Approximately 150-180 words APA format with references and in-text citations. 

Where in the World is Evidence-Based Practice?

            This paper addresses the main discussion post regarding evidence-based practice (EBP).  EBP provides problem-solving to clinical practice that focuses on the best research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences or values (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019, p. 8).  It is imperative to implement EBP into clinical practice as it leads to high-quality nursing care and better patient outcomes.  The purpose of this discussion post is to explore a healthcare organization website and determine if they are grounded in EBP.

Description of Healthcare Organization

            The healthcare organization website that I reviewed was the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).  EBP appears in the quality initiatives section of the CMS website.  This section informs patients that CMS seeks information on how to transform clinician practices by changing practice behavior through evidence-based care to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs (CMS, 2018).  CMS has quality improvement organizations dedicated to improving health quality.  The mission of CMS quality improvement organizations is to improve the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of services for Medicare patients (CMS, 2018).  CMS has developed Core Measures, which provides EBP information on health care quality that allows physicians, clinicians, and patients to make informed decisions (CMS, 2017).

Healthcare Organization Grounded in EBP

            Throughout the CMS quality initiatives website, there are indications that they are grounded in EBP to improve their patient’s care and outcomes.  In our required reading, it was noted that the most critical reason for implementing EBP is to provide the highest level of care and the best patient outcomes (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019, p. 12).  CMS has also focused their aim on providing better care and better health at lower costs (CMS, 2018).  In our required reading, it was also noted that research shows that EBP leads to a reduction in healthcare costs (Melnyk, Fineout-Overholt, Stillwell, &Williamson, 2010, p. 51).

Changed Perception of the Healthcare Organization

            The information that I discovered on the CMS website has changed my perception of the organization by assuring me that they are using EBP to ensure that their patients receive the best possible care which improves patient care and outcomes (CMS, 2018).  For example, both of my parents have Medicare coverage; it is comforting to know that they are receiving care based on evidence that has been shown to improve their care and outcomes.  The aim at CMS is to provide better care at lower costs, which has also changed my perception (CMS, 2018).  For example, both of my parents live on fixed incomes, so it is essential for them to receive quality healthcare coverage as well as prescription drug coverage at a lower cost.

References

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2017, July 28). Core measures. Retrieved May 26, 2019, from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityMeasures/Core-Measures.html

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2018, April 19). Quality initiatives – general information. Retrieved May 26, 2019, from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityInitiativesGenInfo/index.html

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2018, September 18). Quality improvement organizations. Retrieved May 26, 2019, from https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/QualityImprovementOrgs/index.html

Melnyk, B. M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S. B., & Williamson, K. M. (2010). Evidence-based practice: Step by step. The seven steps of evidence-based practice. American Journal of Nursing, 110(1), 51-53. Retrieved from https://ovidsp-tx-ovid-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/sp-3.33.0b/ovidweb.cgi?WebLinkFrameset=1&S=CGFCFPFNMMDDDBNJNCDKKDLBDJEIAA00&returnUrl=ovidweb.cgi%3f%26Full%2bText%3dL%257cS.sh.22.23%257c0%257c00000446-201001000-00030%26S%3dCGFCFPFNMMDDDBNJNCDKKDLBDJEIAA00&directlink=https%3a%2f%2fovidsp.tx.ovid.com%2fovftpdfs%2fFPDDNCLBKDNJMM00%2ffs046%2fovft%2flive%2fgv023%2f00000446%2f00000446-201001000-00030.pdf&filename=Evidence-Based+Practice%3a+Step+by+Step%3a+The+Seven+Steps+of+Evidence-Based+Practice.&pdf_key=FPDDNCLBKDNJMM00&pdf_index=/fs046/ovft/live/gv023/00000446/00000446-201001000-00030

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.