Dimensions Of Healthcare Quality Research Articles

When end of treatment situations challenge patient-centered care: a discussion paper proposing new theoretical insights.

According to the Institute of Medicine patient-centered medicine is one of the six crucial dimensions of health care quality. Although the patient-centered care model is widely recognized for its ethical underpinnings and effectiveness, its practical implementation still raises challenges, especially in end-of-treatment situations. This discussion paper offers an overview of the challenges facing the physician-patient relationship in end-of-treatment situations. We developed three clinical vignettes and made some theoretical considerations about ethical issues related to the decision-making process leading to the end of treatment. We identified two main challenges that end-of-treatment situations pose to patient-centered care: (1) when the patient's autonomy challenges the best clinical treatment; and (2) when the proposed treatment (discontinuation of treatment) challenges the patient's preferences. Patient-centered care supports personalized decision-making, in which the physician's approach varies according to the patient's situation and individuality. The idea of beneficence may change during care, because of acceptance of the patient's principles or a change in the primary goal of care.

Nursing perception towards the impact of JCI accreditation on the quality of care in a university hospital in Palestine: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThis study investigates nursing staff perceptions regarding the impact of Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation on the quality of care within a university hospital in Palestine. The research specifically examines how the accreditation process influences nursing practices, patient results, and overall healthcare quality in a challenging environment marked by unique operational and external pressures.MethodsThe study was conducted at An-Najah National University Hospital (NNUH), a university hospital in Palestine, using a cross-sectional survey design. The structured questionnaire employed in the study was based on the Donabedian model, which evaluates the process and outcome dimensions of healthcare quality influenced by JCI accreditation. The questionnaire consisted of 47 items, divided into ten main subsections. These subsections included participants’ demographical information (6 items), quality measurement and analysis (4 items), leadership, commitment and support (4 items), use of data (4 items), strategic quality planning (4 items), human resources education and training (4 items), quality management (4 items), quality results (4 items), staff involvement (5 items), and benefits of accreditation (8 items). The questionnaire was rigorously designed to assess both the quality processes and quality results. The eight subscales evaluated various aspects, such as leadership commitment, strategic planning, and staff involvement. To ensure reliability, the internal consistency of the survey was confirmed with a high Cronbach’s alpha score, demonstrating the tool’s robustness and reliability in capturing the intended data.ResultsThe study of 180 nurses overwhelmingly supported the positive impact of JCI accreditation on hospital quality improvement processes. More than 90% of respondents acknowledged the role of accreditation in improving resource utilization, meeting population needs, and promoting professional standards and values ​​among staff. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation and stepwise regression, highlighted strong positive associations between quality process variables and quality results. In particular, leadership commitment, strategic planning, and staff engagement were found to be significant predictors of improved quality results.ConclusionsThis study’s findings demonstrate that JCI accreditation significantly positively impacts nurses’ perceptions of care quality at NNUH. The study underscores the importance of international accreditation in driving quality improvements in healthcare, particularly in settings with unique challenges such as those faced in Palestine. These insights are crucial for policymakers and healthcare administrators aiming to enhance care standards through accreditation in similar environments.

Patient safety in the intensive care department

Patient safety is a priority for all healthcare systems. Despite this, too many patients still suffer harm as a consequence of healthcare. Furthermore, it has a significant impact on family members, professionals and healthcare institutions, resulting in considerable economic costs. The critically ill patient is particularly vulnerable to adverse events. Numerous safe practices have been implemented, acknowledging the influence of human factors on safety and the significance of the well-being of professionals, as well as the impact of critical episodes at hospital discharge on patients and their families. Training and engagement of professionals, patients and families are of paramount importance. Recently, artificial intelligence has demonstrated its ability to enhance clinical safety. This update on “Patient Safety” reviews all these aspects related to one of the most pivotal dimensions of healthcare quality.

Generation of Indicators to Assess Quality of Health Care in Hospital at Home Through e-Delphi.

