write a response about these three posts
Joshua Ramos posted May 3, 2024 12:09 AM
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When it comes to controlling communicable diseases, prevention is one of the main policies that comes to mind. A number of governments, healthcare organizations, as well as other public health entities have adopted this policy and implemented programs to help prevent diseases, promote healthy lifestyles, and prevent unnecessary deaths. According to Ellwanger et al. (2021), some of the policies that can be implemented under the umbrella of control and prevention are mandatory vaccination programs, regular health screenings for individuals at high risk, strict hygiene protocols in public spaces, as well as comprehensive contact traceability procedures. Furthermore, it is important to consider clear guidelines on quarantine and isolation procedures as well as having a continuous promotion of a public health education campaign to promote awareness and prevent the spread of diseases. In my opinion, it is important that we implement policies under control and prevention to emphasize the need for public health safety and to ensure that it is maintained.
Hughes (2008) defines healthcare quality assurance as a systematic approach to assessing and monitoring the quality of healthcare services provided to patients. This is accomplished through the use of total quality management (TQM) and continuous quality improvement (CQI) (Huges, 2008). TQM and CQI focus on identifying and eliminating errors, improving customer satisfaction, and reducing the cost of providing quality care. They also involve the use of data collection and analysis to identify areas where improvement is needed, as well as the development of strategies to ensure that improvements are maintained. Two trends of healthcare quality assurance that can assist healthcare organizations with making sure their patients are protected are data analytics and patient engagement. According to Hughes (2008) a data analytical tool that is used by healthcare organizations is Six Sigma. Six Sigma is a data analytics tool that can be used to measure, analyze, and improve the quality of healthcare services. It helps identify areas where processes are inefficient, can provide insights about patient or population level trends (Hughes, 2008). Moreover, another trend in healthcare quality assurance is patient engagement. Involving patient in their improvement projects helps increase the quality of care and can assist healthcare professionals to help identify new ways of providing care (Marzban et al, 2022). In other words, healthcare professionals can gain insights into patient needs and preferences and monitor patient progress. It also helps encourage patients to take responsibility for their own health, which can lead to improved health outcomes.
Hello class,
In addressing communicable diseases within healthcare settings, implementing robust policies and practices is essential to ensure the safety of both patients and staff. Comprehensive Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) programs are crucial, involving regular hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and adherence to sterilization and disinfection protocols (CDC, 2022). These evidence-based practices (EBPs) are widely recognized for their effectiveness in reducing the transmission of infections (CDC, 2022).
Development and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are critical for managing communicable diseases. These SOPs should include detailed protocols for screening, triage, patient isolation, and managing healthcare workers’ exposure to pathogens (CDC, 2022). Additionally, facilities should maintain contingency plans for possible outbreaks.
To ensure these policies are effectively implemented and sustained, healthcare organizations can leverage several quality assurance trends. The utilization of Big Data and Machine Learning (ML) technologies can enhance IPC measures by using predictive models to identify potential outbreak patterns, which helps in optimizing resource allocation and early intervention strategies (Batarseh et al, 2020). The CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data exemplifies how large datasets can be used to improve disease prevention strategies across populations (CDC, 2022).
Regular training and mentorship for healthcare workers are vital for the ongoing education on the latest IPC guidelines, proper use of PPE, and management of infectious patients. These programs also emphasize the rational use of resources, such as antimicrobial agents, to prevent the spread of resistant organisms (Batarseh et al, 2020).
Andrew Hershey posted Apr 30, 2024 10:44 AM
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There are several policies that I would want to implement at a healthcare facility if there was a communicable disease spreading. One policy is a health surveillance policy aimed at identifying health risks, controlling communicable diseases, contact tracing, assessing the effectiveness of interventions, and tracking emerging health trends. This policy is critical to stopping the spread, providing an accurate picture of the health situation, and minimizing harmful exposures at work (Hodge, 2016). Another policy is an isolation policy that requires isolation until test results are provided and if positive results come back, patients will be required to isolate according to the latest Center for Disease Control guidelines (Earnest et al., 2022). Proper execution of these policies would protect patients and staff by stopping the spread and preventing future transmission of the disease.
Two healthcare quality assurance trends that assist organizations with making sure their patients are protected are patient protective equipment (PPE) reporting with established reorder numbers and equipment calibration, testing, and certification (Musbahi et al., 2022). PPE reporting is necessary for quality assurance as staff will be required to assess the amounts of available PPE and reorder as necessary to ensure patients and staff are always maximally protected from harmful health hazards. The equipment calibration, testing, and certification ensure that equipment is functioning optimally, and staff receive accurate data resulting in the best possible healthcare delivery for patients.
