Assignment 04: Patient care partnership | HA3300D-Healthcare Policy and Ethics | National American University
- This scenario would be governed by the principles of beneficence and autonomy. The hospital must prioritize patient needs and provide the highest level of quality care to combat the problem of low customer satisfaction. The hospital also should not cause harm to patients, and give them accurate and comprehensive information on their health and available treatment options. Moreover, the hospital should respect the patient’s right to be informed and make decisions about their care. Immanuel kant, a philosopher who stressed that treating patients as ends rather than means is important, as well as John Rawls who thought that the social justice principle should govern healthcare decisions, are two ethical theorists who can help guide such a scenario.
- Several parts of the AHA’s Patient Care Partnership document would apply to this scenario. For example, the hospital should provide clear and understandable information about the patient’s health status, treatment options, and the expected outcome of treatment. The right of the patient to make an informed choice and participate in decisions about their health care is also recognized. In addition, hospital staff should make sure that the patients get timely and appropriate pain treatment and their confidentiality is maintained. As the document states, “The Patient Care Partnership is our commitment to respect the individual needs and values of each patient we serve.”
- ACHE Code of Ethics provides guidelines for addressing low scores on patient satisfaction. The hospital must prioritize patient needs, be honest and act with integrity. All actions should also reflect the professional values. The hospital must also create an environment that fosters mutual respect and cooperation amongst the staff, their patients, and families. As the code states, “Healthcare executives must be committed to the highest ethical standards and hold themselves accountable for their actions.”
- The hospital’s focus should be on improving patient and family education and communication in order to submit an action plan.