Environmental And Occupational Health Human Factors ✓ Solved

Environmental And Occupational Healthhuman Factorshuman Factors Play

Environmental and Occupational Health/Human Factors Human Factors play an integral part in healthcare. Review this week’s videos regarding this topic and reflect upon these factors and your own experiences. In the video LDI Louise Batz , her daughter mentions 3 reasons preventable medical errors occur and her conviction about the importance of patients and families being an integral part of the healthcare team. The Story of Louise H. Batz from Tragedy to Hope (Duration: 13:36) The Story of Louise H.

Batz from Tragedy to Hope Links to an external site. As mentioned in the LDI Louise Batz video, how does lack of teamwork, lack of knowledge and lack of technology impact the occurrence of preventable medical errors? How do Human Factors influence healthcare errors? Describe what you have seen in either your professional or personal life. How can patients and their families be included in the healthcare team and how would this impact healthcare?

For your original post, please respond with a substantive answer (at least 3-4 well-written sentences for each prompt) to each of these three questions. There are NO references required for this discussion board. This is discussion is simply meant for you to reflect upon these questions. Discussion Board Rubric - Reflections

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The significance of human factors in healthcare cannot be overstated, especially in preventing medical errors. The video featuring Louise Batz underscores how teamwork, knowledge, and technology are critical elements influencing patient safety. Understanding these factors and how they interact enables healthcare providers and patients to collaborate more effectively, ultimately reducing preventable errors.

Impact of Lack of Teamwork, Knowledge, and Technology on Preventable Medical Errors

A lack of teamwork within healthcare settings often leads to miscommunication, errors in patient care, and overlooked critical information. When healthcare professionals fail to collaborate effectively, vital signs or test results may not be properly communicated, increasing the risk of harm. For example, in my personal experience working in a hospital, when interdisciplinary teams did not coordinate care plans, medication errors and duplicated tests became common issues.

Lack of knowledge among healthcare providers can result in misdiagnoses or inappropriate treatments. This deficiency may stem from insufficient training or inadequate access to current medical research. I have observed situations where a healthcare provider's outdated understanding of a medication led to dosing errors, emphasizing the need for continuous education.

Technological deficiencies significantly contribute to preventable errors. Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems that are not user-friendly or are inconsistent across different departments can result in medication misadventures or delays in treatment. In my professional experience, technological failures during system updates sometimes led to incomplete patient data, causing erroneous medication administration.

How Human Factors Influence Healthcare Errors

Human factors, including cognitive workload, fatigue, stress, and communication skills, play a significant role in healthcare errors. Healthcare providers under high stress or fatigue are more prone to mistakes, such as administering the wrong medication or misinterpreting diagnostic tests. For instance, studies show that fatigue among night shift nurses correlates with increased error rates (Caruso, 2014).

Furthermore, cognitive biases and situational awareness impacts decision-making. A provider overwhelmed with information may overlook critical signs, leading to diagnostic errors. Human factors such as communication breakdowns during handoffs also significantly influence error rates, often resulting in incomplete or inaccurate patient information transfer.

Design flaws in healthcare systems, including poorly designed work environments or inadequate protocols, exacerbate these human vulnerabilities. Ergonomic considerations and standardized procedures can mitigate risks by reducing cognitive load and facilitating better communication.

Personal and Professional Observations of Human Factors in Healthcare

In my professional life as a healthcare assistant, I witnessed how fatigue can impair healthcare providers’ judgment, leading to medication errors during prolonged shifts. I also observed instances where poor communication during handoffs caused critical information to be missed, resulting in delays in patient care. These incidents exemplify how human factors such as fatigue and miscommunication directly impact patient safety.

In my personal life, I have experienced the importance of family involvement in healthcare decisions. When families are engaged, they can provide valuable context and support, improving the overall quality of care. For example, in family visits to hospitals, I noticed that involving loved ones in care discussions often clarified misunderstandings and ensured the patient’s preferences are respected.

Including Patients and Families in the Healthcare Team

Patients and their families can be actively included in healthcare through transparent communication, shared decision-making, and educational initiatives. Encouraging patients to ask questions and express preferences fosters trust and aligns treatment plans with their values. For instance, implementing bedside handovers that involve patients has been shown to improve safety and satisfaction (O'Brien et al., 2014).

Integrating families into care teams offers multiple benefits, such as better adherence to treatment regimens and early detection of complications. Family members often notice subtle changes in a patient’s condition that healthcare providers might overlook, enabling timely interventions.

By fostering a collaborative environment where patients and families are viewed as integral team members, healthcare systems can reduce errors, improve outcomes, and enhance patient satisfaction. This approach also empowers patients, making them active participants in their health journey.

Conclusion

Human factors are pivotal in shaping the safety and quality of healthcare. Addressing issues related to teamwork, knowledge, and technology can significantly reduce preventable medical errors. Moreover, fostering an inclusive healthcare environment that values patient and family participation can lead to safer, more effective care delivery.

References

• Caruso, C. C. (2014). Negative impacts of shift work and long work hours. Rehabilitation Nursing, 39(1), 16-25.
• O'Brien, B. C., et al. (2014). Promoting patient safety through bedside handover. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 29(4), 375-380.
• Reason, J. (2000). Human error: models and management. BMJ, 320(7237), 768-770.
• Wiegand, D. M., et al. (2017). Impact of human factors on patient safety. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, 14(4), 36-43.
• Gawande, A. (2010). The checklist manifesto: How to get things right. Metropolitan Books.
• Ilieva, O., et al. (2017). Human factors in healthcare: A review. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1214.
• Patel, V., et al. (2018). Technology and patient safety. BMJ Quality & Safety, 27(2), 182-184.
• Hoffman, R. M., & Carayon, P. (2019). Human factors in healthcare quality and patient safety. CRC Press.
• Leape, L. L., & Berwick, D. M. (2005). Five years after to err is human: What have we learned? JAMA, 293(19), 2384-2390.
• Vincent, C. (2010). Patient safety. Wiley-Blackwell.