NURS FPX 4000 Assessment 4

Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue

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Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue

In the context of the continuously growing medication errors, the care of patients in the health care settings has become more and more of a concern, and therefore, we will try to see what factors are at the basis of patient safety and health outcomes deterioration. Moreover, these mistakes are various in their nature, at the one end healthcare workers’ may fail to accurately report what medication has been prescribed, and the other end there may be also failures to administer the medication properly, talk about the drug or implicitly share some sensitive information. Such complexities were demonstrated from recent research (Majed, 2017), thus emphasizing the criticality of being able to comprehend types of errors in order to get better solutions to forestall or tackle them. Stepwise prevention of these dynamics through timely attention and suitable actions when need arises and consequently enhancing patient outlook is essential in dismantling these factors.

Likewise, coordination among the healthcare providers across the vicinity is an additional measure that can enable reaching the safety and care quality goals. Interdisciplinary partnerships facilitate healthcare providers working together and contribute to the culture of watchfulness and responsibility in medical organizations. They, however, increase vigilance and solidity in medication errors defense. Therefore, such programs become one of the important tools to build an environment, based on patient-centered values, and to create a healthcare culture where safety and excellence are in the spotlight.

In-Depth Analysis of the Rising Incidence of Medication Errors in Healthcare

Healthcare environments are seriously affected by rising rates of drugs’ usage errors, which are fraught with danger for patients and healthcare quality. This difficulty needs a thoughtful scrutiny to make clear its complexities and the origins of the problem (Navtej Kirti, 2016). Obstacles related to the medication administration training and short communication between the hospital staff make the power of interest in incorrect and negative side effects of the public drugs growing (Bernabei, et al. 2018).

Healthcare practitioners` malpractices and errors in the regional hospitals magnify the dilemma while practitioners’ malpractices and medication errors involving narcotics dispensing and handling are considered to be the major factors in Multiregional hospitals in Saudi Arabia (Multiregional hospitals in Saudi Arabia 2018). As established in the research of majed (2017); medicine error is considered an important public health problem and since intervention are needed to resolve this issue.

Also, absenteeism of stress management techniques among physicians can activate medical errors and is emphasizing the responsibility of clinics in mental health care which is the part of the error reduction programs (Bartlett, 2002). Coile (2001) stresses that focusing on quality improvement measures is very crucial if the intended aim of such measures is to eliminate clinical care errors and improve patient deceling.

Overall, medicines should be administered by doctors after they had been granted a permission. In case they don’t so, people will suffer due to the healthcare provider’s malpractices. Also, physicians’ stress management is primordial. Moreover, quality improvement systems should be put in place to avoid this incidence.

Scholarly Insights on Medication Errors in Healthcare

Medication errors occurring in the delivery of healthcare services are the focus of extensive research, which is done under the meticulous guidance. In the same work of author Murray (2010) it is mentioned that different type of medication errors are made by people in the health care industry, hence to add to this complexity. Those academic enquiries turn into the stiff foundations of clinical practice and policy making as they enable exact deduction of the facts that might prove essential for the patients in the initiation of prevention programs.

On the other hand, Moskop, J. C. (2015) goes ahead to analyze the ethical components of medical malpractice and patient safety and discusses the approach to solve the problems morally. Ethical viewpoint gives a more complex insight into the medicine errors and it shed lights on the importance of looking at the ethical issues in healthcare practise.

The novel feature of this article is its extensive exploration of the dispensing error and measures to curb drug errors in healthcare delivery. By mixing researches aimed at identifying medical errors and giving solutions to make things change, Rolland feeds the ongoing medical safety debate in the healthcare industry.

The other author has more medication-related practices that lead to medication errors which are showcased in ISMP Shastay (2014) and ISMP Shastay (2015) than other participants and it comes with recommendations on issues experienced by health care workers in medication error prevention and management. Properly disclosing the reasons for the errors, can be a key point for recovery systems and building safety culture.

This scholars’ works somehow provide easy topics for us to reflect on current mistakes in healthcare, which will be fundamental basis of eliminating errors and quality improvement programs.

