NHS FPX 8002 Assessment 1 Demonstrating Effective Leadership

NHS FPX 8002 Assessment 1 Demonstrating Effective Leadership

Name

Capella University

NHS-FPX 8002 Collaboration, Communication, and Case Analysis for Doctoral Learners

Prof. Name

Date

Demonstrating Effective Leadership

Asthma is a critical health concern, particularly among children. This chronic condition can lead to extensive damage to the respiratory system over time, resulting in persistent breathing difficulties. The primary indicators of asthma include coughing—especially at night, during physical activity, or while laughing—difficulty in breathing, sensations of tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, and wheezing, characterized by a whistling or squeaky sound when breathing, especially during exhalation (Asthma Symptoms, 2018). To mitigate the impact of asthma on children, interprofessional collaboration is essential to streamline their care. This paper will explore the interprofessional coalition team based in Smith County, Texas, along with the challenges they may encounter regarding team strategies, ethical considerations, and best practices.

Contributing Factors to Asthma

Numerous factors contribute to the development of childhood asthma, many of which are environmental, while others are unchangeable, such as genetic predisposition and family history. Key contributing factors include allergies, a familial history of asthma or allergies, frequent respiratory infections, low birth weight, exposure to secondhand smoke before or after birth, and living in low-income urban areas (Childhood Asthma, n.d.). Unfortunately, ethnic disparities exist, as African American and Hispanic children are disproportionately affected.

Minority children face a higher risk of developing asthma due to various socioeconomic factors. Poor housing conditions often expose them to irritants such as dust, smoke, and mold. Additionally, many families lack access to primary care providers, which leads them to rely on local emergency departments for treatment. This reliance places a strain on emergency resources that could be allocated to more critical cases, resulting in higher healthcare costs, especially for uninsured patients. Financial barriers can also prevent families from affording necessary maintenance medications for their children, increasing the likelihood of asthma attacks. However, many of these challenges can be addressed with the appropriate resources and support.

Interprofessional Coalition Team to Improve Asthma Outcomes

To enhance asthma outcomes in high-risk children, the first step is establishing an interprofessional team. This team should comprise doctors, nurses, public health professionals, and government representatives to encompass diverse perspectives and areas of expertise. The overarching goal of this collaboration is to ensure access to quality care, positive health outcomes, and effective policies for those most in need. Below is a summary of the identified coalition team members and their contributions in Tyler, Texas.

Issues Affecting Interprofessional Collaboration

Interprofessional collaboration can be hindered by several challenges. The key issues include:

• Hierarchy: With diverse professionals involved, determining leadership roles and reporting lines can be complex.
• Funding: Identifying funding sources for the collaboration is crucial; inadequate financial resources can impede progress.
• Inexperience with Other Professions: Professionals may struggle to communicate effectively if they lack experience working with other disciplines.
• Communication: Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and a loss of focus on the group’s mission. Establishing a clear communication protocol is essential for success.

By establishing a solid foundation and mission statement, teams can overcome these challenges. Collaboration is vital for improving asthma outcomes among high-risk children in Smith County.

Strategies to Optimize Interprofessional Collaboration

To foster effective interprofessional collaboration, several strategies can be implemented to enhance teamwork and mitigate barriers:

• Establish a mission statement and overall plan: It is vital that all team members understand their roles and the reasons for their selection. Clear communication channels for data reporting must also be established. Effective management of interprofessional collaboration requires leaders who can inspire commitment and align individual goals with the team’s mission (Lavoie-Tremblay et al., 2016).
• Determine the necessary budget: Identifying financial needs and pursuing grants or funding programs is critical. Utilizing existing resources and acknowledging their contributions through sponsorships or advertising can enhance collaboration.
• Foster respect and open-mindedness: Coming from a place of respect and willingness to learn from each other strengthens interprofessional relationships, enriching the team’s overall effectiveness.
• Utilize communication tools: Teams should choose appropriate communication platforms—such as email, messaging apps, or cloud sharing—to facilitate timely information sharing.

Ethical Issues to be Considered in Improving Asthma Outcomes

Ethical considerations are crucial when making decisions that could impact a community significantly. The primary ethical principles to contemplate for improving asthma outcomes in high-risk children include beneficence, autonomy, and justice. Ethical considerations apply at both the individual (micro) and community (meso) levels.