The quality of health care in hospital at home (HaH) has been measured in different countries using simple indicators and clinical results that only contribute to some dimensions of the quality of health care. We sought to generate indicators to comprehensively evaluate the quality of health care provided to HaH users through the e-Delphi technique. The e-Delphi technique was performed with the participation of 17 HaH experts. The methodological strategy applied in this study was divided into the following 3 phases: a preparatory phase; consultation phase; and consensus phase. Three rounds of consultations were conducted with experts. In round 1, they were asked to identify which aspects of HaH they believed should be evaluated using an indicator for each of the following 6 dimensions of health care quality: effectiveness; efficiency; timeliness; patient-centered care; equity; and safety. In round 2, they were asked to rate each indicator using a 5-point Likert-type scale with the following values: (1) Totally disagree; (2) Disagree; (3) Moderately agree; (4) Agree; and (5) Totally agree. The criteria for evaluating each indicator were as follows: (1) The indicator is a useful measure for assessing the quality of health care provided to HaH users. (2) The indicator is clearly and specifically written and does not require modification. (3) The indicator is essential and incorporates information that can be extracted from HaH program records. An indicator was considered approved if it received at least 65% approval from the expert panel for each evaluation criterion. In round 3, experts were asked to reassess their ratings, taking into account the opinions of the other experts. The reliability of this technique was ensured through credibility, reliability, and confirmability. We obtained ethical approval of the corresponding institutions and informed consent from the participating experts. Nine unpublished and reliable indicators were generated. In addition, 13 indicators were incorporated that evaluate aspects previously analyzed by other authors and/or national and international institutions, which were adapted to be used in HaH. The total indicators generated (n = 22) represented all dimensions of the quality of health care: safety; opportunity; effectiveness; efficiency; equity; and patient-centered care. The 22 indicators generated through the e-Delphi technique permit a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of health care provided to HaH users.

Impact of point-of-care ultrasound use on patient referral decisions in rural Kenya: a mixed methods study

BackgroundPoint-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is recognized as a key imaging modality to bridge the diagnostic imaging gap in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). POCUS use has been shown to impact patient management decisions including referral for specialist care. This study explored the impact of POCUS use on referral decisions among trained healthcare providers working in primary rural and peri-urban health facilities in Kenya.MethodsA concurrent mixed methods approach was used, including a locally developed survey (N = 38) and semi-structured interviews of POCUS trained healthcare providers (N = 12). Data from the survey was descriptively analyzed and interviews were evaluated through the framework matrix method.ResultsSurvey results of in-facility access to Xray, Ultrasonography, CT scan and MRI were 49%, 33%, 3% and 0% respectively. Only 54% of the facilities where trainees worked had the capacity to perform cesarean sections, and 38% could perform general surgery. Through a combined inductive and deductive evaluation of interview data, we found that the emerging themes could be organized through the framework of the six domains of healthcare quality as described by the Institute of Medicine: Providers reported that POCUS use allowed them to make referral decisions which were timely, safe, effective, efficient, equitable and patient-centered. Challenges included machine breakdown, poor image quality, practice isolation, lack of institutional support and insufficient feedback on the condition of patients after referral.ConclusionThis study highlighted that in the setting of limited imaging and surgical capacity, POCUS use by trained providers in Kenyan primary health facilities has the potential to improve the patient referral process and to promote key dimensions of healthcare quality. Therefore, there is a need to expand POCUS training programs and to develop context specific POCUS referral algorithms.

Information and Communication Systems' Impact on Healthcare Quality: Insights from Medical City Complex Employees

This descriptive analytical study investigates the pivotal role of information and communication systems in enhancing the quality of medical services, drawing upon the perspectives of employees at Medical City Complex. Employing a semi-experimental approach with 40 participants from the Department of Medicine, the research delves into the understanding of information and communication systems and quality medical care. The study employs a three-section questionnaire, encompassing demographic information, dimensions of healthcare quality, and dimensions of information and communication systems. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were rigorously established. The findings unveil significant trends, particularly in factors such as age and years of service, illustrating their links to healthcare quality and information and communication systems. Detailed analyses of healthcare quality dimensions (Tangibles, Reliability, and Assurance) and information system aspects (Management, Organization, and Information Technology) are presented. The study concludes by elucidating the impact of independent variables on dependent variables, providing invaluable insights for future research and decision-making in the healthcare sector, ultimately enhancing the quality of medical care and information systems.
 Highlights:
 
 Investigates the impact of information and communication systems on medical service quality.
 Utilizes a semi-experimental approach with 40 Department of Medicine employees.
 Highlights the influence of age and years of service on healthcare quality and information systems.
 
 Keywords: Healthcare Quality, Information and Communication Systems, Employee Perspectives, Validity and Reliability, Healthcare Improvement

The PCQ-Infertility Revised: A New Digital Instrument to Measure Treatment Satisfaction of Fertility Patients.

