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SWOT analysis on medical error

Over the past few decades the healthcare system has remarkably improved especially with incorporation of technology and scientific innovations into modern medicine. However despite the significant changes into the system, medical errors is still a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality. Foreseeable harm to patients can be corrected by gaining knowledge and understanding on the past errors. For every healthcare facility patient safety is very important in improving the quality of care delivered and patient satisfaction (Misbah & Mahboob, 2017). Patient satisfaction creates a competitive advantage for the organization. That is why it is important for hospitals to conduct a SWOT analysis to determine where they stand in this issue. This analysis helps to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the facility.

Strengths refers to the factors that are within the organization that are important for its success. It helps the facility achieve a competitive advantage. One of the strengths of the hospital is the good reputation (Dent, 2015). In the region, the facility is known for delivering high quality care to the patients. Apart from that it also has a strong leadership and management. The facility has competent staff, their nurses are highly qualified and well versed with delivery of quality care. The human resources are important assets that gives the organization competitive advantage. Apart from that the facility also uses high technology in delivery of care.it uses telehealth to offer services to patients at home, additionally most of their documentations are done in the computer. The use of technology increases efficiency and minimizes workload.

Weaknesses refers to those factors that prevents the success of an organization. One of the weakness in the facility was poor internal communication (Dent, 2015). For every healthcare system to succeed communication between the health care providers and patients is very important. Poor communication jeopardizes patient’s safety and increases incidences of medical errors. If not addressed, this weakness can derail the quality improvement project.

Unlike strengths, Opportunities are external factors that are essential in achieving the goals of the quality improvement project. Some of the opportunities include, one collaboration with other external agencies to reduce medical errors (Dent, 2015). The facility can collaborate with pharmacies to ensure that their staff are well informed of new medications in the market. Apart from that the external agencies can help organization in educating their staff on how to use surgical equipment’s and prevent medical errors. This ensures that there is continuous update of knowledge which makes the nurses stay competent throughout practice. Apart from that committees that specifically targets medical error prevention can be developed. These committees receive reports on medical errors which can be used in making changes to the issue. Another important opportunity is innovation and utilization of new practices and services. Evidence based practice for instance reduces the incidences of medical errors since decisions are made based on clinical evidences. The advancement of technology helps reduce the incidence of medical errors.

Finally threats refers to external factors that affects the success of any quality improvement project. In this case some of the threats are; the high rates of nursing shortage and turnover (Michel, n.d.). When there is high patient to nurse ration, it increases workload, workplace stress thus increase the chances of medical error. Another threat is failure of staff to comply with medical error prevention measures. It is the responsibility of the nurses to report any incidence of medical error, however if they are not willing to cooperate many incidences will go unnoticed. It therefore becomes difficult for the management to find the most effective solution for the issue.

In conclusion SWOT analysis helps the organization understand their stand or position in an attempt to solve the issue. It acts as a basis for finding a solution to the problem. This information helps the management to strategically plan and prevent occurrence of future medical errors.

References

Dent, E. (2015). Improving Patient Safety: Reducing Medication Errors in the Microsystem. USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/119/.

Michel, P. Strengths and weaknesses of available methods for assessing the nature and scale of harm caused by the health system: literature review. Who.int. https://www.who.int/patientsafety/research/P_Michel_Report_Final_version.pdf.

Misbah, S., & Mahboob, U. (2017). Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis of integrating the World Health Organization patient safety curriculum into undergraduate medical education in Pakistan: a qualitative case study. Journal Of Educational Evaluation For Health Professions, 14, 35. https://doi.org/10.3352/jeehp.2017.14.35