Interdisciplinary Issue Analysis at CentraCare

NURS-FPX 4005 Assessment 2: Interdisciplinary Issue Analysis at CentraCare

Identification of the Interdisciplinary Issue

At CentraCare, a notable increase in 30-day readmission rates among geriatric patients has been associated with non-adherence to medication post-discharge. This is not just a nursing issue; it is a systemic failure that includes doctors, pharmacists, case managers, and nursing staff. When these departments work separately, the patient receives incomplete information, which can cause confusion and make their health worse.

To resolve this problem, the culture of the organization needs to change to one that values applying ethical principles. The interdisciplinary team can better align their goals to serve the patient’s best interest by seeing taking medication as a shared moral duty.

The Role of Applying Ethical Principles in Systemic Change

When looking at the CentraCare problem, it is critical to use ethical principles, especially beneficence and non-maleficence. Beneficence requires the interdisciplinary team to do things that are beneficial for the patient. In this case, it means making the move from the hospital to home as smooth as possible by having “discharge huddles” with everyone involved.

Respect for autonomy is also necessary. When you use ethical principles, you know that a patient is entitled to change or refuse their treatment plan. But real autonomy is only possible when the patient knows everything. Patients often feel overwhelmed when the pharmacist explains the “why” of a drug, the nurse explains the “how,” and the doctor explains the “what.” Ethical collaboration ensures that all parties are aligned and that the message is clear and easily comprehensible for the patient.

Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Organizational Impact

• The Nursing Perspective: Nurses serve as the final safeguard. But when the pharmacy doesn’t send updates on time or the doctors don’t provide clear instructions, they often have to come up with “workarounds” that make mistakes more likely.
• The Pharmacy Perspective: Pharmacists know the most about drug interactions, but they’re often excluded from initial discharge planning. This causes last-minute changes that slow down the patient’s progress, which can lead to confusion and potential health risks for the patient.
• The Administrative Perspective: The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) punishes hospitals with high readmission rates by making them pay more.

By following the ethical principles of justice, an organization makes sure that resources are fairly distributed to avoid these gaps. Justice says every patient should have a clear, easy-to-follow discharge plan, regardless of wealth or intelligence.

Proposed Evidence-Based Solution

The suggested remedy for CentraCare is to use an Interdisciplinary Medication Reconciliation (IMR) Protocol. This protocol says that the primary nurse, the pharmacist, and the doctor who is in charge must all meet for 10 minutes 24 hours before the patient is discharged.

This solution is based on applying ethical principles because it puts fidelity first, which is the professional’s duty to stick to the patient’s care plan. Studies have shown that interdisciplinary huddles can cut down on readmissions due to medication by as much as 25%. By making this partnership official, CentraCare goes from being reactive to being proactive and ethical in its care.