A healthcare facility’s risk manager must institute a safety learning opportunity to prevent and correct any mistakes or shortfalls in treating patients. In this case study, the lack of familiarity with the hospital layout, incompatible equipment, and documentation practices contributed to the patient’s death. This his essay suggests two approaches to dealing with this case, along with a hypothetical implementation timeline and team communication strategies.
The First Approach involves drills in disaster preparation and simulation regular simulation training and emergency preparedness drills can help ensure that staff employees are ready for and able to handle emergencies, including code blues, like the one described here. DeMoulin (2021) found that training crisis teams in a simulated environment significantly improved performance and patient outcomes. Training should include the basics, such as how to utilize equipment and what to do in a crisis, and more advanced topics, like respecting a patient’s desires and following their prior directives.
Frequent simulation training and emergency preparedness drills should be carried out to guarantee that employees are ready to handle emergencies. All possible personnel involved in a blue code emergency should participate in the drills, and the training should be realistic in every respect (DeMoulin, 2021). Staff members should be up-to-date on the most recent protocols and recommendations by conducting regular drills and evaluating their effectiveness after each one.
The second Approach involves consistent use of tools and paperwork standardizing equipment and documentation across all divisions is another way to stop incidents from happening again. AlHarastani et al. (2021) state that efficiency gains and fewer mistakes are two ways standardization can boost patient safety. The standardization should entail developing transparent processes for documenting and conveying patients’ coding status and advance directives and ensuring that all monitoring equipment has compatible leads and connectors and is regularly updated and replaced.
Every area of the company should use the same tools and keep the same records for the sake of consistency and efficiency. Regular reviews and updates are necessary to ensure that the protocols and recommendations accurately reflect current evidence-based practices and industry trends in healthcare (DeMoulin, 2021). To ensure that everyone on staff is up to speed with the new equipment and documentation processes, it is crucial to provide them with training.
The proposed timeline is seven months long, with subsequent evaluation and adjustments made as necessary.
Throughout the first two months, we’ll closely examine how we’re doing now in terms of documenting and sharing information learned from emergency situations. In the next two months, after this in-depth analysis is completed, new policies and procedures will be developed. These changes, based on the review’s results, will fix any problems found. In the fifth month, standardized tools and record-keeping procedures will be implemented. These norms would improve the clarity and consistency of emergency response activities. All employees will spend the remaining seven months on emergency drills and simulation training (AlHarastani, 2021). This training will give workers the self-assurance and competence they need to respond to emergencies effectively. Last but not least, the tactics will be continuously monitored and evaluated. This will allow for the appropriate modifications, guaranteeing that the emergency response plan will continue to function as intended.
The effectiveness of any action plan relies heavily on clear and concise communication, and emergency response is no exception. In this paper, we discuss how to improve communication and cooperation within a team so that new safety protocols can be implemented without a hitch. At first, there will be a series of company-wide meetings where the case study will be discussed, and better emergency response procedures will be emphasized. Through candid discussion and shared learning, team members will be better able to work together.
Secondly, the new guidelines and norms will be disseminated through various channels. Team members can get the information they need most conveniently by using email, physical documents, and online resources. Finally, workshops will educate workers on the best ways to record and utilize their new tools. Participants will gain valuable hands-on experience and be encouraged to speak up and work together during these lively discussions.
It is crucial to keep employees apprised of the changes and motivated to incorporate them into their everyday work by maintaining an open line of communication. The communication strategy needs to be clear and straightforward, and it needs to be adapted to the specific demands of each staff member (AlHarastani, 2021). It is also essential to examine the communication plan regularly to ensure that employees keep up with the changes and incorporate them into their everyday work.
In conclusion, it is crucial to create a safe learning opportunity to address potential mistakes and deficiencies in the care of critically ill patients. Simulation training, crisis drills, and the standardization of equipment and documentation are all evidence-based initiatives that have the potential to enhance patient outcomes while decreasing the occurrence of errors. Staff members’ awareness of and buy-in to the changes in their everyday work depends on the schedule for implementation and the communication plan.
References
AlHarastani, H., Alawad, Y., Devi, B., Mosqueda, B., Tamayo, V., Kyoung, F., & Sierra, S. (2021). Emergency and disaster preparedness at a tertiary medical city. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 15(4), 458-468.
DeMoulin, D. (2021). Emergency preparedness: is the workplace truly prepared for emergencies?Emergency, 24(1), 1-11. Web.