Analyzing the Problem

A common problem related to medications in healthcare care is revealed by this analysis to be a complicated and multi-faceted one which is far-reaching and encompasses more than the care of a single patient. Here, they faced severe problem of prescription errors, interruptions by the providers of drug administration, as well as miscommunication between different care providers. These mistakes greatly increased risk factor for medical malpractice as well as drug administration complications (Healthcare practitioners malpractices and medication errors of narcotics dispensing and handling in Multiregional hospitals in Saudi Arabia, 2018). I, as a person who is totally involved in a medical sector, I know in depth how the medication error cause deteriorate the condition of the patient and the healthcare system (Mapp, 2012). The negative implications of these mistakes create a burden on health workers in the form of emotional distress and legal liabilities (Rate of medication errors rising precipitously, 2017). Also, the society as a whole prejudice shall have the economic loss and the public health problems being the result from the error that are preventable beforehand as we can see; thus, something preventive has to be done about this(Medical errors and errors in healthcare delivery, 2009).

Systemic gaps and tech issues could be found in the core reasons for error in medication when exploring them. Instances like medication transit; insufficient training and communication gaps intensify the ambience of exposure hence increasing the most likely error rates in the ward (O’Leary, D. S., 2000). We also saw the rise of medications that were complexly used and the presence of high-risk medications; this situation needs adjustments to ignore clinical disasters resulting from care mistakes. The comprehensive presentation of medicine errors emphasizes the need for preventative measures, which should be so to put stress on the interdisciplinary relationships and the technology, which is innovational, and quality improvement programs (Alebachew Woldu, M., 2016). The main thrust of such measures is to ensure safety, effective response to challenges and patient success. Its main purpose is to provide a community that harbours limits, recovery and successful health for people.

Exploring Potential Solutions and Consequences for Ignoring the Issue

Formulating comprehensive strategies to solve medication errors in healthcare, therefore, need to be approached in a way that is multifaceted entailing reforms on the systemic level and innovations in the technological field as well as cultural changes in healthcare organisations. Primarily, the establishment of a system of safe medication protocols based on standardized practices and protocols are crucial. The processes include simplifying medication management through flow adjustment, applying medication reconciliation and taking advantage of technology enabled solutions such as scanning barcode systems and electronic prescribing systems to reduce errors. (Murray, 2010)

The second major consideration is fostering interdisciplinary relationship and intra-team communication pegged on ensuring that medication safety is achieved. Building a communication platform based on open discussions, establishing a culture of respect and coordination, and organizing regular meetings where various interdisciplinary team members can share information can improve communication and in this way reduce the incidence of errors which occurred as a result of poor communication. (Clark, 2001)

Moreover, development of periodic education and training programs for healthcare professionals is the basis of the culture of continuous improvement and medicines safety consciousness at places of treatment. Conducting continuous competency assessment, organizing simulation-based training activities and sharing proof-based guidelines and evidence in health care facilities is a better way to prevent employees from being confused that lead to medication mistake. (Bartlett, 2002)

They are serious and have far reaching implications ultimately if the issue of medication errors in healthcare is no taken care. Firstly, the safety of patients will be threatened and that may cause adverse drug reactions, absence from treatments, and patient harm. Among other grave liabilities, health care organizations would face legal liability, reputational damage, and the loss of money as a result of lawsuits and compensation claims. Furthermore, the credibility of the entire healthcare system would become at stake as people would lose belief in medical establishments and healthcare professionals too. (Medical errors and errors in healthcare delivery, 2009)

Finally, studying possible remedies and consequences of neglecting medication mistakes in healthcare is the first course of action to be considered as it stirs quick and extensive definition of the problems and their effects. By means of adopting a systemic approach based on patient safety principles and reliance on collective efforts among medical team members, regular assessment and further care improvement practices are essential parts of which healthcare stakeholders not only prevent medication mistakes but also provide patients with best possible care.

Pros and Cons

Dealing with the problem of medication error in a healthcare system provides many benefits. Firstly, it improves patient safety and the quality of care by reducing medication error and preventable damage caused by other factors. It is therefore crucial to have medication safety protocols that are comprehensive and that adopt the latest technologies so as to encourage accountability and diligence among healthcare providers and this in turn reduces the frequency of medication errors. Furthermore, the healthcare institutions gain the trust and confidence of patients through targeted attention to medication safety and the credibility of patient-provider relationships turn out strong. Though making errors in medication calls for additional expenditure including infrastructure, training and technology. Moreover the establishment of structural reform may face the problems of only the health professionals that are accustomed to the existing practices which demands the strategies of change management for successful implementation and rationing of change. These challenges notwithstanding, the prospects and advantages of the increased medication safety practices are more than the costs in terms of improved patient outcomes, decreased healthcare expenses, and public health.

