the impact of NP care on patient outcomes. There are several challenges that advanced practice nurses face to provide quality care and meet productivity goals of an organization. This week it is important to explore the connection of quality care and performance measures. Some questions to consider as we discuss this topic are: Quality and Performance Indicators.

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Why are quality measures important?
What is the difference between quality measures and performance indicators?
What performance measures are used for NP productivity?
Why are incentive plans used in clinical organizations?
To prepare:
Read the article, An Incentive Plan for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses: Impact on Provider and Organizational Outcomes, by Catherine A. Rhodes, Mavis Bechtle, and Molly McNett (2015)
Explore quality measures and identify at least one clinical performance measure, such as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Quality and Performance Indicators.
By Day 3
Post an explanation of the importance of quality measures using the clinical performance measure you identified as an example. Then, identify the performance measures used for NP productivity in Rhodes, Bechtle, and McNett (2015) article. Finally, share your opinion on incentive payment for care, including external motivators and at least one business model.

Significance of Quality Measures

APNs have a vital role in the provision of affordable and quality care to patients although they face numerous challenges, which hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery. Besides APNs are obligated to measure the quality of the services they provide and show their performance indicators. This is a great determinant of the measures and significance of the services that they provide and relevant incentives that they can be given as a form of motivation. Quality measures reveal the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare services are delivered in comparison to specific standards (Weston & Roberts, 2013). For instance, measures such as the experience of healthcare providers, patient satisfaction, patient safety, and preventive healthcare demonstrate quality standards in the provision of care. Quality and Performance Indicators.

The AHRQ is a perfect example of an organization, which measures and enforces quality standards in healthcare settings, Quality measures are essential since they ensure the safety of patients and that healthcare services are fully utilized(Weston & Roberts, 2013). Besides, quality measures help to reduce healthcare costs, improve patient experience and health outcomes. These outcomes incorporate efforts in the following areas: increasing access in the use of preventive healthcare, patient safety, and coordinated care, enhanced experience among caregivers and improved care for high-risk populations (Weston & Roberts, 2013). Quality and Performance Indicators.

Quality Measures vs. Performance Indicators

Even though organizations face different challenges in developing infrastructure to back efforts in quality improvement and prompt dissemination of outcomes, healthcare quality can be evaluated in several ways. For instance, clinical performance can be measure using Healthplan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS). This indicator was set by the national committee on quality assurance and purposes to assess clinical performance. Performance indicators help nurses to establish the components of nursing care from a holistic perspective while quality measures help to examine care standards (McCance et al., 2012).

Performance Measures Used for the Productivity of NPS

The incentive plan demonstrates that there are various benchmarks used to measure the productivity of NPs and this is particularly dependent on the department and specialty (Buppert, 2018). For instance, in nursing practice where incentives use the fee for service structures, productive NPs are either those who see several patients at a certain level or beyond or often bill for more services, which generate revenue in services such as ordering for endometrial biopsies, suturing, performing incision and drainage (Rhodes, Bechtle & McNett, 2015). Besides, among NPS working in skilled nursing homes, the healthcare institution might determine the ability of an NP to accomplish a specific goal such as close monitoring of seniors or keeping them out of EDs or hospital. Quality and Performance Indicators.

Value of Using Incentive Plans in Organizations

Incentive plans centered on quality metrics and productivity purposes to maintain NPs retention and satisfaction and is currently a common healthcare delivery approach for most healthcare providers. When NPS is incentivized, they feel encouraged and motivated thus become more productive. This ultimately benefits a healthcare organization and healthcare staff. On the other hand, if NPS is discouraged and demotivated such as through underpayments or heavy workloads, their productivity decreases and this affects the organization’s performance(Rhodes, Bechtle & McNett, 2015). Therefore, the use of pf incentive plans is vital for improving staffing levels, NPS satisfaction and productivity. Quality and Performance Indicators.