The provider describes and demonstrates that it has a flexible application process for departments and affiliated hospitals that asks a series of short questions: 1) What’s the problem you are trying to address; 2) How do you know it’s a problem and what do you think is contributing to the problem; 3) Are you seeking to change strategies, skills, performance or patient outcomes; 4) What type of activity do you think will best achieve that goal; and 5) how will you know if you’ve been successful.
Rationale: The Educational Needs criterion expects providers to identify the professional practice gaps or healthcare challenges that educational activities are designed to address and to use that information to guide planning. The provider demonstrated compliance by using a structured process that obtains information from its stakeholders regarding the problems they are encountering in delivering quality healthcare and contributing factors, the desired changes, and how success will be measured. This process ensures that educational activities are planned in response to identified needs and are aligned with intended results.
