National Safety and Quality Health Clinics - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the National Safety and Quality Health Clinics. Answer: Introduction: The Hearing Service Program was launched in 1997 and offers examination and hearing devices for eligible Australians and specialised services for specific groups nationwide. This program is managed and administered by the Department of Health. The Department is a key stakeholder for this program and offers information regarding eligibility, the location of sites, resolve complaints, and advise Ministers on strategic policy. The program aims to reduce the incidence and effects of avoidable hearing loss in Australia. Hearing Service Program achieves this objective by offering access to high-quality hearing services and devices to Australians of all ages. Hearing loss is a significant problem in Australia, which affects both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. In 2005, it was estimated that approximately 3.55 million Australians had hearing problems. The same study notes by 2050, one in every four Australians will be diagnosed with a hearing problem. Aboriginal Australians are the most affected population in the community. Between 2012 and 2013, approximately one in every eight indigenous people reported having a hearing problem. The rate of hearing loss between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people is 1.3 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015). Hearing loss has been found to increase the rate of cognitive decline. In one study, it was revealed that hearing loss was directed related to dementia. The study involving 4,463 subjects, found that 16.3% of those who had hearing loss developed dementia (Gurgel et al., 2014). This study concluded that hearing problems might result in cognitive dysfunction in seniors aged 65 and above. The Health Service Program achieves its mandate in various ways. Firstly, eligible clients have a choice of service provider. There are up to 270 selected providers of this program in approximately 3000 locations across Australia (Hearing Services, 2017). The high number of service providers aims to make the services available to a wider percentage of the population. Secondly, the program provides a hearing assessment. Hearing assessment is a pass-fail screening, performed with a variety of tools to determine a persons hearing ability or sensitivity. Thirdly, the Hearing Service Program offer advice and support about hearing loss. Most of the advice and support entails ways of improving the quality of life for those experiencing hearing loss. Empirical evidence suggests that hearing loss can cause communication disorders, loneliness, dependence and isolation (Ciorba et al., 2012). Finally, the program helps in fitting subsidised hearing device as well as maintenance if needed. The Hearing Service Program uses a wide variety of resources to offer services to Australians. The primary resource that is used to make the program successful is hearing devices. Clients who have hearing problems are given hearing devices to restore their normal functioning. In fact, from July 2016 to June 2017, the Program had fitted about 395, 829 hearing devices (Hearing Services, 2017). This program also uses a website and online portal to assist in service provision. The website offers comprehensive information about the service including eligibility and how to access the service providers in different locations across Australia. Individuals who have hearing problems can connect with the service through a specific telephone number or email. The other resources for this program include both permanent and mobile service centres. Mobile health services including mobile clinics in urban areas play an important role in delivering health care service (Jamir et al., 2013). The mobile service centres for Health Service Program help to offer services to the marginalised and underserved people in the community. Some clients with hearing problems are given listening devices if they deserve. Ethical considerations The Health Service Program promotes the interest of Australians specifically those with hearing problems. The structure of the program connects both clients and healthcare professionals. In promoting the interests of the Australians, Health Service Program offers hearing assessment, advice, hearing devices and maintenance to eligible clients. Recent studies indicate that the use of hearing aids is beneficial to the elderly. For instance, users of hearing aids experience less depression and anxiety. The rate of depression in elders who use hearing aid is mainly measured using a geriatric depression scale (Ciorba et al., 2012). Another perspective of ethics is improving the quality of health for the entire population. By offering hearing devices and advice, the Health Service Program addresses the issues of communication in the community as well as allowing people to participate in social situations. Further, the program allows people with hearing loss to be employed and pursue educati on. Mitigating risk harm linked to the provision of healthcare is a policy priority. The ability to prevent harm is a fundamental aspect of the overall quality of care (Nabhan et al., 2012). Evidence suggests that a significant number of harms in the delivery of healthcare occur due to human factors. These harms are propagated by the complexity of healthcare systems