Moving healthcare organization from the fee-for-service world to value-based purchasing

Moving healthcare organization from the fee-for-service world to value-based purchasing
There is widespread agreement that the fee-for-service payment encourages the overuse of healthcare services and offers little incentive for quality improvement. Value-based purchasing (VBP) is the proposed approach that creates stronger links between payment and performance. This program rewards acute care facilities for the quality of care provided in inpatient settings while improving patient experiences. The purpose of this proposal is to develop a strategic plan to move my healthcare organization from the fee-for-service world to value-based purchasing. The strategic plan involves three crucial hospital departments that will have the most impact on the VBP program including the hospital administration, physician services, and nursing department.

Most Pertinent Components

Value-based purchasing programs aim at promoting better care for individuals and populations while lowering the cost of medical services. My healthcare organization aims at lowering costs associated with unnecessary readmissions and preventable healthcare-associated conditions. These components are described under the original CMS value-based purchasing programs that are used as measures for performance. Secondly, the implementation of processes to achieve VBP leads to improved quality of services. Improved quality is related to improved patient experiences which have positive effects on reimbursements from the CMS.

Preparation for Implementation

The hospital administration will prepare financially for the incorporation of VBP practices in the facility. The preparation will include improvement of staffing, training of employees, and allocation of resources to each department. For instance, the physician services will be required to implement a follow-up protocol that will require computers and a control station. The nursing department will focus on hand hygiene practices that will require education and training. The administration ought to prepare resources such as rooms for training and the team to provide education and training for employees.

The physicians will prepare for the implementation of a follow-up protocol that aims at reducing hospital readmissions. The first step will include selection of a team responsible for post-discharge follow-up and compiling of monthly data for analysis. Secondly, preparation for training on how to conduct successful follow-up plans will be necessary for the implementation team. Additionally, the team will collaborate with the IT department to select the most appropriate computer system and telephone call system to be used for communication and tracking of patients after discharge.

The nursing department will prepare for the implementation of the hand hygiene protocol by the WHO to reduce hospital acquired conditions. The first step will involve identification hand hygiene areas and addition of more hand washing points in each unit. Secondly, allocation of resources to buy soap and hand sanitizers will be necessary. Each nursing unit should also ensure availability of the WHO guidelines at the hand hygiene stations to guide the process of hand washing. Together with the physician services, preparation for training and education will necessary for effective implementation of VBP.

Necessary Education and Training

The three departments will be educated on VBP, its importance to the organization, and how it will be achieved. The nursing department will require education and training on the use of WHO hand hygiene guidelines to reduce the rate of HACs. Focus and emphasis will be put on hand hygiene using soap, when to wash hands and the duration of hand washing.

Physicians will require education of post-discharge follow-up to reduce hospital readmission rates. The selected team will undergo training on how use the telephone service to reach patients, information to be shared and communication techniques when communication over the phone. Secondly, training on the use of the computer software to analyze data will be done to ensure accurate monthly reports are provided. Additional training will include dissemination methods of the findings after completion of the test period.

The hospital administration roles in the project include monitoring the processes, allocating resources and managing problems that might arise. Necessary education for this department will include the potential setbacks expected during the implementation period and how to deal with them. Secondly, the administration will be educated on the importance of supporting VBP in the organization and how the hospital financial input will translate to more returns in the future. Additionally, the administrators will be trained on how to monitor the two departments during the implementation including aspects of interprofessional collaboration to achieve better results.

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