[ANSWERED 2023] Conduct research on approaches to risk management processes, policies, and concerns in your current or anticipated professional arena to find an example of a risk management plan

Conduct research on approaches to risk management processes, policies, and concerns in

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze a health care risk management program.

The concepts in this assignment will be expanded on in the Topic 2 assignment and the Topic 3 benchmark assignment.

Conduct research on approaches to risk management processes, policies, and concerns in your current or anticipated professional arena to find an example of a risk management plan. Look for a plan with sufficient content to be able to complete this assignment successfully. In a 1,000‐1,250-word paper, provide an analysis of the risk management plan that includes the following:

• Description of the health care organization to which the plan applies and the role risk management plays in that setting.
• Summary of the type of risk management plan you selected (new employee, specific audience, community‐focused, etc.) and your rationale for selecting that example.
• Description of the standard administrative steps and processes in a typical health care organization’s risk management program compared to the administrative steps and processes you identify in your selected example plan. (Note: For standard risk management policies and procedures, look up the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Provider Act (MIPPA)-approved accrediting body that regulates the risk management standards in your chosen health care sector, and consider federal, state, and local statutes as well.)
• Evaluation of your selected risk management plan’s compliance with the standards of its corresponding MIPPA-approved accrediting body relevant to privacy, health care worker safety, and patient safety.
• Analysis of the key agencies and organizations that regulate the administration of safe health care in your current or future area of concentration and an evaluation of the roles each one plays in the risk management oversight process.
• Proposed recommendations or changes you would implement in your risk management program example to enhance, improve, or secure the compliance standards.
• Proposed recommendation or changes you would implement to build and support a culture of compassion and concern for patients and health care employee safety. Base your response on the Christian worldview principle that work within the public arena should be performed with compassion, justice, and concern for the common good.

In addition to your textbook and the GCU “Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work,” you are required to support your analysis with at least three credible health-related resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:

BS Health Sciences

3.2 Discuss compliance with risk management protocol.

Expert Answer and Explanation

Risk Management Program Analysis

Managing risks is a vital part of how healthcare works, ensuring that everyone involved benefits. Having effective criteria for risk management is crucial for the organization to achieve its goals and other important aspects, contributing significantly to its success. In essence, risk management involves evaluating risks and finding solutions to reduce these risks (Hick et al., 2020).

Properly communicating about these risks is also a key part of a risk management plan. Nurses Service Organization (NSO) and Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) can provide valuable insights for developing effective management programs.

Description of the Healthcare Organization

The plan for managing risks serves as a useful tool for putting the overall risk management program into action within both inpatient and outpatient healthcare organizations. This program provides essential structure and guidelines applicable to the organization’s clinical and business services. Its aim is to enhance the quality of patient care while ensuring a safe working environment for the staff (Johnson et al., 2020).

Following the principles of the risk management plan, the emphasis is on providing a simultaneous, thorough, and organized approach to decrease instances of risk for all involved parties. Activities within risk management encompass identifying, analyzing, investigating, and evaluating risks to assess the effectiveness of implemented changes (Johnson et al., 2020).

These steps are then followed by choosing and applying the most suitable method to effectively address, manage, reduce, eliminate, or transfer issues related to unintentional injuries in the healthcare setting.

Summary of Selected Risk Management Plan

The primary aim of the chosen risk management program is to safeguard nursing staff, patients, and healthcare visitors from unintentional injuries. Additionally, the program is designed to protect the intangible and financial assets of the organization, including its standing in the community and reputation. Unintentional injuries, a significant form of healthcare-acquired illness, affect a considerable number of individuals in the healthcare sector (Hick et al., 2020).

Hospital-acquired infections or illnesses impose unnecessary financial strain on the hospital and consume resources that could otherwise be used for the treatment and care of deserving patients. In the hospital setting, various inadvertent injuries such as patient falls, late diagnosis, and misdiagnosis pose risks to patients.

The identified risk management program provides an analysis of the authorities involved and the roles that the risk manager plays in ensuring the program’s effectiveness. The organization appoints and empowers the risk manager to guarantee the program’s effectiveness and align the final outcomes with the projected goals (Hick et al.,  2020).

