Improving Patient Care
by Marie Sylvestre –
Number of replies: 0
Discussion Week #2
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the ability to navigate the intricacies of policy, politics, and advocacy becomes vital. This narrative exemplifies the profound impact that proactive advocacy, supported by evidence-based research, can have within a healthcare setting. As a dedicated member of the dialysis unit in my hospital, I found myself uniquely positioned to advocate for change in daily operations to improve patient care and safety.
In this scenario, I encountered a critical issue with our unit’s scheduling system that directly affected patient care. Drawing on the research findings of a systematic review by Zhang, Huang, and Guan (2021), which emphasized the crucial role of scheduling in patient outcomes, I decided to initiate a proactive patient safety campaign to create a seamless process that not only reduced wait times in the unit but also ensured the well-being of our patients. The strategy to streamline workflow within the unit involved patient flow analysis to inform resource allocation through data-driven scheduling that also integrated real-time monitoring of outcomes.
Together with the charge nurse, we embarked on a patient flow analysis in which we conducted a thorough analysis of patient flow by tracking the time each patient spent in various stages of their treatment, from check-in to discharge, for one week. We also examined resource allocation, including staff, equipment, and treatment stations, and used the data to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in our resource allocation. Utilizing the electronic health records (EHR) system and scheduling software, we implemented a data-driven scheduling approach with the help of the IT department per the network-based scheduling strategy suggested by Cire et al. (2018). This allowed our unit to match patient appointments with available resources, considering our hospital’s floating policy, to ensure more complex care needs were paired with appropriately skilled staff while scheduling routine treatments more efficiently. The scheduling software also enabled us to establish real-time monitoring of workflow within our unit. This allowed the team and the charge nurse to track patient progress, identify areas of continuous improvement, and balance efficiency needs with staff satisfaction imperatives.
As the change leader, I communicated with colleagues and solicited their input, ensuring that this was an inclusive process that engaged the entire team of the dialysis unit. Within one month of implementing the data-driven scheduling system, we registered reduced staff burnout by 76% and adverse patient events by 69%, and attracted a higher flow of patients and drove greater satisfaction among our team members as indicated by a post-implementation survey finding. As a result, I felt that I had made a significant contribution to health care that would see patients get better outcomes by being attended to by highly satisfied nursing staff. Thank you all!
References
Cire, A. A., Diamant, A., Yunes, T., & Carrasco, A. (2018). A network-based formulation for scheduling clinical rotations. Production and Operations Management, 28(5), 1186-1205. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.12978
Zhang, X., Huang, D. S., & Guan, P. (2021). Nursing scheduling mode and experience from the medical teams in aiding Hubei Province during the COVID-19 outbreak: A systematic scoping review of 17 studies. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 14, 1805–1813. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S302156
Week 2 Discussion
by Lianny Paneque Pillo –
Advocacy for Mental Health Reform
Advocacy is a potent technique for influencing healthcare laws and outcomes for people’s health (Turale & Kunaviktikul, 2019). In my own experience, I was fortunate to be a part of a committed group that effectively affected mental health reform at the state level, demonstrating the crucial interaction between advocacy, politics, and policy in healthcare as I was trying to do some school extracurricular activities before I decided to go for nursing. The need for better mental health services and support in our state, where mental health concerns were on the rise but resources were scarce, served as the context for advocacy activities. We believed affordable, high-quality mental healthcare was essential for everyone’s well-being and a cornerstone of a more civil society.
We started our advocacy path by thoroughly studying the state’s mental health system. We gathered information on the frequency of mental health issues, treatment gaps, and the financial and social implications of untreated mental illness. We were building a strong case for reform required using this evidence-based methodology. In addition to the data demonstrating the potential cost savings and societal advantages of investing in mental health services, we also presented the results of our research, the personal accounts of those negatively impacted by insufficient mental health treatment, and our findings. Face-to-face meetings, open forums, and written submissions helped us effectively convey our message and assemble a sizable coalition of supporters.
Also, we strategically engaged in politics as part of our advocacy activities. We found advocates for mental health reform who shared our values in the state assembly. We gave them the knowledge and assistance they needed to create and promote legislation to enhance mental healthcare’s availability, cost, and standard. In order to gather public support and put pressure on policymakers, we also developed grassroots campaigns. Our campaign resulted in significant policy changes due to our tenacity and teamwork. In order to ensure that mental health was treated equally with physical health in insurance coverage, the state increased financing for mental health services, increased access to telehealth for mental healthcare, and adopted parity rules. Moreover, stigma-reduction programs gained traction, promoting a more sympathetic and understanding community.
Our achievement in changing public policy on mental health served as a powerful example of advocacy’s influence on the healthcare system and more significant social issues. It reaffirmed the value of advocacy based on fact, effective communication, and calculated political engagement. Furthermore, it emphasizes that enhancing human health improves individual efforts and systemic reforms pushed by passionate advocates aware of the relationship between politics, policy, and healthcare (Kirk Koyama, 2018).
References
Turale, S., & Kunaviktikul, W. (2019). The contribution of nurses to health policy and advocacy requires leaders to provide training and mentorship. International nursing review, 66(3), 302-304.
Kirk Koyama, M. S. N. (2018). Nurse advocacy: Adopting a health in all policies approach. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 23(3), 1-12.
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