HLT-308V Organizational Risk Management Interview Paper
HLT-308V Organizational Risk Management Interview Paper
Organizational Risk Management Interview Sample
Healthcare facilities are prone to many workplace hazards and infections that hamper patient care profoundly. As a result, they should implement robust risk management programs for identifying, measuring, and assessing risks (NEJM Catalyst, 2018). Since the probability and magnitude of risks vary with organizations, interacting with risk management personnel helps to understand measures that healthcare facilities apply in risk management. To better understand risk management and programs, I interviewed my current organization’s risk manager. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the interview, an assessment of the organization’s risk management program, and action steps to improve one area of the program.
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Interview’s Summary Analysis
- Risk Management Strategies
The first question was about the risk management strategies that the organization uses in its risk control program. The first strategy that the risk manager identified is continuous risk assessment and reporting. As Kaya et al. (2019) mentioned, continuous risk assessment/analysis is critical in risk mitigation since it helps healthcare facilities identify possible harms and determine appropriate preventive measures. A suitable example of such harm is data theft from unauthorized access to electronic health records (EHRs). Alexander et al. (2018) advised healthcare organizations to implement essential technical and administrative safeguards to optimize system security. Similarly, the organization responds through continuous system updates, educating staff on information technology risks, and enhancing security through firewalls and other means.
Besides continuous risk assessment, the facility implements infection control practices and regular education programs for healthcare professionals. As Carrico et al. (2018) observed, the primary purpose of infection control is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and ensure infected patients get the best possible care. Currently, the organization achieves this goal through hand hygiene practices and by encouraging nurses to use protective equipment in all departments. Education/training programs enable healthcare professionals to understand and comply with risk management policies and ethical and safety standards. Generally, it is an intervention for improving literacy and compliance.
- Educational Risk Management Program
The second question was about how the facility’s educational risk management program addresses key professional, legal, and ethical issues. To address issues such as preventing negligence and malpractice litigation, the risk manager noted that the organization enforces proper documentation, ensuring that healthcare professionals understand care policies and standards and emphasize the importance of informed consent. Broadly, the educational risk management program is structured to enable healthcare professionals to prevent legal and ethical issues through safe and standard practices. For instance, understanding the standards of care helps healthcare professionals to practice consistently with the current care standards in their specialties and as accreditation requirements oblige. Sherman et al. (2021) underlined the importance of informed consent in ensuring patients understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of a particular medical procedure. Similarly, informed consent ensures all patients in the facility understand and consent to the treatment plan.
- Policies to Address Emergency Triage Management
The third question was about the facility’s efforts to manage triage in high-risk areas of health care service delivery. Although these policies vary with departments, the risk manager highlighted the importance and universality of the rapid screening policy. During emergency triage, rapid screening facilitates quick identification and response to those with emergency signs (Chen et al., 2019). Consequently, the organization applies a similar approach to ensure patients with priority signs receive instant emergency treatment.
- Managing and Controlling High-Risk Health Care
The fourth question was about the challenges the organization faces in managing and controlling high-risk health care, particularly infectious diseases. Giving the example of COVID-19 management, the risk manager highlighted that the main challenge is resource problems. Lowe et al. (2021) underlined the complexity of the same problem in many hospitals since COVID-19 prevention requires personal protective equipment, remote patient care management, and effective infection prevention and control (IPC) training. Related challenges in the current facility include inadequate staff to deal with infection control and inadequate financial resources to cater for equipment and technological resources.
- Risk Management Program Compliance
The fifth question was on the strategies the facility utilizes to monitor, evaluate, and maintain compliance within its risk management program. The risk manager mentioned three strategies vital in achieving this goal. They include continuous risk monitoring, building a culture of ethics and compliance, and updating compliance efforts. A culture of ethics and compliance is established by encouraging healthcare professionals to embrace risk management, seek support when in need, and report errors for instant intervention.
An Assessment of the Organization’s Risk Management Program
A comprehensive risk management program should have adequate and efficient systems for identifying, controlling, and preventing risks. Such systems prevent patient care harm and damage to an organization’s financial assets (NEJM Catalyst, 2018). Generally, the facility’s risk management program has all the essentials of a comprehensive program since it applies a multifaceted approach. To uncover potential risks as they emerge, the facility’s continuous risk assessment approach is very helpful in this area. Risk mitigation strategies mentioned in the interview include infection control practices and policies and using appropriate safeguards for data protection. Education and training programs on risk management are instrumental in equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary knowledge for risk identification, reporting, and prevention. Risk prevention is further achieved through interventions for attending to high-risk health, such as the rapid screening policy and measures to prevent negligence and malpractice litigation, particularly continuous updates of compliance efforts.
