Introduction
The three main health care delivery system concerns include the aspects of fairness, objectivity, and transparency in the residential aged care environment (Austrom & Lu, 2009). Objectivity minimizes biasness and prejudice when drawing the health care policy. On the other hand, fairness involves collective consultation with stakeholders and adopting consultative decisions (Croog, Burleson, Sudilovsky, & Baume, 2006).
Transparency involves the aspects of proactive reviews that are consistent with the performance evaluation and monitoring system. Reflectively, this policy contains all these aspects within its scope (Monk, 2014). In order to make change in the four spheres of influence, it is important to draw a policy on healthcare which is objective and targets to make healthcare provision affordable. It must have specific projections and intentions that are multifaceted and based on recommendations. Over the years, the strategies have moved from direct intervention to simply offering assistance in the form of services that are centered towards the interest of the residents.
Among the services may include an ideal environment for interaction, hazard free environment, and additional facilities to address any social, religious, and cultural needs (Lundy & Janes, 2009). Thus, this paper presents management strategies that may be applied in provision of different healthcare services to a patient in the residential aged care environment. The treatise captures the elements of individual interests, customs, religion, and culture. The agent’s involvement occurs when implementing the service-for-service plan (Alligood & Tomey, 2010).
Management interventions
Serving individual interests, religion, and norm needs
As opined by Fielding and Briss (2006), “planning is critically important to and precedes all other management functions. Without adequate planning, the management process fails since organizational needs and objectives cannot be met” (Fielding & Briss, 2006, p. 32).
Therefore, it is important to align the proposed change to provide care to the aged patients. For the proposed change to be successful, it is important to create a clear and accurate documentation to communicate the proposal within the facility’s mission of quality services within the best interest of the patient. For instance, it would be ideal to introduce regular support services to the aged in the form of counseling and assistance with social needs. The agent may assist the patient by providing reading, dictation, and storytelling services.
The main skills required to implement the proposed intervention include intrinsic communication skills since the proposed change involve proactive participation and self evaluation to suit the aged culture. The success of the proposed change management plan will depend on the acceptance and the progress monitoring system. With the support the stakeholders, the proposed change aimed to minimize and avoid fatality in the patient (Aggar, Ronaldson, & Cameron, 2010). In addition, the centre should be equipped with halls where the aged patients are offered recreational services such as games, reading halls, and counselling units. The halls may double up as worshiping centres where religious services are provided, irrespective of the religious affiliation of each patient.
Explaining each stage of services delivery and intervention to the patient may greatly reduce any anxiety the patient is experiencing. This may also involving assessment of the patient’s emotional status and explaining the most essential practices to minimize stress. The patient may be advice on the types of exercise to do and the frequency of each exercise. During the teaching process, the agent may describe the ideal hygiene practice. The last element that may be covered is on prevention of infections and healthy lifestyle to minimize chances of infections (McKenzie, Neiger, & Thackeray, 2009).
Social and cultural needs
The health care provision agent within the residential aged care environment should include the interests of the special group in the residential aged care facilities. The rationale for this recommendation is that the patient strains to get healthcare services due to low income bracket (Pozgar, 2013). Including his interests will provide a balance between profit making and addressing the health care needs as an element of the social pillar (Croog, Burleson, Sudilovsky, & Baume, 2006). Besides, the need for cost effective healthcare management against a backdrop of affirmative action based affordable services will alter the outcome (Norton & Waldman, 2007).
This is informed by the need to improve performance in the residential aged care facilities. When aligning opportunity cost, performance is a key indicator before deciding on the forgone alternative (Winnick, Lucas, Hartman, & Toll, 2005). This may be achievable through provision of alternative care services such as holistic therapy, stress management, and preventive care. Therefore, there is need to introduce the aspects of constant patient contact and hourly rounding within the intervention mechanism. The contract will be signed by the patient stating that he/she agrees not to transfer, ambulate, or go to restroom without calling for assistance (World Health Organization, 2008).
Conclusion
In order to further improve on efficiency, it is imperative of the health care provision agent operating within the aged care environment should develop a comprehensive personnel rotation plan. If the proposed health care system embraces this recommendation, it will have the most experienced and well motivated aged care personnel within a year after implementation.
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