To complete:
By Day 7
Write a 3- to 5-page paper (page count does not include title and reference page) that addresses the following:
- Describe a department or unit within a health care organization using systems theory terminology. Include a description of inputs, throughput, output, cycles of events, and negative feedback.
- Describe the problem you identified within the department or unit using an open- systems approach, and state where the problem exists using the systems theory model (input, throughput, output, cycles of events, or negative feedback).
- Based on this information, explain how you would address the problem as follows:
- Formulate a desired outcome.
- Identify goals and objectives that would facilitate that outcome.
- Translate those goals and objectives into policies and procedures for the department or unit.
- Describe relevant professional standards.
- Explain how your proposed resolution to the problem would uphold the organization’s mission and values and improve the culture and climate.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: In the healthcare industry, systems theory plays a vital role in understanding the complex systems and subsystems that make up a healthcare organization. As a medical professor, understanding this theory is crucial in designing assignments and evaluating student performance. In this paper, a department or unit within a healthcare organization will be described using systems theory terminology. A problem within the department or unit will also be identified using an open-systems approach. Solutions to the problem will be proposed along with relevant professional standards. Finally, the proposed resolution’s impact on the organization’s mission and values, and the culture and climate will be explained.
1. Description of a department or unit within a health care organization using systems theory terminology
A department or unit within a healthcare organization that can be described using systems theory terminology is the Emergency Department (ED). The ED’s inputs are patients with various medical conditions and emergencies, healthcare professionals, equipment, and supplies. These inputs undergo various processes, including triage, medical evaluation, diagnostic tests, and nursing interventions. The throughput in the ED involves activities like stabilizing patients, providing timely interventions, and ensuring prompt medical intervention. The outputs are patients who received timely and appropriate medical interventions and healthcare professionals who provided quality medical care. The cycles of events involve various stages of patient care from triage to treatment and eventual discharge or transfer. Negative feedback in the ED can result from factors such as overcrowding, delays in medical interventions, and staff burnout.
2. Identification of a problem within the department or unit using an open-systems approach
The problem identified in the ED using an open-systems approach is overcrowding. Overcrowding stems from the hospital’s increased demand for emergency medical services, inadequate staffing, and limited resources. Overcrowding results in increased wait times, delays in medical interventions, and compromised quality of patient care. Overcrowding in the ED can be linked to the input stage, throughput stage, and output stage. At the input stage, overcrowding results from an increase in the number of patients seeking emergency medical care. At the throughput stage, overcrowding results from a shortage of medical professionals to provide prompt medical interventions. At the output stage, overcrowding results in increased waiting times and potential delays in obtaining hospital beds or transfers.
3. Proposed solutions to the problem
To address overcrowding in the ED, the following solutions can be proposed:
Desired Outcome: To reduce overcrowding within the ED by a specified percentage within six months.
Goals and Objectives:
Goal 1: To increase staffing levels within the ED by 25%.
Objective 1: To recruit additional healthcare professionals to augment the current medical staff.
Objective 2: To increase the frequency of training opportunities for ED staff to improve their skills and knowledge.
Goal 2: To improve efficiency within the ED by reducing waiting times for patients by 50%.
Objective 1: To develop a streamlined process for triaging patients to enable clinicians to prioritize medical interventions appropriately.
Objective 2: To optimize the use of technology to facilitate faster diagnostic testing and reporting of results.
Policies and Procedures:
Policy 1: To ensure that there is an adequate supply of medical personnel and resources to meet the demand for emergency services.
Procedure 1: Conduct regular staffing assessments and adjust staffing levels to meet demand.
Procedure 2: Ensure adequate supplies and equipment are available to meet patient needs.
Policy 2: To optimize the use of technology to facilitate faster diagnostic testing and reporting of results.
Procedure 1: Implement an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to reduce paperwork and improve communication among healthcare providers.
Procedure 2: Implement a Rapid Diagnostic Testing program to expedite laboratory testing and results.
Relevant Professional Standards:
The policies and procedures implemented to address overcrowding in the ED should adhere to relevant professional standards such as those outlined by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The JCAHO sets standards for healthcare providers to follow to ensure quality patient care.
4. Explanation of how the proposed resolution upholds the organization’s mission and values and improves the culture and climate
The proposed resolution upholds the organization’s mission and values and improves the culture and climate in several ways:
– Adequate staffing and resources to meet emergency service demands uphold the organization’s mission to provide quality patient care.
– Implementing technology such as EMR and rapid diagnostic testing shows a dedication to innovation in healthcare delivery, a core value of the organization.
– Improving efficiency within the ED by reducing waiting times shows a commitment to patient satisfaction, a core value of the organization.
– The proposed solutions promote a positive culture and climate within the ED by addressing staff burnout, improving morale, and fostering teamwork.
Conclusion: Systems theory provides an effective framework for analyzing and addressing complex problems in healthcare systems. The ED is a vital department in healthcare organizations that require careful management to ensure quality patient care. Addressing overcrowding in the ED requires a multi-faceted approach that leverages adequate resources, technology, and targeted policies and procedures. The proposed solutions should maintain the organization’s mission and values and improve the culture and climate in the ED.
