Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Optimal Health Outcomes For People With Asthma- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theOptimal Health Outcomes For People With Asthma. Answer: Given the challenges that most asthma patients as well as medical practitioners face in their bid to manage the condition, it is imperative that a correct diagnosis be established prior to administration of care or treatment to the patient. As studies reveal, correct diagnosis is critical in assessing poor symptom control and as such, physicians would be inclined to undertake comprehensive history of the patient, physical examination and lung function measurement when necessitated. In this light, it is advocated that barriers that contribute to sub-optimal asthma control should be identified and eradicated (Barton et al, 2009, p. 103). Some of these factors include; smoking, poor inhaler technique and disregarding patients views (Dima, Bruin Ganse, 2016, p. 867). Hence, it is suggested that clinical trials should be administered among diverse patient populations so as to determine a wide range of these barriers and distinguish effective ways in which they can be controlled. To successfully improve the well-being asthma patients, primary care and specialist care have been supplemented with non-clinical interventions that are specifically tailored to suit the needs of the patient. Such interventions may include; environmental assessments where the patient is residing, in-depth education of asthma inclusive of the preventive measures that may be initiated by the individual, and mitigation of the risks or rather exposure of the individual to factors that may trigger asthma. Evidence reveals that such strategies have been found to be essential in decreasing urgent medical encounters as well as improving the quality of life of the patient in a process that facilitates speedy recoveries (Hoppin, Jacob Stillman, 2010, p. 2). An integrated information system for patient centered monitoring of asthma patients has also been advocated for as an appropriate measure for providing care to asthma patients. Ideally, the implementation of automated systems in healthcare settings has proved to be pivotal in hastening the provision of care by reducing the time that patients get access to physicians. On the same note, such systems have also been effective in reducing the work load for medical practitioners as well as promoting patient safety by reducing errors in the provision of care (Cano et al, 2009, p. 373). In this light, research has revealed that by implementing a model information system that is capable of integrating patient health information for asthma patients, medical practitioners will realize an improved level of connectivity for health information that specifically supports the care of patients with persistent asthma (Adams, et al, 2003, p. 2). Finally, the Asthma Model of Care developed in Western Australia provides a number of best practices that can be instituted among patients suffering from asthma. The model basically focuses on optimal pathways of care and the management of long-term conditions in a way that enhances self-management as well as disease and case management. In this light, the model proposes a number of practices including; reducing asthma related risks, early or prompt diagnosis, asthma self-management, assessment of severity of asthma, management of transition care, and asthma education (Department of Health, 2012). In this plan, it has been articulated that physicians ought to implement these plans in an attempt to help prevent or rather mitigate the prevalence of asthma as a chronic condition that affects all patient populations regardless of their age. Policy and Relevant Information Ideally, people suffering from asthma incur huge medical costs in their attempts to treat the condition. Furthermore, they lack sufficient education as evidenced by their inability to access comprehensive asthma education especially in during the home environmental interventions. Also, services being accorded to asthma patients are not adequately paid for by insurance companies thereby making it even the more expensive to treat the condition (Hoppin, Jacob Stillman, 2010, p. 2). Thus by providing access to education where patients become well acquainted with the risk factors and the measures that they may take to help prevent the condition from escalating or rather, to facilitate recovery, becomes critical in the provision of care for asthma patients. Physicians in their practice have also been cautioned on the need to conduct comprehensive patient assessments so as to be able to understand the exact symptoms of asthma and subsequently prevent poor controls of asthma (Hoecke Cauwenberge, 2007, p. 706). In such cases, a simple question regarding the medical history of the patient has been found to be effective in achieve such objectives. Moreover, physicians have also been inclined to respect patient autonomy thereby taking their time to appreciate individual patient views relating to their health (Haughney et al, 2008, p. 1682). Hence, discussions between medical practitioners and patients have been guided under such facets thereby ensuring that patient receives care that is well suited to their needs. In various medical organizations, technology has been incorporated for the better management of health for patients. For asthma patients in particular, an integrated information system comprising of