NURS FPX 6612 Assessment 2 Quality Improvement Proposal

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 6612 Health Care Models Used in Care Coordination

Prof. Name

Date

Quality Improvement Through Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)

To enhance the standard of care and ensure patient safety, healthcare systems are increasingly exploring the benefits of transitioning to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). These collaborative models focus on patient-centered care coordination and evidence-based practices that simultaneously improve clinical outcomes and control healthcare spending. A key component of ACOs is their structured approach to individualized care planning, which has been shown to effectively manage patients with multiple or chronic health issues while limiting unnecessary treatments (Fraze et al., 2020).

One area where ACOs have shown notable success is in the management of mental health conditions, such as depression. Patients treated under ACO frameworks experience significantly fewer preventable hospitalizations than those in traditional care settings. This success stems from the proactive and integrated nature of ACOs, where early intervention and collaborative care help avoid acute episodes that would otherwise require hospitalization (Barath et al., 2020). The structured communication channels between providers, as well as clearly defined accountability mechanisms, contribute to greater care continuity and improved system performance.

Furthermore, ACOs are adept at handling care for large patient groups by balancing cost-efficiency with high-quality services. These organizations align financial incentives with quality benchmarks, discouraging excessive treatments while prioritizing meaningful care delivery. This model not only encourages interdisciplinary cooperation but also distributes responsibility among healthcare stakeholders, driving improvements in population health management and system-wide sustainability (Moy et al., 2020).

Enhancing Outcomes Through Health Information Technology (HIT)

Health Information Technology (HIT) has become a critical enabler in modernizing healthcare delivery by making it more precise, responsive, and affordable. With the introduction of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and unique Medical Record Numbers (MRNs), healthcare professionals can access comprehensive, real-time patient data to inform clinical decisions. These systems help detect emerging health patterns, streamline interventions, and allow for customized patient care approaches that are backed by data insights.

By extending digital infrastructure across care networks, HIT supports collaboration among providers and promotes transparency for patients. Tools such as patient portals allow individuals to track their progress and access relevant health documents, fostering greater engagement. A case that illustrates HIT’s value involves a 61-year-old woman, Caroline McGlade, whose historical medical information stored in her EHR played a pivotal role in evaluating her breast cancer treatment options. This scenario underscores HIT’s capacity for early disease identification and continuity of care (Alaei et al., 2019).

Adopting informatics and health analytics empowers healthcare systems to streamline workflows, reduce redundancies, and enhance team communication. When data is easily accessible and integrated with performance metrics, organizations can pinpoint inefficiencies, monitor care quality, and adapt to patient needs more accurately. The following table outlines the core features of HIT and their effects on care outcomes:

NURS FPX 6612 Assessment 2 Quality Improvement Proposal

Key Features of HIT Integration	Impact on Care Quality
Unique MRNs for all patients	Ensures consistent and accurate documentation across systems
Remote and mobile access to health data	Enhances flexibility and strengthens patient-provider interaction
Clinical decision-making supported by EHRs	Promotes informed diagnoses and tailored interventions
Performance feedback and data visualization	Drives accountability and continuous improvement

Additionally, HIT tools often incorporate staff feedback mechanisms, which contribute to a culture of ongoing quality improvement. Nevertheless, managing expansive databases and ensuring secure access present substantial challenges for ACOs aiming to optimize workload distribution while maintaining care excellence (Robert, 2019).

Challenges in Data Gathering and Recommendations for Improvement

Despite the many advantages of HIT, its implementation brings forth several challenges, particularly in data management, system security, and personnel training. The data lifecycle in healthcare includes collection, preprocessing, and analysis—each of which requires technical competency. Without proper training, healthcare professionals may struggle with data misinterpretation or system misuse. To counter this, continuous professional education in health informatics must be prioritized to build a competent workforce.

Security is another critical concern in HIT operations. Protecting patient information demands stringent cybersecurity protocols such as encryption, restricted access, and secure authentication. As the volume of data grows, healthcare organizations must consider cloud-based storage solutions that can safely accommodate this expansion while ensuring rapid accessibility.

Moreover, the routine use of digital systems has been linked to increased emotional exhaustion among healthcare staff. Constant interaction with technology can result in stress and diminished job satisfaction, particularly when administrative tasks begin to overshadow direct patient care (Gardner et al., 2018). To alleviate this, institutions should implement wellness initiatives, reduce mandatory screen time, and improve user interface designs to support better human-technology interaction.

Ultimately, HIT serves as a foundational tool for achieving ACO goals, but its effectiveness is closely tied to how well challenges in security, usability, and education are addressed. For HIT to continue delivering on its promise of improved care at lower costs, healthcare leaders must invest in scalable systems, safeguard patient data, and create supportive environments for healthcare workers.

References

Alaei, S., Valinejadi, A., Deimazar, G., Zarein, S., Abbasy, Z., & Alirezaei, F. (2019). Use of health information technology in patients care management: A mixed methods study in Iran. Acta Informatica Medica, 27(5), 311. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2019.27.311-317

Barath, D., Amaize, A., & Chen, J. (2020). Accountable care organizations and preventable hospitalizations among patients with depression. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 59(1), e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.01.028

Fraze, T. K., Beidler, L. B., Briggs, A. D. M., & Colla, C. H. (2020). Translating evidence into practice: ACOs’ use of care plans for patients with complex health needs. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(1), 147–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06122-4

Gardner, R. L., Cooper, E., Haskell, J., Harris, D. A., Poplau, S., Kroth, P. J., & Linzer, M. (2018). Physician stress and burnout: The impact of health information technology. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 26(2), 106–114. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocy145

NURS FPX 6612 Assessment 2 Quality Improvement Proposal

Moy, H., Giardino, A., & Varacallo, M. (2020). Accountable care organization. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448136/

Robert, N. (2019). How artificial intelligence is changing nursing. Nursing Management (Springhouse), 50(9), 30–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.numa.0000578988.56622.21