Improving the Risk Management Program
The risk management program can be improved through risk management prioritization. Done via a risk assessment matrix, risk prioritization entails a detailed analysis of possible risks, their probability, and the magnitude of their impact (Pascarella et al., 2021). A similar approach is necessary for the current organization, although it should be implemented at the departmental level. Doing so typifies risk localization and enhances risk management since departments encounter different risks. For better outcomes, risk governance at the departmental level is essential. The primary objective is to assign risk management roles and responsibilities to better identify, evaluate, and control risks.
Conclusion
Risk management is critical in the promotion of safe and quality care. A risk management program guides an organization in identifying, measuring, and mitigating risks. The interview with the risk manager assessed how the current organization assesses risks internally. Overall, the organization has a robust risk management program despite the challenges encountered in addressing high-risk areas.
References
Alexander, S., Frith, K. H., & Hoy, H. (Eds.). (2019). Applied clinical informatics for nurses (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Carrico, R. M., Garrett, H., Balcom, D., & Glowicz, J. B. (2018). Infection prevention and control core practices: a roadmap for nursing practice. Nursing, 48(8), 28–29. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NURSE.0000544318.36012.b2
Chen, R., Xu, G., Yang, L., Deng, Z., Hu, Q., Hu, H., & Wang, Z. (2021). A new rapid screening program based on risk scores for COVID-19 patients. Internal and Emergency Medicine, 16(4), 925–932. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-020-02534-6
Kaya, G. K., Ward, J. R., & Clarkson, P. J. (2019). A framework to support risk assessment in hospitals. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 31(5), 393-401. https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzy194
Lowe, H., Woodd, S., Lange, I. L., Janjanin, S., Barnett, J., & Graham, W. (2021). Challenges and opportunities for infection prevention and control in hospitals in conflict-affected settings: a qualitative study. Conflict and Health, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-021-00428-8
NEJM Catalyst. (2018). What is risk management in healthcare? https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.18.0197
Pascarella, G., Rossi, M., Montella, E., Capasso, A., De Feo, G., Gerardo Botti, S., … & Morabito, A. (2021). Risk analysis in healthcare organizations: Methodological framework and critical variables. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 14, 2897- 2911. https://doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S309098
Sherman, K. A., Kilby, C. J., Pehlivan, M., & Smith, B. (2021). Adequacy of measures of informed consent in medical practice: A systematic review. Plos one, 16(5), e0251485. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251485
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Assessment Description
The purpose of this assignment is to gain real-world insight into how risk management programs operate within healthcare organizations.
Select a local healthcare organization where you can conduct an interview with an employee who is involved in risk management processes. This organization can be your current employer or a different healthcare facility in your community. Acute care, urgent care, large multiâ€provider private medical clinics, assisted living facilities, and community/public health clinical facilities are all ideal options to complete the requirements of this assignment. Select an individual who can provide sufficient information regarding how their organization manages risk within its facility to answer the questions below.
In your interview, address the following:
1) Risk management strategies used in the organization’s risk control program, along with specific examples.
2) How the facility’s educational risk management program addresses key professional, legal, and ethical issues, such as prevention of negligence, malpractice litigation, and vicarious liability.
3) Policies the facility has implemented that address how to manage emergency triage in highâ€risk areas of health care service delivery (e.g., narcotics inventories, declared pregnancy policies, blood-borne disease sector, etc.).
4) Challenges the organization faces in managing and controlling high-risk health care (e.g., infectious diseases, nuclear medicine, abortion, class 4 narcotics/opioids, etc.).
5) Strategies the facility utilizes to monitor, evaluate, and maintain compliance within its risk management program.
After conducting the interview, compose a 750â€1,000 word summary analysis of the interview that includes the questions above, in conjunction with the interviewee’s responses. In addition, include the following elements in your response:
1) An assessment of the organization’s risk management program, including how it attends to high-risk health care and legal concerns.
2) Action steps you would take to improve one area of the organization’s risk management program, along with your rationale for doing so.
Cite appropriate references as needed to support your statements and rationale.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
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.