The program includes a governing body with roles and responsibilities that can be communicated verbally or through a written transcript. The risk manager is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating the program’s effectiveness, following set standards for quality, infection control, and patient safety management.

Standard Administrative Steps and processes

In a standard healthcare organization, the established administrative procedures follow a specific intervention model before resolution or elimination. The medical facility, which provides healthcare services, employs staff, including nurses and physicians, who interact with patients. These staff members adhere to company policies that define acceptable and unacceptable practices (Tuck & Hough, 2017). The staff and affected patients or interested parties are the primary individuals capable of identifying issues that require resolution.

Taking the example of a nurse, when a fault in clinical practice is identified, such as increased medication errors due to burnout or insufficient nursing staff to meet patient demand, there are escalation procedures to follow. Nurses typically have supervisors, and reporting the issue to the supervisor is the initial step, hoping for an immediate solution (Tuck & Hough, 2017). If the problem is severe, the process may need further escalation.

In the healthcare setting, the nursing unit is typically led by a nurse manager who oversees operations, relaying information between nurses and top management (Tuck & Hough, 2017). The supervisor can seek the intervention of the nurse manager, who would focus on the problem and identify potential solutions. For instance, in the case of fatigue and burnout, the nurse manager might increase rest time for nurses and implement flexible shifts. In the event of a nurse shortage, consultation with top management, the human resources department, and finance would be necessary to consider hiring more nurses and assess the financial feasibility.

The administrative steps employed by a typical healthcare organization or risk management program align with those outlined in the selected risk management program. The plan provides an overview of its objectives, scope, and specific components that will constitute the entire program (Tuck & Hough, 2017). These components form the predetermined intervention to resolve or eliminate issues for improved healthcare service delivery. The final report is documented and reported to the governing body, forming the basis for evaluation. For thorough analysis and understanding, the plan establishes a timeline for evaluations to ensure ongoing improvement and identification of potential areas for enhancement.

Key Agencies That Regulate the Administration of Safe Health Care

The healthcare industry is subject to stringent regulations due to its direct impact on people’s lives and overall quality of life. The prevalence of healthcare risks is a primary driver behind the heightened regulation in this sector. Oversight of healthcare practices comes from various federal and state bodies, which include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The Joint Commission (TJC), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) (Johnson et al., 2020).

These agencies concentrate on the quality of care delivered, the nature of patient care, and the functioning of the healthcare environment. The EPA is responsible for safeguarding the overall health environment and human health. OSHA focuses on ensuring safety and implementing precautionary measures within healthcare organizations to prevent injuries. TJC, on the other hand, concentrates on accrediting health facilities based on high-quality standards. Meanwhile, the IOM provides relevant recommendations concerning healthcare provision.

Recommendation to Improve, or Secure the Compliance Standards

The chosen program aligns with the guidelines of TJC (MIPPA-approved accrediting body), specifically focusing on ensuring the privacy and safety of both patients and healthcare staff (Inomata et al., 2018). The outlined objectives emphasize improving patient satisfaction, fostering a culture of awareness, promoting incident reporting, and engaging in educational activities to enhance the quality of care. By adhering to the high standards of care emphasized by TJC, the facility aims to fulfill the requirements set by the accrediting body.

Recommendation to Build and Support a Culture of Compassion

To effectively implement the risk management plan and ensure the success of compliance with established standards, additional features and elements are essential. Among these, incorporating evidence-based practice is crucial for informed decision-making on the best options and strategies for implementation (Westle et al., 2019). Integrating technological advancements into the implementation process ensures alignment with the current era and meets the evolving demands of patients.

Conclusion

Addressing risk management is imperative to prevent it from worsening and causing more harm to staff, patients, or visitors. An elaborate risk management program facilitates the implementation of a plan to either eliminate or reduce the impact of inadvertent injuries on the involved stakeholders. These measures are subject to evaluation to determine their alignment with the standards by regulating bodies.

