Description of the Facility and Its Quality Assurance Program
Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the oldest medical facilities in the United States (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015). The hospital is located in Manhattan, New York. It is also affiliated “to different facilities such as Brooklyn Hospital Center and Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 2). The institution provides “quality programs in surgery, food hypersensitivity, and cardiac valve annuloplasty” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 2). The institution has innovated new practices in medical practice. It was the first institution “to use kidney dialysis in the country” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 4). The facility encourages its workers and physicians to undertake new studies. This practice is critical towards improving the quality of health care delivered to different patients. The hospital has one of the best Quality Assurance (QA) programs. In 2003, the Office for Excellence in Patient Care (OEPC) was established in order to support various patient-related projects. This office ensures every physician offers quality, safe, and acceptable care to the targeted patients. The organization undertakes numerous researches in medical education and clinical care. The facility also encourages its “health practitioners to improve the quality and safety of patient care” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 4).
Discussion of Mount Sinai’s Continuous Quality Improvement Program
The Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach makes it possible for many health institutions to improve the quality of patient care. The purpose of the CQI approach is to improve the quality of services. This strategy improves the level of customer-satisfaction. A number of concepts are used in order to achieve the best outcomes. To begin with, health organizations should always focus on the best outcomes. A systematic process should be maintained in order to improve the eminence of care. Medical practitioners should also embrace the power of scientific-thinking. Health Leaders (HLs) should use “a fact-driven managerial approach in order to evaluate every variation” (Ruxwana, Herselman, & Pottas, 2014, p. 28). Continuous improvement remains a vital function of every CQI approach. Institutions should use “small incremental practices and innovative strategies” (Ruxwana et al., 2014, p. 29). These standards are vital whenever implementing a new CQI program.
Mount Sinai’s program “adheres to the recognized standard for a powerful CQI approach” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 6). The institution focuses on the best practices in order to deliver quality health care. The organization achieves this goal by undertaking various researches and studies. The institution has always been a leader in education and research. Most of the nurses and physicians are constantly improving the quality of care availed to different patients. The OEPC office collaborates with different employees in order to support every quality-related project. Every idea is analyzed using modern scientific methods (Ruxwana et al., 2014). The gathered study findings are availed to different practitioners. This approach has improved the institution’s commitment to quality care. Mount Sinai also encourages its clients to participate in various decision-making processes.
The institution also uses a powerful Total Quality Management (TQM) approach. This approach makes it easier for the firm to provide the best health services. This approach focuses on “the long-term quality of care and customer satisfaction” (Ruxwana et al., 2014, p. 31). Several principles are used in order to achieve the targeted TQM goals. Leaders should “use data, strategy, and communication to create a new culture” (Patel, 2010, p. 3). The first critical principle is focusing on the needs of the targeted consumers. The employees must be involved throughout the process. An integrated system is needed in order to achieve the targeted goals. The institution should embrace new practices that can deliver quality care to more patients. Every decision-making process should be based on scientific evidences. Effective communication is needed in order to address various institutional problems.
Mount Sinai’s CQI Program borrows many aspects from the TQM approach. For instance, every practice is aimed at improving the quality of patient care. Many practitioners in this health organization work as a team. Communication, decision-making, and combined problem-solving are critical practices in this organization (Patel, 2010). The institution uses the concept of Continuous Improvement (CI) to support the future health needs of every patient. The institution “uses scientific evidences to address the changing needs of different patients” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 6). Such approaches have made Mount Sinai Hospital a leading provider of quality patient care (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015).
Mount Sinai’s Utilization Management Program
Mount Sinai has one of the best Utilization Management (UM) programs. Most of the decisions in the facility are aimed at improving the quality of patient care. The institution has hired competent professionals to offer quality patient support. The UM team collaborates with other stakeholders in the health sector. The team ensures the institution utilizes its resources in a proper manner. Some of these resources include “case management services, facilities, physicians, and ancillary services” (De Jonge, Nicholaas, van Leerdam, & Kuipers, 2011, p. 342).
