Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue
Introduction:
The Institute of Medicine has developed six dimensions of high-quality care: safety, efficacy, patient-centered care, timeline, efficiency, and equity. Providing high-quality treatment to patients depends on each factor (Royce et al., 2019). One of the significant problems is medication errors, which can result in high care costs, cause considerable harm, and sometimes even cause patient death. Discussing and raising awareness of this problem is crucial to promote a secure patient environment (Royce et al., 2019).
Elements of the Problem/Issue Causes
Medical errors are usually caused by miscommunication between medical staff members. Ineffective diagnosis, the wrong therapy, or delayed treatment can all be caused by poor communication between healthcare professionals and patients. Some other factors are also responsible for medical errors, such as flaws in the healthcare system, insufficient staff training, a lack of resources or equipment, and improper procedures (Garcia et al., 2019). Human error can happen when healthcare providers need more information, expertise, or experience. This may result in errors like incorrect medications, improper procedures, or missing diagnoses. Patients’ inaccurate information, incomplete medical records, or disregard for recommended therapies are just a few examples of patient-related factors that can lead to medical errors (Garcia et al., 2019). Mistakes in the prescription, dispensing, or administration of pharmaceuticals can result in medication errors, which are familiar sources of medical errors. Diagnostic medical errors are usually caused by failing to notice a condition’s symptoms or incorrectly evaluating test results (Garcia et al., 2019).
Assessing the Credibility and Relevance of Sources
The CRAAP model assesses the goals, currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose of sources that can be used to determine the validity of the sources that provide information regarding medical errors. Since the sources were all recently published within the last five years, their material is still relevant, making them appropriate for use. Furthermore, the sources are significant because the assessment’s main topic, medical errors, is covered in them. The sources are reliable and helpful since the data they provide is supported by authentic sources, which makes it credible. The sources are also referenced in other publications, which validates the accuracy of the data they provide.
NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 4 Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue
The sources also meet the requirement of objectivity because they are unbiased and include factual information organized to educate and inform. The sources are thus reputable and relevant because they pass the CRAAP test. The citations are also relevant because they were printed in reputable sources and journals like PubMed and CINAHL. They have also undergone peer review in order to increase their credibility.
Analysis Problem Context or Setting
According to a report by Choudhury & Asan (2020), medication errors happen in every hospital area and have significant consequences. Registered nurses are more likely to be implicated in medication errors since they are on the front lines of every healthcare system and responsible for giving medicines (Choudhury & Asan, 2020).In healthcare organizations, doctors and medical staff are responsible for medical errors. According to research, almost 40,000 to 80,000 patients were affected by or died due to medical errors. In US hospitals, the wrong diagnostic ratio is 10% to 15% (Escrivá et al., 2019). Individuals’ behavior and concern for adopting safety precautions while administering drugs are critical factors in preventing medication mistakes. US medication errors can cost up to $20 billion annually (Rodziewicz et al., 2022). Previous studies have suggested that a significant portion of medical errors are probably the consequence of misunderstandings between doctors, pharmacists, and nurses. Evidence-based healthcare practices can help to reduce medication errors (Choudhury & Asan, 2020).
Importance of the Problem
Addressing medication errors is very important for me, as providing and enhancing human health is a nurse’s primary professional objective. Medical mistakes are among the most frequent health-threatening errors that impact patient care. These errors are a universal problem that raises death rates. Hospital stays and associated expenditures (Alqenae et al., 2020). I have, therefore, just seen the results of drug mistakes. In order to resolve medical errors and enhance the healthcare outcome for my patients, I need to understand them.
Populations Affected
The possibility of adverse outcomes exists for everyone who takes medication. Nonetheless, some populations are more vulnerable to adverse medication reactions. Adverse events are very likely to happen to children, elderly people who cannot communicate in English, and people with poor health literacy. In surgery, intensive care, and emergency medicine, high rates of medicine morbidity are also observed (Alqenae et al., 2020).
Considering Options
EHRs are one potential answer to medical errors. Keeping correct patient data and giving doctors access to all pertinent medical information can help decrease medical errors. Also, healthcare workers can concentrate on the most recent medical procedures and ways to guarantee the highest level of patient safety with the help of regular attendance at training programs and appropriate education (Gates et al., 2020). Using standardized medical protocols and processes such as electronic health records, e-prescriptions, and barcoding can help clear up any uncertainty, reduce mistakes, and lessen the likelihood of medical mistakes. However, using the barcode approach can guarantee that the patients receive the correct medications and that the appropriate treatments are carried out (Gates et al., 2020).