References

Hick, J. L., Hanfling, D., Wynia, M. K., & Pavia, A. T. (2020). Duty to Plan: Health Care, Crisis Standards of Care, and Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. NAM Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.31478/202003b

Inomata, T., Mizuno, J., Iwagami, M., Kawasaki, S., Shimada, A., Inada, E., … & Amano, A. (2018). The impact of Joint Commission International accreditation on time periods in the operating room: A retrospective observational study. PloS one, 13(9), e0204301. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204301

Johnson, J., Emard, E., & Sakallaris, B. R. (2020). Quality and Safety in Health Care: Policy Issues. Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care-E-Book, 411.

Tuck, L. M., & Hough, S. (2017). Incorporating the Standards Established by The Joint Commission (TJC). In Practical Psychology in Medical Rehabilitation (pp. 539-543). Springer, Cham.

Westle, M. B., Burkert, G. R., & Paulus, R. A. (2019). Reducing inpatient falls and injury rates by integrating new technology with workflow redesign. NEJM Catalyst, 5(3).

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Other Assignments Questions Related to this Course:

Week 1:

Topic 1 DQ 1

Explain the role of accreditation in mitigating risk compliance issues. Provide an example of a health care organization that was placed on probation or lost its accreditation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) or by another accrediting body within the last 3 years for a risk compliance issue. What caused the probation or loss of accreditation and how could it have been prevented?

Topic 1 DQ 2

Briefly describe how the risk management program at the organization where you work (or at that of a typical health care organization) addresses social media and patient information privacy. Provide three examples of risk management steps your health care organization (or another health care organization) could take to further protect patient information.

Week 2:

Topic 2 DQ 1

What is the purpose of reporting and collecting data from incident reports? What are the common types of incidents found in the hospital? How do incident reports improve patient and family safety practices? Are hospitals allowed to document details from an incident report on the patient’s medical record?

Topic 2 DQ 2

Research the role of an administrator versus that of a nonmanagement staff member in dealing with a workers’ compensation incident in a typical health care organization. What are the minimal responsibilities and reporting duties for each? What recommendations would you suggest for improving organizational compliance with regulatory requirements at the staff level?

Educational Program on Risk Management

The purpose of this assignment is to create an educational program that supports the implementation of risk management strategies in a health care organization.

In this assignment, you will develop an “in‐service”‐style educational risk management program presentation for the employer and employees of a particular health care organization. Select your topic for this educational session from one of the proposed recommendations or changes you suggested in the Topic 1 benchmark assignment to enhance, improve, or secure compliance standards in your chosen risk management plan example.

Develop a 10-12-slide presentation (including a title slide, a reference slide, and slide notes that provide a detailed explanation of your research) that outlines the following points about your chosen topic:

• Introduction: Identify the risk management topic you have chosen to address and explain why it is important within your health care sector.
• Rationale: Explain how this risk management strategy is lacking within your selected organization’s current risk management plan and describe how its responsibility for implementation will better meet local, state, and federal compliance standards.
• Support: Provide data that indicate the need for this proposed risk management initiative and explain how it falls under the organization’s legal responsibility to provide a safe health care facility and work environment.
• Implementation: Describe the steps to implement the proposed strategy in your selected health care organization.
• Challenges: Predict obstacles the health care organization may face in executing this risk management strategy and challenges for building a culture of faith, compassion, and concern for patients, families, and employees, and propose solutions to navigate or preempt these potentially difficult outcomes.
• Evaluation: Outline your plan to evaluate the success of the proposed risk management program and how well it meets compliance with operational risk management policies in the organization’s short-term, long-term, and end goals, which includes key employer and employee metrics that will be used for measuring the success of the risk management program.
• Opportunities: Recommend additional risk management improvements in adjacent areas of influence that the organization could or should address moving forward.

In addition to your textbook and the GCU “Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work,” you are required to support your analysis with at least three credible health-related resources and at least three peer-reviewed resources.

Refer to the resource, “Creating Effective PowerPoint Presentations,” located in the Student Success Center, for additional guidance on completing this assignment in the appropriate style.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Week 3:

Topic 3 DQ 1

The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) was implemented to allow patients to state “Do Not Resuscitate” (DNR) or to assign a surrogate decision-maker in the event that the individual is unable to make the decision. What relationship does an ethics committee have in enforcing the advance directives of the patients in their care? What cultural and religious beliefs affect the administration of providing care to the patient?