and process, which insinuates that an increased partnership between human factors and health science is needed (Carayon Wood, 2010). The Hearing Service Program prevents harm by focusing on human factors. The program emphasises on hearing assessment before any treatment is administered. In case the assessment identifies that the client would benefit from hearing device, they are offered a fully subsidised hearing device. The initial step of hearing assessment is important in preventing harm and offering treatment to only the deserving clients. The program offers services to all Australians regardless of their cultural and ethnic background, gender and race. There are specific services for specific groups across Australia. The main groups that receive assistance in the community are older Australians, under 26 years, veterans, indigenous Australians, disabled people and Australian defence force. Besides, the hearing services and hearing devices are fairly distributed to deserving clients. Eligible clients from both aboriginal and non-aboriginal communities might receive devices at no cost. Another option is offering partially subsidised hearing devices to the Australians with hearing problems. The fairness of this program aims to eliminate the health inequality between aboriginal Australians and non-aboriginal Australians. A recent study has identified that indigenous Australians experience poorer health outcomes compared to non-Australians (Ong et al., 2012). Respect is invoked as an important element of professionalism and ethics in medicine (Beach et al., 2007). The Hearing Service Program portrays respect for Australians to act freely and make their own choices. Those who want to benefit from this program are allowed to check for eligibility on their will. Patients who are eligible for the service proceed to seek service from help from the verified service providers. The eligibility for Hearing Service Program is guaranteed through the Community Service Obligation (CSO) element of the program. Hence, the Australians are not obliged to get services from the program. Respect also exists between clients and healthcare professionals who seek the services of this program. In any handover, face-to-face, phone or email, patient confidentiality should be respected (Pascoe et al., 2014). The Hearing Service Program values patient confidentiality. The privacy of personal information is guarded according to two main policies which are APP privacy policy and Privacy Commissioners Guideline for Federal and ACT Government Websites. The collected personal information might be shared with third parties including hearing service providers and healthcare professionals. Personal information is shared with the objective of administration as well as clinical delivery. Risk identification and management The program has a documentation framework that keeps clients information. Sufficient record retention is an important practice towards promoting patient safety. Keeping clients records for an extended time is beneficial to monitor client health, even when the clients are not actively getting care. Electronic Health Record (EHR) has been found to improve patient safety (Vanderpool, 2015). Record keeping is also an integral element in resolving professional and legal incidents in medical practice (Pirie, 2011). In addition, the Hearing Service Program has instituted reconsideration and appeals guidelines to enhance patient safety. Clients can request for reconsideration for decisions that affect them. For example, a client can request for reconsideration to be allocated a qualified practitioner or to get authorization for hearing device replacement. The hearing device maintenance service is also meant to enhance patient safety. Finally, the program offers adequate information to patien ts on the available hearing devices to help them in decision-making. For instance, it offers information on the difference between personal sound amplification products (PSAPs) and hearing aids. Once the clients are informed, safety is enhanced. The Health Service Program has established a framework for compliance with mandatory Federal and State regulations. As outlined in a previous paragraph, the Hearing Service Program is managed and administered by the department of health. Thus, the department of health helps in the implementation of mandatory federal and state regulations. To help address potential risks, mandatory federal and state regulations are quoted where necessary and where they apply in the program. Hence, the program is well suited to manage risk relating to federal and state regulations. Potential medical error Medical errors result in severe health problems and are a threat to patient safety. Since all patients are susceptible, medical errors are costly from a human, social and economic point of view (Car et al., 2016). The Hearing Service Program addresses the risk of medical errors in several ways. The first technique is through the provision of information for both the patients and providers. Information on how to access hearing sensitivity and fit hearing devices helps to prevent potential medical errors. The second strategy is effective communication (Lyndon et al., 2011). Healthcare professionals are encouraged to communicate with their clients by offering consumer checklist and addressing complaints. Collaboration is the third way to which the program addresses potential