PART 1
Components of a Quality Improvement Program in the Health Center
The first step involves planning for the resources required for success of the quality program. It entails the procurement of the necessary equipment and medicine required in the health facility and consequently having highly qualified staff. The second step involves the actual implementation of objectives set in the planning stage. Patients receive prompt and quality service. The third step of the quality program ensures that the systems in place work efficiently. It entails an analysis of the overall customer satisfaction levels to determine success levels of the program. The last step of the program is the act cycle where there are repetitive actions to maintain quality in the health facility.
Importance of HC managers and HC providers working together, and consequences when either is not involved:
Several advantages accrue to a healthcare facility whose healthcare managers and healthcare providers work together. Firstly, there is improved harmony in the work environment, and this fosters better work performance and attainment of set targets. Quality improvement systems result to an overall improvement of healthcare services (Handler, Issel, & Turnock, 2007). It gets reflected through faster delivery of services, effectiveness, and efficiency in service provision and overall customer and stakeholders’ satisfaction.
Decreased mortality rates, reduced overall costs due to errors or system failures and improved communication and information flow are some of the advantages of having harmonious relationships between healthcare managers and healthcare providers. It is, therefore, evident that involvement of both parties in design and development of a quality healthcare program facilitates easier implementation of the program as all parties involved adopt the program as their own. It fosters loyalty and dedication to the program and to the organization as a whole.
Thirdly, it is important for healthcare managers and providers to work together to facilitate sharing of ideas and better ways and means of providing services to patients. Creativity and innovation are also encouraged when both parties work together, the result of which is the improvement of service delivery. Where healthcare managers and providers do not work together, the organization faces adverse consequences such as lack of cohesiveness in the work environment. Patients are likely to receive low-quality services or delays as a result of a demotivated workforce which does not feel appreciated since their contribution is not highly valued or regarded in service delivery.
PART 2
Healthcare organizations should develop disease prevention strategies. These strategies are to cut across the locality, and eventually get implemented countrywide. In the modern world, public health agencies and organizations are tasked with the responsibility of developing disease prevention strategies. The challenge lies in developing a strategy that fits the locality in which the strategy is being implemented. Great consideration of the demographics of the immediate region has to occur to ensure all residents receive assistance. In line with enhancing efficiency, the team involved in formulating these policies should first conduct an in-depth analysis and study of the common ailments of those in the locality. That is to make sure that these strategies are relevant and helpful to those around. For accountability and effectiveness, healthcare organizations need to have a department solely dedicated to formulation and implementation of disease prevention strategies.
Some of these disease prevention strategies include ensuring a drug-free society, promoting healthy eating, promoting general mental wellbeing of citizens, and ensuring active living. Strategies geared towards providing a safe and secure living environment to residents also promote disease prevention by reducing occurrence of accidents and number of casualties.
Healthcare organizations are suitable for developing these prevention strategies. Firstly, they possess the necessary resources required for successfully running the programs. That is as opposed to allocating the individuals that would greatly limit their performance. Health Organizations both in the public and private sector have access to the right resources required in the prevention process. Such resources include the necessary equipment, the right staff and training required in responding to emergencies, especially diseases that are infectious.
Secondly, it is much easier to evaluate and monitor progress of the preventive strategies since these programs are being run by specific institutions as opposed to when being run by individuals. It is necessary that whichever preventive strategy that has been introduced to the public be well monitored to determine its level of effectiveness. In cases where there must be an improvement, necessary actions can get easily taken by health organizations.
Advantages of Developing Disease Prevention Strategies
Improved general health of the nation is the main advantage. It leads to reduced medical costs incurred by the government and the citizens. As a result, the nation has a higher quality of life and enhances prosperity. Prevention of diseases and ailments leads to healthier homes, societies, and general wellbeing of the society (WHO, 2010). That translates to improved quality of life amongst citizens and prosperity as they can be productive. Diseases such as asthma, blood pressure and cases of obesity are some of the diseases that decrease productivity of people and with effective strategies can be successfully prevented from occurring.
One major challenge facing most countries is reduced mortality rates that deprive a country of highly-productive manpower. For instance, a higher percentage of illnesses that lead to the demise of patients such as chronic ailments are preventable if preventable measures are adopted much earlier on at the onset of the symptoms of the illness. In cases of high number of patients or bed ridden citizens, there is general poor performance of key sectors of the economy.
Ethical Responsibility of Developing Disease Prevention Strategies
Ethically, it is the responsibility of all society stakeholders and not solely of healthcare organizations to create awareness of both emerging and existing infectious diseases and advise the public accordingly on how to avoid contracting such illnesses. In most countries, the government offers support for campaigns that involve creating such awareness and in some cases provides free medical facilities such as vaccinations. It is, therefore, ethical that all citizens, business enterprises, the government join efforts with these health organizations in developing preventive strategies and consequently implementing them.
All in all, the health sector of a given nation or country should have established policies regarding formulation of preventive strategies that are clear to all stakeholders (Morrisey 2008). Resources for implementation of these strategies should be readily available for success of the venture. Community support of such programs whose aim is to eradicate or minimize the spread of diseases is necessary for success. The support can get achieved through carrying out sufficient campaigns in support of the initiatives and also educating the public especially on the benefits of the disease prevention strategies. However, much of the task of developing preventive strategies is often wholly a responsibility of healthcare organizations. Also, everyone in the society including the government, educators, citizens, and business enterprises need to be at the forefront of improving health status and conditions.
References
Handler, A., Issel, M., & Turnock, B. (2007). A conceptual framework to measure performance of the public health system. American Journal of Public Health, 91(8), 1235-1239. Retrieved from http://tigger.uic.edu/~bturnock/2001%20phframework.pdf
Morrissey, M. A. (2008). Health Care. In D. R. Henderson (ed.), The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics (2nd ed.) (pp. 679-680). New York: Warner Books, 1993.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2010.). Monitoring the Building Blocks of Health Systems: A Handbook of Indicators and Their Measurement Strategies. Geneva, WHO Press. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/healthinfo/systems/WHO_MBHSS_2010_full_web.pdf
