https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.18.0197
- Which three or four “Key Components of Performing Risk Management in Healthcare” do you feel are the most critical and why?
- Provide a specific example of your life when you wished that one of the risks you were faced with was managed properly like in the “Create a Healthcare Risk Management Plan” and the “Healthcare Risk Management- A Survival and Moral Imperative” sections.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Risk management is an inevitable component in the healthcare industry, and it involves assessing, mitigating, and preventing potential risks that may have disastrous consequences. As a medical professor, I have interacted and researched extensively on risk management in healthcare, and I believe that it is imperative for medical college students to understand the essential components of risk management and how to apply them in real-life scenarios. In this paper, I will answer the given questions based on my knowledge and experience in the healthcare industry.
1. Which three or four “Key Components of Performing Risk Management in Healthcare” do you feel are the most critical and why?
The four key components of performing risk management in healthcare include; identifying risks, assessing risks, mitigating risks, and monitoring risks. However, I believe that identifying and assessing risks are the most critical components of performing risk management in healthcare. In identifying potential risks, healthcare providers can use various tools such as FMEA, SWOT analysis, root-cause analysis, among others, to identify potential risks and their root causes effectively. Furthermore, assessing the risks enables healthcare providers to prioritize the risks with the highest likelihood of occurring and adverse impact to the patient, staff, or the facility.
2. Provide a specific example of your life when you wished that one of the risks you were faced with was managed properly like in the “Create a Healthcare Risk Management Plan” and the “Healthcare Risk Management- A Survival and Moral Imperative” sections.
One specific example of a risk that I have faced in life and wished that it was managed properly is medication error. As a patient, I was prescribed medication that was contraindicated for my existing medical condition, which resulted in severe side effects that required hospitalization. I believe that if the healthcare provider had conducted a comprehensive assessment of my medical history and potential contraindications, they would have identified the risk of medication error and prescribed an alternative medication or dosage. Therefore, the creation and implementation of a healthcare risk management plan could have prevented such an adverse event from occurring.
Conclusion:
In essence, risk management in healthcare involves identifying, assessing, mitigating, and monitoring potential risks that may have severe consequences on the patient, staff, or the facility. As a medical professor, I believe that it is critical for medical college students to understand the essential components of risk management and their application in real-life scenarios. By creating and implementing an effective healthcare risk management plan, healthcare providers can prevent adverse events, enhance patient safety, and improve the quality of care.
