Identification and Description of Risk Management Issue - Research Paper Example

? Risk Management Introduction Individuals and companies in the contemporary world are always struggling to cope with risk management issues they experience at their work place. Risk management is a process, which involves identification of the probable risk existing in an investment and finding solutions to the eminent risk to suit their objectives and their goals (Joint Commission on Accreditation Health., 2011). This paper aptly discusses and describes the risk management issue at a large teaching hospital, identifies the steps taken to address the issue, discusses how the organization is determined to solve the problem. Furthermore, this article identifies other facilities that have are adopted three sources in addressing the same problem and describes the comparison of the research and the process being developed at the organization. Identification and Description of Risk Management Issue Medical malpractice is a major risk management issue affecting most teaching hospitals. Medical professionals can define medical malpractice as the inaccurate administration of healthcare services to a patient. In most cases, this always result to harm in patients as the mistakes made by the medical professionals at times can lead to devastating effects like death or disabilities to the patient. In teaching hospitals, most professionals are still students who are undergoing training on various grounds by using the patients who register at the hospital for medical purposes as their tests subjects. The effects of Medical malpractice by a practicing practitioner who is not yet qualified can at times be disturbing because they range from wrong dose calculations, wrong dose prescriptions to wrong injections that the doctor did not prescribe (Baker, 2010). Discussion of Steps That Have Been Set In Place to Address the Issue To address the issue of Medical malpractice in major teaching hospitals, various steps are incorporated. Teams training of medical professionals to address the problem of lack of communication or teamwork amongst professionals have been undertaken. This has tremendously played a significant role in improving patient’s safety and satisfaction both medical professionals monitoring them discuss the various changes or issues they notice in the patient. Secondly, the hospitals have employed enough physicians who monitor patients before they undergo medical procedures to avoid Medical malpractice that may lead to excessive pain, emotional distress, or death to a patient. In addition, the physicians explain the rehabilitation process of patient to make them mentally prepared and avoid the emotional distress that are caused by the medical procedure he has undergone. Thirdly, medical professionals are required to conduct a thorough research on the patient’s history to avoid Medical malpractice from the medical professionals’ side that might lead to the unexpected death of a patient. Lastly, ‘failure mode effect analysis’ has been introduced in most teaching hospitals to avoid Medical malpractice that leads to delayed treatment of patients visiting the center for medical purposes, therefore, improving the quality of healthcare services administered to patients (Joint Commission on Accreditation Health., 2011). Discussion of How an Organization Has Determined a Path to Remedy the Problem Organizations have taken various paths to remedy the problem of Medical malpractice by laying emphasis on the patient’s consent before passing patients through various medical procedures that are risky, but are also essential in the diagnosis of a patient’s ailment. The consent allows the medical professionals to touch and administer required medication to a patient, and frees him or her from the discomfort or consequences caused by the treatment administered to patients by will (Joint Commission on Accreditation Health., 2011). The organization has also laid emphasis on the informed consent to make the client aware of the various stages that he or she will undergo while being treated and the consequences that might have some effects on them. This plays a significant role in encouraging or discouraging a patient from taking or rejecting a treatment. In addition, the organization has placed a rule that all patients have a right to treatment (Baker, 2010). This helps in avoiding Medical malpractice caused by delayed treatment, therefore, saving all patients who visit the hospital because they treat patients first before asking for medication fees. To determine the accurate ailment patients are suffering from, the organization has endured that all patients visiting the hospital goes through the process of medical experimentation to avoid Medical malpractices that accrue because of wrong diagnosis of ailment in patients. This has significantly promoted the quality of healthcare services within the hospital, since patients are administered accurate treatment for the different ailments they are suffering from. Identification of three Sources That Identify Valid Methods Adopted by Other Facilities to Address the Same Problem Other facilities have chosen different methods to address the Medical malpractice in their organizations. This has involved review of medical records like direct observation, external audit, and confidential inquiries. This has promoted the healthcares services they administer to their patients, as they have been able to transfer their patients from general care to special units and save their lives (Carroll, 2009). In addition, the method is also successful in pointing out various potential indicators in patients and adverse events that may turn out be malpractice cases on the medical professionals. Secondly, they have conducted studies based on interviews with the different patients visiting the hospital. This has proved reliable in obtaining useful data related to patient’s ailment; therefore, helping in the diagnosis of the ailment a patient is suffering from. The method was significant in following ambulatory care and in the drug administration process to patient. This aided significantly in barring Medical malpractice that were caused by wrong drug calculation, wrong dose prescriptions and lack of proper ailment diagnosis (Lindh, 2010). Many hospitals use direct observation to avoid cases of Medical malpractice that arise when a patient receives treatment for an ailment. This has also contributed in the drug administration error from both sides as the professionals and the patient are both keen on the process of drug administration and drug taking. In addition, the direct observation has also proven useful in the assessment of safety procedures, as medical practitioners available at the hospital closely monitor the patient. When patients receive treatment from the hospital, medical professionals have an opportunity to monitor the patient and identify major changes that might be occurring to the patient while under medication in the hospital. This helps medical professionals in finding a solution to the new changes thus saving the patient’s life in the process (Lindh, 2010). Description of Comparison of the Research and the Process Developed At the Organization Medical malpractice is a serious problem, which if not handled professionally can lead to disability or death to a patient. Medical procedures are significant in most hospitals as they accurately help in identifying a patient’s ailment, therefore, help in finding a quick solution to the patient’s problems. Many hospitals at times start treating patients without prior permissions from the patient in question. An example is that most accidents victims forced to undergo treatment without their consent. Despite this being a good performance from the hospital’s side, it might however prove detrimental to the hospital when cases of malpractice arise. This is because the patient might sue the hospital that he did not consent to his treatment procedure or that the medical professional who administered medical services to him or her did not pass him through an informed consent (Carroll, 2009). Conclusion In conclusion, risk management programs are there to prevent liability on the medical professionals’ side by preventing medical mistakes from happening when a patient passes through a medication process. Good organizations with effective risk management processes are competent in the provision of patient care as the patient is assured of satisfaction and comfort through and after the medication process. References Baker, T. (2010). The medical malpractice myth. Syndey N. S. W.: RHYW. Carroll, R. (2009). Risk management handbook for health care organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Joint Commission on Accreditation Health. (2011). Medication Management Tracer Workbook. Joint Commission on. Lindh, W. Q. (2010). Delmar's comprehensive medical assisting: Administrative and clinical competencies. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Read More