Case Report
MMCI established a culture of continuous quality improvement (CQI). Wenke, Jongwha, LaClair, and Paz (2013) have linked CQI to better clinical quality and improved patient satisfaction. The best practice in EBP methodology is to ensure that patient care is coordinated and of high quality through the use of objective clinical data from credible sources and references. By the 1980s, a desire to add resources and support services for the coordinated care of patients such as physical rehabilitation helped lead an evolution from Northwestern Hospital to MMCI and then formation of Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Since that time, the hospital’s health services offerings have grown into a primary health system, supporting cardiovascular care, medical education, and health plans.
Conclusion
MMCI recently went through a merger and is now part of a larger health system called Allina Health that serves patients in locations across the Midwest. It has significantly expanded its portfolio of services that utilize EBP to guide care including mental health services, neuroscience, orthopedic care, and cancer treatment. Additionally, decision makers in nursing and medicine throughout this newly formed health system must understand and master each care component to maximize system efficiency and effectiveness.
Assignment
Write a 3-page paper answering the following questions. Please include at least 2 scholarly resources to further support your positions.
Questions
1. In your own words, what is EBP?
2. Is it a worthy goal for U.S. health care delivery? Why or why not?
3. How has MMCI/Allina Health used EBP? Are most other hospital systems in the United States using EBP in similar ways or are there difference in the adoption of EBP?
4. Based on your own knowledge and possibly your own community, what impacts do healthcare mergers have on patient care and EBP?
