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In a hospital setup, handoffs are instances in which the responsibility of a patient is handed over from one personnel to another (Bayley, 2005). During this process, important information regarding the patient is swapped. To improve on handoff processes, patients’ facts should not to be omitted during the shift change. College Essay Writing Services Often poor communication has been cited as the main cause of medical errors. As illustrated by the joint commission in 2004, 70 percent of all hospitals’ sentiments result from the lack of appropriate communication techniques leading to transfer from one medical expert to another (Bayley, 2005). To improve on handoff processes between emergency departments and other hospital departments, hospital administration must implement processes that clearly and effectively define the transfer of responsibility from one hospital personnel to another. In this regard more focus needs to be centered on the communication aspect rather than on specific handoffs (Bayley, 2005).

In emergency departments various tools and techniques can help to improve the efficiency of the handoff techniques normally involved between the emergency department and other departments. Traditional approaches have been in use in the emergency departments for long (Bayley, 2005). With this approach nurses engage in handoff processes away from their patients compromising on their effectiveness. College Essay Writing Services Similarly, traditional approaches have enabled previous nurses to exchange the patients’ information verbally with incoming nurses, a strategy considered ineffective. To improve on its effectiveness, the hospitals’ administrations should consider the use of appropriate modern tools such as SBAR, five-Ps, I pass the Baton, Mnemonics, templates and checklists to mitigate loss of information (Bayley, 2005). With appropriate approaches, these techniques will ensure accurate and timely transfer of information.

Handoff methods

SBAR

Situation background assessment recommendation (SBAR) can play a crucial role in an emergency department’s handoff process due to the large number of turnouts and numerous detailed reports required for every patient (Garber & Slonim, 2010). College Essay Writing Services With the help of PACU, handoff patients’ information can be extracted and sent to the receiving end, normally positioned in different departments. Thereafter, the sender calls the receiver for any inquiries. Similarly, it is possible to exchange patient’s information via the phone. Through this process nurses communicate with other medical experts besides their patients, and thus improve on their relationship (Garber & Slonim, 2010).

The five-Ps

The development of this process aimed at simplifying accountability among health personnel and patient information (Garber & Slonim, 2010). The first P represents the patient and thus captures the patient’s name, identifiers, age, sex and location. The second P represents the plan and comprises of the patients’ diagnosis, treatment plan and the next steps administered by the nurse (Garber & Slonim, 2010). The third P represents the purpose and exhibits a rational care plan for the patient. The fourth P concerns the patients’ problems. It facilitates the explanation of unusualness regarding patients (Garber & Slonim, 2010). The last P represents precautions that must be observed during the treatment process.

Audiotapes

Most departments prefer the use of audio tapes as a means of sharing crucial information in handoff processes (Garber & Slonim, 2010). College Essay Writing Services Similarly, emergency departments can employ this method to provide fast and well-organized means of communication. Through this approach audiotapes will provide the outgoing healthcare personnel with a means to record a comprehensive assessment for the incoming personnel (Garber & Slonim, 2010). However, when used alone, audiotapes do not meet the joint commission national patient safety goals. In this regard, there is the need to use several other techniques during handoff processes.

Form and checklist

Forms and checklists have been used in emergency departments in the provision of quick and consistent information (Garber & Slonim, 2010). With improvements in technology, modern information technology systems can play an effective role in emergency departments. Normally, forms and checklists are attached to a patient’s records to facilitate easier access of the patient’s information by medics. College Essay Writing Services With the use electronic medical records one should ensure that patients’ information is often passed, received and reviewed (Garber & Slonim, 2010). Since its approval in emergency departments, this method has improved patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction in various operational aspects. The approach allows nurses to prioritize care and improve on their accountability (Garber & Slonim, 2010). Similarly, with the adoption of this strategy patients have felt included, as they are reassured of the medics’ attention. To ensure the nurses’ effectiveness during uncomfortable situations, especially in the presence of family members, scripting is coupled in the process (Garber & Slonim, 2010).

