Quality of Care: Organizational Programs in the United States - Essay Example

Healthcare Healthcare Question Quality of care will continue to be a major challenge across the long-term care continuum in the future. Among the following delivery sites: assisted living facilities, home care, and hospice, select two and discuss the best mechanisms to promote quality outcomes. Consider both policy mechanisms by payers and government as well as specific organizational programs long-term care administrators can initiate on their own. Answer Quality of care will continue to be a major challenge across the long-term care continuum in the future within delivery sites such as assisted living facilities, home care, and hospice. There are many individuals involved in the provision of long-term care. These include medical personnel, support staff, as well as volunteers within organizations and the community in general. It is worth noting that these individuals are the major determinants of the quality of care in these long-care delivery sites. This is in regard to their individual behaviors and other determining factors such as implemented policies. Before outlining the mechanisms to promote quality outcomes in assisted living facilities, it is worth defining assisted living. As asserted by Stevenson and Grabowski (2009), assisted living is "A congregate residential setting that provides or coordinates personal services, 24-hour supervision and assistance (scheduled and unscheduled), activities, and health related services"(Para. 3). Quality outcomes in assisted living facilities can be promoted through implementation of effective public policies particularly public financing. In the United States, public health is largely financed by Medicaid. Stevenson and Grabowski (2009) notes that very few individuals benefit from such public support by Medicaid. The fact that Medicaid as a public financier in health matters cannot finance accommodation for individuals in need of assisted care blocks many people from accessing assisted living services. Many people are therefore forced to use their personal savings to finance assisted living and when their finances run-out, care is affected and so do quality outcomes. Using Medicaid and other public financing to cover expenses incurred through personalized care and medical expenses would therefore significantly promote quality outcomes. There are also other mechanisms by payers that promote quality outcomes in assisted living such as long-term-care insurance (Nelms, Mayes and Doll, 2012). Quality outcomes can be achieved through recognizing or discovering potential threats to health and subsequently implementing plans of action aimed at tackling the threats. Additionally, Nelms, Mayes and Dolls (2012) asserts that individuals ought to plan "How long care might be needed, where the care can be obtained, and how it will be funded" (Para. 1). Early planning ensures that quality outcomes are achieved. There are specific organizational programs long-term care administrators can initiate on their own to promote quality outcomes. A good example is person-centered care programs. Components of person-centered care include inclusive and continuing care, constructive relationships among individuals in assisted living, and a home-environment. Creating an environment similar to a home setting makes the elderly individuals feel gratified and happy. The creation of constructive relationships among themselves and between care givers leads to feelings of fulfillment and contentment. Implementing plans of action that fosters individuals autonomy within the assisted care facilities also promotes quality outcomes as the elderly individuals are free to make their own decisions (Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, 2010). In home care, quality outcomes can be promoted through integration of a number of components by long-term care administrators. For instance, implementation of effective leadership strategies can improve health outcomes in home care. This is attributed to the fact that effective leadership ensures the creation of a comprehensible mission statement as well as standards to be followed by all stakeholders (Center for Excellence in Assisted Living, 2010). Other action plans aimed at encouraging teamwork and involvement of all individuals in decision making in regard to home care is also imperative in promoting quality outcomes. Subsequently, adopting a transitional-care approach can also improve outcomes. In transitional care, individuals with higher risks to specific severe illnesses are offered short-term care. This is important as it mitigates negative effects of such illnesses hence promoting quality outcomes. Another policy that promotes quality outcome in Assisted living care and home care is licensure and certification (McSweeney-Feld, Oetjen and Warthen, 2010) . Professionals offering home care services ought to be vetted by relevant bodies to assess their skills, knowledge, and qualifications in offering home care services (McSweeney-Feld, Oetjen and Warthen, 2010) . Licensing qualified and skilled individuals translates to quality outcomes. Assisted living facilities on the other hand ought to undergo accreditation aimed at finding out whether their facilities meet the minimum standards mandatory for such a facility to provide quality care. Additionally, the Assisted Living Facility must conform to laid down national standards (McSweeney-Feld, Oetjen and Warthen, 2010). In doing so, quality outcomes are guaranteed. In summation, promoting quality outcomes can be achieved through a number of ways in home care and assisted living facilities. For instance, ensuring individuals get access to public finances will increase access to assisted living facilities. Having health insurance is also important in ensuring individuals requiring care afford quality care. Accreditation of long-term care facilities ensured that such facilities are assessed whether they have met minimum requirements necessary for provision of quality services. Only those facilities with the capacity to provide quality services should be licensed. Health care administrators can implement patient-centered care in order to ensure quality at all times. Question Please describe the traits and training that long-term care administrators will need to be effective in nursing homes or assisted living and home care organizations. Compare and