HCA 675 In health care, change agents are faced with the challenge of engaging both employed staff and physicians in change initiatives Re: Topic 6 DQ 2

Change is inevitable within a health care setting. Often times, administration and employed staff and physicians differ in change initiatives because they have different perspectives and agendas. It is apparent that organizational change is notoriously difficult. While there is typically a desperate need for organizational change, many staff can see the premise as fundamentally flawed (Brickman, 2016). Many employees do not feel that they are in not included in major changes within the healthcare organization and find they are not excited for the changes for this reason. A Press Ganey survey showed of 500 responses that 70% of employees did not feel included or heard (Brickman, 2016). Understanding that a large majority of the organization does not feel that they are heard can make for a large disconnect within a health care facility. In order to properly combat this, it is apparent that it becomes necessary for administration to do a set of rounding. Before implementing any major change, the employees must feel heard. The organization can start this by sending out staff surveys for areas in which the administration believes that change is necessary and allow for the staff to state where they feel change is necessary. Next, once surveys have been completed the administration can research and look over surveys to put staff thoughts into consideration. Once decisions have been made and the implementation will be beginning, it is imperative that the administration allows for luncheons and meetings to discuss with staff of the change and why the changes are being implemented. Another aspect that would be vital to mention is how they came to the conclusion with the use of the surveys to believe this change is necessary. Allowing staff to feel that they are part of change will allow for the staff to be more accepting to the vital changes.

References

Brickman, M. (2016). Marketing Change: How Can We Get Anywhere from Here? Restructuring Health Systems: How Do We Get There From Here?. https://doi.org/10.3138/9781442653672-041

Sample Answer 2 for HCA 675 In health care, change agents are faced with the challenge of engaging both employed staff and physicians in change initiatives

According to Jensen (2016), “In today’s environment, health care organizations continually face the need to adapt to the changes emanating from numerous sources: advances in medical care and technology, increasing demands and expectations from patients who are actively involved in their own health and wellbeing and evolving reimbursement models that emphasize value rather than volume” (“4 tips”, 2016). However, change agents of an organization are continually challenged as they seek to implement strategic framework and initiatives due to a dynamic market, economy, or reformatory legislative mandates. These challenges may include payor reimbursement, physician and staff turnover, cybersecurity issues, and competitor encroachment.

Due to rapidly escalating health concerns relating to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we recently postponed our Innovations in Cardiovascular Care 2020 symposium in Phoenix, Arizona abiding by the CDC guidelines as it applies to “large events and mass gatherings of 50 people or more” in the attempt to slow the transmission of this pandemic. Although the health and safety of our physicians, nurses, staff, and our communities are of utmost importance many had a different perspective on this update believing that the symposium could have been “virtually” attended because of the amount of work completed with respect to lectures, live cases, presentations, etc. Additionally, our venue initially refused to return deposits although the contract did preclude this due to national disasters and states of emergency.

Perspectives can be managed through clear and effective communication and discourse. Discussing change before implementing initiatives or actions allows for all parties involved to have their voice heard, acknowledged, and respected. It is coming together to determine what is best for the organization and then gaining support for these decisions which is critical. According to Boonstra, Versluis, and Vos (2014), “the outcome of an organizational change will be determined by the context, content, and process of that change” (p. 2). To encourage responsiveness and acceptance of this change, is to reduce uncertainty and fear. Research of Piderit (2000) and Smollan (2011) “explained that organizational change awakens emotional reactions with respect to both processes and outcomes and can be a major contributor to the employees’ commitment or resistance to change” (p. 16). This can be accomplished if leadership identifies why the change needs to be implemented (benefits derived, or adverse risk avoided).

The organization must then determine who will help facilitate this process and determine who may be impacted by this change. Seeking feedback and communicating through the process can help mitigate conflict or curb reactive attitudes. Through time, the organization will continue to change and adapt to its environment. By working to establish trust will “help shift the balance in the direction of the change that is being planned” (Lewin, 1951; Higgins & Bourne, 2018, p. 15).

References:

Higgins,D., & Bourne, P. A. (2018). Implementing Change in an Organization: A General Overview. Sch J Psychol & Behav Sci. 1(1). Retrieved from DOI: 10.32474/SJPBS.2018.01.000102.

Jensen, K. (2016, August 22). 4 tips on being an effective change agent. Becker’s Hospital Review [Online]. Retrieved from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-flow/4-tips-for-being-an-effective-change-agent.html

Joshi, M. (2014). Change Is Constant, but Improvement Is Rapid. H&HN: Hospitals & Health Networks, 88(11), 14. Retrieved from https://web-b-ebscohost-com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=03236fb7-79b1-4db3-95a6-547ba6996a8b%40pdc-v-sessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#AN=107838732&db=ccm

HCA 675 Week 7 DQ 1 Sample Answer

Disaster preparedness is a huge deal for health care centers providing emergency services. There must be plans in place for large disasters and small. Partnerships with community and state emergency services are important when designing and implementing a disaster preparedness program. The standard is for, “hospitals to establish strategies for the management of safety and security during an emergency” (“Managing security,” 2015, para. 3). For those who prepare health care organizations for emergencies, many scenarios need to be taken into consideration. Depending on the physical location and population demographics, hospital disaster plans may look very different. Hospitals in California will have responses to earthquakes, hospitals in Florida will have hurricane preparedness, and those in the plane states will have tornado preparedness. In addition to these kinds of natural disasters, local industries need to be taken into consideration as well. Factories that utilize chemicals, radiation, and combustible liquids can have accidents that require hospitals to respond. Hospitals must be prepared to receive patients who may have been exposed to specific chemicals, radiation, biohazards, and toxins (“Managing security,” 2015).

From the scenario described for this post, an explosion has occurred at a large factory and the hospital has been placed on high alert. In the event of a chaotic situation, rumors will begin to surface which causes confusion. It’s important to be careful with resources so that when casualties begin arriving, there is plenty of equipment to handle the situation. Local emergency responders and law enforcement will be good sources for information regarding details of numbers and types of injuries. Burns, chemical exposures, contaminants of other kinds, are important to be aware of when victims begin arriving in the emergency room. Nurses and physicians must be ready to handle the casualties without risking their own health and the health of everyone else in the hospital environment.

Depending on the hospital size and location, larger affiliated hospitals and transport services should be notified in case overflow occurs. Surgical staff and surgeons need to be aware of the situation and ready for the influx of patients. With an explosion come fragments of metal and other debris that will need to be removed and wounds cleaned of contaminants. Mending broken broken bones and other major surgeries will need to be performed. Finishing any surgeries in progress and suspending scheduled surgeries may be necessary to be prepared for the coming casualties.

A meeting with department leaders will be important at the beginning of this process to assess resources and people available that can respond to this disaster. Clear communication is necessary throughout the process. Issues and announcements should trickle down through the staff to help minimize rumors and false information. Frequent email updates from administration will be key to controlling this process.

As a leader of the health care facility, it is important to continue caring for the patients who are already in-house. That care will continue without interruption. Any pending discharges should quickly be processed to make beds available for new patients that may need them.

References

Managing security and safety during disasters. (2015). Retrieved from https://lopes.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=111832630&site=ehost-live&scope=site