Develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a healthcare professional by applying ethical principles. Describe the issues and a possible solution in a 3-5 page paper. Introduction Whether you are a nurse, a public health professional, a health care administrator, or in another role in the health care field, you must base your decisions on a set of ethical principles and values. Your decisions must be fair, equitable, and defensible. Each discipline has established a professional code of ethics to guide ethical behaviour. In this assessment, you will practice working through an ethical dilemma as described in a case study. Your practice will help you develop a method for formulating ethical decisions. Ethical Dilemma faced by a health care professional by applying ethical principles Ethical Dilemma Faced by a Health care professional by Applying Ethical Principles Instructions Note: The requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide.
Ethical Principles to a Possible Solution to the Case Study Ethical Problem
The proposed solution to the ethical problem of overuse of emergency services in the case study is implementing a care coordination program. This program would involve identifying and engaging with the individuals who repeatedly use the ED for non-urgent medical issues, assessing their needs, and coordinating their care with primary care providers and other community resources. This proposed solution is based on ethical principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Autonomy is respected through the care coordination approach by empowering patients to be active participants in their care. Patients are involved in identifying their needs, and their preferences and values are considered when developing care plans. Beneficence is promoted by providing patients with appropriate and timely care that meets their needs, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. Non-maleficence is achieved by reducing the risks associated with unnecessary and avoidable ED visits, such as exposure to medical errors, infections, and adverse events (McWilliams et al., 2020).
The care coordination approach also upholds justice, as it promotes equitable access to healthcare services for all patients, including those with complex health needs and at risk of frequent ED use. Care coordination programs aim to reduce healthcare disparities by providing patients with access to the right level of care in the appropriate setting, thus reducing unnecessary ED visits and preventing the overuse of scarce healthcare resources (Wagner et al., 2021).
Overall, the proposed solution of implementing a care coordination program aligns with ethical principles, as it respects patient autonomy, promotes beneficence, avoids non-maleficence, and upholds justice. It has the potential to make healthcare professionals more effective in building relationships across disciplines within their organization, as well as foster collaboration among multiple healthcare professionals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the case study presented a complex ethical dilemma of overuse of emergency services in healthcare. The analysis of the case study using the ethical decision-making model and the assessment of communication approaches highlighted the importance of ethical behavior, effective communication, and collaboration in addressing ethical problems in healthcare. The proposed solution of implementing a care coordination program showed promise in addressing the ethical problem of overuse of emergency services and fostering professional collaboration among healthcare professionals. Overall, this assessment provides valuable insights and lessons for healthcare professionals in navigating ethical challenges and promoting ethical healthcare practice.
References
Aboulafia, G. N., Akhtar, S., & Bhat, R. (2020). Reducing Frequent ED Utilization: A Comprehensive Model of Care for Super Utilizers. Hospital Topics, 98(4), 134-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/00185868.2019.1698001