HCA-460: Operations and risk management in health care course introduces learners to the roles of local, state, and federal regulatory agencies and accrediting bodies; the enforcement of federal guidelines, standards, and regulations; and therefore, the issues and demands of the regulatory environment that affect health care around the world. Students explore the liability of providers and agencies to supply a secure environment while delivering health care services. If you need any help with assignments given in this course, place your order right here.
Table of Contents
What is a risk?
A risk is anything that may lead to an unexpected outcome.
What is risk management?
Risk management is that the process of analyzing processes and practices that are in situ, identifying risk factors, and implementing procedures to handle those risks. In health care, risk management can mean the difference between life and death, which makes the risks significantly higher.
Who is a risk manager?
A healthcare risk manager should be an expert who continually assesses and minimizes various risks to staff, patients also the public in health care organizations. This individual should be able to identify and evaluate risks, which should then reduce the potential for injury to patients, staff members, and visitors. Moreover, this individual should also analyze the risk management strategies that are already in situ. A knowledgeable risk manager should analyze the chance management strategies applied to medical conditions. If these strategies result in dangerous side effects, those strategies should be altered.
Skills required to become an expert health care risk manager.
Problem-solving.
Since risk management could be a strategic business, you may have to be thorough and inventive in your approach.
Analytical skills.
The foundation of risk management is analyzing risks, calculating their potential effects, and balancing them against the hospital’s risk appetite.
Communication.
Risk management involves speaking communicating with different audiences since part of it’s ensuring everyone understands the many risks and also the company’s risk management strategy.
Business understanding.
A risk manager has got to understand how the organization works and all other internal and external factors that affect its performance so as to spot and estimate the risks of the organization.
Negotiation and diplomacy.
Part of risk management is convincing other individuals within your organization why you wish to make risk management policies.
Numeracy.
A risk manager should be comfortable with doing calculations since most risk analysis involves lots of numbers. For instance, costs estimated risks and probabilities.
Working under pressure.
A risk manager should be ready to update strategies just in case of an instant change of risks or if something unexpected happens.
What are the day-to-day activities of risk managers in health care?
The typical day-to-day activities of risk managers in health care involve:
- Managing legal and insurance claims against the organization.
- Communicating with internal and external legal counsel.
- Using software programs to run reports and analyze risk management data.
- Providing risk management training to key health care organization staff.
- Ensuring compliance with industry-standard risk management guidelines that are overseen by regulatory government agencies.
Common ways utilized by risk managers to manage risks.
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Preventing abuse by not filling expired prescriptions.
Sending patients adequate notification of prescription expiration will support communication between patients and physicians thus reducing potential prescription medication abuse.
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Following up on missing test results to increase consultations.
Patients who must take additional medical tests following appointments may fail to try to do so, or the test results might wander off. Developing a concept to watch receipt of test results guarantees the results are reviewed, so patients can then be consulted.
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Tracking missed appointments to manage risks.
Implementing a system to follow-up with patients who miss appointments but fail to reschedule is another proactive step in managing patient risks.
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Increasing communication with patients to cut back improper taking of medication.
Patients may have a limited understanding of data received from physicians. Having a technique that checks the patient’s comprehension of information reduces the likelihood that the patient will misinterpret a physician’s orders or will improperly take medication.
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Preventing falls and immobility.
Making minor modifications to things like bed rails, bathtubs, and toilets lacking grab bars, institutional lighting, and therefore the conditions of the ground can significantly reduce the risks of such hazards.
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Sufficient record retention.
Keeping patient records on file for an extended period of your time or indefinitely is helpful for monitoring patient health, even when patients don’t seem to be actively seeking care. Risk management protocol should even have plans in place for putting off records in accordance with federal mandates.
