Data-driven decisions: Enhancing patient outcomes through effective outcome measures

Title : Data-driven decisions: Enhancing patient outcomes through effective outcome measures

Abstract:

Outcome measures are fundamental tools in healthcare that provide a standardized approach to evaluating and monitoring patient progress, ensuring quality care, and enhancing overall patient outcomes. These measures are vital for assessing the effectiveness of interventions, guiding clinical decision-making, and supporting reimbursement processes with insurance providers. The use of reliable and valid outcome measures enables healthcare professionals to accurately assess patient status, make informed decisions, and establish targeted, measurable goals. This presentation will explore the application of outcome measures in high-acuity populations, with a particular focus on cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy patients. It will address common trends and challenges in the implementation of these measures in clinical practice, drawing on research findings that identifies both barriers to effective utilization and strategies for overcoming them. Additionally, the presentation will highlight the role of outcome measures in shaping rehabilitation evaluations, guiding evidence-based interventions, and optimizing patient outcomes. The discussion will also highlight how integrating outcome measures into clinical practice not only aligns with evidence-based principles but also enhances the accuracy of interventions. The presentation will emphasize that by grounding clinical decisions in strong data, healthcare professionals can ensure that interventions not only meet clinical standards but also reflect the most current research findings, thereby promoting improved healthcare management and patient care.

Objectives:

• Understand the importance of using outcome measures to monitor and enhance patient care in high-acuity settings.
• Explore common challenges and effective strategies for applying outcome measures in clinical practice.
• Discover how to utilize outcome measures for improved clinical decision-making and evidence-based interventions.
• Implement data-driven decisions to ensure interventions are clinically effective and grounded in the latest evidence from current literature.

Biography:

Dr. Vatwani holds graduate degrees including a Doctor of Physical Therapy, a Master of Business Administration, and a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Education and Leadership in Healthcare. She currently serves as the Graduate Program Director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and as a Clinical Associate Professor at Old Dominion University (ODU). Prior to her appointment at ODU, she was an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Vatwani has an extensive background in acute care physical therapy, having served a decade at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Her research agenda is dedicated to enhancing cultural competence, advancing interprofessional education, and improving physical therapy education in acute care, as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary specialties. She is the recipient of the 2022 Healthcare Diversity Leader Award from the National Diversity Council and the 2022 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Minority Faculty Development Award. Currently, Dr. Vatwani is elected to serve on APTA’s Academy of Leadership and Innovation Global Health SIG Nominating Committee and as the Chair of the APTA Acute Care Education Committee for a three-year term.