Exploring Ethical Prinmciples in Implemented Solutions

It is possible instead of wasting time in search for the exact solution to the problem an ethical framework may be considered. Along with that principle, the principle of beneficence is also important for consideration if any therapy is designed for patient welfare criteria including any therapy in respond to prevent harm or bad. Second Hippocratic principle concretizes in treatments like double involving medicine orders and introduction of “barcode scanning supplemented by mechanisms that prevent serious drug reactions in a patient. Another case here is the virtue of nonmaleficence which claims that minimization of harm issued to the patients is to be considered first and foremost when a new protocol or technology is implemented. Health safety and risk assessment with 83% of all strategies toward the drug usage mistakes prevention. (Shastay, 2015)

Implementation is pivotal to success, and this can be put into work with the voices of professionals. Through this process they becomes facilitator of ideas in the decision making process. Hence, the frontline works needs to play a pivotal role in crafting and implementation of medical safety protocols to capitalize on the their huge practical knowledge and also to develop a sense of ownership about their work in as far as the execution of the patient safety initiatives is concerned. It is not only the garnering of resources but also the availability of medication security increases to embrace the idea of fairness and justice. These public health systems are particularly critical to ensure that the most vulnerable population groups on Earth and the unparalleled ever-changing environment of the planet also have access to these drugs, namely, medications as well.

Conclusion

The increased dangers that can be experienced due to prescription mistakes in medical centers being the point at issue, there is a high threat to the health of patients thus negatively influencing their healthcare. Thus we must go for implementing no less than technology and education plan with adding up by ethical considerations. It is through these ways of making patients be the key factors of the care nursing, being cooperative which is where all parties can communicate in an open manner, and by using methods that have been tested and approved that the facilities can do away with medication mistakes and increase the quality of care. There could be a great risk to people in case this is overlooked, and may lead them to the greater number of injuries. In those circumstances, care systems stay the same and then the expenses might run high. With the arrival of the twentieth-first century, medication errors in healthcare organizations have grown to be a major problem and hence it requires collective individual efforts to sort them out, leading to health standards to meet the population demand.

References

Alebachew Woldu, M. (2016). Klebsiella pneumoniae and its growing concern in healthcare settings. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology, 06(01). https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-1459.1000199
Bartlett, E. E. (2002). Physician stress management: A new approach to reducing medical errors and liability risk. Journal of Healthcare Risk Management, 22(2), 3-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jhrm.5600220203
Clark, A. P. (2001). What will it take to reduce errors in healthcare settings? Clinical Nurse Specialist, 15(4), 182-183. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002800-200107000-00021
Healthcare practitioners malpractices and medication errors of narcotics dispensing and handling in Multiregional hospitals in Saudi Arabia. (2018). Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.33140/jpr.03.01.01
Majed, I. (2017). Medication errors: A true public problem in the healthcare system. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.15344/2456-3501/2017/127
Medical errors and errors in healthcare delivery. (2009). Encyclopedia of Medical Decision Making. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412971980.n219
Moskop, J. C. (2015). Medical errors and patient safety. Ethical Dilemmas in Emergency Medicine, 199-216. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139941709.015
Murray, M. (2010). Is there a problem? The evidence of types and causes of medication errors by healthcare workers. Medication Management in Older Adults, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-457-9_1
O’Leary, D. S. (2000). Accreditation’s role in reducing medical errors. Western Journal of Medicine, 172(6), 357-358. https://doi.org/10.1136/ewjm.172.6.357
Rate of medication errors rising precipitously. (2017). The Back Letter, 32(11), 129-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.back.0000526800.89059.0c
Rolland, P. (2004). Occurrence of dispensing errors and efforts to reduce medication errors at the central Arkansas Veteran’s healthcare system. Drug Safety, 27(4), 271-282. https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-200427040-00004
Shastay, A. (2014). ISMP medication errors. Home Healthcare Nurse, 32(10), 612. https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000000120
Shastay, A. (2015). ISMP medication errors. Home Healthcare Now, 33(2), 110-111. https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000000188

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