medical errors. Healthcare professionals also seek consent before fitting hearing devices. When seeking consent, healthcare providers also recognise patient needs and apply better techniques to handle them. The Hearing Service Program has been designed based on the existing policies. The entire program is governed by the Hearing Services Administration Act 1997 and other pertinent acts. These include Electronic Transaction Act 1975 and Australian Hearing Services Act 1991 (Office of Hearing Services, 2017). Besides, the Hearing Service Program has a framework for the adoption and implementation of new policies. Based on its current structure, the program is in a position to address risks emanating from existing and future policy. A possible future policy is the elimination of subsidised hearing devices and extension of this service to those who hold private insurance and Medicare. Legislation impacting the field of healthcare The program has the capacity to manage risks relating to this field due to its framework. The Hearing Service Program upholds the People-Centred Health Care as required by the WHO. Additionally, it observes the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 and 2002. The department of health, which administers this program, strives to inform the providers and patients of the legislation effective healthcare and ways of compliance. Other pertinent legislation includes Private Health Insurance 2009, Aged Care 2013 and Australian Aged Care Quality Act 2013 (Department of Health, 2017). Various quality and safety initiatives and activities have been integrated into the Hearing Service Program. Standard one of the NSQHS focuses on governance for safety and quality. Based on this standard, the program accepts and analyses client complaints. Also, the Hearing Program promotes patient respect by encouraging providers to seek patient consent. There are further monthly and annual reports meant to improve the quality of care. Standard two of the NSQHS emphasise on partnering with consumers. Omeni and colleagues found that service user involvement has a positive effect on the quality of health services. In the Hearing Service Program, patients are involved through communication, provision of consumer checklist and physician-patient collaboration (Omeni et al., 2014). The third standard of NSQHS outlines the prevention and control of healthcare linked infections. In a hospital setting, nosocomial infections are those acquired in the course of treatment. These infections can lead to morbidity and mortality. Most of these infections are preventable by adhering to simple guidelines (Revelas, 2012). In non-hospital setting, nosocomial infections can be described as the secondary illnesses that occur during treatment. The Hearing Service Program fits hearing devices to the eligible clients only. The program also offers information on the available hearing devices to prevent adverse outcomes. Standard four of the NSQHS delineates medication safety (NSQHS Standards, 2012). In line with this standard, the program requires service providers to document patient details. Hearing devices are maintained and might be changed to improve safety. Healthcare professionals communicate treatment to ensure patients have a good understanding of the interventions. Recen t literature indicates that medication safety can be promoted through five rights, the right patient, drug, time, dosage and route (Grissinger, 2010). Another NSQHS standard that relates to the selected program is number six, clinical handover. There are well documented clinical handovers, which are face-to-face, telephone and email. Conclusion As discussed in this scholarly paper, Hearing Service Program has an objective of reducing the incidence and implications of the avoidable hearing loss. The program serves the wider Australian community by offering free hearing assessment as well as hearing and listening devices. The key ethical considerations of this program are patient consent, promoting the interest of those with hearing loss, serving Australians without discrimination, observing respect and patient confidentiality. In its risk management, the program has established frameworks for reporting incidences, expressing dissatisfaction, documentation and structures of implementing pertinent policies. Besides, the Hearing Service Program observes and promotes standards one, two, three, four, and six as outlined by NSQHS. The program statistics can determine the effectiveness of the program. Between 2016 and 2017, the program served 922,054 clients and issued 395,829 hearing devices. It is evident that the program serves a significant number of people. The number of complaints has been declining progressively. In the financial year 2014-2015, there were 125 complaints, in 2015-2016, there were 119 and 2016-2017, there were 101 (Hearing Services, 2017). The decline shows that the number of satisfied clients has been increasing. The Hearing Service Program is a successful program that allows Australians to enjoy a better quality of life. Bibliography Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2015. Ear Diseases and Hearing Problems. [Online] Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/0BBD25C6FF8BDB06CA257C2F001458BF?opendocument [Accessed 26 September 2017]. Beach, M., Duggan, P., Cassel, C. Geller, G., 2007. What does respectmean? 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