One of the key dimensions of healthcare quality is patient-centeredness, which represents how well healthcare is geared towards patients' needs and wishes. Many questionnaires that measure the patient-centeredness are long and complicated, eliciting non-response or careless responding. Moreover, responses to some commonly used questionnaires are difficult to interpret. The Patient-Centeredness Questionnaire-Infertility (PCQ-Infertility) is used to measure the patient's experience of fertility healthcare quality. The aim of this study was to improve the PCQ-Infertility to allow large-scale clinical implementation. The study was performed in three parts. First, shortcomings of the original PCQ-Infertility were identified by evaluation of expert opinions. Second, the number of items were reduced, and items were rescaled and rephrased. Third, 844 patients filled in the original PCQ-Infertility and 260 patients filled in the revised PCQ-Infertility and reliability analyses were performed. In addition, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the revised PCQ-Infertility. The number of items in the revised questionnaire was reduced by 24% (from 51 to 39 items), which increased the internal consistency and reliability. The reliability analyses and confirmatory factor analysis indicated high consistency and convergent validity in all seven dimensions (accessibility, information, communication, patient involvement, respect for patient's values, continuity and transition, and competence) of the revised PCQ-Infertility. The revised PCQ-Infertility is a more valid and reliable instrument than the original PCQ-Infertility, easier to interpret and shorter. Therefore, large-scale clinical implementation and data analysis are now possible, giving the opportunity for fertility care professionals to evaluate and improve their healthcare.

The Effect of Timeliness of Care on Lung Cancer Survival - A Population-Based Approach.

Timeliness of care is an important dimension of healthcare quality but it's unclear whether it improves clinical outcomes in lung cancer (LC) patients. This study aims to analyze treatment patterns, time-to-treatment (TTT) and the impact of treatment timeliness (TT) in overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with LC in 2009-2014 in a population-based registry from Southern Portugal. We estimated median TTT for overall population, treatment type and stage. The impact of treatment and TT on five-year OS was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression modelling to determine the hazard ratio (HR) of death associated with treatment and TT. From the 11,308 cases diagnosed, 61.7% received treatment. Treatment rate decreased with increasing stage from 88% in stage I to 66.1% in stage IV. Overall median TTT was 49 days (IQR: 28-88) and 43.3% received TT. Surgery had a longer TTT than radiotherapy and systemic treatment. Patients in earlier stages had lower TT rates and longer TTT compared to more advanced, 24.7% and 80 days in stage I versus 51.3% and 42 days in stage IV (p < 0.0001). OS was 14.9% for total population and 19.6% and 7.1% for patients with and without treatment registered, respectively. TT had no observed impact on OS for stages I/II but a negative effect for stages III/IV. Relative to treated, the adjusted mortality risk was higher in untreated patients (HR = 2.240; 95%CI: 2.293-2.553). Contrary to treatment, TT had a negative impact on survival, with 11.3% in timely vs. 21.5% in untimely treated. Compared to untimely treated, the risk of death in TT patients was 46.6% higher (HR = 1.465; 95%CI: 1.381-1.555). LC survival is highly dependent on early diagnosis and adequate treatment. Time-to-treatment was longer than recommended for all treatment types but particularly for surgery. Overall TT results were paradoxical, as better survival was observed in patients untimely treated. The factors associated with TT were not possible to analyze and its impact on patient outcomes remains unclear. However, it is important to assess quality-of-care to improved LC management.

Association of Patient Experience of Care and Radiation Therapy Initiation Among Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer

For women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy (RT) has been a guideline-recommended treatment. However, lumpectomy followed by hormonal therapy is also an approved treatment for certain women. It is unclear what patient-driven factors are related to decisions to receive RT. This study examined relationships between patient-reported experience of care, an important dimension of health care quality, and receipt of RT after lumpectomy. We used National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data linked to the CMS Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems patient surveys (SEER-CAHPS) to examine experiences of care among women diagnosed with local/regional stage breast cancer 2000 to 2017 who received lumpectomy, were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, completed a CAHPS survey ≤18 months after diagnosis, and survived for this study period. Experience of care was assessed by patient-provided scores for physicians, doctor communication, care coordination, and other aspects of care. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of receipt of external beam RT with care experience and patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The study population included 824 women; 655 (79%) received RT. Women with higher experience of care scores for their personal doctor were significantly more likely to have received any RT (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; P=.033). Nonsignificant trends were observed for associations of increased RT with higher CAHPS measures of doctor communications (OR, 1.15; P=.055) and care coordination (OR, 1.24; P=.051). In contrast, women reporting higher scores for Part D prescription drug plans were significantly less likely to have received RT (OR, 0.78; P=.030). Patient experience of care was significantly associated with receipt of RT after lumpectomy among women with breast cancer. Health care organization leaders may want to consider incorporating experience of care into quality improvement initiatives and other activities that aim to improve patient decision-making, care, and outcomes.

