sections 1-2; sections 3-6

Section 1: Summary of the Issue

The strategic plan issue that the Saint Barnabas Medical Center wants to implement is clinical excellence and effectiveness program through evidence-based care delivery protocols that is contributed by challenges such as limited organizational resources and lack of training and education. The mission statement of Saint Barnabas Medical Center: promote the health and well-being in our community through compassionate nursing care and innovation. The vision is to empower ourselves as well as others in order to maintain optimum health.

Background:

The background that has led to this program at the clinical setting is lack of collaboration and coordination among the physicians and nurses at the institution. Over time the medical facility experienced poor patient outcomes especially when the number of patients with cancer and chronic diseases spurred. There is need for patient safety in the surgical rooms and operations that are related to chronic diseases have increased the need for a strategic plan at the organization to improve quality care. The physicians are challenged on a daily basis about decision making practices that directly involve the patients. The facility saw the need to integrate evidence based practice which involves best external evidence, clinical expertise from individual practitioners and patient preferences and values. The main challenge that prompted the implementation of the program at Saint Barnabas Medical Center is limited resources in terms of technology and lack of training of the medical professionals, (Bean, 2018). Data at the facility is not available because of technology services.

Literature:

Evidence–based practice is crucial in improving the overall quality of patient care, boosts nursing practices and increases confidence in decision making process. Nurses and physicians are placed in a clinical setting to enhance the quality of healthcare services that is based on knowledge and research. According to Alatawi, et.al, 2020, nurses that provide care using scientific evidence make better decisions that concern the delivery of services and care. The advantages of integration of EBP includes: “EBP ensures that health professionals are delivering patient care that is innovative and, thus, guaranteeing better outcomes for patients. Evidence-based practice also contributes to the science of nursing and increases the confidence in decision-making, resulting in ideal outcomes. Finally, EBP maintains certain health practices relevant and current,” (Alatawi, et.al, 2020). Lack of nurse knowledge about EBP and lack of resources to support research and knowledge which is crucial in patient care is some of the barriers that inhibit the implementation of evidence-based practice in nursing profession.

Groups that addressed the issue in the past:

The flagship hospital of West Orange integrated evidence-based practice after they had realized that the inefficacy is as a result of poor quality care, (Bean, 2018). In 2017, the hospital controlled infections using EBP by ensuring that the healthcare environment is clean and hygiene is enhanced by healthcare professionals in the surgery and emergency rooms. The patients with COPD benefitted from the integration of EBP to give oxygen. The implementation of the program in the facility helped boost so many activities and clinical practices which have improved the quality of care and decision making processes.

Stakeholders: The stakeholders that should be included in the planning process of the strategic issues include patients, research institutions, clinician professionals, healthcare providers, patient advocacy organizations, caregivers, and board members of the medical center.

Section 2: Swot Analysis

Saint Barnabas Medical Center is an accredited acute care hospital that offers a comprehensive array of services including cancer care, neurosurgical services and cardiac care. The hospital is committed to provision of quality and excellent patient care and promotes patient safety and to achieve this, the organization wants to increase its scope through strategic planning of integrating evidence based practice through the clinical excellence and effectiveness program. A SWOT analysis will help understand the performance of the organization in the health industry and how the program will improve its practices.

Organizational strengths: The organization has a robust medical library that can help facilitate evidence-based practice and research among the healthcare professionals. The workgroups at the organization can increase quality of patient care and outcomes by utilizing the organization. This is a major strength at the organization because the facility exists and opens an opportunity for the hospital to increase the medical resources for the healthcare professionals. Another organizational strength is that there is increased collaboration among the teams that work together to provide patient care. The nurses, physicians and caregivers coordinate with one another so as to avoid medical errors and poor outcomes or decisions that can compromise patient safety.

Organizational weaknesses: Lack of support and supervision from healthcare administrators in regard to programs that can help improve patient outcomes. The lack of authority to change practices that are not supporting the health care system in an organization can lead to poor skills and knowledge about research which is a crucial tool in patient care. Another weakness is limited organizational resources which makes the healthcare professionals to lack the opportunity to integrate knowledge from past nursing practices and also improve decision making processes. These organizational barriers impede the implementation of programs such as EBP.

Market Opportunities: The opportunities that the clinic has are to provide access affordable health care to communities. Nurses and healthcare professionals at the organization have an opportunity to learn the new skills, knowledge and expertise that is connected to EBP and research practices through training and education, (Black, et.al, 2015).

Environmental Threats: The environmental threats that the organization faces include; competitors are expanding their services through acquisition which increases revenues in the industry. These organizations provide superior services and products to patients across New Jersey hence making it a threat for Saint Barnabas Medical Center, (Inc. Fact, 2020). Another environmental threat is the rise of cancer and chronic diseases cases in the U.S which can cause high mortality rates because they have limited resources that can help increase diagnosis and treatment plans for patients. The competitors have advanced technology and EBP programs that pose a threat to the survival of the organization.

The threats may also pose opportunities for Saint Barnabas Medical Center because they can provide products or services that are also superior to their competitors. The hospital has an opportunity to provide quality care and also increase revenues. The rise of cancer and chronic disease patients is an opportunity for the hospital to implement the EBP program and resources so as to reduce the mortality rates which will increase the popularity and efficiency of the health care professionals in the facility. An increase in the organizational resources means an increase in patient outcomes and patient in-take to be treated because the organization offers the best treatment services, (Alatawi, et.al, 2020). The weaknesses and threats that an organization may face should always be opportunities to improve on the healthcare practices and systems so as to achieve quality care.

References