Assignment Instructions
This assignment will familiarize capstone students with quality ranking systems currently in use
for hospitals and the measures that are used to determine quality.
STEP 1
Access the Hospital Compare website at https://www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/, and enter
your home zip code in the search box. Select two hospitals to compare, preferably with different
star ratings. If you are currently employed at a hospital, select your workplace for one of the
locations. Review information under all tabs.
STEP 2
Select one outcome quality measure focused on a change in health status (i.e. 30-day death
rates), one process quality measure focused on the steps of a process (i.e. Patients who
reported that staff “always” explained about medicines before giving them) and one patient
satisfaction measure ( i.e. Patients who reported YES, they would definitely recommend the
hospital).
Compare and contrast the two hospitals based on these three measures. Based on your
knowledge of local needs, concerns and preferences select ONE of these measures that you
believe would be the most important the local community.
Research peer-reviewed nursing or hospital administration journals for strategies that has been
utilized to improve quality related to the ONE selected measure. For instance, if you selected a
patient satisfaction measure, you can research strategies for improving satisfaction in any
hospital unit or service. Select one strategy that you feel would be most effective. Analyze the
strategy, for this hospital in its community for the following:
Feasibility
Efficacy
Stakeholders (a person with an interest or concern in the measure; those who are critical
for change to occur). Individuals should be identified by general job titles and not named
STEP 3
Create a 6-8 slide PowerPoint presentation Include the following in the PowerPoint:
Title slide
Introduction: Community demographics, data on hospitals selected (i.e. Size, trauma
designation, urban/rural location)
Selected measure: Outline the quality measure that you select as most important to the local
community, and the hospital selected to implement it. Provide your rationale
Research: Present strategy and analyze for
Feasibility
Efficacy
Stakeholders
Reference slide
