Introduction
NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 attempt 2 Care Setting Environmental Analysis KG
Patient safety and patient quality of care are vital for any healthcare organization. Patients and their loved ones entrust that we provide high quality care and ensure that we have high standards of safety measures. I have worked in various healthcare settings as a CNA, LVN, DSD, RN and now and ICU RN and I know that there good and bad approaches to healthcare. With these experiences in mind, I have learned various ways of improving the quality of care that patients receive as well as improve their safety. These new approaches in healthcare have to be backed by up to date evidence and scientific research. Thus, we will be discussing the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOTs) analysis, as methods to reach our healthcare goals in Southern California Hospital.
NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 attempt 2 Care Setting Environmental Analysis KG
Part 1: Appreciative Inquiry Discovery and Dream
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process is a collaborative approach that’s objective is to improve quality management in healthcare as well as increase potential of healthcare system through new ideas. Appreciative Inquiry is a positive leadership approach that focuses on changes and innovations made in an organization. AI is observing the best practices and focuses on engagement, leadership and collegiality. The first step according to Maccoy is to appreciate the positive outcomes and value the situation has (Maccoy, 2014). Looking into the strengthens and observing what factors caused positive outcomes may helped lead to its success. One of the best ways to understand this is through interview about people’s experience working in the facility and what motivates them and limits them. Thus I took the opportunity in interviewing several of my colleagues at Southern California Hospital to speak on the advantages that our facility provides and what we like of the management. The interviewees were colleagues and included a nursing supervisor, a staff nurse, and department supervisor.
Quality management is often viewed as another additional task and burden rather than what it is, an opportunity for betterment for the healthcare institution and it’s growth. Quality management old interpretations was to tell healthcare professionals what to do and how to do tasks. Now quality management new definition is how to manage the care process. Managing quality, is observing the healthcare organizations, functions, procedures and process and observing them as singular sector and as whole. Collaborative implementations can improve all overall outcome of patient’s health and safety. This was same situation in Southern California Hospital. The goal for Southern California Hospital, is to provide quality and safety accessible healthcare for everyone.
Appreciation phase of Appreciative Inquiry, some of the things the hospital does very well is have interprofessional meetings with different units in the hospitals. We have several teams made up of physicians, respiratory therapist, nurses and staff to develop methods to decrease patient’s accidents and increase satisfaction and safety, reduction of patient falls and prevention of pressure sores and so on. In the intensive care unit (ICU) has its own team as well, it is vital that the team collaborates to look at how to prevent injury, that can happen like when a patient is intubated. Things that hospitals does well is providing preventative measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene and infection control especially during the height and peaks of COVID-19 pandemic.
The next step that team evaluates, is issues that already have occurred and exist predominantly. Example, the intensive care unit is already vulnerable population with varying of illness that physical, mental and cognitive problems. In telemetry and med-surg unit we have to focus on the prevention of falls. Fall prevention is quality care of improvement for elderly patients. Most of the health complication in healthcare could be prevented if hospital and healthcare providers were staffed properly and had taken the precautions to patients that were at an increased risk. Fall prevention prevents patients and their loved ones to get care for fractures, surgeries and other health complications. Elderly patients are at increased risk for post-operative complications and Southern California Hospital predominate amount patient are elderly. Preventing falls saves lives and the health of the overall patient, and saves money to hospital. World Health organization provides evidence that falls is the second cause accidental death in the world (Hseih et al., 2020, p.1-2). The ICU team believe that they perform their best when risk of injury is at the minimum. During this meeting, the ICU team has chance to voice their opinion and look for the benefits and risks and what work well. As result we have lot less falls than other units because we always properly staffed and healthcare worker is always making rounds. It is vital that we keep it this way because fall prevention within hospitals and it’s units is critical in preventing accidental deaths and complications. The goals for the ICU team is to have zero falls, decrease wrong medication errors and have education information every three months regarding new prevention methods and reinforce established preventive procedures . The ICU team has exceeded expectations since implementing the fall preventive methods and properly implementing new communicative methods to increasing awareness.
Part 2: SWOT Analysis In medicine and in healthcare innovation and advancements make hospitals up to date and function as it should. SWOT analysis allows health organizations see the opportunities and strengthens as well as weakness and threats that they can encounter and possibility on ways to improve. Using SWOT would help Southern California Hospital on what to prioritize and keep focus. SWOT analysis helps in collaboration, good communication and teamwork by critical thinking solutions.
Southern California Hospital is a hospital in which many people in Culver City have relied in. The Culver City hospital has 420 beds, and has acute rehabilitation, behavior and chemical dependency program, an emergency department and inpatient and outpatient programs (Southern California Hospital, ). People in the area visit the hospital for services, including handling of emergencies such as accidents, pulmonary, heart problems, and other health issues most recently COVID-19. Southern California Hospital was established in 1925, being the Culver City first hospital and has experienced growth, innovative medicine with its founding value compassion and medicine since then (Southern California Hospital, 2022).The Southern California Hospital, has some of the most experienced doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in the area.
NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 attempt 2 Care Setting Environmental Analysis KG
SCH, Culver City: SWOT Analysis
Strengths of a healthcare organization is based on its positive aspects and attributes. Southern California Hospital strengths make it one of the most favorable hospitals in the area. Southern California Hospital has thrived on being multidisciplinary team of physicians, RN, respiratory therapist and skilled staff. The teams in Southern California Hospital provide high quality care accessible to everyone. According to the ‘About Us’ page the hospital has gotten the Gold Seal of Approval, which is symbol of quality that reflects the hospitals commitment to providing safe and effective patient care (Southern California Hospital, 2022).
