Therapeutic play for in center Dialysis Patients
The healthcare industry is dynamic, and it calls for continuous improvement in order to provide relevant care services to the general population. Quality improvement is essential in healthcare setting, as it ensures that the patient not only receive relevant care services, but also high quality services. My place of work has a significantly high number of inpatients receiving dialysis services. The patients are at a risk of becoming depressed as a result of the intensive treatment. Therefore, a therapeutic play program for the patients is recommended to help the patients and their families cope with the treatment.
The Purpose of the Program
The purpose of the program is to introduce therapeutic play for in center dialysis patients in the facility. The introduction is intended to help the patients and their families cope better with treatment and hospital stay. In the recent past, the hospital has experienced a relative increase in the number of inpatients under dialysis. The patients complain of a variety of issues, including those arising from the treatment, as well as emotional distress. Some of the most common complains of patients on dialysis that reduce the quality of their lives include imbalance, fear of falling, low endurance that decreases their ability to engage in physical activities, and reduced sensation.
The patients are at an increased risk of health complications such as overweight and social segregation that affects their mental health. The program will target on reducing these experiences among the patients through therapeutic play. It will include physical exercises with the help of qualified experts, and engagement in other activities such as patient education, reading, painting, modeling, and storytelling. These activities are expected to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the patients, hence improving the health outcomes among these patients. Anne Arundel Medical Center (2012) observed that patients who engaged in guided physical activities experienced reduced risk of falls and were in better positions to manage their health.
Target Population
The target population includes patients under dialysis in the facility. The patients are at an increased risk of developing health complications resulting from falls, reduced sensitivity, and mental distress as a result of the treatment. The therapeutic play will improve the quality of life of the in center patients in the facility. The patients will also experience improved health outcomes as a result of the program.
The Benefits of the Program
The target population experiences a variety of health problems due to the treatment. According to Caulder et al. (2009), the patients experience weakening of the lower extremity muscles, consequently increasing the risk of falls. The program will alleviate this health issue by combining aerobic and training exercises that build the endurance of the patients. As a result, the patients will experience improved mobility and safety (Painter, 2009). Patients receiving end-stage renal interventions are also at an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety.
The therapeutic play program, which will comprise of activities such as reading, painting, modeling, and storytelling, will alleviate this health issue by helping the patients and the families cope better with the treatment. The participation of the patients in these activities will facilitate sharing of treatment experiences, encouragement, and support from medical staff. These activities are expected to improve the mental wellbeing of the patients, hence improving their health outcomes. Therapeutic play will also give family members time to interact with their loved ones in a less stressful and controlled environment.
Cost and Budget Justification
A balanced scorecard will be used in justifying the budget of the program, as the scorecard will give a comprehensive view of the performance of the program in achieving its objectives. The hospital experiences significant costs associated with treatment of falls among in center dialysis patients, and the program will reduce the costs associated with the falls. Dissatisfaction among the patients also affects the rating of the hospital, which consequently affects the revenue of the hospital.
Therapeutic play will enhance satisfaction among the patients, which will have a ripple effect on its rating and the revenue. Although an indirect benefit of the program, satisfaction among the care givers due to improved patient outcomes will also be experienced. Job satisfaction is one of the strategies used to retain staff in hospitals.
The Basis upon which the Program will be Evaluated
Evaluation is the process through which a program or project is assessed for its effectiveness in achieving its objectives. The objective of this program is to improve the health and wellbeing of in center dialysis patients through therapeutic play. To evaluate the program, qualitative and quantitative methods of evaluation will be used. Surveys and questionnaires will be used as the quantitative evaluation techniques, while observations and interviews will be used as the qualitative evaluation techniques (Center for Civic Partnerships, 2014). The combination of both the qualitative and the quantitative techniques will ensure that we get a comprehensive report on the effectiveness of the program. All stakeholders will be engaged in evaluating the program in order to get an all-inclusive view of its performance.
References
Anne Arundel Medical Center. (2012). Physical therapy treatment during hemodialysis.
Retrieved from http://www.aahs.org/medstaff/?p=442
Caulder, J. et al. (2009). Dialysis case study. Physiopedia, 1-35. Retrieved from Physiopedia
Database
Center for Civic Partnerships. (2014). Quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods.
Retrieved from http://www.civicpartnerships.org/#!quantitative--qualitative-eval-methods/c1bel
Painter, P. (2009). A guide for people on dialysis. The Life Options Rehabilitation Advisory
Council, 1-45. Retrieved from LORAC Database