contrast the key similarities and differences within an institutional and community-based organizational environment. Answer It is worth noting the fact that health care is viewed as a multifaceted and intricate sector. Therefore, health care administrators must have the capacity to adjust to the changing dynamics in this field. To achieve this, effective training in various sophisticated fields related to healthcare is imperative. Since health care organizations are operated as a business, administrators should also possess effective leadership and management traits or skills (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). A health care administrator in assisted living facilities, hospitals, and even home care ought to have good communication skills(Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). Gordon, Grant and Stryker (2003) further states that quality care is achieved through effective communication as the administrator must deliver information to patients in an understandable and easily comprehensible manner. Other than communicating with patients, he or she has to communicate issues with individuals involved in provision of care such as physicians. Conflicts are inevitable in health organizations as each and every individual involved in the care process has divergent views on issues. Through effectively communicating and reminding the staff on organizational objectives, mission, vision, and values, conflicts are minimized (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). Though management skills are important, leadership skills are equally significant (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). Leadership and management goes beyond merely issuing orders and instructions and demanding that they be followed. Administrators with effective leadership and management skills are able to consider the individual needs, desires, and requirements of patients, physicians, and other stakeholders in decision making. Health care administrators are supposed to act as role models. Therefore, they are supposed to demonstrate ethical or moral behavior so that their subordinates can replicate them. Health organizations are also always changing in a bid to align their objectives with the changing dynamics in the contemporary world (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). Effective leadership and management characteristics therefore ensures a smooth integration of proposed changes into organizational culture. Long-term care administrators also ought to have the capacity to act in a professional manner (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). This is in regard to acting and behaving in an ethical manner and treating subordinates as well as other workers with respect. It is also worth noting that having a clear comprehension of issues relating health care in important for long-term care administrators. This is of significance as being up-to-date with current issues in the health field promotes and as well ensures the advancement of skills and knowledge. There are also laws and regulations that guide employees in their daily activities within the health care sector. Understanding these laws prevents promotes good behavior since each and every individual involved in the process of care is treated with respect. Other traits of an effective long-term care administrator include attention to detail, being focused, and honesty or reliability (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). All these are characteristics required by long-term care administrators to be effective in both institutions and community-based organizational environment. There are other traits and training of an administrator in an institution that differ from those of an administrator in a community-based organizational environment. Staff working within the community require divergent support as compared to those working within an institution. Therefore, long-term care administrators working in these two fields ought to be have specific traits and trainings. Working with communities necessitates the ability to mobilize people. Administrators working within communities are trained on the various mobilization techniques in a bid to acquire community support in health care activities within the community (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). Negotiation skills are also important for an administrator in a community setting. This means the ability to convince community members to accept health care projects. Community members need to be trained on the need and ways to improve their health status through the adoption of action plans aimed at preventing illnesses rather than treating them when they occur. Therefore, the capacity to convince them to accept change is imperative. As mentioned earlier, health care administrators are supposed to be knowledgeable of the health industry. Whereas administrators in institutions require knowledge in treating and caring for patients presenting themselves within the four walls of institutions, administrators in community-based environments should be knowledgeable of health issues or problems affecting the community and ways of preventing illnesses within the community (Gordon, Grant and Stryker, 2003). In a nut shell, traits of long-term care administrators include ability to mobilize and negotiate, integrity, effective communication, effective leadership and management skills, and professionalism. References Center for Excellence in Assisted Living.(2010). Person Centered Care in Assisted Living: An Informational Guide. Retrieved from http://www.achca.org/content/pdf/AL PCC Paper 062210.pdf Gordon, G. K., Grant, L. A., & Stryker, R. P. (Eds). (2003). Creative Long-Term Care Administration. Springfield, IL: Charles C Thomas. McSweeney-Feld, M. H., Oetjen, R., & Warthen, L. D. (2010). Residential Setting for Long- term Care Services. In Dimensions of Long-Term Care Management (pp. 25-37). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. Nelms, L. L., Mayes, S. L., & Doll, B. (2012). The Interface Between Continuing-Care Retirement Communities and Long-Term-Care Insurance. Retrieved from http://www.onefpa.org/journal/Pages/The%20Interface%20Between%20Continuing- Care%20Retirement%20Communities%20and%20Long-Term- Care%20Insurance.aspx Stevenson, D. G., & Grabowski, D. C. (2010). Sizing Up the Market for Assisted Living. Health Affairs, 29(1), 35-43. Read More