Research Continuous Quality Assurance efforts in a school clinic - Essay Example

 Research Continuous Quality Assurance efforts in a school clinic Quality healthcare is vital for productivity. There are a lot of issues that entails to the provision of a quality healthcare system, which goes beyond having adequate equipment and materials for treatment. Healthcare is a wholesome service that requires the patient to have an environment that will ensure relaxation and rest. Unfortunately, some healthcare systems are physically equipped yet lack the psychological equipment that are vital for wholesome treatment. Some of the sicknesses that people have are worsened by an environment that does not give them a peace of mind. However much they are administered with the best drugs, their health will continually deteriorate just because they lacked a proper psychological environment. In this paper, we carry out research on quality assurance efforts needed for a school clinic. This is done in consideration of the target patient and some of the psychological issues that are likely to affect their health. Most modern heath care issues are often a buildup of lifestyles that do not encourage proper living. A school clinic attends to young patients full of life and vigor. At this stage, most of them are ignorant of some of the health risks they could be in danger with by engaging in certain actions. Most medical issues that physicians may be encountered with may be minor bruises or if worse, diseases that have developed from their childhood (Weist, Evans & Lever, 2008). For more mature school gong children, other issues may be related to substance abuse at their early stages and violence derived from bad relationships. In as much as particular issues may be considered minor and not severe considering their age, they may build up t something serious If they are not well taken care of. School going children are therefore the best target group when it comes to offering good physical and psychological health care. Physicians in a school clinic, therefore, need to take a keen look at their patients to ensure that what they are suffering from does not build up into a serious problem. The most important requirement for a school clinic physician is to make sure that he or she maintains a good relationship with the students. It is crucial for a school physician to display a friendly attitude that will make it easy for the students to approach them. For any treatment to bear fruit, a patient is required to admit the fact that he or she is sick and that they are open to the treatment they are being given. School going children are mostly encountered with psychological challenges that got to do with growth and transition. They are surrounded by various options that a largely influenced by their peers and guardians. They, therefore, need somebody they can trust with their psychological thoughts, which have a direct impact on their health. Due to the various growth transitions that they go through, most of them tend to shy away from adults and instead choose to trust their peers. It is, therefore, vital for a healthcare provider to reassure them of their loyalty and trust. As stated earlier, quality healthcare is not just about physical illness but also psychological issues. It may not be easy for school going children to acknowledge the fact that emotional disturbance may be a form of a health care issue that requires intervention. It is hence important for school physicians to create awareness among pupils and students about their psychological health. Healthcare providers need to organize meetings to create such awareness and even help the children to know how to overcome some of the issues they are encountered with. There are questions such as relationships and drugs that are synonymous with certain age groups. A healthcare provider can, therefore, organize meetings with children of particular age groups and ensure that they open up on some of the challenges they face and how best to handle them (Lohr & Schroeder, 1990). With frequent discussions about their psychological health, children will be able to realize the common challenges they go through and hence being able to overcome them. Most parents take their children to school mainly to gain academic knowledge ignoring the wholesome growth required for them. There is an assumption among some parents that once a child has a good education background; they will be mature enough to face the challenges that come with life. Due to such an assumption, many parents will only equip their children with academic materials and not have time to talk to them about their psychological health. Parents also have many expectations towards their children which make them nervous and even afraid of sharing with them some of the challenges that they face. A healthcare worker in school is hence a significant asset to the children, who can easily confide in him or her. A healthcare provider should maintain a stand when it comes to dealing and handling the children. In as much as it is a wholesome psychological treatment, a healthcare provider should never try to act parent or teacher to the children. A healthcare provider should show uniformity in treating and handling the children irrespective of their home backgrounds and academic standings. Creating a neutral yet friendly atmosphere will provide the children with an alternative fallback they can go to when they feel down. In the efforts of a healthcare provider in a school clinic to provide a friendly environment, it is important for them to maintain their professional position. Being friendly does not imply getting familiar with the children (McLaughlin, McLaughlin & Kaluzny, 2004). A healthcare provider, therefore, needs to know his or her limits when it comes to handling the patients. Children should be close enough to share their problems with the physicians but also far enough to grant them the required respect. Healthcare providers should also make a point of understanding the family backgrounds of their patients where necessary so that they offer the required support. In certain cases, clinical officers in schools will need to collaborate with the parents for the purpose of helping their children. As they maintain such communication, it is important for them to note some of the secrets shared and supported them when necessary. Personal information given should therefore not be shared with other parties. Guidance and counseling are a critical unit in school clinics. The clinics should be accommodative to anyone who feels they need someone to share with. A clinical health provider in school should also understand that there are many issues to the students that he or she may not be able to handle alone. It is, therefore, important that they cultivate the spirit of sharing among trusted fellow students, teachers and parents. External sharing will minimize on their workload and allow them only to handle critical matters and issues. Reference list Lohr, K. N., & Schroeder, S. A. (1990). A strategy for quality assurance in Medicare. New England Journal of Medicine, 322(10), 707-712. McLaughlin, C. P., McLaughlin, C., & Kaluzny, A. D. (2004). Continuous quality improvement in health care: theory, implementation, and applications. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Weist, M. D., Evans, S. W., & Lever, N. A. (Eds.). (2008). Handbook of school mental health: Advancing practice and research. Springer Science & Business Media. Read More