a shining example of helping clinicians achieve good patient outcomes ,” Graham noted . For example , VA professionals can assist a healthcare institution ’ s infection preventionist ( IP ) and clinicians with managing products around key clinical imperatives , healthcare-acquired infection ( HAI ) reduction efforts , as well as initiatives built around cost reduction and utilization issues . “ Some clinicians don ’ t normally work with VA professionals , but it ’ s about building those bridges , sharing data and making smart decisions for the benefit of patients .”
Graham emphasized that VA is also not about the picking the least expensive product for the sake of cost . An example she pointed to is the use of chux pads to manage patient incontinence . “ Merely selecting the cheapest pad doesn ’ t work because usually , the utilization of the product doubles because staff are using more of them due to inferior quality and absorbency to keep the patient dry and reduce shearing and injury to the skin , so the savings are not real . To achieve optimal outcomes for patients , both quality and cost must be taken into consideration in all decisions .”
The benefits of VA for healthcare institutions are numerous , Graham said , and most notable is creating a single entry point for products , equipment and services in an organization , as well as providing staff with a standardized process and makes it easier for clinicians to do the right thing for good patient outcomes . Additionally , VA maximizes the utilization of contracts among suppliers , paying dividends to the institution ’ s bottom line .
The success of an institution ’ s VA program is dependent on a number of factors , including utilizing a standardized process , ensuring engagement and participation of key organizational stakeholder , and accessing the proper tools and resources that optimize the performance of VA professionals and the clinicians they serve .
“ It is vital to have a process based on measurable outcomes , move away from subjective reasoning , have evidence-based data and criteria to enhance programs and make best decisions ,” Graham said .
Just as clinicians follow the evidence contained in guidelines , recommendations and the medical literature , Graham advises VA professionals to do the same by consulting the evidence and incorporating it into daily practice by making it a foundation for all decision-making . As Graham pointed out , studies have demonstrated that incorporating the evidence into practice can improve clinical processes through standardization as well as through improved efficiencies . What ’ s more , variation in products leads to more variation in processes and outcomes , potentially leading to scenarios that can jeopardize patient safety .
What can help address the variables in healthcare is following a methodology crafted by AHVAP for the purposes of providing guidance to VA professionals through five steps .
The first is identifying and validating need , meaning that VA professionals must understand fully how clinical practice changes and evolves , and can be impacted by everything from strategic initiatives , to product and device recalls , to cost-reduction projects . As Graham explains , VA professionals are frequent problem-solvers who are tasked to identify what is needed to resolve an issue and what the course will be to move forward , securing the data that is needed to implement institutional plans . A common barrier or challenge to this process , Graham said , is suppliers ’ sales representatives sometimes trying to get a product or device
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