Topic 3 DQ 2

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) publishes a list of health care-acquired conditions (HACs) that reasonably could have been prevented through the application of risk management strategies. What actions has your health care organization (or have health care organizations in general) implemented to manage or prevent these “never events” from happening within their health care facilities?

Benchmark – Risk Management Program Analysis – Part Two

The purpose of this assignment is to analyze how an organization’s quality and improvement processes contribute to its risk management program.

This assignment builds on the concepts from the Topic 1 benchmark assignment.

Assume that the sample risk management program you analyzed in Topic 1 was implemented and is now currently in use by your health care organization. Further assume that your supervisor has asked you to create a high‐level report of this new risk management program to share with a group of administrative personnel from a newly created community health organization in your state who have enlisted your organization’s assistance in developing their own risk management policies and procedures.

In a 1,000-1,250‐word report, address the following points regarding your health care organization and its risk management program:

• Explain the role of your organization’s Medicare Improvement for Patients and Provider Act (MIPPA)-approved accreditation body (e.g., JC, ACR, IAC) in the evaluation of your institution’s quality improvement and risk management processes.
• Describe the roles that different levels of administrative personnel play in health care ethics and establishing or sustaining employer- and employee-focused organizational risk management strategies and operational policies.
• Explain how your organization’s risk management and compliance programs support ethical standards, patient consent, informed consent, and patient rights and responsibilities.
• Explain the legal and ethical responsibilities health care professionals face in upholding risk management policies and administering safe health care at your organization.
• Explain how your organization’s quality improvement processes support and contribute to the prevention of sentinel events and to its overall journey to excellence.
• Communicate how to integrate the Christian perspective of human value and dignity, along with ethical decision-making as it relates to patients, families, and health care employees

In addition to your textbook and the GCU “Statement on the Integration of Faith and Work,” you are required to support your analysis with at least three credible health-related resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.

Benchmark Information

This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:

BS Health Sciences

3.3 Explain the ethical and legal responsibilities of health care professionals related to risk management assessment and policies.

Week 4

Topic 4 DQ 1

Describe one of the safety committees your organization uses and how it reduces risk within your organization. Who are the general members of the group, how often do they meet, and is there a regulatory requirement that they report or publish notes? Is having safety committees a good use of the staff’s time or would another method that still addresses the safety goal of this group be more efficient?

Topic 4 DQ 2

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS), and the Joint Commission (JC) require that health care organizations maintain risk management programs to address infection control. Detail three measures that your health care organization (or any health care organization) could implement, beyond what is currently in practice, to support the delivery of safe health care services and avoid the spread of infection (e.g., placing hand washing devices at all of the public entrances of the health care facility).

FAQs

What is a risk analysis in healthcare?

Risk analysis in healthcare is a systematic process of identifying, assessing, and evaluating potential risks or uncertainties that could impact the delivery of healthcare services, patient safety, and overall organizational well-being. This structured approach is essential for healthcare organizations to proactively manage and mitigate risks, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and operational effectiveness. Here are the key components of risk analysis in healthcare:

