The health care industry is always striving to improve patient outcomes and attain organizational goals.

create a 2-4 page plan proposal for an interprofessional team to collaborate and work toward driving improvements in the organizational issue you identified in the second assessment.

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Introduction
The health care industry is always striving to improve patient outcomes and attain organizational goals. Nurses can play a critical role in achieving these goals; one way to encourage nurse participation in larger organizational efforts is to create a shared vision and team goals (Mulvale et al., 2016). Participation in interdisciplinary teams can also offer nurses opportunities to share their expertise and leadership skills, fostering a sense of ownership and collegiality.

You are encouraged to complete the Budgeting for Nurses activity before you develop the plan proposal. The activity consists of seven questions that will allow you the opportunity to check your knowledge of budgeting basics and as well as the value of financial resource management. The information gained from completing this formative will promote success with the Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal. Completing this activity also demonstrates your engagement in the course, requires just a few minutes of your time, and is not graded.

Demonstration of Proficiency
Competency 1: Explain strategies for managing human and financial resources to promote organizational health.
Explain organizational resources, including a financial budget, needed for the plan to be a success and the impacts on those resources if nothing is done, related to the improvements sought by the plan.
Competency 2: Explain how interdisciplinary collaboration can be used to achieve desired patient and systems outcomes.
Describe an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific objective related to improving patient or organizational outcomes.
Explain the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving the plan's objective. Include best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature.
Competency 4: Explain how change management theories and leadership strategies can enable interdisciplinary teams to achieve specific organizational goals.
Explain a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that are most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan.
Competency 5: Apply professional, scholarly, evidence-based communication strategies to impact patient, interdisciplinary team, and systems outcomes.
Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions; contains few errors in grammar/punctuation, word choice, and spelling.
Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references, exhibiting nearly flawless adherence to APA format.
Reference
Mulvale, G., Embrett, M., & Shaghayegh, D. R. (2016). 'Gearing up' to improve interprofessional collaboration in primary care: A systematic review and conceptual framework. BMC Family Practice, 17.

Professional Context
This assessment will allow you to describe a plan proposal that includes an analysis of best practices of interprofessional collaboration, change theory, leadership strategies, and organizational resources with a financial budget that can be used to solve the problem identified through the interview you conducted in the prior assessment.

Scenario
Having reviewed the information gleaned from your professional interview and identified the issue, you will determine and present an objective for an interdisciplinary intervention to address the issue.

Note: You will not be expected to implement the plan during this course. However, the plan should be evidence-based and realistic within the context of the issue and your interviewee's organization.

Instructions
For this assessment, use the context of the organization where you conducted your interview to develop a viable plan for an interdisciplinary team to address the issue you identified. Define a specific patient or organizational outcome or objective based on the information gathered in your interview.

The goal of this assessment is to clearly lay out the improvement objective for your planned interdisciplinary intervention of the issue you identified. Additionally, be sure to further build on the leadership, change, and collaboration research you completed in the previous assessment. Look for specific, real-world ways in which those strategies and best practices could be applied to encourage buy-in for the plan or facilitate the implementation of the plan for the best possible outcome.

Using the Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Template [DOCX] Download Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal Template [DOCX]will help you stay organized and concise. As you complete each section of the template, make sure you apply APA format to in-text citations for the evidence and best practices that inform your plan, as well as the reference list at the end.

Additionally, be sure that your plan addresses the following, which corresponds to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Please study the scoring guide carefully so you understand what is needed for a distinguished score.

Describe an objective and predictions for an evidence-based interdisciplinary plan to achieve a specific goal related to improving patient or organizational outcomes.
Explain a change theory and a leadership strategy, supported by relevant evidence, that is most likely to help an interdisciplinary team succeed in collaborating and implementing, or creating buy-in for, the project plan.
Explain the collaboration needed by an interdisciplinary team to improve the likelihood of achieving the plan's objective. Include best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration from the literature.
Explain organizational resources, including a financial budget, needed for the plan to succeed and the impacts on those resources if the improvements described in the plan are not made.

