Problem:
Write about 150 words to reply to the discussion below. Explain how their chosen national healthcare issue/stressor may also impact your work setting and what (if anything) is being done to address the national healthcare issue/stressor. Include a question at the end. Include at least 2 scholarly sources. Need Assignment Help?
Discussion:
The national healthcare issue we deal with in my healthcare setting is medication and treatment non-compliance in patients with chronic illnesses. In the region where I work, patients are plagued with multiple preventable chronic illnesses, such as hypertension, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and heart disease. Rather than controlling diabetes, hypertension, or congestive heart failure with a consistent health plan, nonadherence can lead to a higher risk of hospitalizations, disease progression, waste of medication, lower quality of life, and unmanageable health costs for those involved (ChenMed, 2023).
This healthcare issue has affected the organization where I work by contributing to a massive influx of emergency room visits, healthcare provider burnout, hospital readmissions that lead to reduced Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement, preventable deaths, and excess preventable spending. The emergency room where I work is constantly full, with most patients being recurrent patients with the same problem each visit.
The social determinants that most affect this healthcare issue are limited health literacy, lack of reliable transportation to pharmacies/appointments, financial strain, and lack of medical insurance. Where I live, patients are poorly educated and may not understand medication teaching. Some of these patients aren't comprehending the severity of their illness.
The doctors at the facility where I work order home health and rely on the home health nurses to organize medications into a weekly medication box for patients. The doctors also consult specialists to discuss the patient's condition and make recommendations. For diabetic patients, the doctors can consult the diabetic educator. The diabetes educator will teach the patient how to check blood sugar and manage medications. Also, when patients return to the hospital with the same problems, they can keep patients in the ER or in observation status to prevent inpatient readmissions. Another great thing my hospital does is have pharmacists on the floors take the time to do medication reconciliation and medication discharge teaching. I feel that a one-on-one interaction regarding medication teaching will help patients understand their regimen.