The hospital utilizes the latest medical treatments and technology and recently has been become part of Prospect Medical. Areas of improvement for Southern California Hospital is the need of more staff, while we are almost always properly staffed- we are short staffed on some occasions and need to call nurses for over time or double time and this can cause nurses to burn out or low retention rate. We train nurses but it cost a lot of money and the time to train is far too long. Additionally there is diversity issue, as hospital in Culver City it’s important that patient and the community see diversity among healthcare staff. This creates several opportunities which include collaborating with hospitals and clinics around the area and providing programs within the community or even hiring more staff from the community.
Strengths
The first strength is that the hospital has highly qualified and skilled staff: Physicians, nurse, respiratory therapist and other healthcare staffs in the facility make the preferred choice for our community. The hospital has a vigorous hiring process in which they hire the most qualified healthcare professionals in the area.
Southern California Hospital has established itself as desirable hospital in the area, it then became part of Prospect Medical. Prospect Medical has 17 hospitals in 5 states. People travel hundreds of miles to get the treatment from Southern California Hospital, especially does with pulmonary and gastric care. This hospital’s name has grown and flourished through many years of service, hard work and dedication to its community.
High quality medical services is one benefits of Southern California Hospital. There are several departments that are pillars to community, outpatient care, emergency department. The emergencies in the area are referenced to SCH, this includes accidents and other health emergencies. Additionally the hospital have invested in medical technology each year to keep advancing and providing quality care, including electronic medical records.
Weaknesses
The weakness of SWOT analysis focuses on the downside in the hospital’s services. Although SCH does not have lots of weaknesses, it has some that can negatively impact the hospitals performance. One of the most significant weaknesses is the shortage of staff members and staff member retention. While healthcare shortage is nationwide and statewide problem- properly staffing and having staff on call should still be a priority for the hospital. While most of the time the hospital is properly staffed it is due to the fact that RN, LVNs and CAN are working overtime and double time because there is short staff of nurses. We need to increase the number of staff members even though it is a limited number of staff. Some patients which are critical condition require a specific amount of time and care and healthcare staff can’t adequately care for their patients. Additionally there is a lack of diversity among healthcare providers and that increase inclusivity.
NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 attempt 2 Care Setting Environmental Analysis KG
Opportunities
Several hospital in Culver City and West Los Angeles do not offer services that SCH does and it’s one the reasons the community seeks out services. We can grow healthcare programs in the community and branch out and start other programs in clinics and other hospitals to provide a larger population in community and provide services closer so that patients don’t have travel far. Thus SCH has an opportunity for expanding its operations, by community outreach.
Threats
Threats in SWOT analysis are obstacles that may obstruct the success of innovation and implementation. The only significant is increased in competition from surrounding hospitals. There are new hospitals that are up and coming in the West Los Angeles area where Culver City is located. New emerging hospitals may cause impact in finances and patients and staff in time to come. Hospital are increasing funding in health tech and innovating their facilities. The new hospitals, are one of the most significant threats to Southern California Hospital.
NURS FPX 6210 Assessment 1 attempt 2 Care Setting Environmental Analysis KG
Part 3: Comparison of Approaches
AI and SWOT analysis make different outcomes for the Southern California objective. SWOT seems to be more generalization while AI focuses in more specific areas. SWOT has low engagement between the staff and the process. AI breaks things down by step and asking question on what are the strengthens and weakness of the hospital. Both SWOT analysis and AI gather different data from the organization, AI focuses on the question it ask. AI promotes positive outcomes in specific areas and stimulates innovation. SWOT analysis is management technique to help the organization identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to project planning and competition but SWOT usually makes generalization compared to AI. The AI approach lets Southern California Hospital perceive itself as the best institution in pulmonary and cardiac care in West Los Angeles area in delivery of care services. AI avoids threats and weakness or any negative aspects rather how to change itself to address issues.
Part 4: Analysis of Relevant Leadership Characteristics and Skills
Good management and leadership skills are vital in healthcare. Leadership isn’t usually taught in healthcare or at least not in the past. Yet healthcare institutions want their staff to be leaders to critically lead their healthcare institutions forward. Southern California Hospital understand that leadership engaging its staff in leadership roles because of this the staff has the ability to lead in their designated area. The Southern California hospital gives leadership and communication training and ensures to provides its staff with the opportunities to lead and develop their management skills. One the best ways to enhances leadership is to enhances and improve the communication skills of the entire team. Communication skills mitigate and minimizes errors, improves patient satisfaction and retention amongst team members. Better communication and understanding between colleagues improves management of the hospital and their units. Overall great communication between team members improves team building and efficiency in implementations.
References
Hsieh, T. M., Tsai, C. H., Liu, H. T., Huang, C. Y., Chou, S. E., Su, W. T., Hsieh, C. H., (2020).
Effect of height of fall on mortality in patients with fall accidents: a retrospective cross-
sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(11), 1-2
MacCoy, D. J. (2014). Appreciative inquiry and evaluation – getting to what works. The
Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation, 29(2), 104. Retrieved from: https://evaluationcanada.ca/secure/29-2-104_2WUY4UN3XR.pdf
About US. Southern California Hospital at Culver City. (2022). Retrieved April 20, 2022, from
https://www.sch-culvercity.com/about-us/about-southern-california-hospital-at-culver-city/
Our heritage. Southern California Hospital at Culver City. (2022). Retrieved April 20, 2022, from https://www.sch-culvercity.com/about-us/our-heritage/