Posted: May 15th, 2023

Practice Problem and Organizational Readiness

Practice Problem and Organizational Readiness
During the initial orientation at Healthy Mind Foundation, my preceptor and I identified a lack of coordination among mental health service providers, negatively impacting patient care outcomes and organizational efficiency. The issue of uncoordinated communication negatively impact collaboration amongst the psychiatric rehabilitation, outpatient mental health, and therapy and medication management teams, which leads to fragmented patient care. As a consequence, fragmented patient care leads to poor patient health outcomes.
With that knowledge, I developed a practice-focused question that aimed at improving coordination and communication among psychiatric rehabilitation, outpatient mental health, and the organization’s therapy and medication management teams. This is a well-defined problem that needs immediate attention.

Leadership Skills and Planning

According to the American Nurses Association, a nurse leader is, “a nurse interested in excelling in a career path, a leader within a healthcare organization who represents the interests of the nursing profession, a seasoned nurse or healthcare administrator interested in refining skills to differentiate them from the competition or to advance to the next level of leadership.” Leadership can take many forms. Perhaps leadership takes the form of scheduling charge nurses for the month; perhaps leadership is providing guidelines for protocols at your organization, and perhaps leadership is simply determining the best approach to implement change. For this Discussion, you will explore the connection between project management strategies and leadership styles. Reflect on the role of leadership in project planning and implementation and consider how your leadership style and skill will impact your plan. Discussion Prompt: Post a description of your identified design approach for your practice problem. Identify the focus and setting of your problem, as well as the leadership styles most appropriate for the proposed practice change. Identify potential facilitators and barriers to making a proposed practice change. Be specific. How might your leadership style and skills match with the identified facilitators and barriers? Gather evidence to justify your selection and consider whether the approach addresses the practice gap. In your post, be sure to cite the specific evidence found.

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Design Approach for Practice Problem:

The identified practice problem is the lack of coordination and communication among mental health service providers at the Healthy Mind Foundation, which negatively impacts patient care outcomes and organizational efficiency. The focus is to improve coordination and communication among the psychiatric rehabilitation, outpatient mental health, and therapy and medication management teams.

The design approach for this practice problem would involve implementing a collaborative care model that emphasizes interprofessional teamwork and effective communication. This approach aims to enhance coordination, facilitate information sharing, and improve overall patient care outcomes.

In terms of leadership styles, a transformational leadership style would be most appropriate for the proposed practice change. Transformational leaders inspire and motivate others to achieve a common goal, encourage innovation and collaboration, and promote a shared vision. This leadership style can help drive the necessary changes, foster a culture of open communication, and encourage team members to actively participate in improving coordination and patient care.

Potential facilitators for the proposed practice change include:

Strong leadership support: A supportive leadership team that champions the need for improved coordination and communication can facilitate the implementation of the collaborative care model.

Clear communication channels: Establishing effective communication channels, such as regular team meetings, shared electronic platforms, and standardized documentation systems, can facilitate information exchange and collaboration among the teams.

Training and education: Providing training and educational opportunities on effective communication strategies, interprofessional teamwork, and the collaborative care model can equip team members with the necessary skills and knowledge to implement the change.

Interdisciplinary collaboration: Encouraging and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering a culture of mutual respect and trust among team members can facilitate coordination and communication.

Barriers to making the proposed practice change may include:

Resistance to change: Some team members may be resistant to changes in their current workflow or may have difficulty adapting to new communication methods. Overcoming this resistance will require effective change management strategies and clear communication about the benefits of the collaborative care model.

Time constraints: Implementing a new model of care may require additional time for coordination and communication activities. Finding ways to optimize workflow and prioritize effective communication without overwhelming team members will be important.

Limited resources: Adequate resources, such as technology infrastructure, training materials, and staff support, will be necessary for successful implementation. Identifying and addressing resource gaps will be crucial.

My leadership style, as a transformational leader, aligns well with the identified facilitators. I can inspire and motivate team members to embrace the proposed changes, create a supportive environment for collaboration, and effectively communicate the benefits of the collaborative care model. My skills in communication, team building, and change management will be valuable in addressing potential barriers and facilitating the implementation process.

To justify the selection of the collaborative care model and its impact on the practice gap, evidence from research studies, guidelines, and best practices in mental health care should be gathered. For example, studies demonstrating the positive effects of collaborative care on patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and provider satisfaction can provide strong evidence for implementing this approach. Additionally, guidelines or recommendations from professional organizations, such as the American Psychiatric Association or the National Alliance on Mental Illness, can further support the selection of the collaborative care model as an effective solution to address the identified practice problem.