Identifying a Local Healthcare Economic Issue
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Economics in the healthcare industry is the study of different factors which have a great impact over different costs as well as expenditures (Bilgili et al., 2021). The healthcare issues related to the economics include different factors which have direct or indirect impact over the cost and expenditures in the healthcare. These factors include lack of different safety measures, or improper recording of the expenditures/costs etc. In this assessment, I would explain improper use of barcodes in the United Hospital of Minnesota as the medication administration error which have a huge impact over the economics of the hospital.
Issue in Healthcare Industry
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
The United Hospital located in St Paul is one of the major healthcare providing facility in the Minnesota State. A wide range of population is getting different healthcare services which include emergency service, and other specialized or specific healthcare facilities. The population of the St. Paul is very diverse as a number of ethnicities are living in the St Paul which include mainly Hispanic as well as non-Hispanic. The community consists of about 55% Whites, 15% African American, 19% Asians and about 5 % bi-racial populations (Tong et al., 2021). One of the mainly identified issue of the facility is the medication administration error. Due to this concern, the facility is facing many issues which have a huge impact over the finances of the hospital. As per the report, the hospital is among one of the worst in the medication administration (Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.).
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Medication administration errors include the assigning of wrong barcode to the medication or medicating the wrong patient. Therefore, the chances of errors increases when the bedside barcodes are not available. Because administering medications is a difficult process, there is a significant likelihood of mistakes being made. There could be a number of reasons which include extensive workflow, interruptions, emergency cases, sticking to the five rights, and many more. According to the Department of Health in Minnesota, medication administration errors are one of the few top adverse events which could happen in the healthcare industry (Minnesota Department of Health, n.d.). Medication administration errors can lead to other adverse events which include high readmission rate, increase in morbidity as well as mortality rate of the subsequent population. These are responsible for enhancing the economic pressure both on peoples and also healthcare facilities which may be the result of increase in cost of healthcare and readmission (Alrabadi et al., 2021).
Rationale of Selecting Medication Administration Errors
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
The main reason or rationale of selecting this issue involve their impact on the quality care as well as other services provided by the hospitals to their patients. As the current employ of the selected healthcare facility I have to come to know about one evaluation from the management in which they have found a number of medication administration errors. Medication administration errors are a concerning issue and can have serious, potentially life-threatening consequences for both healthcare providers and their patients. Medication errors can occur in any stage of the medication process, from prescribing, ordering, dispensing and administering, up to and including the patient’s storage and use of his or her medication. The most common type of medication errors are those related to the administration of drugs, which are estimated to occur in about one out of every five doses administered (Shore et al., 2022).
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
These errors can have a variety of causes, ranging from incorrect dosages or routes of administration, to inadequate patient monitoring, to incorrect drug selection or labeling. They can also be caused by an overall lack of knowledge or experience on the part of the healthcare provider, or by poor communication between members of the healthcare team. The consequences of medication administration errors can be serious and include patient harm, increased healthcare costs, and the potential for legal action. In the United States alone, medication errors are estimated to account for over 7,000 deaths and over one million injuries each year. It is also estimated that medication errors cost the healthcare system around $2 billion annually (Al Khreem & Al-khadher, 2021).
Effects of Healthcare Economic Issues
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Barcodes for medication administration errors can have a significant economic impact. This is especially true in healthcare settings like hospitals, where errors can cost a lot of money. Barcodes can help reduce the number of errors and save money by eliminating the need for manual checks and double-checking. They also reduce the time spent on administrative tasks, allowing more time to be spent on patient care. Additionally, barcodes can reduce the risk of adverse drug events, saving money on costly medical treatments. In addition to saving money on healthcare costs, barcodes can also help improve patient safety and satisfaction, as well as reduce the amount of time spent on paperwork and data entry. Overall, using barcodes for medication administration can be a cost-effective solution to reduce errors and save money (Schenkat, 2022).
