Health Policy Analysis on Respiratory Virus - Essay Example

Health Policy Analysis on Respiratory Virus Total Number of Words 388 Introduction Each hospital is using a health policy to address health management problems and changes that has to be implemented. Basically, the ability of the health care professionals to identify and understand the root cause of health management problems is one step towards developing effective solution that will effectively address the problems (Harrington, Estes, & Crawford, 2007, p. 1). Depending on the nature of the health problem, health policy which includes strategies related to health care management, finance, and administrative solutions can be made to enable the health care institution to reach the organizational goals. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of bronchiolitis – inflammation of the lower airways, asthma, and pneumonia in babies and children. Likewise, RSV causing respiratory problems may cause colds in patients regardless of age differences (NHS, 2009). Respiratory problems may increase length of patients’ hospitalization because this form of illness can compromise the patients’. In worst case scenario, respiratory virus infection can lead to patients’ untimely death. Aside from the fact that RSV normally spread in hospital environment from respiratory secretions, there is also a strong possibility that a person will become infected with RSV in case of having a close contact with an infected individual or objects that are infected with RSV (Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford, 2009). In line with this, the development of a health policy enables each hospital to have a guide for necessary actions that could result to a desired outcome. Considering the importance of developing and strengthening health policy within health institutions, the chosen health policy that will work well for managing respiratory virus will be identified and thoroughly examined. In line with this, my personal thoughts regarding the available frameworks or a combination of frameworks that is most suitable for analyzing respiratory virus policy will be provided together with the rationale for choosing the framework. Application of the Australian Policy Cycle in Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in the Local Hospitals Althaus, Bridgman, & Davis (2007) discussed and presented the policy cycle in the Australian Policy Handbook. In general, the policy cycle is normally used as a guide and analytical tools in the local hospitals to enable the health care professionals to make important decision making. In line with this, the policy cycle which can be used in addressing hospital problems related to RSV encourages the health care professionals to follow steps which include the necessary procedures and processes, rules, and conventions (p. 29). The Australian policy cycle is composed of steps which can be broken down into eight major elements known as: (1) identifying important issues that needs to be addressed (i.e. the spread of RSV in a hospital); (2) analyzing the proposed health policy; (3) policy instrumentation; (4) consultation; (5) coordination with the rest of the health care team; (6) decision making process; (7) implementation of developed strategies to solve the problem; and (8) evaluation of results (Althaus, Bridgman, & Davis, 2007, p. 37). In line with the advantages of using the Australian policy cycle, this particular health policy method is good since the elements of health policy is broken down into smaller components. The process of preliminary analysis for the Australian policy cycle should go through five stages which include: (1) formulating the problem; (2) setting out the hospital objectives and goals; (3) identifying decision parameters; (4) search for alternative solutions; and (5) propose a solution for the problem (Althaus, Bridgman, & Davis, 2007, p. 60). In line with this, formulating the problem is similar to the first step in the Australian policy cycle. For example: Hospital A acknowledged that the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that spreads within the hospital environment is causing serious health problems to the patients. Therefore, there is a strong need for the health care professionals to develop health policy that will prevent the spread of RSV in hospital environment. This may include isolation of infected healthcare professionals, visitors, and patients who are showing signs and symptoms of respiratory infection, and the need to promote influenza vaccine for clinical staff (NHS, 2009). Since the spread of RVS is common during winter season, health care professionals should implement the health policy for RVS a month or a week before the winter season (NHS, 2009). As part of the policy instrumentation, health care professionals who are working in hospitals should keep distance with infected individuals as much as possible since RVS can easily be transmitted from one person to another via close contact, large droplet, airborne respiratory secretions and contaminated hands (NHS, 2009; National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, 2008; Goldman, 2001). For this reason, the implementation of frequent hand washing is necessary. Other hospital policy should also include the need to properly dispose used tissues into waste receptacle with yellow