| Patient Confidentiality | Introduction to Nursing | | Patient Confidentiality This essay will define confidentiality, when patient confidentiality applies, the importance of patient confidentiality and how to promote confidentiality. It will further look at the main legislation governing patient confidentiality (HIPAA) and when the patient confidentiality can be breached. Patient Confidentiality is very important for a number of reasons and what I feel is the most important of them all is that it improves the nurse – patient relationship. If a patient is aware of how well his or her nurse is committed to protecting their privacy, it builds trust and respect. The trust and respect between the patient and nurse will increase.
St. John’s Hospital took immediate action towards the cleaning staff as well as the information systems administration team to ensure this type of breach, or others do not happen again in the future. To begin the process, first a plan needs to be created by the management team to determine the best course of action to mitigate future breaches. The issues that need to be addressed include the actions of the cleaning staff, role of employees and action needed by the Information Systems team. After a breach has been identified, the entire health records process is scrutinized to eliminate any future errors. A management team from the hospital is assembled to determine consensus based standards for the organization as well as the specific department.
The conversation with patients and families tells much about the way they feel. As a health care provider, treating patients and families with empathy, listening, and respect enhances clinician-patient relationship. The health care provider must communicate with patients and their significant others about medical conditions, needed tests, explaining their medication actions, and possible side effects. The nurse must communicate effectively by using clear terms and avoiding medical jargons that could
Are Patients Safe James E. Scarbrough III Baker College of Cadillac Are Patients Safe Patient safety is an extremely valuable aspect in the health care. The definition of patient safety is an area focusing on reporting an error, analysis and prevention of medical errors that often lead to adverse patient outcomes. Prevention means keeping patients safe from errors rather than reacting to them. These standards in patient safety inspire the most challenging issues in the health care setting. Reviewing these standards annually and publishing them on The Joint Commission Website, it is a key component to improving health care (The Joint Commission, 2011).
This is one department where teamwork is essential and a lack of leadership amongst co-workers can lead to ineffective care (36). It is important to have communication and training because patient’s conditions are more serious and can change quickly. Because the conditions of a patient are more serious, any health care provider on that unit needs to know who to call or what therapies to use/change to improve a patient’s condition. 2) Medical Teams in the Emergency Department: Providers in this department include Nurses, Respiratory therapists, and physicians. Physician assistants, X-ray technicians and lab technicians may also be called to the department.
TRANSFER OF PATIENTS POLICY Introduction This policy is designed to clarify the requirements of all patients who may need to be transferred from Accident and Emergency Department to other wards. Purpose The purpose of this policy and its supportive guidelines is to ensure safe and appropriate transfer of the patient with minimal risk. The aim is to clarify the clinical accountability of the nursing staff, medical team and support staff who are responsible for the patient’s care to ensure that safe appropriate transfer of patient does occur and their care continues with minimal interruption and risk. General Principles During a transfer, patients should be treated and cared for in such a way as to maintain; a) Patient safety b) Necessary treatment and care c) Contact with appropriate staff d) Dignity e) Respect of individual needs f) Contact with appropriate relatives and cares Transfer Of Patients to Other Departments Whether a patient is being transferred for continuation of treatment and care to another ward or for investigations in another department, their needs must be handed over to a suitable member of staff. 1.
INTRODUCTION On admission to a healthcare facility, a health assessment is a mandatory tool in assessing the patient’s health status. In general an assessment is broken down into two types of reviews, by conducting a health history which includes the collection of subjective data (information elicited by the patient or patients’ family members) and a physical examination of the patient which includes the gathering of evidence based data (Wilson & Giddens, 2009). Collecting and documenting accurate information is imperative in providing the allied health team this information to facilitate an efficient and well-formed care plan in addition to establishing a baseline for subsequent assessments (Springhouse, 2004; Wilson & Giddens, 2009). PATIENT INTERVIEW A health assessment should consist of establishing a patient profile and incorporate a full medical history (Harvey, 2004). The traditional approach includes collecting subject matter on “biographical data, present health concerns (or present illness) and the chief complaint, past history, family history, review of system and patient data” (Farrell & Dempsey, 2010, p. 74).
However, when speaking to a client, using jargon and medical terms can be considered as inappropriate and confusing for the people involved. When Patients come into a hospital, they are concerned with their health and they would want to know as much information as a nurse can give them. By using the correct language, and knowing how much information to divulge, a nurse can positively contribute to the care of their client. (Wright, Lorraine M.; Leahey, Maureen. 2009).
There are three reasons proper chart documentations are important: to avoid lawsuits, keep accurate medical information for patient, and to maintain proper communication from one professional to another. Avoiding Malpractice Suits People sue for a lot of reasons today, and one of them just happens to be improper charting that causes errors. Attorneys on the plaintiff side gather every chart and record that was made during the time in question. The proper chart documentation can either be the nail in the coffin for a case, or the factor that decides wrong doing and monetary compensation. It is imperative that documentation is done thoroughly and properly every time data is recorded.
The services offered at Hospital Acute care include: consultation with specialist clinicians (consultants, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists and a wide range of other professionals); emergency treatment following accidents; routine, complex and life saving surgery; specialist diagnostic procedures; and close observation and short-term care of patients with worrying health symptoms. Many hospitals are addressing acute care needs of older adults by establishing separate geriatric unit – often referred to as acute care for elders (ACE) units – staffed by a specially trained multidisciplinary team (Miller,2004). Standard Older people’s care in hospital is delivered through appropriate specialist care and by hospital staff who have the right set of skills to meet their needs. Osteoarthritis is characterized by joint pain, tenderness, limitation of movement, crepitus, occasional effusion and variable degrees of local inflammation, but without systemic effects (Scotts et al, 1998). Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease affecting