Value-Based Purchasing, Hospital-Acquired Conditions - Research Paper Example

? Hospital-Acquired Conditions number submitted Hospital-Acquired Conditions Introduction Hospital-acquired conditions are conditions that affect a patient as the patient stays in hospital or in a medical facility. The conditions make a patient to be degraded by the hospitals environment. The conditions are sometimes referred to as complications. An example of a Hospital-acquired condition is when a patient rolls and falls from the hospital bed. The result of the fall may be a broken hip. This will be regarded as a hospital acquired condition, as it was not in existence when the patient was being admitted to the hospital. The hospital has to put in place measures and control policies in the patients’ environment to prevent them from acquiring hospital-acquired conditions. The hospital-acquired conditions are of different types such as pressure ulcers, harm related to falls and surgical site infection. In my research, I will focus on surgical site infection and evaluate it so as to understand what it entails and why it is regarded to as a hospital-acquired condition. (Bunting, Shuckman and Wong, 2009) Surgical site infection The human skin protects internal organs from being infected by microorganisms, which are present in the air and in the skin. During a surgery, the human skin is broken so as to conduct operations on interior organs of the body. The surgical site infections are the infections that occur within 30 days after a surgery and usually affect the skin or the subcutaneous tissues found below the skin. (Bunting, Shuckman and Wong, 2009) The surgical site infections are of two types that are, the Deep Incisional surgical site infections and the organ surgical site infections. The deep incisional surgical site infections occur within 30 days of after operation if there was no internal organ that was left in place or within a year after the operation in the event that the operation and infection involve a deep organ tissue that was left in place. It affects the incision that was created during the surgery. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013). The organ surgical site infections is similar to the incisional surgical site infections only that it does not affect the incision, but the implant which was introduced or had itself operated on. Studies carried out by different institutions claim that the risk of acquiring surgical site infections is high, but it can be contained. The surgical site infections can be reduced by undertaking of collective measures and precautions before or during a surgical operation. The measures and precautions can be subdivided into two on the basis of to whom it applies such as to the patient and the doctors. The patient is expected to conduct some preparations before going to the surgical room. These preparations, however, must be monitored by a knowledgeable person so as to reduce the margin for error. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013) The patient is expected to treat his or her skin with iodine-based antiseptics. Iodine has been known to kill germs that are located on the human body such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. Another preparation to be undertaken is the chlorhexidine-based preparations. Chlorhexidine is commonly found in aqueous solution and is wildly known for its action on yeasts, anaerobes and lipid evolved viruses. When used on the skin by patients, it reduces the chances of them acquiring surgical site infections. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013). Patients are also advised to avoid shaving as shaving has been known to damage the skin and the time span between shaving and surgery has an impact on the possibility of a patient acquiring surgical site infections. Although not shaving is a means of trying to control surgical site infections and should be undertaken by the patient, the health attendant is expected to inform the patient of the risks involved. (Sharon, 2008) This is because if the patient is affected by hospital-acquired conditions, which result from surgical site operations, the patient can sue the hospital and claim to be compensated for damages. The surgeons who are to conduct the surgery have most of the responsibility in ensuring their patients are not affected by surgical site infections. (Dunn, kathuria and Klotman 2013) Wearing of appropriate attire by the surgeons ensure that they reduce the chances of introducing germs into the surgical room. This by a large margin reduces the chances of patients acquiring surgical site infections. Preoperative operation showers with chlorhexidine were found to help reduce the risk of surgical site infections according to studies undertaken in the year 2005. (Sharon, 2008). Due to the positive results obtained from the study, surgeons had an increased confidence level when they undertook preoperational showers. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013) The patients affected by surgical site infections can sue the hospital for the they have contracted infections, which they did not have as they were admitted to the hospital. The world health organization recommends that hospitals and medical centers implement infection and environmental controls to prevent patients from contracting and suffering from hospitals-acquired conditions. Lawyers who present the cases pursue to request for an answer as to why someone should come out of a hospital with an infection they did not possess. The law implies that hospitals are to compensate the patient or the patient families for the damages caused by the contracting of hospital-acquired infections (Sharon, 2008). Communication between the healthcare personalities and the patient or family is important as it helps them prepare themselves mentally and emotionally on the possible outcomes of the surgery. (Bunting, Shuckman and Wong, 2009). Communication also involves educating the patient on what he or she is expected not to do before the surgery. For example, a patient is not expected to shave his or her body before a surgery. Many patients may not have this knowledge and thus communication is important to reduce the chances of acquiring surgical site infections. