StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Leadership and Challenges Facing Leaders in Health Care - Essay Example

Summary
The paper "Leadership and Challenges Facing Leaders in Health Care" discusses that generally, the provision of health care services to PWD and aged individuals has its challenges that are mainly attributed to the natural shortcomings associated with such people…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.8% of users find it useful

Extract of sample "Leadership and Challenges Facing Leaders in Health Care"

Leadership and Challenges Facing Leaders in Health Care Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Table of Contents Introduction 3 Challenges Facing HCL in Disability and Aged Care Sectors 3 Disability Sector 3 Aged Care Sector 5 Leadership Approach to Decision Making 7 Team-Centered Decision Making 7 Leader-Centered Decision-Making (LCDM) 8 Decision Making in the Healthcare Team 10 Addressing the Challenges 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Leadership and Challenges facing leaders in Health Care Introduction The aged individuals and the disabled members of a society are faced with health challenges that may require special attention to meet most of their health needs. A number of such individuals are in designated facilities such as the residential aged care facilities for the elderly individuals. In such facilities, the special needs brought about by the normal physiological changes associated with ageing such as poor hearing ability, poor vision, memory loss and altered intrinsic metabolism, make such individuals to possess altered response to health services that would be normally administered to a young adult patient (Kaufman, 2013). Individuals with disability experience difficulties overcoming or coping with practical or emotional limitations unless they are taught and gain experience in tackling possible obstacles (Murugami, 2009). Therefore, health care leaders (HCL) handling such individuals may encounter unique challenges that may not be common when working with other individuals seeking medical services. This paper shall examine some of the problems facing these HCL in their decision-making, including a discussion of team and leader-centered forms of making decisions, and how such challenges can be addressed. Challenges Facing HCL in Disability and Aged Care Sectors Disability Sector Just like aged individuals may experience difficulties interacting with parameters in their environment, so do individuals with a disability. The World Health Organization (WHO) (2014) estimates that over one billion people in the world that forms a 5% of the population in the world experience some disability. It is also estimated that difficulty in functioning is common in about 110 to 190 million adults in the world (WHO, 2014). With the increasing worldwide chronic health condition and ageing among the population, rates of disability are also increasing (WHO, 2014). There is, therefore, an association between people with disability and ageing compounding the challenges facing leaders working with such groups of persons. Some persons with disabilities (PWD) are at a disadvantage in that studies show that some are at a greater risk of healthcare deficiencies depending on the group or setting (WHO, 2014; Grut, Mji, Braathen & Ingstad, 2012). PWD have been documented to seek more health care related services and also, their unmet needs are far greater than those of individuals without disabilities (WHO, 2014; Lang, 2011). This is attributed to the fact that health care needs promoted by HCL have rarely targeted disabled people . For instance, compared to women without disabilities, women with disabilities receive less screening for cervical and breast cancers (WHO, 2014). Media campaigns used by HCL informing individuals with disabilities of health awareness are not usually comprehensive enough to reach all PSW including those with learning disabilities (Alborz, McNally & Glendinning, 2005). Alborz et al., (2005) argue that due to their intellectual impairment standard media communication of awareness events are not comprehended by people with learning disabilities. Nevertheless, such individuals, especially those with mild disability who can sustain their levels without the aid of a carer, may refuse seeking health promotional activities they are aware of due to the stigma that might be associated with their disability (Alborz, McNally & Glendinning, 2005). For this reason, HCL may not reach as many PWD as may be necessary. The percentage of PWD who cannot afford health care is higher compared to that of non-disabled individuals in most countries (WHO, 2014). This is because most PWD have lesser chances of been successful and economically stable in their lives as was demonstrated by Gudlavalleti et al. (2014). Due TO poor economic status, such individuals may be unable to access basic health care and supportive services even if such services are free but located at a distance. Similarly, it is expensive for HCL to support such people comprehensives in most societies experiencing rising cost of living compounded by recent global financial crisis (GFC) (Kearney, 2009). For example, in Australia the government reacted to the GFC by cutting down expenditure on health especially on private and Medicare insurance (Van Gool, 2009). This limits the expansion of the budget catering for PWD so that less economically endowed individuals may be supported. Aged Care Sector Kearney (2009) argues that the Australian government has been underfunding health services such as the aged care hindering provision of efficient and affordable services. Technical equipment are been given priority over human resource required to run ACF (Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie, 2005). Poorer wages paid to nurses working in aged care facilities ACF compared to those working in other health sector has made the aged care to be less attractive to nurses who, nevertheless, play a significant role (Kearney, 2009). This also demotivates nurse leaders working in ACF that may consequently affect their productivity (Wray, 2013). The aged population is also increasingly seeking more complex nursing home services due to higher levels of cognitive and physical disabilities been experienced by these older people (Wowchuk, McClement & Bond, 2006). This requires that qualified professional nursing services be employed to meet palliative, aged care or end-of-life care needs of these patients. For instance, in my brief encounter at a residential ACF, RN were tasked with using their clinical judgment to assess the appropriateness of administering or withholding medicines while considering a resident’s medical, family history and other co-morbidities (ANMF, 2013). To make the best decisions related to a resident, professional competency is a requirement. Hence, with an exodus of nurses from ACF to other sectors, efficient service provision at these facilities may be hindered. There is a negative attitude associated with older people in the society that is attributed to their dependency and frailty. Older people with dementia bare the most pronounced negative attitude (Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie, 2005). This negative attitude is linked to some HCL in non-specialized health care facilities not been familiar with the needs and shortcomings of elder people with dementia such as not been able to respond to instructions as precisely told (Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie, 2005). Additionally, these individuals are labeled uninteresting as they are not easy to interact with, and neither are they considered very useful in researches by university hospitals. Professional disagreements are challenging to HCL too. For instance, decisions made regarding treatment and non-treatment are sometimes not adhered to fully. Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie (2005) noted that patients upon whom decisions have been made to stop treatment continue been treated for some diagnoses and symptoms while some are not treated. A dearth of good communication between cadres attending to older patients is often a source of disagreement that trickles down to poor communication and service provision to patients. Unavailability of physicians in the wards also hinders provision of timely advice where necessary (Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie, 2005). Emotional strain is also another challenge facing HCL attending to the health demands of older individuals. Due to the increasing number of older persons requiring medical care, workload for HCL attending to these individuals has increased un proportionately compared to an equivalent increase in health care workers resulting in a deficit of the latter (Nordam, Torjuul & Sorlie, 2005). This has expanded the workload of HCL affecting the quality of services provided to aged individuals. The workload stress and the disagreements among HCL leaders in different professions all contribute to burnout among some HCL (Nordam, Torjuul, Sorlie, 2005). Leadership Approach to Decision Making Team-Centered Decision Making Team Centered Decision making (TCDM) is a form of strategy employed in making decisions where individual team members are accorded an opportunity to contribute towards making decisions. For instance, in ACF, nurses work together with other health care personnel in RACFs mainly pharmacists, medical practitioners, dentists, nursing practitioners, enrolled nurses (ENs), assistants in nursing, endorsed enrolled nurses (EENs), the residents themselves and their family members in administering care (ANMF, 2013). The most common TCDM style employed is through collaboration as it allows all team members to be satisfied with decisions made (Almost, 2014). Collaboration in decision making among team members entails members communicating and working effectively with the aim of achieving a common result that satisfies the welfare, needs and interest of team members, be it the HCL or professional, PWD or aged individuals (Beckett & Kipnis, 2009). The two authors, Beckett & Kipnis (2009), through their study, demonstrated that provision of health care services through collaboration among various members of the team has a positive important impact on patient satisfaction, staff satisfaction in addition to enhancing the safety and outcome of the patient. Appropriate and comprehensive communication is paramount in TCDM. In a study by Katon et al. (2010), the importance of interprofessional and intra-professional collaboration on the outcome of chronically ill and depressed patient was assessed. It "was a single-blind, randomized controlled trial" that enrolled 214 study participants (Katon et al.., 2010, p. 2614). The participants were given different kinds of care by different health care professionals with occasional overlap. The outcome of the study suggested that conflicts regarding decision-making where a variety of members are involved in the provision of a comprehensive care to patients were better handled via collaboration among team members. Collaboration among nurses and between them and other health care providers led to a statistically significant (P Read More