Consequences of Ignoring the Issue
Ignoring medical mistakes can seriously harm patients, damage healthcare providers’ image, and trigger administrative and regulatory action. Medical errors might result in higher healthcare costs due to increased length of stay. Injuries brought on by mistakes require further care, which raises the cost of treatment. Healthcare professionals who breach the law risk losing their licenses, paying fines, or having to take further training. In order to maintain the security and well-being of patients, it is essential to treat and avoid medical errors (Levine et al., 2019).
Solution Implementation Requirements, Pros and Cons of Medical Errors:
A set of guidelines for patient treatment are only one of the many implementations that healthcare providers can use to prevent medical errors. Information, ideas, and technologies are applied in the healthcare industry to enhance care quality while lowering costs and boosting efficiency (Levine et al., 2019). This is known as specialized health patient informatics. Healthcare professionals can record patient data and medical procedures electronically using electronic health records, e-prescriptions (safe medication orders), and barcodes (safe dispensing), making information easier to access. Proper patient education is required to ensure that patients understand their problems and the treatments they are receiving. By including the patient’s family, healthcare professionals can also help reduce medical errors because they get informed about the procedure and medication. Nurses and other medical personnel can aid in the reduction of medical errors by providing direct information to other medical staff. It will aid in reducing the misunderstanding that leads to medical errors. This may assist in lowering the possibility of medical errors (Levine et al., 2019). There is a need to reduce errors. Medication errors can increase mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs if the issue is unresolved (Rodziewicz et al., 2022). NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 4 Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue
Pros:
The new technological advances can be used to mitigate medication errors. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can help to retrieve and enter data safely without errors. By using e-prescriptions, errors related to medication orders can be decreased. Barcodes can help to reduce dispensing disorders. The EHRs can reduce the chances of errors by 63% (HealthIT.gov, 2019). The reduction in errors related to medication orders will be up to 50% (Kenawy & Kett, 2019). 43.5% of errors can be reduced by barcode technology due to safe dispensing (Thompson et al., 2018). Furthermore, safe medication practices can also reduce healthcare costs (Rodziewicz et al., 2022).
Cons:
There are advantages of using technology but also some disadvantages. It can increase the ambiguousness of healthcare practices due to a lack of training and awareness. Implementing technology poorly can increase workload and disrupt workflow (Mulac et al., 2021). It can also sometimes cause patients privacy concerns if data breaching takes place due to hacking.
Ethical Implications
The ethical code of conduct provided by the American Nursing Association can help to improve safe medication administration. These ethics help improve treatment fairness, justice, and safety (Nurse.org, 2023). Prioritizing strategies that impact the overall well-being of a community helps medical ethics enhance patient outcomes (Nurse.org, 2023). Healthcare professionals can avoid medical errors with ethical regulations and norms. Medical ethics is characterized by essential principles, which are as follows:
NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 4 Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue
- Autonomy- consideration of patient sovereignty in treatment
- Beneficence- kindness to patients
- Non-maleficence- no harm to patients(Nurse.org, 2023)
Justice- provision of equal care
In order to come up with answers, these ethical standards must be observed. Patients must be free to choose their therapies according to autonomy. As a result, autonomy is essential for a healthcare plan since it allows patients to make their own decisions. The possibility of medication errors will be lower because the patient will be appropriately informed about his treatment. Beneficence plays a crucial role in all aspects of health care by ensuring that treatment has a positive benefit and that the patient is protected. Additionally, by giving the patient the proper care, staff can prevent medical errors justice in healthcare provision is also a solution to reduce errors during treatment. When all the patients are treated equally chance of error due to discrimination will be less (Nurse.org, 2023).
Ethical Implications of Solutions
These ethical solutions will ensure that high-quality and safe care practices are followed in hospitals. It will help prevent medical errors by meeting patients’ needs. Healthcare staff can use e-prescriptions to assist in a 35% reduction in medical errors (Márquez-Hernández et al., 2019). By using e-prescriptions, nurses can successfully follow the ethical principle of non-maleficence as a solution. With the aid of barcode technology, 20% of medical errors in healthcare companies can be decreased. Additionally, efficient communication and cooperation between medical professionals and the general public can aid in the prevention of medical errors (Márquez-Hernández et al., 2019). The American Nurses Association (ANA) can assist in preventing medical errors by giving nurses the direction and training they need to advance their expertise in patient safety and high-quality care. Nurses can use these guidelines as a solution to improve medication administration. ANA offers ethical solutions and recommendations for nursing practice supported by research and emphasize patient safety and error reduction (Márquez-Hernández et al., 2019).