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013) In some instances, the healthcare attendant may find out that the patient is suffering from a hospital-acquired condition, but is reluctant to inform the patient (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013) He or she may be reluctant because of the impending legal obligations. The attendant may also fear that he or she may be blamed for violating their roles. As such, some hospital-acquired conditions may go unattended and the patient suffers at the cost of the hospital. Hospital attendants also try to hide their weaknesses so as to retain their high performance, as the weakness is a competitive disadvantage for the hospital. Failure to of the attendants to discuss the hospital-acquired conditions can be lethal for both the patient and the hospital. The patient may succumb to the condition and lose some of their body parts or even their lives. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013)  The patient or their family can sue the hospital for ignorance after it is ascertained that the problems that were experienced by the patient was as a result of ignorance by the hospital attendants to monitor the environment of the patient. (Ehrenclou, 2008) The hospital attendants should devise a method of communicating the presence of hospital-acquired infections to the patients in the most convenient way. It is advisable that the attendants should first discuss with the patient's family members and close people and inform them about the implications the hospital-acquired infections have on the patient's health. The family members can then talk to the patients with a backup of the attendants. (Dunn, kathuria and Klotman 2013) This is to help reduce the chances of the patient being depressed of their state. This approach is considered friendly to the patient and the family members. The approach will also help boost the confidence of the patient as the family members will comfort the patient during and after the communication period (Bunting, Shuckman and Wong, 2009). Due to the severity of hospital-acquired conditions, the quality level in hospitals and healthcare centers has to be monitored closely. The World Health Organization in conjunction with other organizations and some hospitals have geared up to check the level of quality assurance in hospitals.  The cost incurred by this organization is high due to the requirements to make one surgery successful. Hospitals incur costs to the tune that every surgery has to be well checked for safety conditions. It is necessary as it prevents the hospitals-acquired conditions from occurring and affecting the patients in the hospitals. Surveyors from organizations who are dedicated to find the risk of surgical site infections usually find it difficult to assess the environmental conditions in the hospital. They report to the hospital and take note of all events that occur relating to the patient. (Ehrenclou, 2008) They assess the disinfecting system of the hospital. They also note the number of people who enter and leave a surgery room. The surveyors also record the type of surgery as it helps the analyzers to know and compare the risk of surgical site infections the patient experiences. (Dunn, kathuria and Klotman 2013) They also conduct discussions with the patients and the hospital attendants. This aids them to know more about the entire preparation for the patient. Periodic analyzing of the patients is also conducted to find out if the patient was in one way or another affected by hospital-acquired conditions. Statistics are recorded for large number of patients usually in a period of a year or two. (Buck, Netter and American Medical Association 2013) Conclusion                                                                              The hospital-acquired conditions can be prevented by a set of preventive measures and general safety by the hospital attendants. The hospital attendants are expected to exercise appropriate safety such as disinfecting surfaces, wearing appropriate attire during surgeries and reducing the number of people in the surgery room to reduce the chances of contaminating the patient. It is the responsibility of the attendants to make relevant communications with the patient on issues affecting them. The processes of ensuring patients are safe from surgical site infections is a difficult task and cannot be guaranteed. The presence of invisible contaminants such as bacteria and fungi make it hard to control the contamination of patients. References Sharon, T. A. (2008). Protect yourself in the hospital: Insider tips for avoiding hospital mistakes for yourself or someone you love. Chicago: Contemporary Books. Bunting, R. F., Schukman, J., & Wong, W. B. (2009). A comprehensive guide to managing neverevents and hospital-acquired conditions: A quality and risk management approach to patient safety and preventable adverse events. Washington, DC: Atlantic Information Services. CCH Incorporated., & Wolters Kluwer (Firm). (2010). Law, explanation and analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Including Reconciliation Act impact. Chicago, IL: Wolters Kluwer Law & Business. Dunn, A., Kathuria, N., & Klotman, P. (2013). Essentials of hospital medicine: A practical guide for clinicians. Hackensack, New Jersey: World Scientific. Buck, C. J., Netter, F. H., & American Medical Association. (2013). 2013 ICD-9-CM for hospitals, volumes 1, 2, & 3. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier. Ehrenclou, M. (2008). Critical conditions: The essential hospital guide to get your loved one out alive. Santa Monica, CA: Lemon Grove Press. Read More