Impact of Medication Administration Errors on Different Socio Economic Groups
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Lower socio-economic groups are often more prone to medication administration errors due to lack of access to resources and education. Barcodes can help reduce the rate of errors for these groups by providing a more efficient system for tracking and administering medications. This can lead to cost savings for healthcare providers, as well as improved patient safety and satisfaction. Additionally, barcodes can help reduce paperwork and data entry, which can reduce administrative costs. The use of barcodes can also provide access to more accurate information and reduce the need for manual checks and double-checking. By using barcodes, lower socio-economic groups can benefit from improved medication safety and cost savings (de et al., 2022).
Gaps to Address the Issue of Medication Administration Errors
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
To address this issue, healthcare providers must focus on reducing gaps in the medication administration process. This can be done by implementing more comprehensive policies and procedures for prescribing, administering, and reviewing medications. Healthcare providers should also focus on increasing communication between providers and pharmacists to ensure accurate medication orders and dosing. Technology can also be used to help reduce medication administration errors by providing real-time alerts and notifications regarding changes to a patient’s medication regimen. Additionally, training and education should be provided to healthcare staff to ensure they are up to date on the latest medication administration guidelines (Rodziewicz et al., 2022).
Finally, healthcare providers should create an environment of transparency and open communication, allowing for reporting and review of any and all medication errors. By addressing all of these gaps, healthcare providers can help reduce the risk of medication administration errors and ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care.
Conclusion
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Medication administration errors are exacerbated by the United Hospital’s absence of a barcode management technology. Medication mistakes raise the population’s risk of illness, death, and financial burden. The difficulty in resolving the problem of mistakes can be attributed to the system’s poor adaptability; this challenge can be reduced by setting up sessions and proper follow-up.
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
References
Al Khreem, S. M., & Al-khadher, M. (2021). Perceptions of nurses about medication errors: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Scientific Research in Medical and Biological Sciences, 2(1), 30–41.
https://doi.org/10.47631/jsrmbs.v2i1.178
Alrabadi, N., Shawagfeh, S., Haddad, R., Mukattash, T., Abuhammad, S., Al-rabadi, D., Abu Farha, R., AlRabadi, S., & Al-Faouri, I. (2021). Medication errors: A focus on nursing practice. Journal of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, 12(1), 78–86.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jphsr/rmaa025
Bilgili, F., Kuşkaya, S., Khan, M., Awan, A., & Türker, O. (2021). The roles of economic growth and health expenditure on CO2 emissions in selected Asian countries: A quantile regression model approach. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 28(33), 44949–44972.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-13639-6
de Bienassis, K., Esmail, L., Lopert, R., & Klazinga, N. (2022). The economics of medication safety: Improving medication safety through collective, real-time learning. OECD Health Working Papers.
https://doi.org/10.1787/18152015.
Minnesota Department of Health. (n.d.). Minnesota’s 29 reportable adverse health events. Www.health.state.mn.us.
https://www.health.state.mn.us/facilities/patientsafety/adverseevents/adverseevents.html
NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue
Rodziewicz, T. L., Houseman, B., & Hipskind, J. E. (2022, December 4). Medical Error Reduction and Prevention. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499956/
Schenkat, D. (2022). Review of Medication Error Sources Associated With Inpatient Subcutaneous Insulin: Recommendations for Safe and Cost-Effective Dispensing Practices – Connor McKay, Dan Schenkat, Kristin Murphy, Elizabeth Hess, 2022. Hospital Pharmacy.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/00185787221095771
Shore, C. B., Maben, J., Mold, F., Winkley, K., Cook, A., & Stenner, K. (2022). Delegation of medication administration from registered nurses to non-registered support workers in community care settings: A systematic review with critical interpretive synthesis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 126, 104121.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2021.104121
Tong, K., Ramaswami, A., Xu, C. (Kewei), Feiock, R., Schmitz, P., & Ohlsen, M. (2021). Measuring social equity in urban energy use and interventions using fine-scale data. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(24).
