Education and quality are terms used extensively in healthcare. But how exactly do education and quality come together in today's home healthcare environment and why is it more important than ever to remain focused on these two major domains? Education and quality are codependent, influencing clinical and administrative functions in home healthcare. This symbiotic relationship is also the basis for performance excellence and improved outcomes.
With intense focus on patient outcomes and discussions regarding pay for performance, home healthcare nurses need to have the mindset that performance excellence with above average outcomes is a result of continuous improvement. No longer can care be rendered based on years of tradition. Improvements are made through commitment to lifelong learning and implementation of evidence-based practice. However, this commitment goes beyond providing orientation to new staff members and restricting quality to the compliance department.
Embracing a multifaceted approach to education for all staff members includes offering programs that support the many different topics nurses need to function autonomously in the home environment. Education activities should include options in every category: academic degrees and continuing education, medical and applied nursing skills, federal regulations and agency policies, and leadership development.
A multifaceted educational approach allows for sharing of data, information, knowledge, and wisdom, which refines discoveries and stimulates additional research. Evidence-based practice, rather than practice based on convention, becomes the result. Continuing education in home healthcare is not an easy task to complete with the many demands placed on nurses personally and professionally. Cost efficient yet highly accessible options are needed, including in-person seminars, live and asynchronous web programs, and distance formats including audio, video and paper-based educational programs. One education option does not fit all nurses' needs; therefore, a variety of educational methods must be available at all times.
Regardless of whether pay for performance comes to pass, continuing education can no longer be viewed as a luxury in today's home healthcare climate. It is the educated home healthcare nurse who identifies and selects the best policies, processes, procedures and products that are supportive of quality home healthcare and performance excellence. In essence, quality linked to education results in superior patient outcomes as well as advancement of the nursing profession. As such the Visiting Nurse Associations of America (VNAA) remains committed to nonprofit community-based home healthcare organizations and believes education and quality are key elements for success. Whether offering educational and networking forums at our annual meeting, monthly teleconferences on a variety of clinical and operational topics, forming strategic relationships with technology vendors for online educational programs, or producing best-practice resource materials supporting quality standards such as the Nursing Procedure Manual and the VNAA Pandemic Influenza Preparation: A Resource Guide for Homecare Agencies, the VNAA will continue to identify new topics, educational methodologies and resources to support life-long learning and evidenced-based practice for the home healthcare nurse professional.