Writing Homework Help

How is Evidenced Based Practice (EBP) important to your practice area or profession?

How do you plan to maintain your relevance in your practice area or profession?

Develop a plan of action for the first 3 years after graduation to share with the class.

REPLY TO: 

How is Evidenced Based Practice (EBP) important to your practice area or profession?

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is defined by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2019) as the integration of best research along with clinical expertise and patient values to assist in the clinical decision-making process. In the text, several components are outlined and deemed necessary in evidence-based clinical decision-making. The first component is research evidence. As a clinician in physical therapy, it is my responsibility to stay current and up-to-date on the most recent research evidence and base my clinical decisions on the evidence. Secondly, the availability of healthcare resources is considered a component important in evidence-based decision-making. In order to make sound clinical decisions and evidence-based treatment decisions, adequate healthcare resources must be available. If not, my clinical judgment should be modified to fit the available resources. Another component to consider is patient preferences and actions. In physical therapy and other healthcare settings, listening to our patients is critical. A patient’s values and preferences should be carefully considered to accurately assess the patient’s condition and possible treatment approaches (Melynk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). Clinical state, setting, and circumstances is an essential aspect of diagnosing and treating patients. This component is critical with physical therapy patients when it deals with designing exercise programs appropriate to the patient’s current level of function. The final components, clinical expertise and implementing the expertise, come from provider experience and abilities developed over time.

How do you plan to maintain your relevance in your practice area or profession?

Clinical physical therapy research must be used in clinical practice when this data becomes available (Bernhardsson et al., 2017). The nature of physical therapy creates unique challenges because it is highly individualized and comprises many different structures and processes, unlike professions such as nursing that are more protocol-based. As a physical therapist, to maintain my relevance in the profession and be up to date within the profession, becoming a member of our professional organization, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Membership in the organization provides access to EBP resources and clinical practice guidelines (APTA, n.d.). In addition to being a member of the APTA, participating in continuing education courses also allows clinicians to learn the latest evidence on the treatment of conditions.

Develop a plan of action for the first 3 years after graduation to share with the class.

Within the first year following graduation, I plan to enroll in a preparatory course to begin studying to take the exam and become certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). In the next two to three years following graduation, my degree in Healthcare Administration and my five years of experience in my current position as Director of Operations will prepare me for my “dream” job as a Director of Rehabilitative Services at a medium to the large-sized health care system. A degree in healthcare administration will set me apart from the average physical therapist applying for Rehabilitation Director positions.

Biblical Integration: 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” As a practitioner, following EBP guarantees that my patients will receive the best possible care.

reply two

This week’s discussion looks at how we can apply Evidenced-Based Practice (EBP) in our professional lives. I am grateful for the tools and new skills I have learned through this course. Since beginning this course, my view of problem areas has changed from a broad perspective to a more focused one. According to Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt (2019, p.541), “EBP is an effective organizational policy committee strategy that contributes to improving patient care, reductions in morbidity, and reduced costs.” I will attempt to answer the following questions: 1) How is evidence-based practice (EBP) critical to your practice area or profession? 2) How do you plan to maintain your relevance in your practice area or profession? 3) Develop a plan of action for the first three years after graduation to share with the class.

Currently, I am in the role of a case manager at a large academic center. I would describe case management as the directory of the care team. We know insurance coverage and reimbursement. Furthermore, we are in constant communication with all payors throughout the care episode and sometimes even after the episode has ended. However, for me, the most crucial role the case manager plays is that of a conductor. The case manager is responsible for ensuring the patient receives the most appropriate care at the right time in the correct setting. One guiding principle of the professional case manager is to support systematic approaches to quality management, practice innovation, and dissemination of knowledge (White & Alejandro, 2020). One example where EBP is helpful in case management is that of practice innovation. White & Alejandro (2020) provide a simple yet impactful example, which is that of reducing unnecessary steps in a process or procedure or automating processes. EBP can improve processes such as care coordination, transitions of care, and clinical reviews.

Early on in my role as a case manager, I decided I would obtain my certification in case management. The former president of the Case Management Society of America (CMSA) suggests practice standards and professional solidarity are a couple of ways that can help to make case management relevant within a healthcare organization (Alejandro, 2020). I believe in certifying in your area of expertise as it provides you with a more specific knowledge base, and you are considered a subject matter expert. I have previously presented at a conference, and I have enjoyed the process and event itself. I would be honored to conduct an EBP project to show the findings and recommendations for others to use or develop further.

The 3-year plan is a little more challenging. I returned for my master’s degree before obtaining case management certification because it was a goal I had not yet accomplished. I to pursue the certification within six to twelve months of graduate school. My next goal is to seek employment with a third-party payor to gain knowledge of the payor side of case management. After several years in this role, I would like to return to the acute care setting, this time as an administrator within case management, and share the knowledge gained from my previous roles to improve the organization and patient care. Deuteronomy 11:19 says, “You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (English Standard Version Bible, 2016)