Reflect on how EBP might impact (or not impact) the Quadruple Aim in healthcare. Evidence-Based Practice and the Quadruple Aim Consider the impact that EBP may have on factors impacting these quadruple aim elements, such as preventable medical errors or healthcare delivery. To Complete:
Evidence-Based Practice and the Quadruple Aim
Evidence-based Practice (EBP) as a strategy adopted in nursing practice involves the use of empirically tested methods to improve care quality, outcomes, and patient experiences. On the other hand, Quadruple Aim is a framework that directs healthcare systems to improve patient experiences, lower the costs of healthcare, and achieve a better population while creating a better working environment for healthcare workers. The adoption of EBP in healthcare informs the decisions that influence the elements of the Quadruple Aim.
Connection Between EBP and Quadruple Aim
Patient Experience
One of the main elements and measures of the Quadruple Aim is the experiences of patients during and aftercare. Previously, nursing practices have focused on the outcomes of care and the health of patients. However, the experiences of the patient with the care services, such as patient satisfaction and comfort with the care given, were of less concern. The application of EBP as a concept in nursing practice and by other healthcare providers helps them translate and apply empirical research evidence into actual clinical. The research evidence informs patient-practitioner communication, which helps design and develop individualized care plans that meet each patient’s needs with better patient outcomes and experiences (Reynolds et al., n.d.).
Population Health
The main efforts of healthcare providers focus on promoting, achieving, and maintaining an improved population. The adoption of EBP strategies in health care practice helps develop scientifically informed methods that support public health decisions. Healthcare practitioners can adopt evidence-informed strategies to sensitize the population about certain diseases and best public health practices that maintain healthy living. For example, nurses can apply evidence-based methods to promote public health education during health emergencies and other situations, such as during disease outbreaks, to inform the population on best practices and safety measures to reduce the spread of the disease and chances of infection. Therefore, EBP in public health informs programs and policies and helps assess the progress and outcomes of public health programs (Carbone & Thomas, 2018).
Costs of Healthcare Services
The cost of healthcare services is one of the issues impacting the accessibility and utilization of healthcare services and products (Reed et al., 2019). Healthcare providers and governments have employed various approaches to help reduce the costs of care services and improve care utilization to reduce preventable deaths and population health. EBP strategies can be leveraged in health care planning to develop alternative methods of care delivery to help reduce costs of care consumption. EBP, through its proactive approaches in decision-making, can support healthcare policymakers in designing health delivery systems that are evidence-informed and focused on the health needs of the population. This can help reduce wastage in healthcare and unnecessary expenditure.
Work-Life of Healthcare Providers
There exists a significant relationship between the work environment, healthcare workers’ job satisfaction, and patient outcomes and experiences. A better working environment improves the satisfaction of healthcare workers. Satisfied healthcare workers focus on improving the quality of care and achieving better patient outcomes. Healthcare managers can employ EBP strategies to identify causes of nurses’ and other workers’ burnout, dissatisfaction with their work-life, and methods to improve their morale and satisfaction at work. The application of EBP in healthcare staff management can help empower healthcare workers and create a work environment that promotes employee satisfaction. The satisfaction of healthcare employees with their work-life has been linked to improved care quality and positive patient outcomes (Melnyk & Overholt, 2019). Conclusively, the adoption of EBP strategies in healthcare practices can support healthcare delivery systems to achieve the Quadruple Aim.
References
Carbone, E. G., & Thomas, E. v. (2018). Science as the basis of public health emergency preparedness and response practice: The slow but crucial evolution. American Journal of Public Health, 108, S383–S386. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2018.304702
Melnyk, B.M. & Overholt, E. F. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare, A guide to best practice: fourth edition. 66, 37–39.