How Interprofessional Care Planning May Improve Safety and other Aspects of Care for Clients - Assignment Example

How Interprofessional Care Planning May Improve Safety and other Aspects of Care for Clients? Activity 1 The modern health care system and delivery process involves many interface and patient handoff among different health care givers with varying level of education training and experience. This means, in a course one week stay in a hospital, a patient may be handed over to different caregivers including nurses, physicians, technicians, and others. Therefore, effective clinical practice involves numerous cases where patient critical information must be accurately communicated. This is the reason why collaboration among different caregivers is necessary. They need to communicate effectively; otherwise, the patient safety is at risk due to lack of critical information, lack of clear information leading to misrepresentation and overlooked changes in status. Lack of clear and effective communication creates situations where error can occur, which has potential to cause injuries or patient death. Neuhauser (2011) notes, medical errors arising from in effective communication are pervasive problem in the modern health care. Medical error arising from lack of communication can be minimized or eliminated using the international classification of functioning (ICF). The purpose of ICF is to promote the appropriate selection of classification in the range of setting of health care field around the world. Because a single classification system cannot encompass all types of health care information or provide all the details required for different uses, multiple classification that are users specific have been developed. ICF provide a wide range of information about health and uses standardized language thus allowing communication about health between different discipline and sciences. As mentioned earlier effective communication can help to reduce medical errors and thus improve patient safety. Activity 1.2 communication hand over Transfer of information and responsibility for care from one caregiver to another is a crucial component of communication in health care. An effective hand over supports the communication of critical information and continuity of care and treatment. On the other hand, ineffective handover puts the patient safety at risk. The videos provided are a shift-to-shift handoff where one nurse hand the responsibility of care to another after their shift is over. Many human factor play a role in this kind of handover. From an observation of this case a number of problems occurred. First the handover was hurried thus all the required information was not properly communicated. In particular, the first nurse (the nurse handing over) did not provide information of the patent’s next of keen to the second nurse (the nurse receiving the patient care responsibility). Normally during the hand over it is important for the first nurse to explain the patient history information, the present current information, which includes the way the patient has been during the shift, any changes in the treatment plan that occurred during the shift. The nurse is also supposed to include the physical observation and any assessment. Most importantly, the nurse is supposed to properly communicate what still need to be done on the patient and at what time. At this time the second nurse is supposed to take note, record a to-do -list. The information provided by the first nurse is not sufficient, and it is communicated hurriedly. The second problem is that the nurses choose a bedside handover. This method compromises the patient privacy. One advantage of this method is that it allows face t face interaction; clarification and nurses can access the patient together. However, in this case the two nurses did not capitalize on advantage of this method- no meaningful interaction is observed in addition the two nurses did not access the patients together. Bradbury and Gunther (2011) notes for bedside handover to be effective it is important for the nurse to introduce themselves to the patient and encourage them to also participate. This does not happen, the second nurse does not properly introduce herself to the patient. Moreover, there is no attempt to develop therapeutical and trusting relationship with the patient. She hurriedly recorded some information then gave few instructions and left. From the look of the patients face, she looked concerned and this could affect the treatment outcome. Overall the handover is done poorly. Some of the factor that could have contributed to this may be lack of enough staff or lack of the protocol to guide the bedside hand over in the facility/ in addition, the patient’s condition might have made her unable to participate. To improve the communication during handover it is important to develop protocol to guide handover, use standardized process to promote the transition of essential information. Activity 2.1 First, the isobar tool requires the nurse to provide information such as hospital, ward, role and job. In the handover in the video a proper introduction about the nurse especially in term of role and hospital as required by the isobar tool, is not provided. However, it is important to note that the first nurse has introduced the patient and provided most of the details required by isobar tool. In addition, the first nurse also briefed the second nurse on some of the most recent interventions, and the response that patient has shown. The isobar tool requires the handing over nurse to provide some information on patient social life. This information is lacking in the handover between the two nurses. In particular, the nurse does not provide information and contact of the patent next of keen. Furthermore, the Isobar tool requires the nurse handing over to provide the care plan, what the receiver should do and when and the agency level. The first nurse does not do this in a convincing way. Moreover, the tool, requires for feed back to ensure there is an understanding of things such as what need to be achieved for patient to be discharge, between the nurse handing over and the receiver. Again, the nurses do not do this in a convincing way. Activity 2.2 Identify one safety issue highlighted in this video - particularly if it relates to, or is significant for your profession. What procedures should be put in place to ensure Shirley's safety during meal times? Mealtime provide a patients with adequate nutrition as well as an opportunity to support social interaction. The therapeutical role of food within the healing process cannot be understated, however even if food is of the highest quality, it is of value only if the patent actually eat it. It is therefore important to ensure that patient eat food in a safe environment. According to Neuhauser (2011), mealtime environment influence, whether the patient eats the food or not. Therefore, all the caregivers should employ certain approach to ensure that patient actually eat the food and they get the required value. One important thing to note about Shirley's meal time environment is that there is no interruptions such as cleaning, ward rounds, documentation and therapy. However, Shirley's is left unattended. It is obvious that she is having difficulty eating, she cough several time after sipping one of the drinks provided and then she leave it. There is no nurse or family member or friends available to offer encouragement. She is also having difficulty locating some food. Another important observation to make is that she is having meal while on the bed. Although it is important to respect patient preference, the nurse should make patient comfortable in an appropriate position. Whenever possible encourage the patient to sit in a chair. Again all food should be served within a comfortable reach. In order to ensure Shirley safety during mealtime it is important for the nurse to encourage her to eat. Health care facility should endeavor to make meal time a social activity. If possible, Shirley family and friends should be encouraged to visit her during mealtime. This will offer her support and encouragement. In additional the caregivers should ensure accurate completion of food and fluids using guidance charts. Activity 2.3 The modern health care system, delivery process involves many interface and patient handoff among different health care giver with varying level of education training and experience. This means, in a course one week stay in a hospital, a patient may be handed over to different caregivers including nurse, physicians, technicians, and others. Effective clinical practice thus involves numerous cases where patient critical information must be accurately communicated. Therefore, it is important for all caregivers to collaborate. Inter professional collaboration is key to patient care. For this reason, there is a move at an international level towards an integrated, inter professional care plan. Inter professional care practice occur when different professional come together for the purpose of patient centered care. Literature show that due to complexity in medical care plus the inherent limitation of human performance, it is essential for all the health care to have standardized communication tools as well as create an environment where individuals can freely speak out and express their concern. Neuhauser(2011) Suggest when team need to communicate complex information in a short period the structured communication techniques can ensure accuracy. Collecting and disseminating information through filling form is an important way of ensuring that all the relevant information is communicated. The IPE Care Plan provided is examples of a positive move toward inter professional collaboration in health care. It is designed to be filled and used by different professionals. It provides critical information in a single document, thus fostering inter professional collaboration. Indeed, integrated, inter professional care plan will promote the patient centered care thus the main beneficially will be patients. Works Cited Bradbury, Delnoij, & Gunther‐Murphy, “inter professional collaboration To Grow Over 80%”. Journal for Healthcare Quality, (2011). 35.1: 30-40. Neuhauser, Neuhauser. “Achieving inter professional collaboration in health care.” Journal for Healthcare Quality, (2011) 6.4: 307-325. Read More