The Clinical Inquiry Process Resource Guide

It Takes a Team to Address a Problem or Issue

Ensure that as you address an issue arising in the clinical environment, you make use of the available resources here at VCU Health. The healthcare system is composed of individuals who can serve as mentors or possess specialized expertise that could prove valuable for any initiative or project you initiate or participate in. No initiative or project can be executed by a single person, given that any alteration or decision will impact others who must also be engaged.

Team members (stakeholders) can contribute diverse skills and knowledge that are essential for ensuring the success of the project. These skills can encompass the ability to access various organizational resources, evaluate evidence, and potentially play a crucial role in facilitating the implementation of any changes into practice.

Follow the Tabs to the Left

This resource is organized based on the Clinical Inquiry Process Diagram. This diagram guides you through the clinical inquiry process and the tabs on the left offer information related to each step of the process.

Be Sure to Document What You Are Doing

When addressing an issue in the clinical environment, it's crucial to document your actions, conversations, and any evidence you have discovered or not found concerning clinical inquiry. This information will be significant when discussing the specific issue with others within the organization, as you will possess the necessary information to address questions or concerns from stakeholders or potential team members.

One way to document the various aspects of the clinical inquiry process is through the utilization of the Johns Hopkins Tools and other documents that are made available to you in this resource.

Stopping Points Help to Ensure the Quality of the Project

There are stopping points at various stages in the EBP process as you proceed through the portfolio. These are intended to be times when you should meet with your mentor and discuss the progress being made as well as any problems or issues. It is also during this meeting that any documentation that should have been completed is reviewed. This review intends to ensure that it is filled out correctly and that the project is moving forward as it should. A project should not move forward until the mentor has signed off at each stopping point.

Have a Question? - Be Sure to Ask for Help

During the clinical inquiry process, if you ever find yourself feeling stuck or uncertain about the next step, don't hesitate to reach out to your mentor or other individuals within the organization. Any endeavor aimed at enhancing patient care or the healthcare environment holds significance, and numerous individuals within the organization are willing and capable of assisting if you just ask.

Timeline and Continuous Improvement

The timeline for clinical inquiry projects can vary widely depending on the scope and complexity of the question being investigated. Some projects might be completed in a few weeks, while others could span several months. Remember that clinical inquiry is an iterative process - your findings may lead to new questions or areas for improvement, fostering a culture of continuous quality enhancement in healthcare.

Ethical Considerations and Dissemination

As you engage in clinical inquiry, always keep ethical considerations at the forefront. This includes protecting patient privacy, obtaining necessary approvals, and ensuring informed consent where applicable. Once your project is complete, consider how you can share your findings. This might involve presenting at team meetings, contributing to internal knowledge bases, or even publishing in professional journals.

Keeping This Resource Current

This resource is designed to be a living document that evolves with the field of clinical inquiry. We are committed to keeping it up to date and aligned with current best practices, research methodologies, and healthcare innovations.

Regular updates will be made to ensure that all aspects of clinical inquiry covered here reflect the most current thinking in healthcare research and practice. This includes updates to process diagrams, tools, ethical guidelines, and best practices for conducting and disseminating clinical inquiry projects.

Please check back periodically for the latest information, and please provide feedback on areas where you believe updates or additional information would be beneficial. By maintaining this resource as a current and comprehensive guide, the aim is to support ongoing improvements in patient care and healthcare practices through rigorous and effective clinical inquiry.