three main components has been implemented to improve the monitoring of patients with asthma. The technology comprising of patient centred telephone linked communication system and an internet-based alert that facilitates reporting and nurse case management system has proven to be efficient in supporting customized monitoring of patients while at the same time transferring critical data that facilitates timely provision of care to patients (Adams et al, 2003, p. 1). Thus, the inclusion of technology in medical practice has proven to be critical in the management and provision of care to asthma patients. Additionally, given the financial challenges faced in health care as well as the economy in terms of the costs incurred in treating asthma, it has become essential for medical practitioners and patients alike to develop strategies under the model that are specifically suited in controlling the health, social and economic burden that is presented by this condition (Watson, Turk Rabe, 2007, p. 1885). Thus it has become essential to develop coordinated plan that addresses smoking especially among aboriginal communities since they comprise the target population that is deemed to be at the most risk. Asthma action plans for children and adolescents should also be implemented and distributed across different regions (Mogasale Vos, 2013, p. 206). Early diagnosis should also be facilitated through identification and training of spirometry providers who are caters for patients with respiratory conditions (Department of Health, 2012). Management of asthma should also be centered on access to integrated and coordinated services with more emphasis being placed on consumer education. Similarly, workforce education should be provided to medical practitioners at all levels of the organization (Rhonda et al, 2012). An Appropriate Person Centred Plan of Care A comprehensive asthma management program should ideally look to incorporate in-home environmental interventions as well as invest in asthma education for the patients. Most of the patients suffering from asthma are not well aware of the risk factors that could trigger an attack. Furthermore, the care that they receive in other environments should ideally be insufficient to cater for the needs of the patient (Jones, 1999, p. 16). For instance, in the case of Jean, she continues to smoke while ignoring the risk that this behavior has on her health. Her dietary habits are also not healthy as it should be. These factors indicate that Jean could be ignorant of her well-being. Hence, instigating a care plan that incorporates interventions in the environment of the patient would ideally be critical in revealing such aspects of Jeans life thereby necessitating prompt actions to mitigate them (Kuipers et al, 2017, p. 889). Furthermore, Jean could further be educated on the important measures that she needs to undertake in order to facilitate quick recovery. In such a case therefore, the program would be successful in ensuring that the unhealthy habits such as poor dietary habits and smoking are eliminated in the life of Jean thereby facilitating quick and full recovery of the patient (Smiley, 2011). Even so, smoking has been touted as one of the leading causes of poor management of asthma, and as such, education could help Jean keep abreast with such facts thereby deterring her from smoking and further exacerbating her condition. In the provision of care, it is also essential that the medical practitioners such as nurses guide their patient related discussions with an open mind that takes into account the patients perspective concerning the matter. In this light, it would be worthwhile for the practitioner to ensure that they have conducted a comprehensive test that would identify how exactly the condition impacts on the patient (Haughney et al, 2008, p. 1682). In relation to Jean, she detests hospitals primarily because she is not listened to and there has been an ongoing lack of privacy. At this thought, she becomes deterred from seeking medical assistance a factor which contributes to her health deteriorating even further. It therefore becomes apparent that physicians in this medical facility exhibit ignorance to patient autonomy and they seem utterly oblivious of how their neglect and ignorance impacts negatively on the well-being of their patients. To rectify this malpractice, it is imperative that the medical practitioners to return to the basics of history taking and consider that the possible ramifications that may occur as a result of their behavior (Smiley, 2011). As such, the care plan should look to ensure that the medical practitioners take into account the input being given by Jean, the patient in this case, if the care plan is to be effective in achieving better health outcomes for the patient. The inclusion of technologically based medical systems could prove to be pivotal in the provision of care for patients. As evidence reveal, technology has facilitated timely and accurate delivery of data in various decision making points within a healthcare organization thereby promoting better patient outcomes and ultimate delivery of quality care (Adams et al, 2003, p. 2). Hence, the inclusion of information based system that maintains communication between the physician and the patient could enhance patient monitoring thereby improving on the quality of care. In Jeans case for example, there is need to maintain constant communication between the nurse and the patient (Cano