Hcs 514 Unit 6 Research Paper
Making a Decision
Mine
Security and Privacy
HCS 514
August 25, 2014
Professor Steve Kovak
Making a Decision Making a decision for any problem is not an easy task. Using tools and techniques to assist can assist in this process. The purpose of this paper is to address a current issue facing my current issue, this issue is patients complaining about staff not having enough time for residents. I will be using the devils advicate and a visual add to show the possible solutions and what may occur if implemented.
Current Issues According to Fields (2011), 22% of healthcare professionals felt challenged by not having enough time with each patient to provide quality care. Additonally 57% of health care profesionals stated at his or her occupation the patient to healthcare profesionals ratio had gotten …show more content…
worse and not better in the last 12 months at his or her current facility. Nurses were asked this same question and 69% said the patient to health care provider had gotten worse, and only 4% stated at his or her facility it had improved (Fields, 2011). At my current job with Manila country home patients complain that staff is to busy to adiquitely assist with his or her personal needs to the fullest. Patients complain that staff will normally say he or she will be right back and will not return for more then an hour. Currently there is one provider per shift. There is also a cook on staff in the morning, however the cook may not assist with any certified nursing assistant responsibilities.
Devils advacate There are many tools and techniques that aid in decision making. The tool and technique that will be used to determine the best solution to solve or imporve this problem will be the devils advocate technique. When using this tool and technique normally additional information is used to aid in the decision process. But for this paper the information that is already been presented is what will be used. Considered opionion or possible solutions will be as follows. Hiring more staff is a possible solution. Furthermore, A shift in shift responsabilities can also assist in patients having more attention. Another possible solution is to overlap shifts. Additionally cross traing of staff may also be a solution to this problem.
The diagram below indicates the problem in the center and possible solutions in the bubbles around it.
Hiring more staff, why this would not work.
This solution may not be a good fit for a possible solution because one person to take care of seven patients and this would not be very cost effective. Staff would on most days would run out of things to do. The increase in staff may also make patients have to pay more to cover the costs associated with hiring more staff. On the other hand having two people will allow staff to give all patients the time and attention he or she needs, this idea will be put on the back burner. Overlapping shifts, why this could go wrong, at the end or beginning would be the most logical way to over lap staff. However it is through the day that is the problem not early morning or a few hours after lunch. The solution needs to be something that will allow patients the time and attention he or she will need during the middle of shifts. However, having an over lap in shifts may mean the two providers on shift can team up and get all the odd end responsibilites done before leaving or coming on shift. This may free up time during that persons shift to give patients one on one
time. Cross training staff. If staff was cross trained then the cook could help out when needed. However, families may not like the idea of a cook helping someone to the bathroom during cooking time, so this may not be a solution that is very ideal. Shift responsibilities explained in further detail. Every shift has a certain chore to be completed before the end of shift. These responsibilies are chores around the facility for example; swifering the floor, washing and putting away laundry, wiping down walls, and other various responsibilities. These responsibilities could be shifted around. Certain responsabilities cannot be done at later times, that will have to be in consideration. Train staff on how to be better aware of the needs and make time count. This has no draw back that can be foreseen.
Decision
While the hiring more staff would work, it is not cost effective so it is not a solution. Cross training staff would make sense if this facility had more then just the cook and certified nursing assistant on duty, so this is not going to work. Overlapping shifts by even an hour before and after would assist in this solution because staff could work together to finish daily chores and responsibilities before leaving and that would free up time for staff. Shifting job responsabilities is a great idea. More of the cleaning can be done at night, except certain things like vacuuming and putting away clothes in rooms. With the majority of chores done at night when residents are sleeping patients will have more one-on-one time. Training staff to make time with patients count. Staff meetings could assist in helping staff learn how to make time count. Staff can spend a brief amount of time connecting with each patients on a personal level, rather then just visiting them for the thnings he or she needs help with. Overlapping shifts and shifting responsabilities will assist in health care providers having more time with residents on a personal level. Problem staff does not have enough time to give patients the attention he or she desires from staff. Hiring more staff, why this would not work. Would not be very cost effective. Overlapping shifts, why this could go wrong, at the end or beginning would be the most logical way to over lap staff. However, having an over lap in shifts may mean the two providers on shift can team up and get all the odd end responsibilites done before leaving or coming on shift. Cross training staff. If staff was cross trained then the cook could help out when needed. However, families may not like the idea of a cook helping someone to the bathroom during cooking time, so this may not be a solution that is very ideal. Shift responsibilities, these responsibilities could be shifted around. Certain responsabilities cannot be done at later times, that will have to be in consideration. Train staff on how to be better aware of the needs and make time count. Solution overlap shifts, shift job responsabilities, and more staff meetings on how to improve on patinet interactions when provider is not needed by patient.
