Learning and improving with the use of data
How can the use of data support learning and improvement within care teams and across organisations? PhD students Merel van Lierop (Maastricht University, see picture) and Alies Depla talk about their action research in elderly care and in integrated birth care: 2 different sectors, working on similar processes.
Care is about people. And they're not numbers. But that doesn't mean you can't use data to improve that care. In fact, data can be a useful tool to support learning and improvement in healthcare practice. Data provides insight into important problems or opportunities for improvement within a patient group or among healthcare professionals in a healthcare organisation, such as nurses, nurse specialists and carers. Moreover, it is motivating for healthcare professionals to see the results of their care and improved efforts. After all, that's what matters, both to the client/patient and the care professional.
But, then time and money must be made available for it,' say PhD students Merel and Alies who use data in their action research. It shouldn't be an extra task on top of your standard work, but part of your daily work as a healthcare professional. That works best, both for the healthcare professional and the client, because the client notices something right away.
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