Defining and Measuring Quality in Health Care Organizations   Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of intelligent effort. —John Ruskin  Quality is multidimensional and involves the perspectives of various stakeholders, including patients and families. As noted in this week’s Learning Resources, defining quality is not a simple, straightforward task. Yet, it provides an essential foundation for being able to measure and assess quality, and, ultimately, to improve it.  In this Discussion, you consider definitions and measurements of quality. As you proceed, think about why it is important for organizations to be able to quantify quality and compare current performance to previous performance, to a set of standards, and/or to performance in other organizations.   To prepare: •Review the information in the Learning Resources, especially the chapters in the Sadeghi, Brazi, Mikhail, and Shabot course text, focusing on how quality is or could be defined and measured. •Think about a health care organization with which you are familiar. It may be the same organization you are focusing on for your Course Project, or a different one. How do you think various stakeholders in this organization would define quality? How would you define quality as it relates to this organization? •Review the information on quality standards and / or aims in the Learning Resources, and consider the following: ◦Which outcomes related to quality are currently being monitored in the organization that you have selected? ◦How is related data collected and evaluated? ◦Does the organization use health information technology in this regard? If so, how? ◦How is quality-related information (e.g., data, needs for improvement) communicated throughout the organization? ◦What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of the current approach to quality in this organization?

By Day 3  Post a definition of quality for your selected organization. Describe at least one quality-related measure that is currently being monitored within the organization.
Summarize the data collection process for this measure, and explain how this information is communicated to or among the staff. Identify at least one strength and one weakness related to how quality is defined, measured, and/or monitored within the organization.

Required Readings
Hickey, J. V., & Brosnan, C. A. (2017). Evaluation  of health care quality in for DNPs (2nd  ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
•Chapter 6, “Evaluating of Health Care Information Systems and Patient Care Technology” (pp. 143-170) This chapter examines federally mandated use of health information technology to improve health care and care delivery.   Sadeghi, S., Barzi, A., Mikhail, O., & Shabot, M. (2013). Integrating quality and strategy in health care organizations. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
•Review Chapter 3, “General Concepts in Quality” (pp. 45–82) (assigned in Week 4)    The authors discuss historical perspectives of quality in various industries, and explain the multifaceted nature of defining quality in health care settings.     •Chapter 4, “Current State of Quality Measurement: External Dynamics” (pp. 83–98)    This chapter describes many of the government, nonprofit, and for-profit groups / organizations that contribute to the establishment quality standards and support research to improve the quality of health care.     •Chapter 5, “Current State of Quality Measurement: Internal Dynamics” (pp. 99–110)    This chapter focuses on mandatory and voluntary quality measurement in organizations.     •Chapter 6, “Measuring Quality of Inpatient Care” (pp. 111–132)    This chapter explains the terminology use in quality measurement (e.g., measures, indicators, metrics), and notes that measurement is a critical foundation for the ultimate aim of creating effective changes to improve quality.
•Chapter 8, “Quantifying the Quality Performance Gaps” (pp. 161–177)    This chapter addresses how to quantify current performance and set targets.   Epstein, J. N., Langberg, J. M., Lichtenstein, P. K., Kolb, R. C., & Stark, L. J. (2010). Sustained improvement in pediatricians’ ADHD practice behaviors in the context of a community-based quality improvement initiative. Children’s Health Care, 39(4), 296–311.  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.     Researchers evaluate a quality improvement project on pediatric care of ADHD patients and the sustainability of the improvement over a two-year period.

Health information system
Please number each answer and reference with each questions so ill know what answer goes with each questions. Deadline: Sunday at noon, response post to at least “ONE” other learners due by Monday the next week at noon. The length of initial discussion post 300-word length and reply/response post should be at least 200 words per each question asked, to another fellow student and any real life experience as applicable, from news or text material. Late submission penalty applies based on the number of day’s late and in line with policy and procedure.

1a. “Health Care Data and Information”
· How can health care administrations improve data and information quality while at the same time decreasing data and information errors? Provide at least one (1) example to support your response.  
· What is interoperability, and why do health care providers and organizations still face critical issues and challenges related to interoperability despite the adoption and use of EHR? Support your response with at least one (1) example.

2b. “Strengths and Weaknesses of System Acquisition and Implementation” 
· What are the various options for acquiring a health care information system and the advantages and disadvantages of each option?
· Discuss the key risks to a health care organization that fails to allocate sufficient support and resources to a newly implemented health care information system. Next, propose one (1) strategy to mitigate the risks in question. Provide a rationale to support your response.

3c.“Evaluating the Health Information Systems and Alignment”

Analyze the reasons, discussed in Chapter 7 of the text, why IT fails to deliver returns. Next, discuss the main steps that management could take in order to address the reasons why IT fails to deliver returns. Provide a rationale for your response. 
Also, determine the basic components of a strategic information system (IT) plan within health care organizations. Next, specify the main roles of a leadership team—including Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO)—in the process of IT alignment and strategic planning, including the role and function of the Data Analyst.