NR 582 Week 1 assignment or Discussion: Implementing Change

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Implementing Change

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NR 582

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Introduction

Managing a busy primary care clinic comes with balancing complex moral and legal issues, especially in the event that there’s a possibility of procedure violations. There were some serious concerns that were raised when a long-time medical assistant filled a patient’s prescription without getting the patient’s permission or consulting with them. To ensure that this event does not occur again, a comprehensive investigation and corrective action are needed.

Ethical and Legal Implications

Patient safety and trust are the main points on the micro level (Sheard et al., 2018). Medication prescribed with a lack of proper consultation threatens the health of the patient, with the possibility of an inadequate response or inefficient therapy. Such acts are contrary to professional behavior and ethics of informed consent and destroy the integrity of the treatment of patients. Legal consequences for prescribing illegally include potential lawsuits from the harmed patients and discipline sanctions for the staff members involved, and underscore the severity of the violation (Fincham, 2021).

Risk to the practice itself exists on the meso-level. Unauthorised acts can cause conflict and distrust among the people and destroy the belief of the medical team (Smith et al., 2019). This is one occasion that calls for the possibility of internal prescription management protocol failures, which need to be reviewed and tightened. If these mistakes are not rectified, then the regulatory agencies may focus more on you, which may lead to penalties or fines.

Such breaches have a negative impact on the reputation of the greater hospital system on a macro level (Voskanyan et al., 2020). Such occurrences could lead to tightened rules and loss of accreditation that would do severe damage to the public’s confidence in the organization. The license to operate a hospital system could be impacted by systemic defects in operating prescription processes, and therefore displays the need for strict oversight and compliance with legal requirements.

Recommendations and Feedback

To prevent these types of cases, clear and strict protocols for prescribing refills should be put in place and followed. Introducing a double-check process, in which prescriptions are reviewed by another healthcare provider before being sent to the pharmacy, could go a long way in minimizing the room for error (Alsaloom et al., 2022). All staff members, including medical assistants, must be required to attend regular training sessions on ethical practices as well as legal obligations in order to ensure that medical staff are aware of and comply with these standards.

Discussing the situation with the medical assistant gives positive criticism and coaching skills. Start by acknowledging her long-term service and skills, and show your appreciation for her skills and work (Long & Gummelt, 2019). Be explicit about your concern about the illegal refill of a prescription, and ask open-ended questions to better understand her perspective and the thinking behind her actions. This method allows a collaborative environment in which the chance to identify and fill gaps in understanding and compliance can be revealed. Reinforce the need to follow protocols to provide patient safety and professional standards, and the individual involvement of the team in this process.

Change Model

In order to enact these modifications, the most effective way would be to use Kotter’s 8-step Process for Leading Change. This methodology provides us with a comprehensive package for how to handle the sense of urgency associated with the issue and construct a major coalition. Kotter’s model is focused on the need to develop a clear vision for change and to effectively communicate this goal so that all staff members have a clear understanding and are in agreement with the new norms (Mouazen et al., 2024). Empowering broad-based action and achieving short-term successes can help keep the momentum going, and consolidating gains and incorporating new techniques into the culture are ways to ensure long-term success.

Barriers and Facilitators

One of the main issues in accepting change can be accepting change by staff, especially those who have been with the clinic for a long time and are used to the methods that exist. Overcoming this resistance requires regular communication and demonstrating the benefits of the new approach and help during the transition period. Making sure that all employees feel heard and bought-in to the process can help to mitigate opposition and foster a feeling of ownership in the new processes (Satterstrom et al., 2020).

The excellent relationship and respect within the practice, on the other hand, by the physician assistant, could be a motivator for change. Her influence can be used to demonstrate that she adheres to the new protocols and mentors other employees. So, by directing her to be part of the change process and the creation of a culture of safety and compliance, the practice can use her positive influence to convince others to use new standards.

Conclusion

Addressing the unauthorized prescription refill event requires a multidisciplinary approach by taking into consideration the ethical and legal ramifications at all levels of the healthcare system. Imposing harsh rules, providing constructive feedback, and having a structured change model, like Kotter’s 8 Step Process, can be effective ways of minimising risks and enhancing standards of practice. Despite the possible impediments, a flawless transition and improved quality of patient care can be achieved through internal strengths as well as the development of a culture of continuous improvement. This full-fledged strategy makes sure that not only does the practice address the issue at hand, but it also ensures that its operations are more robust in the future.

Related assignment for this class: NR582 Week 4 Assignment and NR582 Week 3 Discussion Board