Chamberlain College of Nursing
Introduction
The brochure by the joint commission is titled "speak up". The brochure has no date to show when it was published because the brochure is printed to remain relevant as time goes by. To suffice this effect, the brochure is written in the first person and talks to the reader directly. The brochure answers important questions that a patient might have. The booklet is brief and straight to the point. The information benefits the patient, family and close friends to the patient and the general public. The information in the brochure is intended to appear as common knowledge so that the goals of the joint commission in ensuring adequate care of the patient are achieved.
Summary of the brochure's recommendations
Main topics in the booklet are the rights of a patient; how the patient should be handled from the moment he/she enters a health facility (Joint Commission Resources, 2008). The role of patients in the health care is highlighted in the brochure in the form of a detailed list. The role of the patient's advocate is in the brochure which is supposed to inform the patient about the role of an advocate when the patient is receiving healthcare. The brochure is keen on how a patient is handled in a health facility and informs the patient on what to expect; for instance, taking pictures. The brochure also advises a patient on how to take a legal action against any health facility if the rights of a patient are violated.
The brochure encourages communication between the patients and their caregivers by informing the patient that it is their right to ask questions about their health (Myers, 2012). By doing so, the patient and the caregivers can communicate, and the patient is provided care according to his/her preference. The patient is also enlightened about his/her roles in health care which, when performed should facilitate communication between the patient and their caregivers.
Evaluation of the brochure
The brochure is well formulated and attractive to the eye. It is well presented and straightforward to read; because it is written in point form, mostly. The brochure, in every way, prepares the patients before they enter into a health facility by informing them on what to expect and what not to expect. Those involved with the compilation of the brochure could have done better with the graphics and introduce more colors or bold the most significant points.
This topic presented itself as an educative issue that shows how patients can be involved in their health care. The topic interests me because, previously, I had no knowledge about the rights of a patient and the roles of a patient's advocate. It gives me pleasure knowing that patients can participate in their treatment.
The information in the brochure was beneficial to me because I did not know how the legal power of attorney worked. This knowledge can be incorporated in my patient education which will be useful to me and my patient's health in the future.
The awareness in the brochure is presented clearly. Instead of long sentences, that could easily deter the patient from reading; the booklet uses bullets to display the information. The information is straightforward to interpret and comprehend because standard grammar has been used. The brochure uses the first person so that it can talk to the patient directly (Joint Commission Resources, 2008). The information is provided so that the doctors can provide as directed in the brochure.
The information in the brochure is very resourceful to people who, previously, had no experience of receiving treatment in a health facility (Croskerry, 2009). The same case can apply to an individual who escorts a patient to a health facility and is unsure on how to proceed after bringing in a patient. Also, the information is helpful to almost everyone who can read so that they do not receive unfair treatment in a health facility. The information is also beneficial to people who cannot make their decisions and rely on other people to make the decisions for them.
The information provided in the brochure is supposed to, and does, increase the patient's safety. The caregivers will have no other alternative than to provide quality care because the booklet directs the patients on how to take legal action if their rights are violated. The only way caregivers can avoid legal action is to provide quality care so that an informed patient does not file a lawsuit against them. The information is useful in ensuring that the patient is not at risk.
Conclusion
The brochure is efficient in providing patients with information about their rights and roles when receiving healthcare. The brochure, in some way, encourages communication between patients and their caregivers by informing the patients about their roles in their treatment. The circular ensures that patients are not put at risk by their caregivers. Following the brochure's advice means that quality health care will be provided to patients so that they do not file legal complaints.
References
Croskerry, P. (2009). Patient safety in emergency medicine. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Myers, S. (2012). Patient safety and hospital accreditation a model for ensuring success. New York: Springer Pub. Co.
Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (2008). Staff education tools for the National Patient Safety Goals : curriculum guide and CD-ROM. Oakbrook Terrace, Ill: Joint Commission Resources.
