Executive Summary
Capella University
Health Care Quality and Safety Management
Executive Summary
An outcome measure is a measure that focuses on the health status of a patient, whether it
changes or remains the same, as a result of healthcare. This measure looks at both desirable
outcomes as well as adverse outcomes. When evaluating this data, organizations can use it to
determine where there are gaps and how to incorporate change to improve outcomes.
Organizations should attempt to move forward, to improve daily, and to rise above the present
expectations. The organization’s mindset and mutual promise enable it to move on the idea of
chasing the impossible. In doing this, organizations can redefine what is expected for their
patients and challenge what healthcare practices can be.
, Key Quality and Safety Outcomes
Looking at quality and safety outcomes as it relates to falls with injury we can note two
things: the total number of patients who sustain a fall during hospital admission and the number
of those falls in which the patient is injured. The goal of the organization is to reduce the falls
with injury, but what if, in the process, we can reduce the number of falls in total? This year, our
measurable goal for reduction in falls with injury is an incidence rate of under 0.71. It is early in
the year to tell if we will reach our target, but with multiple safety measures in place we are
likely well on our way to reaching it. The driving factors in reducing falls is early identification
of those patients with high risk for falls. Once the patient is admitted to the floor, their MORSE
fall score is assessed and they have a yellow sign and yellow wrist band placed if the score is
greater than forty-five. In addition to these interventions staff members are frequently and
purposefully rounding on patients to make sure all safety measures are in place (i.e. bed alarms,
side rails, etc.). Utilizing these interventions alone may not be enough to reduce the number of
falls or falls with injury within the organization.
09:35:11 GMT -05:00
Capella University
Health Care Quality and Safety Management
Executive Summary
An outcome measure is a measure that focuses on the health status of a patient, whether it
changes or remains the same, as a result of healthcare. This measure looks at both desirable
outcomes as well as adverse outcomes. When evaluating this data, organizations can use it to
determine where there are gaps and how to incorporate change to improve outcomes.
Organizations should attempt to move forward, to improve daily, and to rise above the present
expectations. The organization’s mindset and mutual promise enable it to move on the idea of
chasing the impossible. In doing this, organizations can redefine what is expected for their
patients and challenge what healthcare practices can be.
, Key Quality and Safety Outcomes
Looking at quality and safety outcomes as it relates to falls with injury we can note two
things: the total number of patients who sustain a fall during hospital admission and the number
of those falls in which the patient is injured. The goal of the organization is to reduce the falls
with injury, but what if, in the process, we can reduce the number of falls in total? This year, our
measurable goal for reduction in falls with injury is an incidence rate of under 0.71. It is early in
the year to tell if we will reach our target, but with multiple safety measures in place we are
likely well on our way to reaching it. The driving factors in reducing falls is early identification
of those patients with high risk for falls. Once the patient is admitted to the floor, their MORSE
fall score is assessed and they have a yellow sign and yellow wrist band placed if the score is
greater than forty-five. In addition to these interventions staff members are frequently and
purposefully rounding on patients to make sure all safety measures are in place (i.e. bed alarms,
side rails, etc.). Utilizing these interventions alone may not be enough to reduce the number of
falls or falls with injury within the organization.
09:35:11 GMT -05:00
