Responsibility of the Healthcare Team
Problems with a hip can negatively affect the entire human body and make it challenging to perform the most straightforward activities because it is one of the largest joints of the body. Therefore, successful joint replacement surgery of the hip, which is also called arthroplasty, requires significant training, experience, and knowledge of the team of professionals who perform it. Moreover, this team must demonstrate a high level of communication to ensure a successful treatment outcome.
First of all, the team should include an orthopedic surgeon who carefully studies the patients’ medical history, meets with them, prescribes therapy and medication, and performs the surgery. Before the operation, the surgeon must ensure that the instruments are sterile and guide the medical staff about the nature and sequence of the surgery. Since such doctors are responsible for the successful outcome of the operation and the absence of postoperative complications, they must know the musculoskeletal system thoroughly. Therefore, only certified surgeons who have completed approximately 14 years of education and regularly take exams to demonstrate their knowledge can perform such complex operations on patients. However, as research by Kilpatrick et al. (2019) shows, the treatment outcome is determined by interprofessional team care. Therefore, the system would comprise several other specialists, whose roles in the process are not to be underestimated.
Additionally, a professional team that works on such cases always includes an anesthesiologist. Among other skills, anesthesiologists specialize in blocking patients’ pain during surgery. Anesthesiologists usually inform the patient about using different types of anesthesia, such as epidural or spinal, before hip surgery. During the operation, these doctors monitor vital signs, manage chronic conditions of patients, and take the necessary measures in case of an emergency. To acquire professional skills, anesthesiologists must receive 14 years of education and up to 16,000 practical training hours. Accordingly, for a successful hip replacement operation, all involved doctors must have the appropriate education, practical experience, and constant professional development.
A nurse is another vital element of a well-functioning healthcare team. Hip replacement surgery is a complicated procedure, which often causes concerns on behalf of the patient. Pre-operation care is an integral part of treatment, as it ensures trust in the medical staff. Nurses prepare the patient for the surgery by administering the required medication and infusions, taking the temperature and blood pressure, as well as keeping records of the patient’s overall condition. This stage requires much attention, as doctors consider this information when determining the further treatment plan. Communication on all levels is crucial, as according to Kilpatrick et al. (2019), “a review of over 23,000 malpractice claims across a range of practices over four years found that miscommunication was a factor in more than half the claims” (para. 6). In a way, a nurse is the cornerstone of the system that ensures communication between all its participants.
Enhanced Team Functioning in Patient Care
As a nursing student, I have seen cases when interprofessional communication was not carried out properly. In one particular case, an older person spent three weeks in the hospital with a leg injury. As a nurse, I provided her with daily care, according to my schedule and duties, and she would ask many questions regarding the treatment outcome and prescribed medication. However, I could not give her specific answers and did not find time to transmit the questions to the doctor in charge. Subsequently, once discharged, the woman filed a complaint against the medical staff, saying she felt lonely and abandoned. In retrospect, as a nurse, I should have paid more attention to her questions and concerns. If I had spent an extra minute to listen carefully and gather the information, the woman’s experience at the hospital would have been more positive. Overall, it might be important for nurses to do a little more than just their basic duties, as an extra effort might be crucial in shaping the patient’s view of the hospital and its staff.
Reference
Kilpatrick, K., Tchouaket, É., Paquette, L., Guillemette, L. C., Jabbour, M., Desmeules, F., … Fernandez, N. (2019). Measuring patient and family perceptions of team processes and outcomes in healthcare teams: Questionnaire development and psychometric evaluation. BMC Health Services Research, 19(9), 1-16. Web.