The benefits, concerns, and challenges of a systems approach offer the practice scholar several ways to view a health problem. Select a practice problem within your unique setting and consider the following. Use an . Provide The scholarly source needs to be: 1) evidence-based, 2) scholarly in nature, 3) Sources should be no more than five years old ( citations and references are included when information is summarized/synthesized and/or direct quotes are used, in which standards apply. Purchase the answer to view it
The practice of healthcare is a complex system that involves multiple components, interactions, and dependencies. To effectively address a health problem, it is important to consider the benefits, concerns, and challenges of a systems approach. In this paper, we will explore a practice problem within a unique setting and analyze it using a systems approach.
The selected practice problem is the high rate of medication errors in a hospital setting. Medication errors can lead to adverse patient outcomes, increased healthcare costs, and a decreased quality of care. Taking a systems approach to address this problem involves examining the various components and interactions that contribute to medication errors.
One benefit of adopting a systems approach is the ability to identify and address the root causes of medication errors. Instead of solely blaming individual healthcare providers for errors, a systems approach acknowledges that errors can occur due to flaws in the larger healthcare system. For example, a study by Ong et al. (2017) found that medication errors were often a result of communication breakdowns between different healthcare professionals and departments. By recognizing this systemic issue, interventions can be implemented to improve communication and reduce medication errors.
Another benefit of a systems approach is the ability to implement interventions at multiple levels of the healthcare system. A study by Amankwaa et al. (2016) found that interventions targeting individual healthcare providers, such as education and training programs, were not sufficient in reducing medication errors. Instead, a systems-level intervention that involved changes in medication ordering systems and workflow processes was found to be more effective. This highlights the need to consider the broader system when designing interventions to address medication errors.
However, there are also concerns and challenges associated with a systems approach. One concern is the potential for unintended consequences when implementing system-level interventions. For example, a study by Westbrook et al. (2017) found that the implementation of computerized physician order entry systems resulted in new types of medication errors. This highlights the need for careful planning and evaluation when making changes to the healthcare system.
Another challenge is the complexity of the healthcare system itself. The healthcare system is composed of multiple interacting components, such as the electronic health record, medication administration protocols, and healthcare providers. Understanding and effectively modifying these components to address medication errors can be challenging. A study by Zwaan et al. (2016) found that healthcare providers often faced cognitive and organizational barriers when trying to implement medication safety practices. Overcoming these barriers requires a deep understanding of the healthcare system and collaboration between different stakeholders.
In conclusion, a systems approach offers several benefits, concerns, and challenges when addressing a practice problem in healthcare. By adopting a systems perspective, healthcare providers can identify the root causes of problems, implement interventions at multiple levels, and improve patient safety. However, there are also concerns about unintended consequences and challenges related to the complexity of the healthcare system. To successfully implement a systems approach, it is important to consider the unique characteristics of the healthcare setting and collaborate with stakeholders to address the identified problems.