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.

Assignment Question

an interprofessional team to collaborate and work toward driving improvements in the organizational issue you identified in the second assessment. Intro: 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. Competencies: 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.  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. 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. 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. 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.

Assignment Answer

Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Improving Patient Outcomes: A Plan Proposal

Introduction

The healthcare industry is a complex and dynamic environment, where the quest for improved patient outcomes and organizational excellence is a constant endeavor. Nurses, as a critical component of the healthcare workforce, have a significant role to play in achieving these goals. One effective way to encourage nurses’ active participation in larger organizational efforts is by fostering a shared vision and team goals (Mulvale, Embrett, & Shaghayegh, 2016). Interdisciplinary collaboration, involving healthcare professionals from various fields, can provide a powerful platform for nurses to leverage their expertise and leadership skills. This essay presents a plan proposal for an interdisciplinary team to address an organizational issue identified through a professional interview. The proposal includes an analysis of best practices in interprofessional collaboration, change theory, leadership strategies, and financial resources within the context of the identified issue.

Problem Identification

The healthcare organization under consideration for this plan proposal is a large urban hospital. During a recent professional interview conducted within the organization, a significant issue came to light. The issue pertains to the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the discharge process, particularly for patients with chronic conditions. Many patients with chronic illnesses, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), experience frequent readmissions shortly after being discharged. This phenomenon not only places additional strain on healthcare resources but also leads to suboptimal patient outcomes and increased healthcare costs.

Objective

The objective of the interdisciplinary intervention is to reduce the readmission rates of patients with chronic conditions within the hospital. Specifically, the aim is to achieve a 20% reduction in readmissions within the first year of implementing the intervention. This reduction in readmissions will indicate an improvement in patient outcomes, a decrease in healthcare costs, and better resource allocation within the organization.

Best Practices of Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Effective interdisciplinary collaboration is essential for the success of this intervention. To achieve this, the following best practices will be implemented:

1. Clear Communication: Establishing clear and open communication channels among team members is crucial. Regular meetings will be scheduled to discuss patient cases, share insights, and address any issues or concerns promptly.
2. Role Clarity: Each team member’s roles and responsibilities will be clearly defined to avoid duplication of efforts and ensure that every member contributes effectively to the intervention.
3. Mutual Respect: An atmosphere of mutual respect and trust will be cultivated among team members, recognizing the unique contributions and expertise of each discipline.
4. Shared Goals: The team will collectively set and work towards shared goals, emphasizing the importance of reducing readmissions and improving patient outcomes.
5. Interprofessional Education: Continuous education and training opportunities will be provided to enhance team members’ understanding of each other’s roles, fostering a culture of lifelong learning and collaboration.

Change Theory

To guide the interdisciplinary team through the process of change, the Prosci ADKAR model will be employed. This model focuses on the five key elements of successful change: Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement.

1. Awareness: The first step is to create awareness among team members about the need for change. This will involve sharing data on the high readmission rates among patients with chronic conditions and the associated negative consequences.
2. Desire: It is essential to build a strong desire for change within the team. This will be achieved by emphasizing the benefits of the intervention, such as improved patient outcomes, reduced workload, and enhanced job satisfaction.
3. Knowledge: Team members will be provided with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement the intervention effectively. This may involve training on evidence-based practices for managing chronic conditions and discharge planning.
4. Ability: Ensuring that team members have the ability to execute the intervention is critical. This may require ongoing support, mentoring, and access to resources, including technology and data analytics.
5. Reinforcement: To sustain the change, a system of reinforcement will be established. Regular feedback, data monitoring, and recognition of achievements will be used to reinforce the importance of the intervention.

Leadership Strategies

Effective leadership is pivotal to the success of the interdisciplinary team and the intervention. The transformational leadership style will be adopted, emphasizing the following strategies:

1. Inspirational Vision: The leader will articulate a compelling vision of reducing readmissions and improving patient outcomes, inspiring team members to commit to the cause.
2. Intellectual Stimulation: Critical thinking and innovation will be encouraged, fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to suggest and implement new ideas and approaches.
3. Individualized Support: The leader will provide individualized support and guidance to team members, recognizing their unique strengths and weaknesses.
4. Role Modeling: The leader will lead by example, demonstrating a strong commitment to the intervention’s goals and values.
5. Empowerment: Team members will be empowered to take ownership of their roles and responsibilities within the intervention, promoting a sense of ownership and accountability.

Organizational Resources and Budget

The successful implementation of the interdisciplinary intervention to reduce readmissions among patients with chronic conditions requires adequate organizational resources and financial support. A comprehensive budget has been developed to ensure that the necessary resources are allocated appropriately.

1. Personnel: The interdisciplinary team will consist of nurses, physicians, social workers, pharmacists, and care coordinators. Additional personnel may be required to support data analysis and technology implementation.
2. Training and Education: Funds will be allocated for training and education programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of team members.
3. Technology: Investment in healthcare technology, such as electronic health records (EHRs) and telehealth solutions, is essential to support data sharing, communication, and remote monitoring of patients.
4. Data Analytics: Resources will be allocated for data analytics tools to monitor patient outcomes, track readmission rates, and identify areas for improvement.
5. Quality Improvement Initiatives: Budgetary provisions will be made for quality improvement initiatives, including patient education materials, outreach programs, and follow-up care.
6. Evaluation and Assessment: Funds will be set aside for ongoing evaluation and assessment of the intervention’s effectiveness, including patient satisfaction surveys and clinical outcome measures.
7. Contingency Funds: A portion of the budget will be allocated as contingency funds to address unexpected challenges or additional resource requirements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this plan proposal outlines a comprehensive strategy for an interdisciplinary team to address the organizational issue of high readmission rates among patients with chronic conditions in a large urban hospital. The objective is to achieve a 20% reduction in readmissions within the first year of implementing the intervention. The proposal incorporates best practices of interdisciplinary collaboration, the Prosci ADKAR change theory, and transformational leadership strategies to guide the team through the process of change. Adequate organizational resources and a detailed budget have been presented to ensure the successful implementation of the intervention. While the plan proposal provides a roadmap for addressing the identified issue, it is essential to recognize that successful execution will require ongoing commitment, dedication, and adaptability from all team members involved in the interdisciplinary collaboration.

References

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. DOI: 10.1186/s12875-016-0492-1