Healthcare in cumulatively caused migration: Hong Kong residents’ perceived Mainland healthcare quality and migration intentions in the Greater Bay Area, China

The complex role of healthcare in migration has not been fully understood in existing studies, which are largely limited to the simple examination of migration behaviors associated with the uneven distribution of healthcare services. This study provides a more nuanced understanding by considering the subjective dimension of healthcare quality as an important part of the cumulative causation of migration thesis. We argue that migration behaviors and perceived healthcare quality in the destination are mutually constitutive, entailing a continuous reproduction process of migrations with heterogeneous patterns across social groups. These ideas are explored in the context of the Greater Bay Area, wherein Mainland healthcare quality has long been a major concern for Hong Kong residents' migration decisions. Based on structural equation modeling analysis of 3,500 responses from a survey of Hong Kong residents conducted in 2020, we found significant conditional mediating effects of perceived Mainland healthcare quality in reproducing HK-to-Mainland migrations. Recent living experiences and migration networks in Mainland are associated with positive perceptions of Mainland healthcare quality, which further enhance future migration intentions. This effect was uneven among HK residents and conditional upon individuals’ socio-economic status – weakened by a higher education level while non-linearly affected by household incomes. This study enriches the understanding of healthcare-impacted migrations and foregrounds the fundamental role of social infrastructure in facilitating and consolidating regional development.

Hospital accreditation: an umbrella review.

Hospital accreditation is an established quality improvement intervention. Despite a growing body of research, the evidence of effect remains contested. This umbrella review synthesizes reviews that examine the impacts of hospital accreditation with regard to health-care quality, highlighting research trends and knowledge gaps. Terms specific to the population: 'hospital' and the intervention: 'accreditation' were used to search seven databases: CINAHL (via EBSCOhost), Embase, Medline (via EBSCOhost), PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) EBP Database (via Ovid). 2545 references were exported to endnote. After completing a systematic screening process and chain-referencing, 33 reviews were included. Following quality assessment and data extraction, key findings were thematically grouped into the seven health-care quality dimensions. Hospital accreditation has a range of associations with health system and organizational outcomes. Effectiveness, efficiency, patient-centredness, and safety were the most researched quality dimensions. Access, equity, and timeliness were examined in only three reviews. Barriers to robust original studies were reported to have impeded conclusive evidence. The body of research was largely atheoretical, incapable of precisely explaining how or why hospital accreditation may actually influence quality improvement. The impact of hospital accreditation remains poorly understood. Future research should control for all possible variables. Research and accreditation program development should integrate concepts of implementation and behavioural science to investigate the mechanisms through which hospital accreditation may enable quality improvement.

Sustainable Health Care Provision Worldwide: Is There a Necessary Trade-Off between Cost and Quality?

Quality health care is an essential human right, on the agenda of sustainable development and presents a challenge in the twenty-first century. There are different perspectives regarding the price and quality of health care, and it is necessary to review the quality health care issue and how it influenced by price. The aim of this study is to explore the different dimensions of health care quality, examine the association with technology, health care market characteristics, additional and optional services of health care, sustainability, and some exceptional situations. We performed the narrative review searching by key words by main search engine Google and followed by their mother publication and or any first web database. We found that health care is a service industry, needs basic standards and specialized human resources to perform the procedure, and quality health care is not associated with an extra price. The quality of health care assures sustainability. Likewise, there are some additional choices during certain procedures, and those may have different price options and would be linked with quality. So, those optional health care and basic health need to define separately.