1. Identification of Risks:
   • Clinical Risks: These may include potential harm to patients due to medical errors, complications, or adverse events during treatment.
   • Operational Risks: These involve challenges related to the day-to-day functioning of the healthcare facility, such as staffing issues, supply chain disruptions, or technology failures.
   • Compliance Risks: Risks associated with regulatory and legal requirements, ensuring adherence to standards and guidelines set by healthcare authorities.
2. Risk Assessment:
   • Likelihood and Severity: Determining the probability of a risk occurrence and assessing the potential impact or harm it may cause.
   • Prioritization: Ranking risks based on their likelihood and severity to focus resources on addressing the most critical issues first.
3. Data Analysis and Trend Identification:
   • Analyzing historical data, incident reports, and relevant metrics to identify patterns or trends that could indicate potential risks.
   • Utilizing data-driven insights to predict and prevent adverse events before they occur.
4. Patient Safety Analysis:
   • Assessing risks associated with patient care processes, medication administration, surgery, and other clinical activities.
   • Implementing measures to enhance patient safety and prevent medical errors.
5. Information Security and Privacy:
   • Evaluating risks related to the security and privacy of patient information, especially in the context of increasing reliance on electronic health records (EHRs) and digital healthcare systems.
   • Implementing safeguards to protect against data breaches and unauthorized access.
6. Scenario Planning:
   • Developing hypothetical scenarios to simulate potential risks and their impacts.
   • Formulating response strategies and contingency plans to address various risk scenarios.
7. Regulatory Compliance:
   • Ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, standards, and guidelines.
   • Identifying areas where the organization may be at risk of non-compliance and taking corrective actions.
8. Continuous Monitoring and Improvement:
   • Implementing systems for ongoing monitoring of identified risks.
   • Regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments based on changes in healthcare practices, technology, and regulatory requirements.
9. Communication and Reporting:
   • Establishing clear communication channels for reporting and discussing potential risks among healthcare staff.
   • Developing transparent reporting mechanisms to inform stakeholders, including patients and regulatory bodies, about risk mitigation efforts.

In summary, risk analysis in healthcare is a proactive and systematic process that enables healthcare organizations to identify, assess, and manage risks effectively. By incorporating risk analysis into their operational framework, healthcare institutions can enhance patient safety, maintain compliance, and foster a resilient and responsive healthcare environment.

What is the importance of a risk management program to health care organizations?

In the dynamic and complex landscape of healthcare, organizations face multifaceted challenges that can potentially compromise patient safety, financial stability, and overall operational efficiency. The implementation of a robust risk management program is paramount to navigate these challenges and ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, and cost-effective healthcare services. This article explores the importance of a risk management program in healthcare organizations, highlighting its role in mitigating risks, enhancing patient care, and promoting organizational resilience.

Understanding Risk Management in Healthcare

Risk management in healthcare involves the systematic identification, assessment, and prioritization of potential risks followed by the application of resources to minimize, control, and monitor the impact of these risks. This comprehensive approach is designed to enhance patient safety, protect organizational assets, and safeguard the reputation of healthcare institutions.

1. Patient Safety and Quality of Care

The primary focus of healthcare organizations is to provide optimal patient care. A robust risk management program plays a pivotal role in identifying potential risks to patient safety, whether they stem from clinical processes, medication errors, or technological failures. By proactively addressing these risks, organizations can prevent adverse events, medical errors, and other incidents that may compromise the quality of care provided to patients.

2. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Healthcare organizations operate within a complex regulatory environment, subject to numerous laws and standards aimed at safeguarding patients and ensuring quality healthcare delivery. A well-established risk management program helps organizations stay compliant with these regulations, reducing the likelihood of legal issues, fines, and reputational damage. This is particularly critical in an era where legal and regulatory scrutiny in healthcare is on the rise.

3. Financial Stability

The financial health of a healthcare organization is closely tied to its ability to manage risks effectively. Unanticipated events, such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or pandemics, can have a significant impact on the financial stability of healthcare institutions. Through risk management, organizations can develop contingency plans, secure appropriate insurance coverage, and implement financial strategies to mitigate the financial impact of unexpected events.

4. Reputation Management

In the healthcare industry, reputation is a valuable asset that can take years to build and moments to tarnish. A risk management program helps healthcare organizations identify and address issues that could harm their reputation, whether it be a patient safety incident, a data breach, or a public relations challenge. By proactively managing these risks, organizations can maintain trust with patients, staff, and the community at large.

5. Operational Efficiency and Continuity

Disruptions to operations, whether due to natural disasters, technological failures, or other unforeseen events, can significantly impact a healthcare organization’s ability to deliver services. A risk management program ensures that organizations have contingency plans in place to maintain essential functions during crises, promoting operational resilience and continuity of care.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, the importance of a robust risk management program cannot be overstated. By systematically identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks, healthcare organizations can enhance patient safety, ensure regulatory compliance, maintain financial stability, protect their reputation, and promote operational continuity. As healthcare continues to advance, the integration of proactive risk management practices will be instrumental in navigating the challenges and uncertainties inherent in this critical industry.