By following these recommendations, nurses can deliver safe, efficient care while reducing the risk of medical mistakes. The American Nurses Association (ANA) provides training and education opportunities for nurses as a solution for safe medication administration to keep them up to date on the most recent findings, industry best practices, and safety precautions (Márquez-Hernández et al., 2019).
Conclusion
NHS FPX 4000 Assessment 4 Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue The provision of high-quality treatment to patients depends on each of these factors. One of the significant problems is medication errors, which can result in high care costs, cause significant harm, and sometimes even cause patient death. Addressing medication errors is very important. Medical errors are usually caused by miscommunication, negligence, or a lack of training. Healthcare providers can reduce medical errors by using appropriate methods and techniques. Technology as a solution can help to improve the outcomes of treatment. Technological devices can reduce medication errors significantly and improve cost-effectiveness.
References
Alqenae, F. A., Steinke, D., & Keers, R. N. (2020). Prevalence and nature of medication errors and medication-related harm following discharge from hospital to community settings: A systematic review. Drug Safety, 43(6), 517–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-020-00918-3
Choudhury, A., & Asan, O. (2020). Role of artificial intelligence in patient safety outcomes: Systematic literature review. JMIR Medical Informatics, 8(7), 18599. https://doi.org/10.2196/18599
Escrivá, J. G., Brage, S. R., & Fernández, J. G. (2019). Medication errors and drug knowledge gaps among critical-care nurses: A mixed multi-method study. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4481-7
Márquez-Hernández, V. V., Fuentes-Colmenero, A. L., Cañadas-Núñez, F., Di Muzio, M., Giannetta, N., & Gutiérrez-Puertas, L. (2019). Factors related to medication errors in the preparation and administration of intravenous medication in the hospital environment. PLOS ONE, 14(7), 0220001. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220001
Garcia, C., Abreu, L., Ramos, J., Castro, C., Smiderle, F., Santos, J., & Bezerra, I. (2019). Influence of burnout on patient safety: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicina, 55(9), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55090553
Gates, P. J., Hardie, R.-A., Raban, M. Z., Li, L., & Westbrook, J. I. (2020). How effectively are electronic medication systems reducing medication error rates and associated harm among hospital inpatients? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(1), 167–176. https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocaa230
HealthIT.gov. (2019). Improved diagnostics & patient outcomes. Healthit.gov. https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/improved-diagnostics-patient-outcomes
Kenawy, A. S., & Kett, V. (2019). The impact of electronic prescription on reducing medication errors in an Egyptian outpatient clinic. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 127, 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2019.04.005
Levine, K. J., Carmody, M., & Silk, K. J. (2019). The influence of organizational culture, climate, and commitment on speaking up about medical errors. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(1), 130–138. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12906
Mulac, A., Mathiesen, L., Taxis, K., & Gerd Granås, A. (2021). Barcode medication administration technology used in hospital practice: A mixed-methods observational study of policy deviations. BMJ Quality & Safety, 30(12), 1021–1030. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2021-013223
Nurse.org. (2023). What is the nursing code of ethics? Nurse.org. https://nurse.org/education/nursing-code-of-ethics/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20American%20Nurses,how%20a%20person%20will%20conduct
Rodziewicz, T. L., Houseman, B., & Hipskind, J. E. (2022, December 4). Medical error reduction and prevention. Nih.gov. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/
Royce, C. S., Hayes, M. M., & Schwartzstein, R. M. (2019). Teaching critical thinking: A case for instruction in cognitive biases to reduce diagnostic errors and improve patient safety. Academic Medicine, 94(2), 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000002518
Thompson, K. M., Swanson, K. M., Cox, D. L., Kirchner, R. B., Russell, J. J., Wermers, R. A., Storlie, C. B., Johnson, M. G., & Naessens, J. M. (2018). Implementation of bar-code medication administration to reduce patient harm. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 2(4), 342–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2018.09.001