Patients' Perception Towards Quality of Nursing Care and Associated Factors at Agaro General Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Quality care is currently on the agenda of policy-makers at national and international levels. Patient-centeredness is considered an integral component of healthcare quality dimensions in addition to its effectiveness and safety. This indicates that healthcare should be viewed from a patient's perspective. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted with a total sample size of 422 using systematic random sampling among patients admitted to the Agaro General Hospital. SPSS software version 25.0 was used to enter and analyze the data. The relationship between the dependent variable and covariates was determined using multivariable binary logistic regression analysis. A total of 405 patients participated in this study with a response rate of 96.0%. The overall percentage of positive perception was 76.3%. Clients aged 31-40 years were more likely [AOR: 2.191, 95% CI: 1.033-4.645, p-value: .041] and clients aged ≥ 51 years were less likely to perceive positively [AOR: 0.490, 95% CI: 0.271-0.886, p-value: .018]. Patients who had paid for receiving care were more likely to perceive it positively [AOR: 3.046, 95% CI 1.043-8.896, p-value: .042]. The odds of positive perception towards the quality of nursing care were higher among patients who thought the hospital cost was medium [AOR: 3.066, 95% CI: 1.286-7.311, p-value: .012], low [AOR: 13.859, 95% CI: 2.245-85.562, p-value: .005], and uncertain [AOR: 6.116, 95% CI: 1.988-18.809, p-value: .002]. Most patients had a positive perception of the quality of nursing care. Being elderly and feeling towards hospital costs have a negative influence whereas having paid for the treatment has a positive influence on the patients' perception of nursing care. Hence the need increases with age, and healthcare providers should pay great attention while providing care for elderly patients.

How Telemedicine Can Improve the Quality of Care for Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias? A Narrative Review.

Background and Objectives: Dementia affects more than 55 million patients worldwide, with a significant societal, economic, and psychological impact. However, many patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other related dementias have limited access to effective and individualized treatment. Care provision for dementia is often unequal, fragmented, and inefficient. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine use, which holds promising potential for addressing this important gap. In this narrative review, we aim to analyze and discuss how telemedicine can improve the quality of healthcare for AD and related dementias in a structured manner, based on the seven dimensions of healthcare quality defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), 2018: effectiveness, safety, people-centeredness, timeliness, equitability, integrated care, and efficiency. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE and Scopus databases were searched for peer-reviewed articles investigating the role of telemedicine in the quality of care for patients with dementia. A narrative synthesis was based on the seven WHO dimensions. Results: Most studies indicate that telemedicine is a valuable tool for AD and related dementias: it can improve effectiveness (better access to specialized care, accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, avoidance of preventable hospitalizations), timeliness (reduction of waiting times and unnecessary transportation), patient-centeredness (personalized care for needs and values), safety (appropriate treatment, reduction of infection risk),integrated care (interdisciplinary approach through several dementia-related services), efficiency (mainly cost-effectiveness) and equitability (overcoming geographical barriers, cultural diversities). However, digital illiteracy, legal and organizational issues, as well as limited awareness, are significant potential barriers. Conclusions: Telemedicine may significantly improve all aspects of the quality of care for patients with dementia. However, future longitudinal studies with control groups including participants of a wide educational level spectrum will aid in our deeper understanding of the real impact of telemedicine in quality care for this population.

Is patient experience of care associated with treatment choices for women with early-stage breast cancer?

289 Background: For women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy is a guideline-recommended treatment. However, lumpectomy followed by hormonal therapy is also an approved treatment regimen for certain women. It is unclear what patient-driven factors are related to the decision to receive radiation therapy. This study examined the relationship between patient-reported experience of care, an important dimension of health care quality, and receipt of radiation therapy following lumpectomy among women with breast cancer. Methods: We used the SEER-CAHPS data resource (NCI Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results [SEER] data linked to Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey responses) to examine experiences of care among women diagnosed with local or regional stage breast cancer in 2000-2017 who received lumpectomy, were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare, completed a CAHPS survey within 18 months of diagnosis, and survived for this study period. Experience of care was assessed by patient-provided numeric scores for overall care, health plan, physicians, customer service, doctor communication, care coordination, and other aspects of care. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations of receipt of radiation therapy with care experience and patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results: The study population included 825 women; 651 (79%) received radiation therapy. Approx. 84% were diagnosed with localized (vs. regional) breast cancer. Women with higher experience scores for their personal doctor or for care coordination were significantly more likely to have received any radiation therapy. In contrast, among women enrolled in Medicare Part D plans, those who reported higher scores for their prescription drug plan were significantly less likely to have received radiation therapy. Conclusions: Patient experience of care was significantly associated with receipt of radiation therapy following lumpectomy among women with breast cancer. While these results do not show causality, future quality improvement initiatives may want to explore the role of patient experience of care in facilitating patient decision making and improving quality of care.

Status of patient safety in selected Ghanaian hospitals: a national cross-sectional study

BackgroundSafety is one of the dimensions of healthcare quality and is core to achieving universal health coverage and healthcare delivery worldwide. In Ghana, the status of patient safety in the...

