Miami Cerebral Palsy Residential Services, Inc. (MCPRS) recognizes that there are many ways of evaluating training. However, because of the field it is in (developmental disabilities), MCPRS is more interested in seeing the correlations between learners’ reactions and skill acquisitions and how this affects performance competencies. That’s why it implemented a vigorous and in-depth quality assurance (QA) process. The organization further reinforces this through a 360-degree performance evaluation process.
Program Details
Because all MCPRS’ training is competency based and instructors certify competency at time of training, the organization’s Quality Assurance team monitors the transfer of learning from the classroom and/or online to the actual floor application. The QA process incorporates subject matter experts and the management group. On an ongoing basis, they utilize established monitoring tools and checklists to validate the demonstrated delivery of skills. Results of such monitoring are reviewed at the management level and with the Risk Management Committee. Problems and trends are identified, and a plan of action is developed and addressed at leadership meetings for follow-up and retraining, as applicable. For example, the respiratory therapist conducts daily quality assurance inspections and provides a monthly summary report to the executive director, who then addresses the issues with the administrators. These inspections are all infection-control related and are part of the Risk Management Committee agenda.
In addition to ongoing QA, on an annual basis, a team is formed consisting of directors and subject matter experts who are independent from any of MCPRS’ applicable program locations. They conduct an intensive two- to three-day regulatory and staff performance audit on the delivery of services, as established by MCPRS’ Training department, policies and procedures, and regulatory requirements at all four of the organization’s facilities. A report identifying results is developed and provided to the applicable location’s administrator and supervisors. It also is reviewed at the Risk Management and leadership meetings for corrective plans of action.
Results
As a result of the QA initiative, Risk Management Committee, leadership meetings, and development correction plans, two out of MCPRS’ four facilities received 100 percent compliance in their annual state audits and two out of the four were within 90 to 95 percent compliance.
In addition, year to date due to ongoing training, QA, and interventions, MCPRS has seen the following improvements when compared to prior years:
- Reduced hospitalizations from 81 percent to 61 percent
- Reduced urinary tract infections from 112 percent to 83 percent
- Reduced overall client infection rate from 101 percent to 86 percent
