IHP 430 2-2 Final Project Milestone One Identify Organizational Problem
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430
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Health Science
Date
May 21, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by AgentBaboon338
Lisa Cruz
IHP-430
2-2 Final Project Milestone One: Identify Organizational Problem
05/15/2024
1
A.) What Is the Organizational Problem?
I have been in healthcare for 17 years. Each hospital I have worked for including the one I currently am employed with, Orlando Health, has a communication problem. Despite the advancements in healthcare software technology, there is still a lack of communication, so quality healthcare is still affected. Poor communication can lead to poor quality of care, such as
decreased adherence to treatment, patient dissatisfaction, and inefficient utilization of resources. When healthcare employees fail to properly communicate with their coworkers, especially during a change of shift, the safety of patients is at risk, with these risks come medical errors. Communicating effectively with your team is vital. Keeping staff adequately informed of the patient's status aids in ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care. In recognition of the critical role of communication in patient safety, The Joint Commission took a significant step in 2006 by introducing a National Patient Safety Goal that specifically targets handoff communication. This goal was further reinforced in 2010 when it became a standard requirement in healthcare facilities. Per The Joint Commission, the provision of Care standards mandates organizations to facilitate handoff communication, enabling professionals to discuss crucial information about the patient's condition, care, medications, treatment, services, or any other changes that may impact the patient's care (The Joint Commission, 2017). Many organizational challenges arise from a lack of communication.
1.
A lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities may lead to interdepartmental conflicts, which can cause inefficiencies, patient care delays, and increased staff
stress. 2
2.
One of the most alarming consequences of a lack of communication is the potential for patient errors. For instance, if a physician fails to communicate the patient's treatment plan to the nurse, the nurse may inadvertently administer the wrong treatment course. This can have severe or even fatal consequences, underscoring the urgent need for improved communication in healthcare. 3.
Budgeting can become a problem when departments do not communicate what medical supplies or resources are needed. This lack of communication leads to wasteful spending or inadequate resource allocation.
4.
The culture of the work environment can also be affected. Lack of communication among employees can cause frustration, mistrust, and low morale, affecting patient care quality.
B.) Evidence-Based Support
The effects of poor communication in healthcare can have severe consequences. Communication failures can negatively affect patient outcomes, such as misdiagnoses and other
medical mistakes that can easily lead to avoidable health complications and the death of patients. Medical safety experts at CRICO Strategies investigated 23,000 medical malpractice lawsuits and found more than 7,000 of those lawsuits could be attributed to communication failures. Those communication failures resulted in $1.7 billion in malpractice costs and almost 2,000 preventable deaths. A study conducted by the Joint Commission found 80% of serious medical errors were the result of miscommunication between caregivers during patient handovers (Steve Alder,
Dec 23, 2023). 3
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The Eisen Law Firm shows three examples of medical malpractice lawsuits caused by communication errors; they are:
1.
A nurse failed to alert a surgeon that after an operation, the patient had both abdominal pain and decreasing red blood cell levels, evident signs of possible internal bleeding,
and the patient died from a hemorrhage.
2.
A diabetic patient called his doctor’s office, but the messages weren’t relayed to the patient’s primary care provider. The patient never got a call back and later died from ketoacidosis, caused by the body lacking insulin.
3.
A woman who thought her tubes had been tied after giving birth through a C-
section got pregnant and gave birth yet again.
The problem of inadequate communication in the healthcare sector has been previously tackled through various strategies and the implementation of specific information management systems or patient care technologies. Three ways have addressed inadequate communication in the past: healthcare literacy and training, cultural competency, and language barriers. Healthcare literacy and training ensure that healthcare professionals are well-versed in medical terminologies, policies, and procedures. This aids healthcare professionals in effectively communicating with their coworkers and patients clearly. Per Healthie, “Information and communication technology (ICT) has revolutionized the healthcare sector in recent years. ICT has made it possible to store, share, and manage patient data more effectively. It has also enhanced communication between healthcare professionals and patients.” Cultural competency is another area in healthcare that lacks communication. Everyone has different views on religion and healthcare. Due to the differences in views and opinions, difficulty in communication can occur, causing a disconnect between a healthcare professional and the 4
patient. Cultural competency refers to the ability of healthcare providers to recognize and respect patients' diverse cultural backgrounds, which can significantly influence their health beliefs and behaviors and build a trustworthy relationship between physician and patient, leading to high-quality healthcare. Throughout the years of healthcare, it has become mandated that staff partake in culture training online to ensure their understanding of communicating and respecting those of a different culture. At Orlando Health, we are required to take this training every six months to ensure we do not forget how to communicate and handle encounters within
our diverse community. Language barriers affect communication, but there have been advances in medical technology that help with this problem. Training staff on using translation services such as translator telephones throughout hospital facilities or employing multilingual staff to ensure clear communication with patients from different languages. Accreditation standards, safety standards, compliance standards, and quality initiatives are all crucial in promoting a culture of safety within a healthcare facility. All healthcare facilities need to abide by the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission. The mission of The Joint Commission is “to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.” They fulfill their mission by setting standards, providing educational training, and evaluating healthcare facilities to ensure the work being performed abides by the policies and standards set by The Joint Commission. The Joint Commission standards incorporate these six core competencies:
Patient Care
Medical Knowledge
Practice-based Learning and Improvement
5
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Professionalism
Systems-based Practice
These standards promote a culture of safety within a healthcare facility because, if followed, the quality of patient care can improve, and medical errors can decrease due to healthcare professionals establishing a consistent approach to care. 6
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References:
Effects of Poor Communication in Healthcare
Posted By Steve Alder on Dec 23, 2023
https://www.hipaajournal.com/effects-of-poor-communication-in-healthcare/#:~:text=Those
%20communication%20failures%20resulted%20in,between%20caregivers%20during
%20patient%20handovers
.
The Eisen Law Firm
Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Caused by Communication Errors
https://www.malpracticeohio.com/blog/medical-malpractice-lawsuits-caused-by-communication-
errors.html#:~:text=A%20diabetic%20patient%20made%20several,by%20the%20body
%20lacking%20insulin
.
Healthie
Health Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)
https://www.gethealthie.com/glossary/health-information-and-communication-technologies-
ict#:~:text=Improved%20patient%20care-,The%20use%20of%20ICT%20in%20healthcare
%20has%20led%20to%20better,manage%20patient%20data%20more
%20effectively.&text=Improved%20clinical%20outcomes-,The%20use%20of%20ICT%20in
%20healthcare,helped%20to%20improve%20clinical%20outcomes
.
The Joint Commission https://www.jointcommission.org/ certification/#:~:text=Improves%20the%20quality%20of
%20patient,reducing%20the%20risk%20of%20error
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