All health care organizations must be aware of cost controls, regardless of nonprofit or for-profit status. Managing costs at all levels of the organization affects the bottom line, which has a direct effect on all aspects of the organization. This assignment is designed to help you analyze why organizational policies are put in place.
Find an appropriate health care organization policy that clearly relates to cost controls. This policy is to focus on ways that nurses can impact patient care costs. Research a policy related to cost controls by locating one on the Internet. I offer some suggestions for this such as:
- Fall prevention policies,
- Prevention of skin breakdown,
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections,
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections,
- Handwashing,
- Wound care,
- Or any policies to prevent waste or reduce redundancy (think Lean Six Sigma)
Summarize the details of the policy:
· When was the policy put in place (date)?
· Was it adopted system-wide, in one department, or multiple departments?
· What does the policy aim to address?
· What are the potential ramifications of not following the policy at the organizational level? Unit level? Individual level?
**Explain how the policy impacts fiscal aspects of the organization:
How does the policy act as a cost control?
**Describe how the policy impacts the quality of patient care:
· Does the policy improve efficiency?
· Are the goals to improve care and reduce cost?
**Explore the unintended consequences:
· What secondary effects does the policy have on the organization? Unit? Staff? Patient?
· Does the policy need revision?
**Suggest alternatives to the policy:
· In your opinion, is the policy the best way to address the issue? Support your position by explaining why or why not.
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