BHA FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

• BHA FPX 4000 Assessment 3 Applying Ethical Principles

Applying Ethical Principles

Ethical decision-making is a cornerstone of daily practice for healthcare professionals. They regularly face situations requiring them to act based on moral principles to make appropriate decisions. To guide these choices, professionals rely on the four fundamental principles of healthcare ethics: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. These principles create a solid foundation for navigating complex situations and making decisions that uphold both ethical and professional standards.

Review of the Case Study

This case study centres around Matt Losinski, the CEO of County General Hospital (CGH), a 300-bed nonprofit acute care facility. After reading a research article highlighting repeated emergency department admissions, Matt becomes concerned that his hospital might face a similar issue. The article revealed that nine Texas community members accounted for 2,678 emergency visits over six years, costing $2.7 million in resources (Capella, 2018).

Matt shared the article with his chief financial officer, Mary Scott, for her input. Mary explained that Medicaid reimbursed 75% of the associated costs, while private insurance and self-pay patients covered the remaining 25%. While Mary appeared less concerned due to this reimbursement, Matt persisted, assigning his administrative assistant, Aniysha Patel, to gather specific data on CGH’s emergency department readmissions.

The findings revealed that repeated admissions cost the facility $200,000 annually in unreimbursed expenses (Capella, 2018). Matt brought this data to the senior management team, sparking mixed reactions, ranging from indifference to concern. Despite this, no concrete solutions were presented, leaving Matt to continue advocating for change in the facility’s approach to emergency department utilization.

Explore BHA FPX 4000 Assessment 2 Applying Research Skills for more information.

Analyzing Ethical Issues in the Case Study

Identifying the Ethical Issues

The primary ethical issue in this case is the overuse of CGH’s emergency department by a small group of patients, resulting in $200,000 of unreimbursed costs annually. Matt’s concern stems from the belief that these funds could be better utilized to enhance community health initiatives, which might help reduce readmissions. Beyond the financial implications, repeated admissions contribute to overcrowding, longer wait times, and compromised emergency care (Lou et al., 2021).

Analyzing the Case Study Using the Ethical Decision-Making Model

The Ethical Decision-Making Model

The ethical decision-making model consists of three components: moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behaviour.

1. Moral Awareness: Recognizing an ethical issue and understanding its potential impact on others.
   • Matt became aware of the issue in the case study after reading the research article and recognizing similar patterns at CGH.
2. Moral Judgment: Evaluating the situation and making a decision based on ethical principles, despite potential challenges such as organizational pressures.
   • Matt displayed moral judgment by assigning his assistant to gather data and analyze the impact of repeated admissions on CGH’s resources.
3. Ethical Behavior: Taking action to address the moral dilemma in a way that aligns with ethical standards.
   • Matt demonstrated ethical behaviour by presenting his findings to the senior management team and advocating for solutions to the problem.

By employing this model and applying the four ethical principles, Matt can effectively address the overuse of emergency department resources.

Effectiveness of Communication within the Case Study

Effective communication is essential for any hospital leader, ensuring that concerns and ideas are conveyed and understood. In this case, Matt demonstrated active listening by considering Mary’s input, even though it differed from his perspective. His communication approach was proactive, as he tasked Aniysha with collecting data to support his concerns. Matt then used the data to initiate open dialogue with the senior management team, inviting diverse opinions.

Effectiveness of Approach within the Case Study

Matt’s approach to addressing this ethical issue was systematic and well-organized. He validated his concerns by gathering relevant data and presenting it effectively to his team. This methodical approach allowed him to highlight repeated admissions’ financial and operational impact while encouraging collaborative problem-solving among the leadership team.

Applying Ethical Principles to Resolve the Ethical Dilemma

To resolve the ethical dilemma, Matt can apply the four healthcare ethics principles:

1. Autonomy: Respecting patients’ rights to access emergency care under EMTALA while encouraging them to engage in preventive healthcare.
2. Beneficence: Promoting patient well-being through education and follow-up care to reduce unnecessary emergency visits.
3. Non-Maleficence: Avoiding harm by ensuring emergency department resources are not overwhelmed, which could compromise care quality.
4. Justice: Allocating resources fairly and addressing the needs of frequent visitors without neglecting other patients.

Proposed solutions include providing consistent medical and social support services, educating patients at discharge, and implementing follow-up calls to guide patients in managing their conditions effectively (Lou et al., 2021). These interventions could reduce repeat admissions, improve patient outcomes, and enhance overall satisfaction.

Conclusion

The BHA FPX 4000 Assessment 3 highlights the importance of ethical decision-making in healthcare. CGH’s leadership team can effectively address repeated emergency department admissions by applying autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Reducing these admissions would free up valuable resources, allowing Matt to reinvest in community health initiatives. Through collaboration and a commitment to ethical principles, CGH can improve patient care while achieving financial sustainability.

References 

Capella University. (2018). NHS-FP4000 exemplar sample ethical case study. Capella Website: https://media.capella.edu/CourseMedia/nhs4000element18655/wrapper.asp?sso=true

Lou, X., & Xu, H. (2021). The effectiveness of an emergency department nursing intervention on psychological symptoms and self-care capacities: A randomized controlled study protocol. Medicine, 100(21), e24763.
https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000024763