Introduction
Evidence-based practice (EBP) has already gained much recognition and respect in today’s healthcare and medical spheres. This approach is approved as a successful and critical integration of clinical expertise, reliable, current evidence, and patient or caregiver values. Many reasons to implement EBP in the nursing environment exist, including care quality improvement, new knowledge generation, and facilitated decision-making. The application of the Quadruple Aim is one of the recent achievements in nursing. Its main idea is that individual experiences and population health are improved, per capita costs are reduced, and the work-life of healthcare providers is changed (Sikka et al., 2015). This type of aim is not always easy to achieve, with positive outcomes in all aspects. Thus, EBP should be addressed to help care providers develop their best skills and knowledge.
Patient Experience
Patient experience is the first element in the Quadruple Aim approach to be expanded in the nursing environment. This goal is characterized by positive outcomes, safe care delivery, and high-quality services that encourage patient satisfaction (Sikka et al., 2015). In other words, nursing should be directed to creating beneficial ideas for all participants. EBP helps learn achievements, make observations, and evaluate evidence, contributing to a positive patient experience.
Population Health
Population health is determined by risk management, socio-economic impacts, serious health complications, and education. This element complements the Quadruple Aim because individuals need enough knowledge about their health, physiological peculiarities, and preventive means. EBP is a step forward to well-being and success in achieving this goal because care providers learn how to educate patients, choose the best treatment methods, and communicate.
Costs
Many people cannot allow high-quality care because of their financial problems or poor budgets. The promoters of the Quadruple Aim approach underline the necessity to lower healthcare costs and create equal conditions for all people (Sikka et al., 2015). On the one hand, EBP has nothing in common with reducing costs because more financial support is required to complete this type of practice. On the other hand, EBP is a solid practical experience that includes observations and multitasking, which may result in the possibility of lowering costs, not at the expense of care quality. Therefore, this measure also proves the connection between the Quadruple Aim and EBP.
Work/Life of Healthcare Providers
Finally, the recently published goal within the Quadruple Aim framework also has a certain relation to EBP. The level of health experts’ professionalism significantly affects the quality of care in nursing practice. At the same time, employees’ attitudes, organizational cultures, and visions should not be neglected in understanding what kind of care is expected. Work engagement and productivity are observed through accomplishments and the number of contributions (Sikka et al., 2015). Using EBP is the best option for care providers because it shows how to balance work and life and optimize all working processes with few or no losses.
Conclusion
The Quadruple Aim has become a serious responsibility among modern healthcare providers to follow. It is not enough to learn how to increase patient satisfaction or reduce medical errors in order to promote well-being and maintain cost-effective organizations. The experience of providing care must be improved, meaning that employees are satisfied with their work-life balance. EBP is one of the possible ways to combine personal and practical knowledge with research, and its impact on the Quadruple Aim is evident in each of the chosen measures.
Reference
Sikka, R., Morath, J. M., & Leape, L. (2015). The Quadruple Aim: Care, health, cost and meaning in work. BMJ Quality & Safety, 24(10), 608–610. Web.