Learning Effectiveness and Quality Improvement

Uncertainty is an issue we have to deal with in scientific measurements. Science are methods for effectively and efficiently doing things. This sounds great. However, scientific methods are always improving, can never be perfect.    The uncertainty principal in physics states that it is impossible to measure or calculate the position and the momentum of a quantum particle with absolute precision. There is always some degree of uncertainty, and the more the position of the particle is determine, the less is known about the speed of the particle, and vice versa. This uncertainty is set in the quantum mechanics world, dealing with the smallest scales of nature, quantum particles, such as atoms and subatoms.    The uncertainty in measurement in our physical world, the world we see around us, addresses that the measurement we determine cannot be exactly the true value of the object we measure. There is always some difference between the measurement and the true value. We ...

Definition of HAI Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are infections that occur while receiving health care, developed in a hospital or other health care facility but are neither present nor incubating upon patient's admission to the hospital; generally that first appear 48 hours or more after hospital admission, or within 30 days after having received health care.   ( Preventing Health Care–Associated Infections, Patient Safety and Quality: An Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses ) HAIs are big problems for patient safety. HAIs can cause serious health problems, prolonged hospital stay, long-term disabilities, even death to patients; and also bring additional medical costs to the patients and the healthcare system. Below are resources about HAIs and patient safety. CDC: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) CDC: National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) WHO: Report on the Burden of Endemic Health Care-Associated Infection Worldwide   CMS: Hospital-Acquired Condition Red...

Naturally, as humans we are known as drifting from goals or standards. Apostle Paul in the bible claimed that “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15). It is a desperate cry for all humans. We just cannot help it. We all may have experienced the scenario, a well-developed new year resolution to do exercise, to quit smoking, to eat healthy, to have 8hr sleep, to pick up that hobby… does not last 3 weeks, and we go back to where we were. The drifting away issue is not only for lifestyle goals. Underperformance, the condition that one performs less well than expected, is a never-ending topic for work and education. (A scheme of drifting away from a central standard) We should not assume underperformance is only due to the individual’s issues. It is true that people perform the activity. People are agents who have free wills, meaning to decide whether to act or not. However, it is a systematic issue too. Where the activity to ...