1
|
Miltner R, Pesch L, Mercado S, Dammrich T, Stafford T, Hunter J, Stewart G. Why Competency Standardization Matters for Improvement: An Assessment of the Healthcare Quality Workforce. J Healthc Qual 2021; 43:263-274. [PMID: 34463669 DOI: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Healthcare transformation requires a healthcare quality workforce with the requisite expertise to lead, oversee, and implement positive change within healthcare organizations. The National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) Competency Framework, which spans 29 competencies across 8 domains of healthcare quality, outlines the specific knowledge and skills needed to advance personal and organizational quality goals. This study describes 1,671 responses to the NAHQ Professional Assessment survey from a diverse group of healthcare quality professionals representative of NAHQ's professional community. Results show that two-thirds of respondents indicated they are working in 4 or more competency domains, with 85% reporting working in Performance and Process Improvement. Results also indicate that individuals who hold the Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certification perform work at more advanced levels across all eight domains of the competency framework. This was statistically significant for 13 of the 29 competencies including all three competency statements within the Performance and Process Improvement domain. Healthcare organizations need a workforce with specialized quality and safety expertise to advance quality goals, and this study suggests that those who invest in continued professional development by attaining the CPHQ certification may be better positioned to contribute meaningfully to advance these goals and improve organizational outcomes.
Collapse
|
2
|
Inkelas M, Blair C, Furukawa D, Manuel VG, Malenfant JH, Martin E, Emeruwa I, Kuo T, Arangua L, Robles B, Provost LP. Using control charts to understand community variation in COVID-19. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248500. [PMID: 33930013 PMCID: PMC8087083 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Decision-makers need signals for action as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progresses. Our aim was to demonstrate a novel use of statistical process control to provide timely and interpretable displays of COVID-19 data that inform local mitigation and containment strategies. Healthcare and other industries use statistical process control to study variation and disaggregate data for purposes of understanding behavior of processes and systems and intervening on them. We developed control charts at the county and city/neighborhood level within one state (California) to illustrate their potential value for decision-makers. We found that COVID-19 rates vary by region and subregion, with periods of exponential and non-exponential growth and decline. Such disaggregation provides granularity that decision-makers can use to respond to the pandemic. The annotated time series presentation connects events and policies with observed data that may help mobilize and direct the actions of residents and other stakeholders. Policy-makers and communities require access to relevant, accurate data to respond to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Control charts could prove valuable given their potential ease of use and interpretability in real-time decision-making and for communication about the pandemic at a meaningful level for communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moira Inkelas
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Population Health Program, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Cheríe Blair
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Daisuke Furukawa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Vladimir G. Manuel
- Population Health Program, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Jason H. Malenfant
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Emily Martin
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Iheanacho Emeruwa
- Population Health Program, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Critical Care Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Tony Kuo
- Population Health Program, Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Family Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
- Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lisa Arangua
- Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Brenda Robles
- Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
| | - Lloyd P. Provost
- Associates for Process Improvement, Austin, Texas, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|