1 Healthcare Statistics Discussion Board 3 Name Institution Course Date 2 A research design is a plan for action or a process that a researcher uses to accumulate and analyze data to solve a particular problem. The research design process involves a nine-step process. The first step is to define the problem in a clear and precise manner, which enables the researcher to remain within the scope of the research objective. Identifying the sources of data is the second step. The researcher identifies different sources of data such as personal documents, patient’s health records, or the World Health Organization website. Thirdly, the researcher elaborates the nature of research such as statistical, experimental, or comparative types of studies (Abutabenjeh & Jaradat, 2018). The fifth step is to identify the objective of the study in an explicitly clear manner such as theoretical understanding or accepts a welfare notion. Identifying the social-cultural context is the sixth step. The study design should be set without conflicting with the social-cultural view of participants, researchers, or readers Notably, the word “backward” has political social, and economic connotations that must be explained clearly. The dimension or boundaries that restrain the researcher are the seventh steps. The researcher has to set limits of the study sample, types of data collection equipment, and data analysis tools to give relevance to the study’s objective (Bouma & Carland, 2016). The basis of selection stands as the eighth step. The researcher has to employ mechanisms such as drawing random, stratified, or double cluster sample sizes that are scientifically valid and stay abreast of unbiased data. Lastly, the researcher is obliged to select the best data collection methods based on the types and nature of the study. Some of the notable data collection methods include observation, interviews, and questionnaires. Research methods and research design vary on how each is applied in a study. Research methods are specific ways of approaching research questions. They involve methods used to collect and analyze data. The chosen research method is limited to the area of research that one 3 wishes to explore (Abutabenjeh & Jaradat, 2018). The research design unearths how the chosen research methods are applied to answer the research questions. Key aspects of research design include methodology, research sample size, and data analysis tools while research methods involve qualitative and quantitative. When preparing a new initiative, I will develop a plan regarding data collection and the database selection process based on the reliability, accuracy, and ease of use for a given method. I will first review the demerits and merits of every method before deciding the best method that suits the area under study. Concerning the database selection, I will review the ratings of every database alongside the research study to enable me to select the best database. Notably, a healthcare study requires the selection of a healthcare database and data collection methods that are consistent with the field of healthcare. The fundamental purpose of using appropriate statistical tools and databases is to render ways and techniques that are effective in containing myriad issues affecting the healthcare sector. If inappropriate statistical tools and databases are used to conduct particular healthcare research, wrong inferences will be drawn and applied to patients (Abutabenjeh & Jaradat, 2018). Resultantly, many clients will be subjected to adverse healthcare complications; hence, questioning the healthcare agency’s objective of rendering quality care and treatment. The research conducted by CDC demonstrates that COVID-19 Vaccination is Safe for Pregnant People. The research’s objective was to determine the speculations circulated on media that COVID-19 Vaccination is injurious to the health of pregnant women and unborn children. CDC gathered data from the v-safe pregnancy registry on pregnant women of 20 weeks. Analyzed data indicated that the miscarriage rate stood at 13%, a figure that is far below the set 4 miscarriage of 11-16%. The databases helpful to conduct similar research include Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System and Vaccine Safety Data link. 5 References Abutabenjeh, S., & Jaradat, R. (2018). Clarification of research design, research methods, and research methodology: A guide for public administration researchers and practitioners. Teaching Public Administration, 36(3), 237–258. Bouma, G. D., & Carland, S. (2016). The research process. Oxford University Press South Melbourne, Australia. 1 Developing Effective Strategies using Evidence-Based Approach Lisa Sooalo Professor Johnson Johnson Individual Project 4 2 To: Hospital Staff From: Quality Improvement Team Date: 6th September 2021 Subject: Developing Effective Strategies using Evidence-Based Approach In a bid to improve healthcare service delivery and enhance viable resource utilization, several issues have continued to hamper such efforts. At our healthcare center, one of the key areas of concern that has been noted is that patients are waiting for long hours in the emergency rooms (ER) before they can be attended to or they can obtain quality care. Waiting for long hours in the emergency rooms before being attended is disastrous to the center since results in higher patient risks since the rate of disease complications increases making it harder to handle the emergency, overcrowding in the center increases making the hospital lose patients who decide to use other nearby centers. Long waiting hours also result in low patient satisfaction; an issue that reduces the likelihood of the hospital getting more patients in the future. In return, low patient satisfaction caused by delayed treatment and reduced efficiency of the flow of patients negatively hampers the financial score of the hospital since revenues reduce as costs remain stagnant or increase. The other area of concern that has been noted is the increased number of readmissions as patients are being discharged early. It is important to understand that the rate of readmission has a variable correlation with financial performance. When the rate of readmission reduces the center will enjoy high operating revenue and operating expenses. An increase in the rate of readmissions means that more treatment is offered, more resources are used and doctors are occupied thus prevents them from attending to incoming new patients. Thus, avoiding more unnecessary readmissions means saving on costs since a high operating margin is reduced. Upadhyay, Stephenson & Smith (2019) also affirm that when readmissions are reduced, the affected hospital is also exempted from paying penalties that are exercised on hospitals that have a 3 higher rate of readmissions. Nevertheless, it has also been noted that the available resources are not being managed effectively by the AKT. Ineffective management of resources affects the accreditation of the hospital in the sense that patients in return get poor services, and it becomes hard to attract and maintain quality human resources. Based on the noted impacts of the key areas on the hospital’s accreditation and financial position, it is important to explore the importance of evidence-based approaches to improve the situation. Titler (2008) defines evidence-based practice as judicious and conscientious integration of the best current evidence with the clinical expertise as well as patient values to arrive at or make effective and efficient clinical decisions. This means that healthcare professions make their treatment decisions by using their acquired clinical expertise, patient preferences, and the available evidence. Evidence-based practices are important in proving health care outcomes in the sense that they provide effective care that is grounded on expertise, research, and evidence, and also aims at improving the status of the patient. Based on the importance of evidence-based practice in improving healthcare outcomes, the issue of increased hospital readmissions can be handled by applying two interventions that are grounded on the approach of evidence-based practice. One of the solutions is to initiate outpatient transitional care approaches where viable settings are set to check on patients who have been discharged from the hospital for few weeks. The other solution is to increase research on prominent illnesses among patients as well as improve patient-doctor attachment as a way of improving patient care. On the other hand, to reduce long waiting hours at the emergency room, one of the best interventions is to keep the nonemergent patients from occupying the bed space if they can be treated differently. For instance, if the lab test waiting area can be fixed with recliners and chairs rather than having patients in beds in the ER waiting for their results, would help reduce long waiting hours. The other solution is to modify the physician staffing in the sense that as patients arrive, particular 4 practitioners assess their situation and recommend the time and treatment they deserve before they move to the ER. Nevertheless, to improve the rate at which resources are deployed and used, one of the best interventions is to have an audit team carry out checks and balances and advise on better ways of stocking and using the available resources. The other approach is to assess the types of resources that are medically of great importance and determine their ratio of patients per demand to reduce overstocking or failed use. Therefore, if we abide by the mentioned approaches, then improved care will be a top priority at our center. 5 References Titler MG. (2008). The Evidence for Evidence-Based Practice Implementation. In: Hughes RG, editor. Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Upadhyay, S., Stephenson, A. L., & Smith, D. G. (2019). Readmission Rates and Their Impact on Hospital Financial Performance: A Study of Washington Hospitals. Inquiry: A Journal of medical care organization, provision and financing, 56, Pp. 1-10
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