I pass the Baton and SBAR

To standardize on the handoff process among the emergency and other hospital departments, a combination of I pass the Batonand SBAR methods is employed for effective communication (McDonough & Larson, 2007). With this combination, there is a considerably enhanced nurses’ and physicians’ communication. In this regard, nurses keep short, brief and up-to-date forms on their patients in SBAR format. College Essay Writing Services All the forms excluded from medical records are copied and placed in the plastic baton for transportation along with the patient wherever he or she is referred by the hospital (McDonough & Larson, 2007). When the information is required, it is easily previewed. These forms should have the outgoing nurses’ contact numbers and all stakeholders involved should sign them (McDonough & Larson, 2007).

Conclusion

For effective emergency handoff processes, several tips should be considered. During the handoff process the individuals involved should ensure that they allocate an appropriate amount of time to each handoff session to avoid errors (McDonough & Larson, 2007). Similarly, emergency handoff processes should be conducted in such a manner to ensure that the patient’s attention is monitored appropriately. In addition, a two-way communication should be the most preferred method to use (McDonough & Larson, 2007).

The United States healthcare system is in no doubt in a crisis. Many citizens are currently not enjoying health insurance as it is expected. The health costs are extremely high compared to the salaries and wages most Americans are getting. In addition, the employers who pass the effects of inflation to their employees make the situation worse, since more and more Americans are becoming incapable of affording quality healthcare. Compare to other developed capitalist nations, the United States is faring poorly. This comparison revels that citizens of most developed countries enjoy a comprehensive health insurance cover and that their per capita healthcare cost are lower.

In the last ten years, the insurance premiums have doubled thus making health insurance unaffordable to millions of Americans. College Essay Writing Services In addition, high medical bill are leaving many American broke, or in debt meaning that the effects of the crisis are far reaching. According to the organization healthcare for all in California, medical bills are now causing a half of personal bankruptcies in that state. The crisis is also made worse by inadequate healthcare facilities, which have been overstretched badly. As at 2006, the emergency visits were standing at 120 million every year compared to 90 million ten years back (Singer 9). This is still the same to hitherto, whereby many people are demanding proper facilities that are unavailable.

The situation can be blame on the ailing United States economy, which has resulted from different factors. First, most people are citing the involvement of the United States in other parts of the world. For instance, the country is spending more on its military activities in the Middle East. This is increasing the national expenditure, which is mainly addressing security issues. High inflation rates are also affecting the country’s economy thus denying the people some essential services. College Essay Writing Services Other market conditions have also prompted the increase in healthcare, in the United States. The shift of non-profit to for profit healthcare is also causing the increase in healthcare expenses in the country (Farrell).

The health care crisis has attracted a lot of attention from the American citizens. Politicians have used the issue to push for different agenda, with some being elected or rejected because of their views on the issue. President barrack Obama come to power with lots of promises as stipulated by his campaign slogan ‘Yes we can’ in 2008. This has given birth to the Obamacare bill, which seeks to deal with the healthcare problems. Although the bill was facing a lot of criticism, president Obama was able to push for its passing by a simple majority. Obama developed the bill to address three key issues.

First, the bill will protect all American from malpractices by insurance companies. In this sense, the bill seeks to block any attempts by insurance providers to adjust their premiums northwards arbitrarily. Secondly, College Essay Writing Services Obamacare seeks to ensure that individuals and small-scale businesses have an equal right to access private healthcare insurance like other high status members of the society. This will be propelled by tax cuts for such groups basing on their incomes (Sargis 17). Finally, president Obama intends to bring down the cost of insurance virtually for everyone. This is by bringing down the country’s deficit by as much as $1 trillion in the next two decades. Although the Obama care seems more realistic, critics argue that it is impractical. This is because the bill will only address a section of American, leaving other outside. Offering tax cut to middle class citizens is seen as a socialistic move where the rich will be forced to cater for the poor in terms of healthcare. College Essay Writing Services In other words, the Obamacare is not addressing the issue properly. Unless more economy sensitive measures are taken, the country will remain in the current crisis. Otherwise, it is arguably true to say the situation with the current healthcare system in the U. S. qualifies as a market failure because the problem can be traced deep into nonfunctional market phenomena.