96329 - Health Systems and Change Assessment Answer

Description

The process of implementing significant changes to the current healthcare system in order to increase access, quality, cost, and overall effectiveness of healthcare services is referred to as healthcare reform. The objective is to address the problems and shortfalls of the existing system and put in place adjustments that improve healthcare outcomes for people and communities (Warner et al., 2020).

The change initiative that I witnessed during my time as a registered nurse at an aged care home involved the implementation of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This change was initiated to ensure the safety and well-being of healthcare providers and residents of aged care setting.

Feelings

During the initial days after the implementation, I had mixed emotions as these precautions reduced the danger of infection for residents and healthcare workers, which was a comfort. However, the extra equipment and necessity for continual monitoring caused discomfort and annoyance.

Evaluation

The use of PPE kits in facilities for the elderly has proven to be essential in halting the spread of COVID-19. These kits include with supplies including face shields, gloves, gowns, and masks that act as a barrier between medical professionals and potentially infectious materials. The risk of transmission can be reduced and safeguard vulnerable populations by using PPE (Griswold ET AL., 2021). Masks and other equipment can be uncomfortable to wear for extended periods of time, especially during lengthy shifts. The muffled voices caused by masks may also make it difficult to communicate. Additionally, there has been concern regarding the availability of sufficient supplies due to shortages that have occasionally resulted from the increased demand for PPE (Mheidly et al., 2020).

Analysis

The introduction of PPE kits in elderly care facilities has brought attention to the significance of infection control procedures and the requirement to give residents' and healthcare workers' safety first priority. It is now a necessary component of our daily activities to wear PPE, and its usefulness in reducing the spread of COVID-19 cannot be overstated (McCarthy et al., 2020). But it's critical to address the problems brought on by PPE use. Assuring that PPE is used and disposed of properly can reduce discomfort and guarantee that it works as intended. Healthcare organisations must also make an effort to keep a sufficient quantity of PPE on hand to allay worries and ensure a secure working environment (WHO, 2020).

Conclusion

Reflecting on my experience as a registered nurse in an aged care facility and being a part of the workplace change initiative, it is fairly straightforward that an inclusive and thorough strategy should have been adopted. This should have involved providing sufficient training and support, and communication to the personnel to make sure that the transition takes place smoothly.

Action Plan

For future change initiatives, it is crucial for healthcare organisations and settings to focus on the well-being of not only the residents but also the staff responsible for providing quality care. First and foremost, training programmes should be put in place to instruct medical workers on how to don and take off PPE kits. By doing this, discomfort will be kept to a minimum and the equipment's efficiency will be increased. In order to guarantee a constant and adequate supply of PPE kits, healthcare organisations should set up efficient supply chain management systems (Davey et al., 2021). The workers will feel less anxious about possible shortages as a result. The impact and effectiveness of the PPE kits should be regularly assessed through frequent assessment and feedback systems, allowing for any necessary adjustments and enhancements.

References

Davey, S. L., Lee, B. J., Robbins, T., Randeva, H., & Thake, C. D. (2021). Heat stress and PPE during COVID-19: impact on healthcare workers' performance, safety and well-being in NHS settings. Journal of Hospital Infection , 108 , 185-188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.11.027

 Griswold, D. P., Gempeler, A., Kolias, A. G., Hutchinson, P. J., & Rubiano, A. M. (2021). Personal protective equipment for reducing the risk of COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers involved in emergency trauma surgery during the pandemic: an umbrella review protocol. BMJ open , 11 (3), e045598. 10.1097/TA.0000000000003073

McCarthy, R., Gino, B., d'Entremont, P., Barari, A., & Renouf, T. S. (2020). The importance of personal protective equipment design and donning and doffing technique in mitigating infectious disease spread: a technical report. Cureus , 12 (12). 10.7759/cureus.12084

Mheidly, N., Fares, M. Y., Zalzale, H., & Fares, J. (2020). Effect of face masks on interpersonal communication during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health. 8: 582191. 10.3389/fpubh.2020.582191

Warner, J. J., Benjamin, I. J., Churchwell, K., Firestone, G., Gardner, T. J., Johnson, J. C., ... & American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee. (2020). Advancing healthcare reform: the American Heart Association’s 2020 statement of principles for adequate, accessible, and affordable health care: a presidential advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation , 141 (10), e601-e614. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000759

WHO. (2020). Shortage of personal protective equipment endangering health workers worldwide. https://www.who.int/news/item/03-03-2020-shortage-of-personal-protective-equipment-endangering-health-workers-worldwide

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