Essay Sample on Evidence-Based Practice vs Research: What Nurses Need to Know

Introduction

Evidence-Based Practice and Research are essential to nurses to ensure quality services are available to patients. However, the two are different from each other. Evidence-Based Practice refers to the integration of the best possible clinical evidence with clinical expertise and patient values (Haut, 2018). It is also a systematic and scholarly problem-solving paradigm resulting in the delivery of high-quality healthcare. Hence, the evidence is translated to make patient care decisions. Nursing research is the systematic, formal and rigorous process of inquiry that is used to generate and test theories regarding health-related experiences of human beings in their environments, and concerning methods used by nurses in their practice. Research can also be defined as a systematic investigation designed to generate or contribute to new knowledge, which can be applied broadly (North Dakota Center for Nursing, 2014).

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The Evidence-Based Practice impacts nursing practice by translating knowledge to improve it. EBP, therefore, aims to influence the practice positively. On the other hand, Research generates new knowledge for practice and adds to the knowledge base through literature.

Besides, EBP and Research follow different processes. The EBP process has seven steps. The first step involves cultivating the spirit of inquiry. Then, ask clinical questions (PICOT). The next step is to search for the best evidence before critically appraising it. Integration of proof with clinical expertise with patient preference follows, then evaluation of outcomes and change. Finally, the EBP results are disseminated (Haut, 2018). the Research follows the Scientific Method. The method involves; problem identification, literature review, determining research methods and design, theoretical discussion, data collection and statistical analysis, and interpretation of the findings and dissemination (Haut, 2018).

Application of Healthcare Information and Data Mining

Health information includes data related to someone's medical history, compromising of symptoms diagnoses, procedures, and outcomes. The health industry is a data-intensive industry, calling for the application of health information systems (AHIMA, 2019). The systems manage healthcare data. Healthcare information is essential primarily for the treatment of the patients. Also, the data can be used to track any changes in the health of a patient. Besides, healthcare information is used for purposes such as health system planning, quality control, management, public health monitoring, and Research. Different programs use healthcare information to produce the required outcomes regarding health. The Exeter system in the United Kingdom contains information about patient registration, prescription certification, and others (Raghupathi, 2019).

Due to the increased access to more amounts of patients' data, the healthcare provider uses data mining to optimize their efficiency. Data mining in healthcare has been useful in predictive medicine, management of health care, and measuring how specific treatments are effective. Also, data mining is essential in healthcare since it enables the improvement of the patients' quality of life and improves efficiency (Islam, Hasan, Wang, Germack, & Noor-E-Alam, 2018). It, therefore, helps to save the lives of more patients. In measuring the treatment effectiveness, data mining is used to compare and contrast symptoms, causes, and the courses of treatment to determine the most effective course of action. In detecting fraud and abuse, data mining is applied in identifying any unusual patterns of medical claims physicians, clinics, labs, and others (Raghupathi, 2018).

Data mining and healthcare information systems are used to reduce hospital readmission rates and reduce fraudulent payments. The systems ensure people do not take advantage of patients. Also, they assist professionals in predicting, diagnosing, and treating diseases, leading to better healthcare outcomes. Inappropriate use of antibiotics and other types of medicine makes up a significant expenditure that could be used for medical Research (Islam et al., 2018). However, health information could be used to deal with the available problems.

Data Mining and Case Management

Data mining and interpretation influence case management in several ways. Case management refers to the services assisting eligible people in accessing needed medical, educational, and other services. The two allow for real-time correction for a problem. Technology enables real-time monitoring of patients (Agrawal &Ahmad, 2017). Besides, data mining enables integrated data from payers and physicians to be accessed by clinicians from the entire continuum of care. Real-time information is needed to ensure that patients do not receive redundant care or gaps in care and optimal treatment outcomes. In case of a communication barrier between the patient and the clinicians, data mining is applied by checking medical history, understanding treatments, and the discharge and follow up instructions.

Resource utilization refers to identifying the optimal ways in which a technique, therapy, or procedure can be used to achieve the best health outcomes. It also involves the appropriate use of available medical staff and healthcare professionals (Nursing School Resource, 2019).

Utilization, therefore, involves determining the type of technology to be used to achieve the desired results. Different data mining methods are selected to reduce overall costs. Also, while delegating duties to the medical personnel, procedures, supplies, and medicine are considered. Utilization helps for interpretation to take place by ensuring the employees and resources are appropriately allocated (Nursing School Resource, 2019).

Managed Care, Quality Care Initiatives and Performance Indicators

Managed care refers to the methods of organizing healthcare providers to control healthcare costs and maintain the quality of care. Alternatively, managed healthcare can be defined as a system integrating financing and delivery of proper healthcare using a comprehensive set of services. There are three main types of managed care plans; Health Maintenance Organizations which provides comprehensive health care services at a fixed price, Preferred Provider Organization where patients choose from a range of physicians and facilities who agrees to discount the services but are paid for each service and the Point of Service that includes a part of managed healthcare option, but the patients can go outside the care network by spending more (AFSCME, 2019).

Quality care initiatives are essential in improving the outcome of the healthcare services on the patients. The initiatives focus on measuring and ensuring the improvement of patient outcomes. Besides, the quality improvement initiatives meet the firms' internal goals of monitoring and adhering to the laws of the state that influence improvement priorities (AHRQ, n.d.). Some of the quality care initiatives include the CMS Quality strategy and the Quality Measures developed by CMS. These initiatives have helped to improve the quality of services offered to patients.

Health Indicators are maintained and developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality as a measure that can be used to gauge the performance in health care. There are several quality indicators. Prevention Quality Indicators calculate admissions that could have been avoided through access to quality outpatient care. Patient Safety Indicators show potentially avoidable safety events that identify room for improvement in the delivery of healthcare. Patient Quality Indicators help hospitals in identifying the critical potential problem areas that may need further study and quality improvement (AHRQ, n.d.).

References

AFSCME. (2019). What is managed care? Retrieved January 14, 2020, from https://www.afscme.org/news/publications/health-care/managed-care-what-you-dont-

Agrawal, A., & Ahmad, M. (2017). Review on Application of Data Mining for Health Care Management. International Journal of Computer Science and Mobile Computing, 6(10). Retrieved from https://www.ijcsmc.com/docs/papers/October2017/V6I10201719.pdf

AHIMA. (2019). Health information 101. Retrieved January 13, 2020, from https://www.ahima.org/careers/healthinfo

AHRQ. (n.d.). AHRQ - Quality indicators. Retrieved January 14, 2020, from https://www.qualityindicators.ahrq.gov/

Haunt, C. (2018). Differentiating between EBP/QI/Research: Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice. Retrieved from https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/sites.udel.edu/dist/3/3406/files/2015/09/Differentiating-bettwen-EBP_QI_RESEARCH-Research-Haut-Compatibility-Mode-1s0phsy.pdf

Islam, M., Hasan, M., Wang, X., Germack, H., & Noor-E-Alam, M. (2018). A systematic review on healthcare analytics: Application and theoretical perspective of data mining. Healthcare, 6(2), 54. doi:10.3390/healthcare6020054

North Dakota Center for Nursing. (2014). Comparison of quality improvement, evidence-based practice and nursing research. Retrieved from http://www.ndcenterfornursing.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Comparison-of-QI-EBP-and-Nursing-Research-Final-Document.pdf

Nursing School Resource. (2019). Resource utilization in nursing. Retrieved from https://www.cna-nursing-schools.com/resource-utilization-nursing.html

Raghupathi, W. (2018). Data mining in healthcare. Healthcare Informatics, 353-368. doi:10.1201/b21424-15