HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement. – Step-by-Step Guide

The first step before starting to write the HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement. It is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.

How to Research and Prepare for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.

How to Write the Conclusion for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456

Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.

Instructions for HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement. As the Christian worldview promotes ethical behavior, explain how ethical principles informed by a Christian perspective might be beneficial for Christians and non-Christians alike regarding continuous quality improvement.

Example 1 Approach to HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

Ethical Issues Associated With Continuous Quality Improvement

Ethical issues are circumstances that give rise to moral conflicts in the place of work; thus, the known moral standard is being challenged. Continuous quality improvement in health refers to the care that should have been provided. In other words, continuous quality improvement increases the usage and efficiency of the patient care already administered to a previous patient to make it more efficient for the next patient suffering the same condition as the previous patient, according to Fondahn et al. (2016).

The four most common ethical issues associated with continuous quality improvement in healthcare are the purpose of the improvement, consent of respondents and recipients, confidentiality of the participants, and the opportunity to withdraw from these procedural improvements (Hill, et al., 2020). This paper examines quality control informatics and how ethical principles informed by a Christian perspective might benefit Christians and non-Christians.

What would inform poor quality patient care that would necessitate continuous quality improvement? Poor quality patient care would be categorized into overuse, underuse, and errors. Repeating a chest X-ray on a patient because it is not recorded in their electronic health records (EHRs) is an overuse. Such would overexpose the patient to X-rays which is not advisable. Failure to conduct a C – reactive protein (CRP) test on a cancer patient would risk the patient suffering fatal neutropenic sepsis. This omission is underuse.

Errors arise mainly when nurses refuse to engage the patients in their treatments, and therefore the correct medical procedures are poorly understood and hardly followed. The patients may vary regarding their clinical needs, but they share the same systems, and the care obstacles are similar. Thus, according to the Institute of Medicine, quality improvement seeks to homogenize and executed as strictly predetermined, especially in areas that are common and critical.

Quality Improvement (QI) projects should be able to generate relevant and valuable information that adds value to the existing patient care. According to Laycock et al., (2019), participants must consent to QI projects to show that the project respects autonomy. Participants’ confidentiality should always be guaranteed to protect them from physical, financial, social, and psychological risks that would arise if their private information leaked to the general public. The participants should be free to withdraw from QI projects whenever they want to, without feeling intimidated or frustrated by all means, according to Hall et al., (2020), and they are entitled to the same standard of care regardless of their actions.

A Christian follows a set of laws and commandments derived from allegiance to their supernatural creator called God. They, therefore, believe in the sanctity of life, equity, equality of genders, unconditional love for one another, oneness, autonomy, and freedom from any forced restriction; thus, humane treatment for all fellow human beings. As such, the Christian faith dictates freedom of expression and dignity, allowing for informed consent, freedom to withdraw participation, and confidentiality of ethical issues. A Christian also believes that life is sacred and, therefore, anything done towards life must be purposeful and meaningful, underscoring the importance of relevant and purposeful QI projects that respect the sacredness of life.

In conclusion, ethical principles informed by a Christian would benefit Christians and non-Christians. Such principles would give withdrawal rights to QI project participants, allow them equal consenting, protect participants’ confidentiality and ensure that QI projects are purposeful and meaningful.

References

Fondahn, E., De Fer, T. M., Lane, M., & Vannucci, A. (2016). Washington manual of patient safety and quality improvement. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Hall, S., Lee, V., & Haase, K. (2020). Exploring the challenges of ethical conduct in quality improvement projects. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 30(1), 64.

Hill, J. E., Stephani, A. M., Sapple, P., & Clegg, A. J. (2020). The effectiveness of continuous quality improvement for developing professional practice and improving health care outcomes: a systematic review. Implementation Science, 15(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-0975-2

Laycock, A. F., Bailie, J., Percival, N. A., Matthews, V., Cunningham, F. C., Harvey, G., Copley, K., Patel, L., & Bailie, R. (2019). Wide-scale continuous quality improvement: A study of stakeholders’ use of quality of care reports at various system levels, and factors mediating use. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 378. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00378

Example 2 Approach to HQS 610 Topic 1 DQ 1 Describe ethical issues that are commonly associated with continuous quality improvement.

Continuous quality improvement (CQI) in healthcare is important for improving systems, processes, and workflows to provide safe, efficient, and cost-effective care. CQI does not require as much ethical consideration as research studies do. Researchers typically have clear guidelines for ethical considerations, unlike CQI projects. The purpose of a research study is to gain new knowledge and is largely experimental and inquiry-driven, so researchers must obtain informed consent from the study participants because a new intervention is being tested. CQI projects utilize evidence-based research results from studies that have already been tested and proven effective. CQI is data-driven and aims to solve a problem using existing knowledge (as cited in Hall et al., 2020).

Many CQI projects are conducted without the patients involved being aware that they are being included in the project. For example, CQI projects that aim to improve National quality metrics such as the sepsis core measure, hospital readmissions, length of stay, DVT prophylaxis, etc., may implement new processes and interventions as a standard of care to improve compliance with these measures, and patients have no idea that their care is part of a CQI project. I am currently working with a CQI team to improve performance with the sepsis core measure and suggested process improvements include utilizing a sepsis screening tool in triage and adding sepsis protocol order sets. These interventions can be implemented as a standard of care for CQI without the need to inform patients.

There are ethical considerations for CQI, however, including ensuring that the process interventions do not impede patients’ autonomy and that no harm will result to the patients. CQI projects can place patients at risk or burden, may have unequal distribution of benefits for all participants, and can include conflicts of interest. A balance between risks and benefits must be achieved by limiting the risk of harm, ensuring confidentiality, and maximizing the benefits to patient care. The ethical considerations for CQI should include the purpose, patient confidentiality, informed consent, and the patient’s ability to withdraw from the intervention. When considering the purpose of the CQI, it may be useful to consider the Institute of Medicine’s six aims for safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. When conducting CQI, the need for informed consent should be considered as well (as cited in Hall et al., 2020). Using the example of the sepsis core measure CQI, when reviewing the records of care for sepsis patients to determine opportunities for improvement, the reviewers must ensure patient confidentiality by only reviewing the information necessary for the purpose of the CQI and ensuring that no patient information is left unsecured.

Healthcare staff conducting CQI projects should consider Christian Worldview principles when examining the ethical needs of the participants. Christian faith and values hold us to a higher standard, and we must lead by example. The metaparadigm of nursing includes the concepts of person, health, and environment and requires caring and respect for all people by ensuring that patients are cared for, that their culture and beliefs are considered, and the environment of care is clean, safe, and healing (Dockery, 2022).

References

Dockery, T. H. (2022). Bridging the racial divide: Nurses leading by Christ’s example. Journal of Christian Nursing, 39(3), 162-165.

Hall, S., Lee, V., & Haase, K. (2020). Exploring the challenges of ethical conduct in quality improvement projects. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 30(1), 64-68. https://web-s-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=a618fcf4-a681-402f-8b2d-943c60e25da8%40redis