Beneficence is a core ethical principle that highlights the responsibility of the coalition team to provide benefits to the populations they serve. Establishing new care protocols and conducting educational seminars can significantly enhance community members’ understanding of asthma management and trigger reduction (McCormick, n.d.). Expanding access to low-cost primary care clinics can also help reach more patients in impoverished areas, enabling them to address asthma triggers in their homes effectively.

Autonomy empowers individuals to make choices regarding their healthcare. Families and communities should have the opportunity to decide which treatment plans align with their needs, with healthcare providers respecting these decisions. Educating families about asthma management empowers them to participate actively in their healthcare decisions.

Justice in healthcare refers to providing equal care opportunities regardless of socioeconomic status. Communities should have equitable access to primary care services, educational resources, and healthy environments. The coalition team must consider these principles when assessing healthcare access and educational outreach efforts in their communities (McCormick, n.d.).

Interprofessional Collaboration, Diversity, and Inclusion

Forming an interprofessional team that encompasses diverse members presents its own set of challenges. The diversity of perspectives and experiences enhances the team’s capacity to achieve its mission. Diversity encompasses various attributes, including gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background. Ensuring diversity within the team enables a more comprehensive understanding of community needs and fosters innovative approaches to address them.

In addition to diversity, inclusion is vital. It ensures that all team members feel valued and integral to the group’s efforts. Inclusive practices motivate team members to contribute more actively toward the coalition’s objectives.

Diversity and inclusion are particularly important when addressing the high asthma prevalence in communities, especially among African American and Hispanic populations. Engaging team members from these communities will help identify barriers to care and explore solutions for improving access to healthcare services and transportation.

Literature Review on Improving Asthma Outcomes

For a successful healthcare initiative, it is essential for the collaborating team to establish clear goals. Without defined objectives, assessing the success of the project becomes impossible. The interprofessional coalition aims to enhance access to care, educate the community about asthma and its triggers, and reduce the cultural and social barriers hindering access to quality healthcare.

Research has demonstrated that developing a straightforward risk index for children could benefit both patients and healthcare providers. By identifying children at higher risk of developing asthma, physicians can tailor treatment plans more effectively. This approach would also facilitate better communication with parents, reducing environmental exposures for children and improving adherence to treatment protocols (Hallit et al., 2019). Implementing such a risk index within the community could help mitigate asthma attacks among vulnerable children.

Additionally, establishing a standardized care model for asthma patients visiting emergency departments can improve patient outcomes. This model initiates care during emergency visits and involves care coordinators who connect with parents to provide education and resources. Families receive a personalized asthma action plan upon discharge, which has shown to decrease the frequency of asthma-related emergency visits (Homaira, 2019).

Conclusion

Interprofessional coalitions face numerous challenges while working to resolve healthcare issues. Learning to collaborate effectively and aligning on project goals can present significant hurdles. However, by fostering teamwork and respecting diverse perspectives, the coalition can identify asthma risk factors, enhance access to care, and implement effective action plans aimed at reducing the severity of asthma in children.

References

Asthma Symptoms. (2018). Retrieved from https://acaai.org/asthma/asthma-symptoms

Childhood Asthma Definition. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-dictionary/Childhood-(pediatric)-Asthma

Hallit, S., Raherison, C., Malaeb, D., Hallit, R., Waked, M., Kheir, N., & Salameh, P. (2019, April). Development of an asthma risk factors scale (ARFS) for risk assessment asthma screening in children. Pediatrics & Neonatology, 60(2), 156-165. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2018.05.009

Homaira, N., Altman, L., Wales, S., Gray, M., Burns, C., Owens, L., et al. (2019). Integrated care initiative to improve management of paediatric asthma. *International Journal of Integrated Care,19*(1), 10.5334/ijic.s4403.

NHS FPX 8002 Assessment 1 Demonstrating Effective Leadership

Lavoie-Tremblay, M., Marchionni, C., & Lehoux, P. (2016). Barriers to interprofessional collaboration: The role of interprofessional education. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 30(4), 1-3. http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/13561820.2016.1146365

McCormick, M. C. (n.d.). Ethical considerations in improving access to care for children with asthma. Retrieved from https://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/ethical-considerations-in-improving-access-to-care-for-children-with-asthma/