The UM team assesses and improves the practices undertaken by the institution. The team focuses on the quality of care availed to different patients. The institution encourages its healthcare providers to embrace new UM trends. This practice has made it easier for the institution to improve its principles (De Jonge et al., 2011). The role of the UM team is to ensure every case is handled effectively. The UM team also reviews the health practices associated with different services.
Case Management Program
This institution uses a powerful Case Management (CM) approach in order to support the needs of many patients. The CM program embraces the use of modern technologies. The institution has hired competent Case Managers (CMs) to work directly with different stakeholders. Such CMs “provide a wide range of services to the targeted patients” (De Jonge et al., 2011, p. 342). They also manage the quality of health support and care. The CM approach ensures different clients manage their conditions in a proper manner (De Jonge et al., 2011). Every stakeholder is encouraged to become an active participant.
At Mount Sinai Hospital, Case Management (CM) is the epitome of effective care (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015). This program makes it easier for the facility to offer quality and timely care to its patients. The institution also examines the changing demands of its patients. The hospital has been reducing its medical costs. It also encourages different researchers to pursue their studies. Such studies have made the institution a leading provider of quality medical services. The CM program ensures every health situation is taken seriously. The “important goal is to get the best health outcomes” (Jebb, Esegbona-Adeigbe, Justice, & Crumbie, 2014, p. 28).
Risk Management at Mount Sinai
The facility’s Quality Assurance Program is incomplete without a proper Risk Management (RM) strategy. Many health institutions use “the best strategies to reduce medical risks” (Jebb et al., 2014, p. 29). Mount Sinai has implemented a powerful Risk Management (RM) program. The program embraces the use of modern medical technologies. Such technologies have improved the quality of health support. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to use modern health informatics (Norton, 2011). This practice has supported the health needs of many patients. Most of the studies undertaken by the hospital are used to develop the best medical practices. Such practices make it possible for the institution to offer competent health support.
The hospital has initiated several patient-safety educational programs. Every nurse acquires new competencies in order to improve the nature of medical care. The hospital’s website presents “numerous articles, safety strategies, and videos to support the needs of many patients” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 6). The health leaders in the organization “collaborate with different stakeholders in order to prevent various problems” (Mount Sinai Hospital, 2015, para. 5). This practice supports the health needs of many patients.
Summary
Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City delivers quality and safe care to its patients. The hospital established the Office for Excellence in Patient Care (OEPC) in an attempt to promote the best practices and projects. Such projects and studies have been aimed at improving the quality of patient care. The institution’s Quality Assurance (QA) program is characterized by unique principles and practices. Some of these practices include CQI, RM, CM, and Utilization Management (UM). Every healthcare facility should embrace the above principles in order to become a leader in healthcare delivery.
References
De Jonge, V., Nicholaas, S., van Leerdam, M., & Kuipers, J. (2011). Overview of the Quality Assurance Movement in Health Care. Best Practice & Research, 25(3), 337-347.
Jebb, P., Esegbona-Adeigbe, S., Justice, S., & Crumbie, A. (2014). Never Say Never Event: Should Unsafe Staffing in Hospitals be classed as a ‘Never Event’? Nursing Standard, 28(19), 28-29.
Mount Sinai Hospital: Our Commitment to Quality. (2015). Web.
Norton, E. (2011). Using an Alternative Site Marking Form to Comply with the Universal Protocol. Association of Operating Room Nurses, 93(5), 600.
Patel, G. (2010). Total Quality Management in Healthcare. Quality Management, 1(1), 1-4.
Ruxwana, N., Herselman, M., & Pottas, D. (2014). A Generic Quality Assurance Model (CQAM) for Successful e-Health Implementation in Rural Hospitals in South Africa. Health Information Management Journal, 4(1), 26-36.