et al, 2016, p. 373). This is mainly because Jean is finding it difficult to keep track of her medication and the care plan thereby failing to adhere to the stipulated care plan. Notably, a patient centred telephone-linked communication can enable sufficient communication between Jean and her nurses when she is at her home. In this case, the nurse and the patient can communicate frequently in the process reminding the patient of the care plan. As such, this process enhances the monitoring of the patient and ensuring that the care plan is effective (Rhonda et al, 2012). In addition, this patient monitoring can enable the medical practitioner to distinguish the care plans that are proving to be fruitful and those that provide minimal or no benefits to the patient (Turner, 2016, p. 33). Consequently, necessary changes can be made in a bid to improve the care being provided. It is also In addition, management of asthma plan should incorporate smoking cessation program especially among high risk patient populations such as pregnant women, people with mental health issues and among economically disadvantaged communities (Turner, 2016, p. 34). Similarly, Jean is at high risk of asthma considering the number cigarettes she smokes in a given day. Thus, such a program could be pivotal in guaranteeing Jean a smooth road towards recovery. Implementation of the Plan of Care Given the prevalence of asthma among children across the globe, the implemented plan should coincide with the services and the available health professionals found in Sydney Childrens Hospital Network. With a strong and committed workforce coupled with the fact that the institution is also research based, it is highly likely that the development and implementation of the technologically based communication system will be achievable. The high quality health services accorded to children should therefore make an inclusion of support to communication technology that should incorporate telehealth for the benefit of the patient (SHCN, 2018). Notably, this incentive will enhance the monitoring of children diagnosed with Asthma. In addition, this offers a new level of connectivity of health information that supports monitoring. Also, the system will ensure that the parents or caretakers of these patients have easy access to and control of health care information which may comprise of elect ronic health records (Turner, 2016, p. 33). Hence, this would guarantee that the patients have been accorded the best possible care. References Adams et al., 2003. TLC-Asthma: An Integrated Information System for Patient-Centered Monitoring, Case Management, and Point-of-Care Decision Support. Annual Symposium Proceedings Archive, 2003, pp. 1-5. Barton et al., 2009. Management of Asthma in Australian General Practice: Care is still not in Line with Clinical Practice Guidelines. Primary Care Respiratory Journal, 18, 100-105. Cano et al., 2016. Application of Telemedicine for the Optimal Control of Asthma Patients. Journal of Pulmonary Respiratory Medicine, 6(5), pp. 372-377. Department of Health, Western Australia, 2012. Asthma Model of Care. Available at: https://www.healthnetworks.health.wa.gov.au/modelsofcare/docs/Asthma_Model_of_Care.pdf. Dima, A. L., Bruin, M., Ganse, E. V., 2016. Mapping the Asthma Care Process: Implications for Research and Practice. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 4(5), pp. 868-876. Haughney, et al., 2008. Achieving Asthma Control in Practice: Understanding the Reasons for Poor Control. Respiratory Medicine, 102(12), pp. 1681-1693. Hoecke, H. V., Cauwenberge, P. V., 2007. Critical Look at the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Allergic Rhinitis. Respiratory Medicine, 101(4), pp. 706-714. Hoppin, P., Jacobs, M., Stillman, L., 2010. Investing in Best Practices for Asthma: A Business Case. Available at: https://kresge.org/sites/default/files/Investing%20in%20Best%20Practices%20fo%20Asthma-A%20Business%20Case%20%20August%202010%20Update.pdf Jones, C. A., 1999. Best Practices for Pediatric Asthma: Improved Clinical Management for the Inner-City Patient. Journal of the National Medical Association, 91(8), pp. 16-25. Kuipers et al., 2017. Self-Management Research of Asthma and Good Drug Use (SMARAGD Study): A Pilot Trial. International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy, 39(4), 888-896. Mogasale, V., Vos, T., 2013. Cost-Effectiveness of Asthma Clinic Approach in the Management of Chronic Asthma in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(3), pp. 205-300. Rhonda et al, 2012. Asthma Management: Implementation of Short-Acting Beta Agonist Guidelines in Western Australia: A Unique Collaboration. The Australian Journal of Pharmacy, 93(1104). Smiley, E. 2011. Determining Evidence Based Practices in Asthma Management. Available at: https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1051context=mph. The Sydney Childrens Hospitals Network (SCHN), 2018. Information for Professionals. Available at: https://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/professionals. Turner, S. 2016. Predicting and Reducing Risk of Exacerbations in Children with Asthma in the Primary Care Setting: Current Perspectives. Pragmatic and Observational Research, 7, pp. 33-39. Watson, L., Turk, F., Rabe, K. F. (2007). Burden of Asthma in the Hospital Setting: An Australian Analysis. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 61(11), 1884-1888.

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