StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Quality Medical Care - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Though there have been attempts to update the quality of health care in tandem with the developments and inventions in medical field, the…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.1% of users find it useful
Quality Medical Care
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Quality Medical Care"

QUALITY HEALTH CARE Quality has always been central in all discussions related to health care, in which both governmental ity and the public have a part. Though there have been attempts to update the quality of health care in tandem with the developments and inventions in medical field, the hue and cry for upgrading the system never ceases. Despite the measures the apprehension still exists that the quality of health care falls below the patients’ requirements. Quality is too difficult a term for an easy definition and it appears that everyone has a unique view of the concept.

Quality can be defined in relation to both technical excellence and humane approach. “By technical quality care we mean that the patient receives only the procedure tests, or services for which the desired health outcomes exceed the health risks by a sufficiently wide margin; and that each of these procedures or services is performed in a technically excellent manner. The second component of quality care is that all patients wish to be treated in a humane and culturally appropriate manner and be invited to participate fully in deciding about their therapy.

” (Robert H.Brook et al). In short quality in health care is fundamentally based on the two above-mentioned factors. “Getting quality health care can help you stay healthy and recover faster when you become sick. However, we know that often people do not get high quality care. A 2004 study of 12 large US communities found that just over half (54.9%) of people were receiving the care they needed.” (AHRQ Homepage: ). Everywhere, people looking for health care confront the problem that there is no uniform standard to measure quality.

Thus it has become imperative to measure quality of care offered by healthcare service providers. Therefore, with a view to help patients choose the right treatment most suited to their personal needs, more and more public and private groups are developing and using quality measures based on the principles of right health plan, the right doctor, the right treatment, the right hospital, the best long term facility. Thus it can be seen that quality measures make available the necessary information which patients can assimilate to help them take a right decision about their treatment.

In order to ascertain quality there are certain available parameters such as process measure, outcome measures and structural measures. In order to determine which one of these is the best, a deeper and wider study is called for. Each satisfies certain requirements while failing to address something important. Hence there cannot be an absolutely right choice. Therefore we can only compare and ascertain which of them provides the most satisfactory results. Considering all the practical sides, outcome measure seems to be the most appropriate.

Process measure is more sensitive than both outcome and structural measures in ensuring quality in differential uses of proven medical cares among hospitals. Process measure is easy to interpret as in the case of administering aspirin in acute myocardial infarction that is a direct measure of quality care. On the other hand, the mortality from myocardial infarction in hospital specific cases is an indirect measure for quality. While considering outcome measures in comparison with process measure one can find an eye opening fact; “a process measure is only of value if it is assumed to have a link to outcome” (Mant, 1996, p.244 ). The advantage of outcome measure is that it can mirror all aspects of the process of care in which both technical expertise and operator skill have a unique place.

There is no need to exaggerate the point that process measure cannot come up with such a measure on quality. Because it does not deal with the distinction between ‘how one does something’ and ‘what one does’. The process measure can be satisfactorily employed in the context where the technical skill is comparatively insignificant but outcome measures can monitor both technical and non-technical situations. Another factor that goes in favor of outcome measure is that it can readily use available data on diagnosis and other particulars routinely recorded in the hospital are also handy for measuring quality.

The third verity for quality measure is structural measure; it obviously falls short to satisfy the requirement of getting a full length idea on the quality care maintained in hospitals owing to its undue stress on structural aspects like the smooth functioning of hospital equipments, academic excellence of doctors and nurses etc. Quality cannot be judged basing solely on the above-mentioned factors. Hence the outcome measure appears the best choice over aforesaid measures in monitoring and ensuring quality in health care.

CITATIONLohr, K, Brook, R.H, Kamberg, C. Use of Medical Care in RAND Health Insurance Experiments: Diagnosis and Service Specific Analysis in a Randomized Controlled Trial. SinSingle seater W/o Armgle seater W/o ArmMedical Care, 1986; 24:82Homepage: Agency Healthcare Research and Quality: Guide to Healthcare Quality, You Deserve Quality Healthcare. Cited Sep 29, 2006 from Mant, J Hicks NR, Assessing Quality of Care: What are the implications of the potential lack of sensitivity of outcome measures to difference in quality?

