EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND THE QUADRUPLE AIM
Healthcare organizations continually seek to optimize healthcare performance. For years, this approach was a three-pronged one known as the Triple Aim, with efforts focused on improved population health, enhanced patient experience, and lower healthcare costs.
More recently, this approach has evolved to a Quadruple Aim by including a focus on improving the work life of healthcare providers. Each of these measures are impacted by decisions made at the organizational level, and organizations have increasingly turned to EBP to inform and justify these decisions.
To Prepare:
• Read the articles by Sikka, Morath, & Leape (2015); Crabtree, Brennan, Davis, & Coyle (2016); and Kim et al. (2016).
Sikka, R., Morath, J. M., & Leape, L. (2015). The Quadruple Aim: Care, health, cost and meaning in workLinks to an external site.. BMJ Quality & Safety, 24, 608–610. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004160 ( this count as a course rescourses)
• Reflect on how EBP might impact (or not impact) the Quadruple Aim in healthcare.
• Consider the impact that EBP may have on factors impacting these quadruple aim elements, such as preventable medical errors or healthcare delivery.
To Complete:
Write a brief analysis (no longer than 2 pages) of the connection between EBP and the Quadruple Aim. APA format.
Your analysis should address how EBP might (or might not) help reach the Quadruple Aim, including each of the four measures of:
• Patient experience
• Population health
• Costs
• Work life of healthcare providers
Sample Answer
The Quadruple Aim, encompassing improved patient experience, population health, reduced healthcare costs, and enhanced work life for providers, presents a compelling framework for optimizing healthcare delivery. Evidence-Based Practice (EBP), a systematic approach to using research to guide clinical decisions, holds immense potential to contribute to achieving each of these goals.
Patient Experience: EBP fosters patient-centered care by incorporating patient preferences and values into treatment decisions. By utilizing research on effective interventions and communication strategies, healthcare professionals can create a more positive and personalized experience for patients, leading to increased satisfaction and engagement.