MHA622 week 6 discussion
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Ashford University *
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Course
622
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Medicine
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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Describe common medical errors involving patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, discharge, and follow-up care.
Medical errors are a persistent challenge in healthcare, with detrimental consequences for patients. These errors can occur at various stages of patient care, including patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, discharge, and follow-up care. In patient assessment, errors may stem from inadequate history taking, inaccurate vital sign measurements, or incomplete physical examinations. Diagnosis errors
encompass misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, and overdiagnosis, all of which can lead to incorrect treatment plans or unnecessary procedures.
Treatment errors involve various issues, such as medication errors, surgical mishaps, and lapses in infection control. Failure to secure informed consent before medical procedures is another treatment error. Discharge errors may involve:
Prematurely discharging patients.
Providing unclear post-discharge instructions.
Experiencing communication breakdowns during discharge.
Finally, follow-up care errors can occur if patients miss follow-up appointments, healthcare providers need to adequately monitor patient progress, or there is a failure to coordinate care among healthcare providers.
Healthcare organizations are encouraged to implement patient safety initiatives and frameworks like the CANDOR process toolkit to mitigate these errors and enhance patient safety. These efforts emphasize improved communication, the promotion of a safety-focused culture, and active patient engagement to reduce the occurrence of medical errors at each phase of patient care (Thomas L. Rodziewicz, et al 2023)
Explain how medical errors negatively impact the healthcare process for patients, caregivers, and healthcare organizations.
Medical errors have far-reaching negative implications for patients, caregivers, and healthcare organizations. Patients often bear the brunt of these errors, facing potential health complications, emotional distress, extended hospital stays, and added financial burdens. Conversely, caregivers grapple with the emotional toll of errors, including guilt and stress, and may encounter professional
consequences and increased workloads. For healthcare organizations, the repercussions include damage to their reputation, legal and financial consequences, challenges in maintaining quality of care, resource allocation dilemmas, and difficulties in retaining staff. Addressing and preventing medical errors is paramount not only for patient safety but also for the well-being of healthcare professionals and the sustainability and effectiveness of healthcare institutions (Robertson, J. J., et al., 2018)
Summarize the application and steps in the CANDOR processes regarding improved communications, optimal resolution, and possible reduction in malpractice lawsuits.
The CANDOR (Communication and Optimal Resolution) process is designed to enhance communication and achieve optimal resolution in response to unexpected patient harm events within healthcare organizations, with the added benefit of potentially reducing malpractice lawsuits. The steps in the CANDOR process involve:
Open and transparent communication.
Early disclosure of adverse events.
Proactive efforts to meet the needs of both patients and families.
First, the CANDOR process emphasizes candid, caring communication. When an adverse event occurs, healthcare providers are encouraged to communicate with patients and their families, sharing information about what happened, why it happened, and what will be done to prevent future occurrences openly and empathetically. This approach aims to build trust and understanding, reducing patient and family distress (Dossett, L., et al., 2019)
Second, the process involves early disclosure of the adverse event. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to promptly acknowledge and disclose any unexpected patient harm without evasion or delay. This transparency not only helps patients and families but also demonstrates the organization's commitment to patient safety (Dossett, L., et al. 2019)
Third, the CANDOR process promotes optimal resolution by proactively addressing the needs of patients and families. This can include providing emotional support, ensuring access to appropriate medical care, and facilitating compensation if necessary. Healthcare organizations work towards fair and timely resolutions that prioritize patient well-being (Dossett, L., et al, 2019)
The potential reduction in malpractice lawsuits comes from the CANDOR process promoting open communication and early disclosure, which can lead to improved patient satisfaction and trust. Patients and their families are more likely to feel their concerns are being taken seriously, potentially reducing the
motivation to seek legal action. Moreover, organizations can prevent prolonged and costly legal battles by addressing patient needs and resolving adverse events swiftly and fairly. In essence, the CANDOR process encourages a proactive and compassionate approach to addressing medical errors, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare organizations by fostering better communication and potentially reducing malpractice lawsuits.
Summarize the principle of medical ethics and the physician-patient relationship.
The principles of medical ethics, often summarized in the well-known framework of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, form the ethical foundation of the physician-patient relationship. Autonomy underscores the importance of respecting the patient's right to make informed decisions about their healthcare, with physicians providing all necessary information. Beneficence obliges healthcare providers to act in the patient's best interests, seeking to maximize their well-being. Non-maleficence emphasizes the duty not to harm, ensuring that medical interventions do not harm the patient. Justice pertains to the fair distribution of healthcare resources and the equitable treatment of patients. The physician-patient relationship, grounded in these principles, is built on trust, open communication, and shared decision-making. Physicians are ethically bound to advocate for their patients, prioritize their well-being, and respect their autonomy, ensuring that medical care is not only practical but also delivered with the utmost ethical integrity (Raina, R. S., et al. 2014)
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References Dossett, L., Miller, J., Jagsi, R., Sales, A., Fetters, M. D., Boothman, R. C., & Dimick, J. B. (2019). A Modified
Communication and Optimal Resolution Program for Intersystem Medical Error Discovery: Protocol for an Implementation Study. JMIR research protocols, 8(7), e13396. https://doi.org/10.2196/13396
Thomas L. Rodziewicz; Benjamin Houseman; John E. Hipskind.(2023) Medical Error Reduction and Prevention https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/
Raina, R. S., Singh, P., Chaturvedi, A., Thakur, H., & Parihar, D. (2014). Emerging ethical perspective in physician-patient relationship. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 8(11), XI01–XI04. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2014/10730.5152
Robertson, J. J., & Long, B. (2018). Suffering in Silence: Medical Error and its Impact on Health Care Providers. The Journal of emergency medicine, 54(4), 402–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemermed.2017.12.001