Faith Community Hospital Evaluation (Let It Pour Case Study)

Faith Community Hospital Evaluation

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Holly May

May 23, 2005

Barry Haigh

Faith Community Hospital Evaluation

Executive Summary

Chris Smith, Executive Assistant, of the Faith Community Hospital provides a situational overview, current problems, and recommendations to the CEO of the hospital for an informative all-member staff meeting. This report spells out the observations, findings, and recommendations.

The Hippocratic OathÐ'--Modern Version (Louis Lasagna, 1964)

I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

I will not be ashamed to say "I know not," nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is give to me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must no play at God.

I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

Faith Community Hospital's Mission Statement

"With the foundation and commitment of our spiritual heritage and values, our mission is to promote the health and well-being of the people in the communities we serve through a comprehensive continuum of services provided in collaboration with the partners who share the same vision and values." (Case study, p. 2).

Mission Community Hospital's Overview

The foundation of the Faith Community Hospital, the staff and its care is the mission statement, along with the Hippocratic Oath. The hospital is a non-profit organization that serves a wide range of people from all spectrums of the rainbow. The community in which it serves share different beliefs, ethics, and religions. It is in the best interest of hospital to provide services to everyone one within the community. Along with the wide range of people that Faith Community Hospital serve, the Board of Directors of the Faith Foundation is also a diverse group of individuals. Many of the stakeholders have varying interpretations of the mission statement. However, every interpretation of the mission statement contains one common element; to support the purpose, values, and survival of the Faith Community Hospital.

Faith Community Hospital's Current Issues

Many of the patients that Faith Community Hospital provides services for do not have insurance. Some patients refuse to take certain medical services because of personal morals and religious beliefs. As well, there are staff members who refuse to provide certain medical services for the sake of their morals and religious beliefs. In many case staff members must their own judgments when drawing the line between religion, ethics, laws, and oaths. As in a recent case in the Neo-Natal ward where Child Protective Services is in the process of taking custody of a baby and file charges for the alleged lack of services the hospital provided. Even though the services that the hospital provided were in agreement with the parent's wishes, Faith Community Hospital is under scrutiny. Another example is was when caring staff members are driven by their desire to "do whatever it takes" and do not follow Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders. However, there was an instance last week in which three Intensive Care Unit (ICU) staff members initiated DNR directives, when if fact, there were no written orders. In all cases, the families' agreed.

It was also brought to the attention of Faith Community Hospital that one of the hospital pharmacists is filling prescriptions for uninsured patients and two of the counselors are providing services for free. Because of these heart-felt people and the decrease in patient population, the Faith Community Hospital is undergoing some financial setbacks.

Recommendations

A set of standard operating procedures (SOP) need to be written and implemented in each department, ICU, Neo-Natal Ward, etc. It is understandable that each case is unique and individual, however, in the case of DNR directives it will be stated in the SOP that staff member will adhere to only written DNR directives; Verbal orders are not valid. Furthermore, services to which are in the best interest of the patient should be the top priority. Only after exhausting those options, should one consider the parent's wishes. Again, it is dependent

on a case-by-case basis. Implementing an SOP will avoid any uncertainties of what and how something should happen. The staff can only recommend and provide the best services. If a patient refuses, it is on the will and conscience of the patients.

According to the accounting department, the Faith Mission Hospital is charging $240.00 per day per patient. The price has risen from a year ago, which was $217.00 per patient per day. Because of the 7% decrease of patients,