Full Answer Section

    Objective and Predictions: Objective: To reduce medication errors in the ED by 20% within one year through implementation of a comprehensive medication safety program. Predictions:
  • Reduction in medication errors will lead to improved patient safety and outcomes.
  • Increased staff satisfaction and morale due to enhanced safety culture and improved communication.
  • Enhanced organizational reputation and potential cost savings through reduced adverse events.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The success of this plan relies on collaboration between various healthcare professionals within the ED. This includes:
  • Physicians: Responsible for medication orders, reviewing prescriptions, and providing patient education.
  • Nurses: Administer medications, monitor patients for adverse reactions, and communicate medication concerns to physicians.
  • Pharmacists: Review medication orders for accuracy, provide medication reconciliation, and educate staff on medication safety protocols.
  • Information technology specialists: Support the implementation and maintenance of electronic health records (EHR) systems and ensure their efficient integration with medication management tools.
Best Practices for Interdisciplinary Collaboration:
  • Regular interdisciplinary meetings: Foster communication, collaboration, and problem-solving regarding medication safety.
  • Shared goals and accountability: Align team goals with the overall objective of reducing medication errors.
  • Clear communication channels: Establish effective communication protocols to ensure timely and accurate information sharing.
  • Respect for diverse perspectives: Value the unique expertise and contributions of each team member.
  • Shared decision-making: Encourage collaborative decision-making to enhance team investment and ownership of the plan.
Change Theory and Leadership Strategy: This plan will utilize the Lewin's Change Theory framework. Unfreezing will occur through raising awareness about medication errors and their consequences through educational sessions and staff meetings. Moving will involve implementing the proposed intervention, including standardized medication protocols, EHR integration with safety alerts, and enhanced communication strategies. Refreezing will focus on sustaining the changes through ongoing monitoring and evaluation, continuous improvement efforts, and positive reinforcement for staff adherence to new practices. Leadership Strategy: The plan will adopt a transformational leadership approach. Leaders will inspire and motivate staff through clear communication, shared vision, and demonstration of commitment to patient safety. Leaders will also empower staff by providing them with autonomy, resources, and opportunities for professional development. Organizational Resources and Budget: Financial Budget:
  • Personnel: Allocate funding for training and education for staff involved in medication administration and reconciliation.
  • Technology: Invest in software updates and hardware upgrades to enhance EHR functionalities related to medication management.
  • Supplies: Provide necessary resources such as medication safety checklists, medication error reporting forms, and barcode scanners.
Organizational Resources:
  • Leadership support: Commitment from senior leadership is crucial for successful implementation and sustainability of the plan.
  • Time and space: Allocate dedicated time for interdisciplinary team meetings, training sessions, and data analysis.
  • Communication infrastructure: Ensure effective communication channels for disseminating information and facilitating collaboration.
Impacts of Inaction: Failure to address medication errors can lead to:
  • Increased patient morbidity and mortality: Medication errors can cause adverse reactions, prolong hospital stays, and even lead to death.
  • Decreased patient satisfaction and trust: Patients may lose confidence in the quality of care they receive.
  • Financial losses for the organization: Medication errors can lead to increased healthcare costs due to additional treatment needs and potential legal issues.
  • Decreased staff morale and retention: Staff may experience burnout and frustration if they feel unprepared to handle medication safety challenges.
Conclusion: Implementing this interdisciplinary plan can significantly improve medication safety in the ED and contribute to improved patient outcomes, enhanced organizational performance, and a safer working environment for staff. The plan emphasizes the importance of collaboration, change management, and leadership strategies in achieving the desired goals. By addressing medication errors proactively, the ED can ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care and contribute to a safer healthcare environment for all.  

Sample Answer

   

Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal: Addressing Medication Errors in the Emergency Department

Introduction:

Medication errors are a significant concern in healthcare, with the emergency department (ED) being particularly susceptible due to its fast-paced and complex environment. In my interview with [insert interviewee name and title], [he/she] highlighted medication errors as a key issue facing the ED, with potential consequences for patient safety and organizational outcomes. This plan proposes an interdisciplinary intervention to address this issue by improving medication safety practices in the ED.