J Eval Clin 1996. 2: 244

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Unit 5 Individual project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words”, n.d.)
Unit 5 Individual project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words. Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1537726-unit-5-individual-project-2
(Unit 5 Individual Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words)
Unit 5 Individual Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1537726-unit-5-individual-project-2.
“Unit 5 Individual Project 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/miscellaneous/1537726-unit-5-individual-project-2.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Quality Medical Care

Introduction to Ethics in the Healthcare Setting

Back to the concept of suffering and its ethical side, it is clear that all patients have the moral right to obtain Quality Medical Care and have their sufferings alleviated.... Unfortunately, the meaning of suffering in medical care remains extremely vague.... Human suffering has become increasingly measurable and tangible, leaving intangible aspects beyond medical care.... While the entire system of medical care is inherently utilitarian-oriented, that is, intended to achieve the best health outcomes for the greatest number of ...
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Quality Medical Care for Children

The paper "Quality Medical Care for Children" tells us about the degree to which healthcare services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge.... As earlier mentioned, pain management in children is essential in ensuring that a hospital provides quality care to its patients.... However, the hospital cannot involve the four nurses in the pediatric ward, which consequently requires the identification of one nurse who has extra training in children's care....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Managing Resources to Promote Quality and Safety

Information technology gives the physician the knowledge needed to provide Quality Medical Care.... The cases of medical errors will reduce over time, and the medical facility will become efficient in providing Quality Medical Care.... mplementing technology enables the medical team to make informed decisions when taking care of the patient.... Prescriber and staff perceptions of an electronic prescribing system in primary care: a qualitative assessment....
1 Pages (250 words) Essay

Strategic Planning: Emmanuel Medical Center

However, the value statements do not include the recognition if the importance of the community in regards to providing Quality Medical Care.... The mission statement depicts the need and requirement of the medical center to provide medical care to patients at their best ability (Emmanuel Medical Center, 2015).... The vision statement is also neighborhood medical friendly as it states the efforts of the medical center to provide care to the community....
1 Pages (250 words) Dissertation

Provision of Quality Medical Care

The paper "Provision of Quality Medical Care" states that the quality of care is determined by the adherence to patient safety standards.... n conclusion, the provision of Quality Medical Care is an important part of the healing process.... Generally speaking, quality of care is defined as a holistic process that focuses on enhancing access, affordability, and effectiveness of care.... The quality of care provided by nurses and other healthcare professionals is very important because patient outcomes can be linked to such quality standards....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Doctors Understanding of Patient Experience

The paper "Doctors Understanding of Patient Experience" describes that understanding and detail-driven consultations improve patient experience about their illness/disability paving the way for Quality Medical Care.... DOCTORS' UNDERSTANDING OF PATIENT EXPERIENCE RELATIVE TO ILLNESS/DISABILITY FOR Quality Medical Care Introduction ... Typically, this forms a basis for further investigation, treatment and clinical measures that they consider as a successful provision of Quality Medical Care....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

Response 1

As caregivers, they should also be provided with the necessary care because it can not only provide a conducive working environment for them, but help them to deliver high Quality Medical Care to their patients.... or this reason, I would like to point out that the formation of the National Quality Forum for Safe Practice dubbed care of the Caregiver was a brilliant idea.... This shows that care for Caregiver is a good forum that can help in safeguarding the welfare of the nurse as well as the patients....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment

Strengths and Weaknesses of Abu Dhabi Healthcare System

These policies have ensured that every citizen and non-citizen in Abu Dhabi receives Quality Medical Care at all times.... These policies have ensured that every citizen and non citizen in the Abu Dhabi receives Quality Medical Care at al times.... The expatriates in the UAE are also under insured and most of them cannot afford Quality Medical Care when they are faced with life threatening diseases or terminal diseases like cancer.... Provision of Quality Medical Care was a challenge to Abu Dhabi in the provision of modern treatment....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us