This is a plan developed by the ECRI Institute
A non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of healthcare research. The risk management plan is focused on patient and employee safety, as well as potential operational and property concerns. This risk management strategy is a conceptual framework for some of the measures that the organization will take to guarantee the safety of patients and other stakeholders in the health care system. The plan calls for discipline and engagement from all stakeholders in order to maintain patient safety and efficient risk management in order to avoid certain avoidable lawsuits that come as a result of patients being exposed to health concerns. This program is implemented via coordination of activities of multiple departments and multiple organizational functions. It also ensures that a just culture is developed where hazards and unsafe conditions are proactively identified, errors are analyzed, evidence-based practices are implemented, and constructive feedback is provided to avoid blame and punishment.
This risk management plan has a body of governing leadership
That supports the activities and ensures that the plan is fully adopted by ensuring that performance improvement is attained gradually. Furthermore, various definitions of the terms that surround health safety and risk management plan are given so that the stakeholders charged with the responsibility of implementing the plan know exactly their tasks.
Recommended administrative steps
The first step is development and establishment of procedures and policies for risk management that clearly describes the role of the risk manager and to whom the manager reports to. This also involves outlining of the incident reporting requirements and delineation of claims. In the risk management plan by ECRI Institute, there is an elaborate Administrative structure with mechanisms through which reporting of claims is clear. The role of the risk manager is clear, and the reporting tools are also elaborate together with the interfaces through which various departments coordinate.
The second step is the review of organization's procedures and policies
To make sure that they are in line with the standard of care delivered within the healthcare organization which ensures that the organization's standards are not used as evidence of deviation from the set standard of care or negligence. This step also involves repeal or delete of incorrect procedures or policies and making sure that policies and procedures are a true reflection of actual practices or operations (Mollah, Baseman & Long, 2013). Furthermore, in this step, risk management department ensures that there is maximum consistency between the departments for effective implementation of the plan. In the ECRI Institute risk management plan, the organization has outlined various procedures for the review of procedures and policies of health care provision to make sure they are up to date with the established standards. However, the only difference is that in this plan, risk management committee is in charge of reviewing risk management activities on a regular basis as opposed to the standard risk management plan where management is responsible for carrying out the reviews.
Establishment of the context
This is a very important step because it helps risk management team to give priority to specific areas such as emergency room, Operation room, and Intensive Care Unit. In the risk management plan of ECRI Institute, there are no specified areas where priority should be given to identifying and managing risks.
Identification of risks
In this step, healthcare professionals and organizational employees carry out a survey of the work environment to establish whether there are any risks and these risks are entered into the Risk Management Tool (MRT). The ECRI Institute risk management plan does not have a clearly outlined procedure for identifying risks as it is supposed to be.
Analysis of risks
This is the step of attempting to understand the risks identified by determining the level of risk, underlying causes, and the existing control measures. During an examination of control measures, their effectiveness and level of adequacy should be considered. Comparing this with what is contained in the actual plan of ECRI Institute plan, there is a similarity whereby data collected on the risks is analyzed.
Key agencies and organizations in safety healthcare provision
Various agencies in the United States work together to make sure that safety of patients, healthcare staff, and other stakeholders are guaranteed. The effectiveness of these agencies depends on the level of co-operation between them because the regulations for the safety of healthcare are multi-dimensional meaning no single institution can effectively enforce all the regulations without the input of other agencies (Rawson, 2016).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
This is a federal agency responsible for the provision of oversight of medical devices, biologics, vaccines, drugs and blood products (Rawson, 2016). The agency also monitors adverse reactions resulting from treatment, watches for medical error and makes sure that mobile medical applications work effectively (Rawson, 2016).
Center for Disease control and Prevention (CDC)
This federal agency is responsible for prevention of injury, diseases, disability and preparation of emerging health threats. The agency provides oversight over clinicians and also gives them important information on current health threats (Mollah et al. 2013).
Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS)
Is an organization providing oversight on health insurance portability and ensures that there is accountability for patient insurance funds.
The Joint Commission (TJC)
This is a government agency that accredits healthcare organizations by checking their safety standards and measures. In conjunction with other agencies, TJC through the National Patient Safety Goals ensures that healthcare organizations have put in place necessary measures for the safety of patients.
Evaluation with regards to compliance with the set standards
First, the ASHRM requires that any healthcare organization implements written policies, standards and procedures of quality conduct to ensure the safety of patients (Mollah et al. 2013). From the risk management of ECRI Institute, there is an elaborate set of policies written on how the quality and safety of healthcare is to be maintained. This is an implication that the plan is in total compliance with the established standards of ASHRM regarding risk management.
Another code of conduct for ASHRM is advocacy for patient safety and promotion of responsible culture whereby patients can report any dissatisfaction with the safety of their healthcare. ECRI Institute has clearly outlined in their functions that the main focus of their risk management plan is to ensure patients are safe. This is proof that the risk management plan is compliant with ASHRM standards.
Another ASHRM standards demands that organizations respect and maintain professional confidences and ensure that patients’ health information remains confidential (Great Britain et al. 2013). The ECRI risk management plan has elaborated in its functions and objectives that it aims at reducing the possibility of claims and lawsuits by patients by ensuring the privacy of the patient information.
Proposed recommendations
The building of cultural awareness: the healthcare organization should know the risk management expectations and establish the roles and responsibilities of risk management committee around the risk. Employees should be trained and communicated to about the kind of health risks that the organization faces. Recruitment of the employees should also take into consideration risk management capabilities of an individual.
Risk management should also be embedded into onboarding programs to help new employees realize that risk management is part and parcel of their duties.
Lastly, employees of the organization should be personally held responsible for the risks that they cause to the organization. This will ensure keenness and better service delivery.
References
Great Britain., & Great Britain. (2013). Hard truths: The journey to putting patients first: Government response to the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Inquiry. London: Stationery Office.
Mollah, H., Baseman, H., & Long, M. (2013). Risk Management Applications in Pharmaceutical and Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Rawson, n. I. G. E. L. S. B. (2016). Drug safety: problems, pitfalls, and solutions in identifying and evaluating risk. S.l.: friesenpress.
