Application of Statistics in Quality Health Care
Statistical application and the interpretation of data is important in health care. Review the statistical concepts covered in this topic. In a 750-1,000 word paper, discuss the significance of statistical application in health care. Include the following:
Describe the application of statistics in health care. Specifically discuss its significance to quality, safety, health promotion, and leadership.
Consider your organization or specialty area and how you utilize statistical knowledge. Discuss how you obtain statistical data, how statistical knowledge is used in day-to-day operations and how you apply it or use it in decision making.
Three peer-reviewed, scholarly or professional references are required.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
Application of Statistics in Healthcare
Name
Institution
Due Date
Application of Statistics in Healthcare
When people think about statistics in healthcare, they think of the attributes of a population. They think of the factors like sex, race, age, disabilities, income, among others. These factors are indeed part of statistics and serve a crucial purpose in healthcare. However, few understand the importance of such data in enhancing the healthcare outcomes of a populace. Few can comprehend how such simplistic data can be turned into an asset that leads to efficiency and effectiveness in a healthcare system. The numbers are indeed crucial, and below is an elucidation of how statistics is applied in healthcare with a particular focus on quality, safety, health promotion, and leadership. Further, the paper will offer a reflection of how I obtain statistical data, the daily use of this data, and its relevance in decision-making.
Quality
The quality of care offered or accessible to people directly coincides with the healthcare outcomes of a populace. In healthcare, quality can be denoted by healthcare outcomes as well as processes for delivering care. One way that statistics can help enhance the quality of care is by pointing out the deficiencies in the processes for delivering care. These are also called improvement opportunities. Statistics can help reveal these areas and thus help a hospital make appropriate changes. Aside from the above, Bing et al. (2000) note that statistics can also help reveal performance deficiencies that could directly relate to or coincide with poor healthcare outcomes. In the end, it becomes easier to enhance the quality of healthcare offered.
Safety
The safety of patients is key if a healthcare organization wishes to enhance healthcare outcomes. While in a hospital, the expectation is that a patient will get the care they need. However, statistics appear to paint a dull picture for patients and their families, especially when one considers the topic of healthcare-associated infections. The CDC (2018) revealed that one in every 31 patients acquires a healthcare-associated infection every day. Because of such numbers, healthcare organizations are working on ways to reduce the impact of healthcare-associated infections. Statistics, therefore, helps to expose certain safety issues, thus prompting a change in operation.
Health Promotion
Statistics can also help in health promotion. One of the ways that a healthcare organization can promote health in a population is by preventing the occurrence of certain conditions. By understanding the attributes of a population, a healthcare organization can, for example, dete...