Overview
In your Health Care Issue Impacts activity, you investigated where health care issues can have an impact on a provider type. In this assignment, you will take a deeper dive into these areas of impact to consider actions that providers must take to effectively address the issue.
Scenario
Imagine that you work for a provider who is currently ill-prepared to or unable to serve the population associated with your identified issue. A senior leader in your organization has asked you to prepare a brief for management that highlights the four (4) biggest areas of impact to consider as they weigh the options of expanded operations to serve this population.
Areas you might consider, but are not limited to, are:
- Staff Training.
- Compliance or Licensing.
- Community Stakeholders.
- Others
Instructions
Consider the scenario above and create a 3–4-page brief for the provider’s leadership in which you do the following:
- Justify the priority of your four chosen areas of significant impact. Why are they the most critical?
- Describe specific items within each impact area that exemplify the changes or actions that may need to be made. Include support from a credible source. For example: If the issue was epidemic or contagion preparedness, areas of concern for facilities might be sanitation, disinfection, quarantine, decontamination, personal protection equipment (PPE), et cetera.
- Analyze one of the 4 areas of consideration and provide the following:
- Description of the primary stakeholders (both internal and external if applicable – regulatory or government entities should be considered).
- Description of a cultural aspect that should be considered.
- Recommendation, with justification, for prudent initial management action that should be taken to address the challenge(s) presented.
- Support assertions with credible sources.
Requirements
- 3–4 pages double-spaced, 12pt Times New Roman font.
- Include a title and source page (not included in page count).
- Cite a minimum of 3 credible resources to support your work.
- You can find sources through the Strayer Library using the library’s databases. Also, to help with your research, additional resources are listed on the Course Resources page under Optional Resources.
This course requires the use of Strayer Writing Standards (SWS). The library is your home for SWS assistance, including citations and formatting. Please refer to the Library site for all support. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:
- Analyze challenges posed by health care issues to a health services organization.
Title: Addressing Health Care Issue Impacts: A Brief for Provider Leadership
Introduction:
As the healthcare landscape evolves, providers face numerous challenges in effectively serving diverse populations. This brief outlines the significant impacts of health care issues on providers and recommends actions to address them. Four key areas have been identified for consideration: policies, staffing, safety, and facilities.
Justification of Priority Areas:
- Policies: Policies govern the framework within which healthcare providers operate. They dictate procedures, protocols, and decision-making processes. Without appropriate policies, providers may face legal, ethical, and operational challenges. For example, in the context of mental health care, policies regarding patient confidentiality and involuntary commitment are critical for ensuring patient rights and safety.
- Staffing: Adequate staffing is essential for delivering quality care. Staff shortages can lead to burnout, compromised patient safety, and decreased quality of care. Addressing staffing issues involves recruitment, retention, training, and workload management strategies. Research by the American Hospital Association highlights the correlation between nurse staffing levels and patient outcomes, emphasizing the importance of sufficient staffing.
- Safety: Patient and staff safety is paramount in healthcare delivery. Safety concerns encompass a wide range of issues, including infection control, medication errors, workplace violence, and environmental hazards. Implementing safety protocols, providing training, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards are crucial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers comprehensive guidelines for healthcare-associated infection prevention to mitigate safety risks.
- Facilities: The physical environment plays a significant role in healthcare delivery. Inadequate facilities can hinder access to care, compromise patient comfort, and impede the delivery of services. Upgrading infrastructure, maintaining equipment, and ensuring accessibility are essential. A study published in the Journal of Healthcare Engineering underscores the importance of facility design in enhancing patient experience and clinical outcomes.
Specific Items within Impact Areas:
- Policies:
- Implementing policies to ensure adherence to evidence-based practices.
- Establishing protocols for patient consent and treatment planning.
- Incorporating policies to address cultural competency and diversity in care delivery (American Hospital Association, 2018).
- Staffing:
- Increasing recruitment efforts to attract qualified personnel.
- Providing ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
- Implementing strategies to address staff burnout and promote work-life balance (American Nurses Association, 2020).
- Safety:
- Enhancing infection control measures, including hand hygiene and environmental cleaning.
- Providing staff with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and training on its use.
- Developing protocols for managing workplace violence and ensuring staff safety (CDC, 2021).
- Facilities:
- Upgrading infrastructure to meet the needs of diverse patient populations.
- Ensuring compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for accessibility.
- Implementing technology solutions to improve efficiency and patient experience (Bibb & Tulu, 2018).
Analysis of One Area of Consideration: Safety
- Primary Stakeholders: Internal stakeholders include healthcare providers, administrative staff, and support personnel. External stakeholders may include regulatory agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and community organizations advocating for patient safety.
- Cultural Aspect: Cultural considerations may include language barriers, cultural beliefs affecting healthcare decisions, and religious practices influencing treatment preferences. For example, certain cultures may have specific preferences regarding end-of-life care or traditional healing practices.
- Recommendation: Implementing a comprehensive safety training program tailored to address cultural diversity and sensitivity. This program should include modules on cultural competency, communication strategies for diverse populations, and respectful care practices. By fostering a culturally sensitive environment, the organization can enhance patient trust, satisfaction, and safety outcomes.
Conclusion:
Addressing the impacts of health care issues requires a multi-faceted approach encompassing policies, staffing, safety, and facilities. By prioritizing these areas and implementing targeted actions, providers can improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of care delivery. Cultural considerations must be integrated into all aspects of service provision to ensure equitable and patient-centered care.
References:
American Hospital Association. (2018). AHA evidence-based leadership. Retrieved from [link]
American Nurses Association. (2020). Nursing workforce. Retrieved from [link]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Healthcare-associated infections. Retrieved from [link]
Bibb, S., & Tulu, B. (2018). The changing nature of healthcare facilities: An analysis of the implications for facility design. Journal of Healthcare Engineering, 2018, 1-8. [link]