Introduction to Quality Assurance

With the consistently rising costs of health care services, utilization management and utilization review are routinely used in the vast majority of current health care settings. How are they evolving over time, and what is involved in these processes? What do health care managers need to be aware of as the processes play out?

In the absence of sweeping policy change (or the complete restructuring of the United States health care system), utilization management and utilization review are much more moderate processes to attempt to preserve the quality of care provided while controlling overall health care expenditures. Let’s learn a bit about each of these processes, and how they are implemented in our current health care environment.

Using the information in the required readings as well as some additional research in peer reviewed sources, complete your Case Assignment by answering the following:

1. Compare and contrast utilization review and utilization management in health care. What are the similarities and the differences between each type of assessment? (Hint: One is generally a prospective process, and the other is generally a retrospective process). Baker, J. (2017, May 1). Improving quality of care through utilization management [Video]. https://youtu.be/g-T-YeP53nY
2. Explain the specific role of each method in providing value-based health care. Who benefits from the method—the health care system, the insurance company, and/or the patient?
3. Articulate how individual case management is critical to a hospital’s long-term survival. In what way does this practice protect your patients while keeping your doors open for business?
4. What are the ethical pitfalls to be aware of in performing these types of quality reviews? What must health care managers be aware of in terms of ethical pitfalls and also potential unintended negative consequences?

Assignment Expectations

1. Conduct additional research to gather sufficient information to support your analysis.
2. Provide a response of 3-5 pages, not including title page and references.
3. As we have multiple required items to be addressed herein, please use subheadings to show where you’re responding to each required item and to ensure that none are omitted.