The National Quality Forum (NQF) is the best organization to provide third-party endorsed outcome measures for areas such as improvement in medication management, ambulation, and pain. NQF is a nonprofit organization that reviews, endorses, and recommends standardized performance measures for use in healthcare quality improvement. These measures are widely recognized and used by healthcare organizations to ensure high-quality care and improve patient outcomes.

Leapfrog Group (A): Primarily focuses on hospital safety and quality reporting, but not specifically on outcome measures like those listed.

The Joint Commission (TJC) (B): Accredits and certifies healthcare organizations, focusing on overall quality standards rather than specific outcome measures.

URAC (C): Provides accreditation for various types of healthcare organizations but does not focus on endorsing specific outcome measures.

Reference

NAHQ Body of Knowledge: Quality Measurement and NQF-Endorsed Measures

NAHQ CPHQ Exam Preparation Materials: Identifying and Using Outcome Measures

Using patient storytelling is the most effective approach to motivate stakeholders across the care continuum to take action. Stories about real patients help to humanize the data, making the need for improvement more tangible and emotionally compelling. This approach can resonate deeply with stakeholders by illustrating the direct impact of quality initiatives on patient lives, thereby driving a stronger commitment to improvement efforts.

Release national benchmarks (A): While important, benchmarks alone may not motivate action as effectively as personalized, emotional stories.

Develop interactive dashboards (B): Dashboards are useful for tracking performance but may not evoke the same emotional response as storytelling.

Publish unblinded outcome reports (C): This can promote transparency but may not engage stakeholders emotionally or inspire action as effectively as storytelling.

Reference

NAHQ Body of Knowledge: Stakeholder Engagement and Motivation Techniques

NAHQ CPHQ Exam Preparation Materials: Using Storytelling in Quality Improvement

Using clinical guidelines based on scientific evidence is most likely to improve practice patterns12345.Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) are systematically developed statements aimed at helping people make clinical, policy-related, and system-level decisions1.They are perceived to present the best evidence for managing clinical matters, including conditions or symptoms, and are upheld as the gold standard of high-quality healthcare1.

CPGs are intended to improve the quality of care provided to patients while containing healthcare costs and reducing variability in clinical practice1.They offer a way of bridging the gap between what is known to be the best evidence, policy, and good practice standards in healthcare1.By using these guidelines, healthcare practitioners can critically assess research data, clinical guidelines, and other information resources to correctly identify the clinical problem, apply the most high-quality intervention, and re-evaluate the outcome for future improvement5.

Therefore, the answer is option A: Improve practice patterns.This is because the use of evidence-based clinical guidelines helps to standardize care, reduce variability, and improve the quality and consistency of patient care12345.

When recommending a quality improvement project, the first consideration should be how the project aligns with the organization's strategic goals. Alignment ensures that the project supports the broader objectives of the organization, making it more likely to receive support from leadership and necessary resources. Projects that are in sync with strategic priorities are also more likely to yield significant and relevant outcomes, contributing to the organization's overall mission and vision.

When and how the project outcomes will be measured (A): While important, this step comes after ensuring the project aligns with strategic goals.

Who will provide the resources for the quality project (C): Resource allocation is a critical consideration, but only after the project's relevance to strategic goals is established.

What departments and stakeholders need to be engaged (D): Stakeholder engagement is crucial, but first, the project must align with strategic objectives.

Reference

NAHQ Body of Knowledge: Strategic Alignment and Project Selection

NAHQ CPHQ Exam Preparation Materials: Quality Improvement Project Planning