Root cause analysis is problem solving approach that is used in many fields. It is mainly used in areas that are more technological and involve machine use such as engineering and even finance. However with the need for better problem solving methods, other professional areas have adapted this system in streamlining their operations. The medical field is one of the fields that have adopted this approach to ensure that there is quality service delivery. It is a problem solving method that focuses on finding the main cause of a problem and analyzing why the problem happened (Nicolini, Warin, & Mengis, 2011).
In the medical field, there are steps involved in carrying out a root course analysis when trying to solve any problem. The analysis is also carried out to provide a learning lesson for the medical stakeholders, and to avert the occurrence of any future incidence that can negatively affect the medics or patients. The steps that are involved in carrying out this analysis include identifying the problem or the incident which it to be analyzed. After the problem has been identified a team is selected followed by the studying of the work process, collection of facts, search for the causes of the problem then taking of actions and their evaluation(Cooper, Duquette, McWilliams, Orsini, & Klein,2009)
In the case study, “The Unintended Consequences of Being Friendly” an analysis of how errors have been made in the treatment of patient has been done. Such errors have sometimes leaded to death of patients in hospitals. When a mother gives birth, nurses sometimes fail to separate the mother from the child due to the bond that exists between them. During medication period, the child might get the medication that is intended to be given to the mother. This leads to health complications in the child and sometimes death.
In the application of root cause analysis, the problem which is already stated is analyzing errors that exist due to lack of separation of closely bonded patients. The selection of the team would involve all the stakeholders who include midwife since they are mainly present when a mother is giving birth, psychologists and obstetricians. The psychologist would provide findings on findings on the behavior of the mother and child when they are separated. Data to be collected would include the number of births in the hospitals involved in the study (Adshead 2005). The child mortality rate would also be collected and causes of infant deaths in hospitals. There would also be data on the medication that is given to mothers and infants after delivery, this data would be used to analyze the effects that the drugs might have on both. Hospital facilities would also be analyzed to determine whether the there are enough facilities to cater for mothers and infants. Information on the drugs given would be classified as facts and the quantitative and qualitative information on hospital facilities.
Collection of information would be done through interviewing the medical practitioners in hospitals and also mothers who had delivered earlier. The ministry of health which keeps health records would also be of substantial resources since it has wide and more analyzed data. Since surveys and questionnaires would also be used. Various questions such as the type of medication given to the mother and child, the number of hours that the mother and child should be together and the ratio of nurse to patient would guide the analysis. Once all the information is collected, the next step would be to develop strategies and actions to avoid future recurrence of the problem (Vincent 2004).
Work Cited
Adshead, G. (2005). Root Cause Analysis. Psychiatric Bulletin, 29(2), 71-71.
Cooper, M. R., Duquette, C. E., McWilliams, T., Orsini, M., & Klein, A. A. (2009). The Unintended Consequences Of Being Friendly: A Case Study. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 31(5), 43-47.
Nicolini, D., Waring, J., & Mengis, J. (2011). Policy And Practice In The Use Of Root Cause Analysis To Investigate Clinical Adverse Events: Mind The Gap. Social Science & Medicine, 73(2), 217-225.
Vincent, C. A. (2004). Analysis Of Clinical Incidents: A Window On The System Not A Search For Root Causes. Quality and Safety in Health Care, 13(4), 242-243.
