BUSI 646
Managing Human Capital in Healthcare
Dr. Colleen McLaughlin
1/23/23
Joshua-Paul Johnian Sr.
Discussion Reply: HR Issues - Molly
Introduction
Molly, thank you for your submission on the challenges represented in medical errors and how
this unfortunate risk within healthcare also becomes a human resources concern since training
and updated processes can be effective first steps in minimizing such negative aspects within
healthcare. I also appreciated your explanation of the various aspects of medical errors, from
surgical errors to errors in coding or billing. Furthermore, your research touched on some
possible reasons such errors occur. In my reply, I will provide additional research that expands
the topic and Biblical applications for consideration.
The Fight Against Medical Errors
While medical errors represent an unfortunate part of healthcare, the means and methods
by which human resources departments mitigate such errors have advanced considerably.
Through legislative changes and technological advancements, today’s healthcare professionals
utilize many advanced techniques to address and proactively prevent medical errors. Since the
healthcare industry is historically reactive, emerging human resources specialists are advocating
for proactive approaches that avoid future medical errors, improve transparency, mitigate
malpractice risk, and emphasize quality peer-to-peer review systems (Miller et al., 2020). Since
medical errors will continue, many healthcare HR departments encourage transparency and
disclosure as powerful tools to address the error with a resolution-based solution that includes
compensation and or financial restitution for the error combined with a system-based peer-to-
peer review system that can, in real-time, address the root cause of the error.
Beyond the broad themes of transparency and peer-to-peer research, human resources
departments have synthesized a step-by-step approach to limit and proactively guard any
healthcare institution against harmful medical errors. Some of these processes include ancillary
support processes, the application of patient feedback, the use of obligatory provider feedback,
and public reporting. Unfortunately, even new approaches that address medical errors are
challenged by the vast diversity of actions that fall under medical errors since medical errors can
range from medical malpractice to negligence and even defensive medical practices. The results
of so many potential pitfalls have left physicians and healthcare operations accustomed to
operating with vague guidelines that can result in errors in planning or execution (Miziara et al.,
2022). However, while errors are unavoidable, Scripture provides an excellent perspective on
errors, grace, and appropriate responses. In Proverbs 28:13, Solomon writes, “He who covers his
sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (NKJV) The
wisdom of Solomon represents the need for transparency despite the modern mindset that
assumes victims of medical errors are only interested in financial restitution. While medical
errors will require some financial wholeness to accommodate a loss or injury, most victims of
medical errors often need to see accountability for wrong actions, and one must wonder how our
justice system would respond to the Biblical concepts in Proverbs today and how mercy could
off-set fears associated with medical error?
Fixing Medical Errors
While patients and providers never want to enter a medical relationship in fear of errors,
the uncertainty and complexity of medicine are incapable of planning against every possible
error and outcome. Often, any medical error quickly turns to a blaming process ranging from the
physicians to the equipment or the provider. Unfortunately, significant medical errors stem from
the lack of experience or training followed by guilt and shame that encourages obfuscation of the
facts, further limiting the opportunities to learn from errors. However, the first step in fixing
medical errors begins with a system-wide approach that advocates for learning environments that
provide detailed steps and explanations that provide perspective to context and encourage a
culture of teaching, learning, and understanding (Shepherd et al., 2019). In a practical application
of this process, HR departments encourage the powerful practice of documentation. McConnell
(2021) writes, “without supporting documentation or similar past difficulties, those past
problems simply do not exist” (McConnell p. 253, 2021). The detailed documentation of actions,
responses to actions, and the results of any patient and provider interactions provide a recorded
accounting that can validate, expose and provide essential context to medical practices and
errors.
Furthermore, documentation provides the script for learning and developing better
approaches to care that can prevent future errors while empowering medical providers to excel in
their patient care practices. In Proverbs 4:13, Solomon writes, “Take firm hold of instruction, do
not let go; Keep her, for she is your life.” (NKJV) Solomon’s instruction clearly states that
having a firm grasp on the teachings of wisdom will lead to God’s promise of wisdom that will
not be hindered (Wiersbe, 1993). In today’s industry marketplace, ideas and people, transparent
processes rooted in learning, wisdom, and truthfulness will always have a more significant
impact than a professional culture based on deceit, shame, or ignorance. Suppose human
resources departments and executive leadership can model a culture of transparency, learning,
and accountability. In that case, medical errors will be significantly reduced while providers and
patients enter a new and stronger healthcare relationship.
Thank you for your submission.
References
McConnell, C. (2021). Human Resources Management in Healthcare: Principles in Practice.
Burlington: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Miller, J., Vitous, C. A., Boothman, R. C., & Dossett, L. A. (2020). Medical error professionals'
perspectives on inter-system medical error discovery (IMED): Consensus, divergence, and
uncertainty. Medicine, 99(31), e21425-e21425. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000021425
Miziara, I. D., & Miziara, Carmen Silvia Molleis Galego. (2022). Medical errors, medical
negligence, and defensive medicine: A narrative review. Clinics (São Paulo, Brazil), 77, 100053-
100053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100053
Shepherd, L., LaDonna, K. A., Cristancho, S. M., & Chahine, S. (2019). How medical error
shapes physicians’ perceptions of learning: An exploratory study. Academic Medicine, 94(8),
1157–1163. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000002752
The New King James Version (Pr 4:13). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
The New King James Version (Pr 28:13). (1982). Thomas Nelson.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (Pr 4). Victor
Books.
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