References
Fields, R. (2011, April 5). The Top 10 Challenges Facing Healthcare Workers. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital- management-administration/the-top-10-challenges-facing-healthcare-workers.html
Mine
Security and Privacy
HCS 514
August 25, 2014
Professor Steve Kovak
Making a Decision Making a decision for any problem is not an easy task. Using tools and techniques to assist can assist in this process. The purpose of this paper is to address a current issue facing my current issue, this issue is patients complaining about staff not having enough time for residents. I will be using the devils advicate and a visual add to show the possible solutions and what may occur if implemented.
Current Issues According to Fields (2011), 22% of healthcare professionals felt challenged by not having enough time with each patient to provide quality care. Additonally 57% of health care profesionals stated at his or her occupation the patient to healthcare profesionals ratio had gotten …show more content…
worse and not better in the last 12 months at his or her current facility. Nurses were asked this same question and 69% said the patient to health care provider had gotten worse, and only 4% stated at his or her facility it had improved (Fields, 2011). At my current job with Manila country home patients complain that staff is to busy to adiquitely assist with his or her personal needs to the fullest. Patients complain that staff will normally say he or she will be right back and will not return for more then an hour. Currently there is one provider per shift. There is also a cook on staff in the morning, however the cook may not assist with any certified nursing assistant responsibilities.
Devils advacate There are many tools and techniques that aid in decision making. The tool and technique that will be used to determine the best solution to solve or imporve this problem will be the devils advocate technique. When using this tool and technique normally additional information is used to aid in the decision process. But for this paper the information that is already been presented is what will be used. Considered opionion or possible solutions will be as follows. Hiring more staff is a possible solution. Furthermore, A shift in shift responsabilities can also assist in patients having more attention. Another possible solution is to overlap shifts. Additionally cross traing of staff may also be a solution to this problem.
The diagram below indicates the problem in the center and possible solutions in the bubbles around it.
Hiring more staff, why this would not work.
This solution may not be a good fit for a possible solution because one person to take care of seven patients and this would not be very cost effective. Staff would on most days would run out of things to do. The increase in staff may also make patients have to pay more to cover the costs associated with hiring more staff. On the other hand having two people will allow staff to give all patients the time and attention he or she needs, this idea will be put on the back burner. Overlapping shifts, why this could go wrong, at the end or beginning would be the most logical way to over lap staff. However it is through the day that is the problem not early morning or a few hours after lunch. The solution needs to be something that will allow patients the time and attention he or she will need during the middle of shifts. However, having an over lap in shifts may mean the two providers on shift can team up and get all the odd end responsibilites done before leaving or coming on shift. This may free up time during that persons shift to give patients one on one
time. Cross training staff. If staff was cross trained then the cook could help out when needed. However, families may not like the idea of a cook helping someone to the bathroom during cooking time, so this may not be a solution that is very ideal. Shift responsibilities explained in further detail. Every shift has a certain chore to be completed before the end of shift. These responsibilies are chores around the facility for example; swifering the floor, washing and putting away laundry, wiping down walls, and other various responsibilities. These responsibilities could be shifted around. Certain responsabilities cannot be done at later times, that will have to be in consideration. Train staff on how to be better aware of the needs and make time count. This has no draw back that can be foreseen.
Decision
While the hiring more staff would work, it is not cost effective so it is not a solution. Cross training staff would make sense if this facility had more then just the cook and certified nursing assistant on duty, so this is not going to work. Overlapping shifts by even an hour before and after would assist in this solution because staff could work together to finish daily chores and responsibilities before leaving and that would free up time for staff. Shifting job responsabilities is a great idea. More of the cleaning can be done at night, except certain things like vacuuming and putting away clothes in rooms. With the majority of chores done at night when residents are sleeping patients will have more one-on-one time. Training staff to make time with patients count. Staff meetings could assist in helping staff learn how to make time count. Staff can spend a brief amount of time connecting with each patients on a personal level, rather then just visiting them for the thnings he or she needs help with. Overlapping shifts and shifting responsabilities will assist in health care providers having more time with residents on a personal level. Problem staff does not have enough time to give patients the attention he or she desires from staff. Hiring more staff, why this would not work. Would not be very cost effective. Overlapping shifts, why this could go wrong, at the end or beginning would be the most logical way to over lap staff. However, having an over lap in shifts may mean the two providers on shift can team up and get all the odd end responsibilites done before leaving or coming on shift. Cross training staff. If staff was cross trained then the cook could help out when needed. However, families may not like the idea of a cook helping someone to the bathroom during cooking time, so this may not be a solution that is very ideal. Shift responsibilities, these responsibilities could be shifted around. Certain responsabilities cannot be done at later times, that will have to be in consideration. Train staff on how to be better aware of the needs and make time count. Solution overlap shifts, shift job responsabilities, and more staff meetings on how to improve on patinet interactions when provider is not needed by patient.
References
Fields, R. (2011, April 5). The Top 10 Challenges Facing Healthcare Workers. Retrieved August 8, 2014, from http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital- management-administration/the-top-10-challenges-facing-healthcare-workers.html