question archive Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI) Student's Name Institution Course Instructor's Name Date Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI) Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections that patients acquire while hospitalized
Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI) Student's Name Institution Course Instructor's Name Date Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI) Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections that patients acquire while hospitalized
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Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI)
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Instructor's Name
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Safety Initiative that Addresses a Shortfall in Quality (UTI)
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are among the most common infections that patients acquire while hospitalized. Statistical evidence indicates that over 40% of hospital-acquired infections are often UTI. The infections are a significant problem in a clinical setting because it increases the duration that patients stay in the hospital, reducing the cost of receiving treatment (Meddings et al., 2019). Therefore, there is a need to instigate strategic steps to reduce the prevalence of this condition. Hand hygiene is one of the models that can effectively reduce the rampancy of hospital-acquired UTIs. The practice alludes to cleaning hands using soap and water, sanitizers, or alcohol-saturated rubs to eliminate any contaminants present therein. This essay analyzes the effectiveness of hand hygiene as a safety initiative that addressed UTI, which is a shortfall in the quality of healthcare delivery. It analyzes its compliance with principles of quality improvement, healthcare policy, and ethical and legal considerations. It also scrutinizes the cost-effectiveness of the practice and how it can be monitored over time.
The principles of quality improvement indicate that health promotion initiatives should be easy to adopt in a clinical setting and manifest improvement in the quality of service delivered. Observing hand hygiene is a vital practice that follows these critical principles. Washing or disinfecting hands before handling catheterized patients helps prevent microbial contamination that may cause UTI (Mody et al., 2017). The practice also aligns with healthcare policies of most medical facilities that require healthcare providers to disinfect their hand before undertaking any significant medical procedures, including inserting, emptying, or changing catheters, to avoid contaminating the region causing UTIs.
Hand hygiene is in tandem with ethical and legal considerations because it ensures catheterized patients' safety by reducing their susceptibility to the pathogens that cause UTI. It is also ethically correct because it adheres to non-maleficence, which indicates that healthcare professionals should not engage in actions that may harm their clients. It is also cost-effective because it is relatively easy to initiate and implement (Meddings et al., 2017). The healthcare providers do not need to undergo extra training to initiate. Over time, it can also be easily evaluated by analyzing aspects such as the prevalence of UTI in healthcare settings, especially in intensive care patients who must use the medical procedure for prolonged periods.
In conclusion, UTIs are examples of conditions that emerge in clinical settings due to a shortfall in quality. They can be controlled using hand hygiene, which aligns with the principle of quality improvements and healthcare policies. It is also cost-effective, adheres to legal and ethical considerations, and can be easily monitored.
