Webquest Evidence-Based Practice, Coursework Example

Introduction

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality offers a number of evidence-based resources in order to demonstrate the importance of clinical matters in order to enhance quality of care for all patients (AHRQ, 2014). The Evidence-Based Practice Center Program represents an opportunity to evaluate new and existing research to facilitate process improvement and skill development to administer the best possible care to patients (AHRQ, 2014). One of the most important areas to consider is that evidence-based practice solutions must be practical and relevant to a variety of populations so that the needs of these groups are met in a timely and efficient manner (AHRQ, 2014). It is important to identify these resources and to adopt new evidence-based practice solutions as necessary to improve quality of care for patients requiring treatment and guidance (AHRQ, 2014).

Analysis

Evidence-based decision making facilitates the discovery of new perspectives to make decisions regarding knowledge and evidence generated in a variety of clinical fields (CDC, 2014). These practice methods are instrumental in determining how to utilize different forms of evidence to promote positive outcomes for patients (CDC, 2014). These forms of evidence include experiential, best available, and contextual evidence, all of which operate in a collaborative manner to facilitate the desired research outcomes (CDC, 2014). There are important steps to take that reflect the challenges associated with evidence-based decisions in order to accommodate emerging needs (CDC, 2014).

Organizations seeking to become members of the Evidence-Based Practice Center group must demonstrate their knowledge and expertise regarding different topics that will contribute to effective results in many different areas where evidence-based practice is required (AHRQ, 2014). This program encourages organizations from a wide variety of backgrounds in order to address the realistic and serious challenges that populations face as the driving force in supporting positive research-based results (AHRQ, 2014). Prospective centers are chosen based upon their strengths in one or more areas of evidence-based practice and their ability to convey different areas of research effectively to broaden evidence-based knowledge across different clinical fields (AHRQ, 2014).

Health information technology is a complex and intricate process that supports a greater understanding of specific challenges and factors that contribute to the effectiveness of these technologies in healthcare practices throughout the United States (HealthIT.gov, 2014). Toolkits to support knowledge growth and generation regarding health information technologies are instrumental in advancing practice settings to a new level and in supporting the growth and development of new perspectives to ensure that patient care outcomes are based on high quality of care (HealthIT.gov, 2014). Tools such as electronic health records and e-prescribing are necessary in the modern era to streamline processes and promote efficiency in clinical practice settings to support cost effective and appropriate outcomes (HealthIT.gov, 2014).

Different types of toolkits are essential to the growth and development of information technologies in healthcare organizations. For example, the Health IT Adoption Toolbox was established by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a means of planning and implementing a strategy regarding health information technology that is cost effective and appropriate for an organization, given any limitations and/or time constraints that are in place (HRSA, 2014). These tools provide alternatives to finance IT projects, secure the desired knowledge-based resources, conduct a successful system-wide implementation, and strategies to sustain the system over the long term (HRSA, 2014). These elements are critical because they capture the approaches that are necessary to facilitate the desired IT results in a cost effective manner (HRSA, 2014).

Advancing health informatics within an organization requires a combination of the aforementioned tools in order to achieve the desired outcomes. Furthermore, it is necessary to evaluate the context of the organizational environment so that the appropriate resources might be utilized. There are considerable factors associated with health IT development within an organization that requires a practical strategic approach that supports desirable outcomes for patients. These efforts must be cohesive and cost effective, based upon the recommendations provided by the toolkits in order to ensure that resources are used wisely and appropriately for the organization. Perhaps most relevant and timely in today’s healthcare environment is the implementation of an electronic health record system to accommodate patient record storage and retrieval in an efficient manner. In addition, electronic prescribing tools are often necessary to minimize errors and expand quality of care for patients.

Conclusion

Evidence-based practice solutions in healthcare environments are essential to the discovery of new techniques and strategies to facilitate positive outcomes for patients and improve quality of care. It is necessary for organizations to share the knowledge and expertise that they have obtained through practical experience in order to accomplish the objectives sought in promoting effective clinical outcomes for patients. It is important to define the areas where knowledge and evidence are lacking yet require timely information in order to ensure that patients are treated with the best possible framework in place. Organizations that utilize evidence-based practice to make decisions are likely to benefit from these objectives and support unique solutions to relevant problems that occur throughout different population groups. Furthermore, the utilization of information technologies is of critical importance in providing an efficient framework to achieve high quality care and treatment for all patients. However, resources must be available and a commitment to achieving the desired level of progress must be considered in order to improve organizational success and cost effectiveness as it relates to patient care quality and treatment.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2014). Evidence-based practice centers (EPC) program overview. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/evidence-based-reports/overview/index.html

Centers for Disease Control (2014). Understanding evidence: evidence based decision-making summary. Retrieved from https://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/evidence/docs/EBDM_82412.pdf

HealthIT.gov (2014). Basics of HealthIT. Retrieved from http://www.healthit.gov/patients-families/basics-health-it

Health Resources and Services Administration (2014). HRSA Health IT Adoption Toolkit. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit/toolbox/HealthITAdoptiontoolbox/