The Experiences of Patients Treated with Complete Removable Dentures: A Systematic Literature Review of Qualitative Research

Patient experience has been acknowledged as a critical dimension of healthcare quality alongside patient safety and clinical effectiveness. However, patient experiences in complete removable denture wearing have not been well established qualitatively. The purpose of this review was to synthesize qualitative studies that investigated the experiences of people wearing removable dentures in order to gain a deeper understanding of the issues and their causes. Databases of PubMed, SCOPUS, and CINAHL were searched to assess articles published in English from 2010 to 2021 globally. Qualitative studies that reported on experiences of people wearing removable dentures were included. A total of ten studies were included. People who wear dentures expressed diversified experiences (both negative and positive), including physical, social, psychological processes, and affective responses. Furthermore, experiences were related to emotions, maintenance of dentures, hygiene, access to care, and cost. Those wearing implant retained dentures reported more positive experiences than those who wear conventional complete dentures. Denture wearing experiences is a complex phenomenon involving the patient in wholeness including their environment. Healthcare professionals should be considering a holistic approach when providing denture rehabilitation. There is a need to further explore denture wearing experiences using qualitative approaches, as understanding of patient experiences can inform and provide clear directions on quality improvement initiatives and health-care policy development.

Evaluation of Patient Experience with Veterans Affairs Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners Providing Comprehensive Medication Management

Patient experience is considered an important dimension of health care quality and thus is included as part of the quadruple aim of health care. The VHA Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner (CPP) operates as an advanced practice provider (APP) providing comprehensive medication management (CMM) with authority to initiate, discontinue or modify medication under a scope of practice (SOP). The VHA CPP practices in many different outpatient clinical areas to include but not limited to primary care, mental health, pain management, cardiology, substance use disorder and anticoagulation. While literature regarding the ability of the VHA CPP to increase access and quality of care is well published, very little information exist regarding patient experience with the VHA CPP. We sought to report the patient experience with VHA CPP as measured electronically over 1 year by Veterans. Patient experience surveys were electronically sent to randomly selected Veterans via email to evaluate a recent outpatient healthcare encounter at a VA medical center or outpatient clinic with a CPP with scoring on a Likert scale of 1-5 with 5 being optimal. A total of 743 Veteran surveys were completed for a response rate of 20%. For individual domains of patient experience based on respondent scores of 4 or 5, ease and simplicity were rated at 94.4%, quality 91.9%, employee helpfulness 94.9%, satisfaction 95.0% and confidence/trust 91.9%. Results demonstrate that Veterans’ experience with the CPP in every patient care experience domain was positive with scores ranging from the low to high 90th percentile.

Artificial intelligence enhancing the quality of healthcare services

This paper aims to propose that the applications of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare improve the quality of healthcare services. Through theoretical analysis of existing literature of the applications of AI in healthcare, then descriptive data analysis of a questionnaire distributed among healthcare professionals in six countries to validate the theoretical analysis. As a result of the descriptive analysis, it is proved that the applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare are enhancers of the six dimensions of quality healthcare services defined by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) as defining dimensions of healthcare quality globally.

Role substitution of specialist medical doctors with allied-health professionals: A qualitative exploration of patients' experiences and perceptions of healthcare quality.

The need to improve patient access, offer increased choice and improve patient outcomes whilst maintaining safe care is driving the healthcare workforce to evolve. Extending allied-health scope of practice by integrating models of care that traverse traditional professional boundaries has been one such strategy. This study explored patients' acceptance and experiences of four allied-health extended scope of practice models of care. The study aimed to identify dimensions of quality healthcare that matter to patients and describe the extent to which they perceived these to be delivered in allied-health professional role substitution models of care. Qualitative methodology using semistructured interviews were conducted with 29 participants who had received treatment from an allied-health professional role substitution model. This was a purposeful sample with recruitment across genders, agesand social backgrounds. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribedand independently analysed by two researchers using a thematic approach. Six major themes were identified which revealed dimensions of healthcare quality that were important to participants: Balancing expectations and overall satisfaction; Timely access and convenience; Continuity, integrationand coordination of care; Clinician expert skills, professional mannerand interpersonal attributes; Financial considerations when receiving care; and Perceptions of treatment outcomes. This study highlights participants' views and experiences of allied-health extended scope of practice models of care. Service delivery models were an acceptable alternative to traditional specialist medical care with the perception that extended scope of practice models of care delivered many aspects of quality care that mattered to patients.