Which outcome measure do you think aligns with your DPI project (Quality Improvement Project)?

Module 1

DQ 1

Outcome measures are important in showing the value of the Doctor of Nursing Practice’s role in healthcare. A practice-level outcome project that could be used to demonstrate the DNP’s value is the evaluation of the impact of discharge planning on hospital readmissions. According to Boccuti and Casillas (2018), effective discharge planning helps to reduce hospital readmissions and enhance patient outcomes. An outcome measure that aligns with my DPI project, which focuses on reducing the incidence of falls among older adults in long-term care, is the rate of falls in the long-term care setting. The literature supports that older adults in long-term care settings are at high risk of falls, and the prevention of falls is critical to enhancing patient outcomes (Tzeng, Wu, King, & Li, 2016).

DQ 2

The safety theory that can be used to propose quality measures for patient safety improvement is the System Migration Theory. The theory proposes that when organizations make changes to their systems or processes, they need to ensure that they do not disrupt the system’s safety features (Carayon, Wetterneck, Rivera-Rodriguez, Hundt, & Hoonakker, 2014). One quality measure that could improve patient safety is the use of electronic health records (EHRs). According to HealthIT.gov (2020), EHRs help to reduce medication errors, increase patient safety, and enhance the quality of care. In my DPI project, which focuses on reducing the incidence of falls among older adults, I will use the System Migration Theory to design and implement a falls prevention program that aligns with the safety features of the long-term care setting.