Business Finance Homework Help

o begin this discussion, introduce yourself to your classmates and instructor. Briefly discuss your background, describe your professional goals, explain what you hope to gain from this course, and share what you enjoy doing in your free time.

Then, continue your initial post by responding to the following:

Consider the article The Ethics of Empowering Patients as Partners in Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevention, particularly the inclusion of patients in the process of working to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Consider some of the ethical implications with regard to patient autonomy and patient welfare when we do not involve patients in specific decisions regarding known risk (e.g., surgical infection risk).

Hi everyone,

My name and Zana, and I live in New Jersey. I studied dental hygiene in Minnesota and have been a hygienist for over three years. I am taking this class as part of the Master’s in Healthcare Administration program here at SNHU. I am pursing this degree to expand future job opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

Nearly 100,000 patient deaths occur each year because of hospital infections. Most of these infections can be prevented with proper tools and interventions including patient education and empowerment (Palmore & Grady, 2014). Additionally, it is important to consider patient autonomy in terms of risk reduction. Patient autonomy refers to the freedom of personal choice and decision making with disregard from controlling pressures. Since vast differences between provider and patient knowledge exist, health professionals must educate patients regarding their health conditions and potential risk factors that may occur during and after in hospitalization treatments (Palmore & Grady, 2014). Patient autonomy is respected when providers disclose important and relevant medical information and allow patients to process and act upon such information. For example, explaining to a patient the benefits of frequent bandage changes or different resting positions to prevent ulcers promotes patient awareness and autonomy. Additionally, patient autonomy may be endorsed when hospital staff reveal potential risk information before treatment is completed.

Considering and respecting the ethical component of patient welfare may also reduce healthcare-associated infections. This may be achieved by risk prevention education and encouraging patient involvement such as asking questions. For example, providers can educate patients why they wear various PPEs and the importance of hand washing before and after procedures to prevent hospital infections. By not explaining the importance of necessary infection control protocols such as these, patients may be less likely to participate in empowerment strategies. Hospitals and medical providers should attempt to inform patients using simple and understandable language concerning steps they take to reduce the spread of infection and disease so they may also practice better hygiene procedures outside of the hospital setting (Palmore & Grady, 2014).

My name is Brittany Zaring. I am a Registered Dietitian (RD) that runs the Nutrition and Food Services department at a VA in TX. I have been married for 8 years and we recently had our first child in March of this year. I’ve been a RD for 8 years and worked primarily as a food service dietitian since graduation. For the past 17 months, I’ve been the Chief of my department having to run both the food service and clinical operations. My main professional goal is to have an analyst type job where I can recommend actions to leaders and not necessarily be a leader in the hospital myself. I’m looking forward to taking a step down. Pursing a second master’s has allowed me to have a broader understanding of healthcare outside my nutrition bubble. What I hope to get out of this course is the preparation of taking on a program analyst role where I can recommend actions and assist in the development of programs within the healthcare entity. In my free time, I hang out with my husband and daughter. We go on hikes at our local park. I also volunteer at my church as an AWANA leader for 3- and 4-year-old kiddos.

If not engaging patients in their healthcare treatment, one must evaluate the potential consequences against potential benefits. The article suggests informing patients may increase their stress while staying in the hospital. Stress does have the potential to increase the risk of a healthcare associated infection (HAI) (Sharp, Palmore, & Grady, 2014). However, evaluating the ethics of the decision one can turn to the Hippocrates and “First, do no harm” (Shmerling, 2020). To live by that motto, health care professionals owe it to empower their patients and involve them in every step of their care. Only way to do that is to offer the education in a way they understand it. This can help to build trust in the organization as well as to the treatment team. Although, failing to adapt to the learning style and ability of the patient, this could have negative implications. If patients do not understand the warning signs of HAI, they may not report as soon as they should to those caring for them or it may make them freeze in fear to pursue any other additional care.

References

Sharp, D., Palmore, T., & Grady, C. (2014). The ethics of empowering patients as partners in healthcare-associated infection prevention. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, 35(3). https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1086/675288

Shmerling, R. H. (2020). First, do no harm. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/first-do-no-ha…