Name
Capella University
NURS FPX 4010 Leading in Intrprof Practice
Prof. Name
Date
American Fork Hospital (AFH) needs to create a team plan to control infections. This plan will bring together nurses, pharmacists, and infection control experts to work together. The goal is to improve how patients feel and to lower hospital costs by reducing the time patients spend in the hospital. By working as a team and communicating well, everyone can help make sure patients are safer and receive better care.
This plan aims to use proven methods to create a team approach for controlling Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) at AFH. The goal is to lower the number of infections patients get in the hospital by 15% in six months. This will help patients recover better by reducing complications from infections and also cut down on hospital costs from longer stays.
Possible barriers include communication gaps and differing priorities among team members. Regular interdisciplinary meetings and workshops, based on proven communication strategies like those outlined by the IPEC framework, will likely improve collaboration and align team efforts.
Success will be measured through HAI rate tracking, compliance with infection control practices (e.g., hand hygiene audits), and patient outcomes such as reduced morbidity. Monthly data reviews and feedback sessions will ensure timely adjustments to the plan if needed (Costa et al., 2020).
With Lewin’s Three-Step Change Model, which includes stages of unfreezing, movement, and refreezing, the interdisciplinary approach is expected to become ingrained in AFH’s culture (Wooten et al., 2022). By establishing clear responsibilities and accountability measures, the likelihood of sustaining the plan long-term is high.
Change theories and leadership strategies are important for helping healthcare teams work together. They offer a clear way to manage change and encourage teamwork. These models make it easier for teams to adopt new practices, like infection control protocols, which can lead to better patient care and make the organization run more smoothly.
Lewin’s Three-Step Change Model is a helpful guide for reducing HAIs by encouraging teamwork. In the unfreezing stage, the focus is on recognizing the need for change, like improving infection control to help patients and save money. Next, during the change phase, new practices like checking handwashing and teamwork among nurses, pharmacists, and infection control experts are put in place (Wooten et al., 2022). Finally, the refreezing stage makes sure these practices stick by keeping track of them and giving regular feedback. By following this model, AFH can make infection control a part of its daily routine, which will improve patient safety over time.
Transformational leadership is a great way to encourage teamwork among different healthcare professionals. By sharing a clear vision for reducing HAIs, leaders inspire staff to take charge of their role in infection control. At AFH, transformational leaders can support team members by encouraging open communication, appreciating their ideas, and promoting new ways to prevent infections. When leaders acknowledge successful infection control practices, it lifts everyone’s spirits and strengthens teamwork (Cappelli et al., 2024). Transformational leadership improves collaboration and patient care by creating a positive atmosphere where team members feel valued and motivated to work together toward common goals, like reducing HAIs.
To lower HAIs at AFH, each member of the team will have specific tasks. Nurses will check hand hygiene and report any infection control problems. Pharmacists will look at medication plans to spot infection risks, and infection control specialists will check HAI rates every month. The team will meet weekly to discuss how things are going and any challenges they face. Best practices from the literature, like those in the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) framework, highlight the importance of clear communication, respect for each other, and making decisions together for effective teamwork (Zorek et al., 2021).
Regular workshops on infection control can help build teamwork and clarify each person’s role in preventing infections. This team-based approach keeps everyone focused on the common goal of reducing HAIs, ensuring accountability, and improving patient care. By setting up regular chances to work together, the team is more likely to make lasting improvements in reducing HAIs. Zorek et al. (2021), stated that the healthcare team uses the IPEC competency framework to enhance interprofessional collaboration between nurses, physicians, and pharmacists, implementing a joint hand hygiene and antibiotic stewardship program to reduce HAIs.
To reduce HAIs at AFH, we will need to add some staff and resources. Hiring or reassigning a dedicated infection control specialist will cost about $80,000 each year. Additionally, setting aside time for weekly team meetings will add around $20,000 annually (CDC, 2024). This will be one hour each week for nurses, pharmacists, and infection control specialists. We will also need extra infection control supplies, like hand sanitizers and personal protective equipment (PPE), which will cost about $10,000. AFH’s current auditing and tracking software works well, but upgrades may require an extra $5,000. Overall, we are requesting a budget of about $115,000 to cover staffing, supplies, and software improvements.
If AFH does not make the proposed improvements to infection control, it could face serious financial challenges because of increased HAIs. Treating just one HAI costs around $20,000, and if current infection rates continue, the hospital could incur an extra $200,000 each year in related expenses. Longer patient stays due to infections can lead to bed shortages, affecting the hospital’s capacity and patient care (Monegro et al., 2023). Monegro et al. (2023), stated that a 65-year-old patient developed a catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) after prolonged use of a urinary catheter during their hospital stay, highlighting the risk of HAIs due to invasive devices. Additionally, if HAI rates go above national standards, AFH may face penalties, including lower Medicare payments. In the end, the costs of not taking action will likely be greater than the $115,000 needed for the improvement plan, showing how urgent it is to make these changes right away.
Implementing the team-based infection control plan at AFH is very important for greatly reducing HAIs and improving patient safety. By encouraging teamwork among healthcare professionals and following proven practices, AFH can enhance patient care and lower related healthcare costs. This proactive approach not only tackles existing infection issues but also helps build a culture of ongoing improvement and responsibility in patient care.
Cappelli, E., Zaghini, F., Fiorini, J., & Sili, A. (2024). Healthcare-associated infections and nursing leadership: A systematic review. Journal of Infection Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1177/17571774241287467
CDC. (2024, May 15). Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.gov. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/index.html
Costa, A. L., Privitera, G. P., Tulli, G., & Toccafondi, G. (2020). Infection prevention and control. Textbook of Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management, 99–116. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59403-9_9
Monegro, A. F., Muppidi, V., & Regunath, H. (2023). Hospital-acquired infections. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441857/
Wooten, R., Kothari, D., Pryor, R., & Bearman, G. (2022). Preventing hemodialysis catheter-related bloodstream infections: Barriers, controversies, and best practices. Current Infectious Disease Reports, 24(1), 21–27. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-022-00773-6
Zorek, J. A., Lacy, J., Gaspard, C., Najjar, G., Eickhoff, J., & Ragucci, K. R. (2021). Leveraging the interprofessional education collaborative (IPEC) competency framework to transform health professions education. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 85(7), 8602. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe8602