colour waste plastic bag indicating that the tissues is a potential source of infection (NHS, 2009; Goldman, 2001). To make the implementation of health policy against the spread of RVS in hospital environment successful, each of the health care professionals should consult and coordinate with the rest of the health care team. After gathering the specific concerns of each of the health care professionals regarding this particular health problem, the health care professionals should decide on strategies that will make the implementation of the proposed health policy successful. Right after implementing the proposed health policy against the spread of RVS in hospital environment, health care professionals should evaluate the effectiveness of the plan. For example: The health care professionals will take note of the incidence or statistics wherein patients who do not show signs and symptoms of RSV infection are infected while staying at the hospital. Critique on the Australian Policy Cycle Although the Australian policy cycle can be used as a guide in developing a health policy in preventing the spread of RVS in hospital setting, this framework has its own limitation in the sense that not all of the eight steps is necessary when developing health policy for the local hospitals. It is also possible for the development of health policy in hospital not to religiously follow the eight steps. To maximize the benefit of using the Australian policy cycle, some flexibility or adjustments has to be made depending on the type of problem the health care professionals are trying to solve. Sources of Information Useful in Analyzing the Health Policy The sources of information useful in analyzing the health policy in preventing the spread of RVS in hospital settings include the NHS, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and the World Health Organization (WHO). The NHS in UK provides the public with a comprehensive health care information and medical advices to promote the health and wellness of the people (NHS, 2009b) whereas NICE is an independent organization that provies the public with national guidance on health promotion including disease prevention and treatment (NICE, 2009). The WHO is a directing and coordinating authority for health which tackles issue related to leadership on global health, shaping the health research studies, setting international health norms and standards among others (WHO, 2009). Discussion When trying to prevent the spread of RVS in hospital settings, health care professionals including the physicians, surgeons, nurses, nursing aides, x-ray technicians, nutritionists, hospital workers among others should actively participate in the implementation of the proposed health policy using the Australian policy cycle. Hospital employs a lot of individuals not only the health care professionals but also other workers like janitors and security guards. Patients including the family members and relatives are also some of the stakeholders that will have to follow the health policy. In case one of these stakeholders do not follow the proposed health policy, it will be difficult to prevent the spread of RVS inside the hospital setting. Conclusion The application of Australian policy cycle is easy and is applicable to a wide-range of different hospital-related problems like the seasonal spreading of RVS. To protect the patients from suffering from hospital-acquired respiratory diseases caused by RVS and other viruses, health care professionals should follow the five sequence for policy analysis which includes the process of formulating or identifying the problem, setting out objectives and goals; (3) identifying decision parameters; (4) the search for alternative solutions; and (5) propose a solution to the problem (Althaus, Bridgman, & Davis, 2007, p. 60). *** End *** References Althaus, C., Bridgman, P., & Davis, G. (2007). The Australian Policy Handbook. Allen & Unwin. Goldman, D. (2001). Epidemiology and Prevention of Viral Respiratory Infection in Healthcare Institutions. Emerging Infectious Diseases , 7(2), 249-253. Harrington, C., Estes, C., & Crawford, C. (2007). Health policy: crisis and reform in the U.S. health care delivery system. Jones & Bartlett Pub. Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford. (2009). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hrnewborn/rsv.html National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2008, July). NICE Clinical Guideline 69. Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Respiratory tract infections- antibiotic prescribing. Prescribing of antibiotics for self-limiting respiratory tract infections in adults and children in primary care: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG69FullGuideline.pdf NHS. (2009, January). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from Respiratory Virus Policy: http://www.gywpct.nhs.uk/_store/documents/respiratoryviruspolicy.pdf NHS. (2009b, May 6). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from About NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/aboutNHSChoices/Pages/AboutNHSChoices.aspx NICE. (2009). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from About NICE: http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/ WHO. (2009). Retrieved November 7, 2009, from About WHO: http://www.who.int/about/en/ Read More