Select or generate a dataset that is meaningful to you and your interests in the health care industry by using one of the links below:
Evaluate the dataset and determine how it is valuable for improving health care operations or policies. (This might require the creation of a chart or graph to interpret the data.)
Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper with your evaluation of the dataset and what value can be gained from it. Include the following:
- The source of the data
- Why the data is important
- What trends it documents
- What changes in operations or policies can be made to improve quality or efficiency.
Cite 3 peer-reviewed references to support your report.
Format your paper according to APA guidelines.
Insert a copy of the dataset into your paper
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The healthcare industry is constantly evolving as new technologies and practices are introduced. The use of data is becoming more prevalent as various stakeholders try to improve healthcare operations and policies. In this assignment, a dataset will be selected and evaluated to determine its value in improving healthcare operations and policies.
Answer:
For this assignment, the dataset selected is from HealthData.gov/Datasets titled, “Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).” This dataset is important because it provides information on patients’ perspectives of hospital care. This perspective is critical for improving health care operations as it allows healthcare providers to understand what patients need and address them accordingly.
The dataset documents various trends such as communication with nurses and doctors, pain management, cleanliness, quietness, and discharge information. Patients are asked to rate on a scale of 0 to 10 how often these categories occurred or how well they were executed during their hospital stay. For example, patients are asked, “During your hospital stay, how often did nurses treat you with courtesy and respect?” Patients’ responses can then be analyzed to identify areas of excellence and areas that need improvement.
Hospitals can use this data to make changes in their operations or policies to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. For instance, if patients are indicating that they did not receive timely or appropriate pain management, hospitals can implement pain management protocols to improve patient satisfaction. Additionally, if patients are indicating that they did not receive relevant and timely discharge information, hospitals can provide more education to patients during the discharge process.
In conclusion, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) dataset is valuable for improving healthcare operations and policies. It provides a patient-centered perspective that is essential for addressing patients’ needs and improving their satisfaction with healthcare services. Healthcare providers can use this dataset to identify areas of excellence and areas for improvement, ultimately leading to better quality and efficiency of patient care.
References:
1. Elliott MN, Edwards C, Angeles J, et al. Patterns of unit and item nonresponse in the CAHPS Hospital Survey. Health Serv Res. 2005;40(6 Pt 2):2096-2119. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2005.00482.x
2. Montalvo I. The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators® (NDNQI®). OJIN. 2007;12(3).
3. Murtagh J. Picking the right data chart for your medical data. J R Soc Med. 2018;111(7):245-247. doi:10.1177/0141076818767753.
