Introduction
Clinical practice improvement projects are important because they allow healthcare organizations to identify areas for improvement in their clinical practices. It helps to implement changes that can lead to better patient outcomes, increased satisfaction of patients, and more efficient and effective care delivery (Oliveira et al., 2018).
Discussion
Evidence can help a practice improvement project in several ways (Oliveira et al., 2018). It can provide a basis for identifying problems or areas for improvement, it can help to determine the best course of action for addressing those problems, and it can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the changes that are implemented. Kurt Lewin’s change theory posits that change occurs in three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing. Unfreezing involves breaking down the existing mental models and attitudes that are holding back change (Hussain et al., 2018). Changing involves implementing the new ideas or behaviors that are desired. Refreezing is the process of integrating new ideas into the organization’s culture and making them the new norm (Hussain et al., 2018). To apply Lewin’s theory to a clinical practice improvement project, the team would first need to identify the current mental models and attitudes that are hindering the desired change, and then work to unfreeze them. Next, the team would implement the changes that have been identified, and then work to refreeze them by integrating them into the organization’s culture and making them the new norm.
Conclusion
The identification and implementation of improvements that can result in improved patient outcomes, elevated patient satisfaction, and more effective and efficient care delivery are all things that clinical practice improvement projects are crucial for. Finding problems and choosing the best course of action for solving them can be guided by evidence. Kurt Lewin’s change theory offers a framework for comprehending the process of change and can be applied to help with a project to improve clinical practice by directing the implementation of changes.
References
Hussain, S. T., Lei, S., Akram, T., Haider, M. J., Hussain, S. H., & Ali, M. (2018). Kurt Lewin’s change model: A critical review of the role of leadership and employee involvement in organizational change. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 3(3), 123-127. Web.
Oliveira, C. B., Maher, C. G., Pinto, R. Z., Traeger, A. C., Lin, C. W. C., Chenot, J. F., Tulder, M., Koes, B. W. (2018). Clinical practice guidelines for the management of non-specific low back pain in primary care: an updated overview. European Spine Journal, 27(11), 2791-2803. Web.