NHS-FP6004 Assessment 2 Policy Proposal Example

NHS-FP6004 Assessment 2 Policy Proposal Example

Statistics show there are preventable measures to reduce falls and avoid them from reoccurring. Typically, 700,000 and 1 million patients fall in hospitals yearly, as stated by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Data reports show that many of the patients who fail are not seriously hurt, however, fall rate injuries are substantial. The Joint Commission data shows an average growth in a hospital’s overhead costs for an injury that is fall-related costs the hospital more than $13,000, and the patient’s time spent increases by an average of 6.27 days.

Also, research shows that between 30 and 51 percent of falls result in an injury. (Butcher, 2017) Mercy Medical dashboard metrics data showed an increase in falls and documentation errors due to the mistakes of employees in the years 2015 and 2016.

Many factors can lead to high fall rates, such as poor communication between staff, incorrect documentation, and poor nurse assessments. This policy proposal should be considered to decrease the number of falls and prevent the possibility of falls from occurring. Furthermore, this will increase overall performance, the likelihood of meeting targets, and effective patient care delivery.

Ethical Evidence-Based Strategies

Improving the performance of this benchmark can be accomplished through various ways to decrease preventable falls. Strategic planning will provide a direction in making tough decisions for Medical Mercy Center to deliver superior service to their patients and prevent falls, reducing readmission rates. This policy proposal will support MMC’s leadership to acknowledge a weakness within the organization and implement ways to improve those areas of underperformance.

A lack of communication between staff has caused the fall rates to increase in the center. The “SBAR” concept (situation, background, assessment and, recommendations) is a great tool for maintaining effective communication. Communicating with the staff by using the “SBAR” concept will significantly reduce the chances of miscommunication from the staff and decrease any preventable falls from happening again.

Each time a nurse assesses a patient, using the SBAR concept will support them in identifying the patient’s situation, background, and application recommendations. This will be a great resource in which nurses can then contribute to an enhanced assessment and recommendations on what the patient will need for future treatment. (Lee., Dong,  Lim, Poh., & Lim, 2016).

Strategies should be established for patients who are at risk for falls, which are known to cause injuries to patients. There also should be ways to alert employees if patients are falling more often or patients that could potentially be at risk of falling. Implementing a color-coded system identifying a patient as a fall risk will support decreasing falls and educating new staff about the program.

Proposed Policy

A policy is brought to the attention of the stakeholders and leaders of Mercy Medical due to the systematic failure of reoccurring falls. It is up to the leaders of this organization to bring about change to increase patient satisfaction and patient safety. It is vital to take in the necessary strategies to reduce falls from transpiring. These strategies can contribute to influencing high-quality patient care. (Rawlins, 2014)

Competent staff will support the decrease of stress brought on by an increased workload and the pressures of being short-staffed. Having a knowledgeable team would help when chaotic situations arise and patient care is jeopardized.

It would help relieve the pressures towards a single employee and help to keep each other accountable as a team and decrease unnecessary shortcuts made by an employee. Requiring reporting of fall incidents will help the organization find the areas of weaknesses within the staff and organization. Putting into practice inquiring about the employees’ needs will create a stress-free environment.

Alerts should be issued to patients who are at high risk for falls. Using a color-coded system identifying the fall risk will help employees lessen repeated falls. Educating patients and staff members about the fall prevention policy would be vital in applying safe practices. (Morse,2018)

Conclusion

Human errors are common, but they can be avoided by focusing on education and implementing safe practices. Mercy Medical does not have to be a part of patient fall statistics. Implementing these policies within the organization will provide exemplary safe practices to serve as a role model for organizations and those within the organization.

It’s up to the leaders at Mercy Medical to set