Research paper on methods of healthcare quality measurement Essay

Research paper on methods of healthcare quality measurement - Essay Example The following brief discussion will help the readers to understand the characteristics and aspects of these two measurement processes. Structural Quality Measurement Structural quality measurement generally comprises the resource characteristics in a healthcare system including groups of practitioners, individual practitioners, geographic location, accessibility of services, and systems of care. This structural quality measurement assesses the presumed capacity of practitioners (Donaldson, 1999). It helps to provide quality health care. The structural quality measurement helps the healthcare professional to assess specialty board certification, licensure and training structures. This measurement system helps to provide facility such private accreditation, safe physical attributes, government certification and effective procedures and policies. Process Quality Measurement The present quality of care literature is enriched with performance measurement discussion. It is one of the curre nt terminologies that are related to quality measurement. Process quality performance may include service, convenience, timeline and interpersonal aspects of care. This process quality performance measurement provides awareness and information to the patients. Moreover, it helps the patients to share their views and advice that can help in the decision making process. Example These two quality measurement methods are utilized in healthcare as important quality measurement tools. The following discussion will reveal the effectiveness of these two methods in the improvement of health care institution. Structural Quality Measurement in Healthcare The structural quality measurement method helps to assess nursing home care. It is evident that several complexities involved in the health care organization structure affect the quality of care. Due to the complexity, the health care institutions cannot follow the rules and regulations effectively (Penson & Wei, 2006). Therefore, in order to improve the organizational structure and level of care, several health care institutions implement the structural quality measurement process. A majority of patients in nursing homes used to file complaints against inadequate nursing care. The structural quality measurement helps the nurses or other health care staff to improve their skills and nursing care abilities. This process provides effective facility, training and staffing for the employees in a nursing home. Availability of patient care, nursing home workforce, and effective training programs needs careful review to judge the quality of care. Process Quality Measurement in Healthcare In nursing homes, several frequent problems include hazardous and uncertain environments, inadequate care plans and unsanitary food. In this kind of situation, process quality measurement methods are implemented in order to overcome the issues and improve the service and performance of healthcare. In terms of quality of the clinics, these measu rements generally focus on the management and diagnosis of the diseases. It also addresses preventive care such as disease screening (Brown & Remenyi, 2004). The results of these measurements are provided to the employees. It helps the employees to choose the health plans. A majority of healthcare systems provide consumer report cards. It helped the healthcare institutions to