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Leadership and Challenges Facing Leaders in Health Care

Leadership Style Because of Evolving Leadership Role

Long-term experience in leadership and circumstances opens nurse leaders to new leadership roles that make them adopt new styles of leadership.... The Patient Protection and Affordable care Act is one of such incredible roles played by Congress to address major healthcare system challenges of the 21st century (Nordal, 2011).... The intense pressure on healthcare providers to reduce operating costs while at the same time increasing margins is creating new roles for nurse leaders....
6 Pages (1500 words) Essay

New Leadership Challenge for Nursing

The essay "New Leadership Challenge for Nursing" focuses on the critical analysis of the various facets of leadership and how it impacts the role of nurse managers.... leaders within the organization are important linkages that help exploit the personality traits of the workforce to maximize performance outcomes.... The myriad aspects of leaders and leadership facilitate and influence human behavior for the greater achievement of mutually negotiated targets with greater enthusiasm....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

How Can Leaders Lead and what is Leadership

n order to accomplish this particular aim, that determines leadership success in the 21st-century context, followed by a case example analysis in respect to the Affordable care Act policy enforced by the US President Mr.... This essay "How Can leaders Lead and what is Leadership" is about to evaluate the significance leader's ability to make accurate expectations when defining goals and implementing strategies likewise.... Effective leaders are the ones who create the plans, imagines the vision and mission, secures the resources, and ensures the correct allocation of these resources to fix errors hindering the overall potential of gaining success....
13 Pages (3250 words) Essay

Leadership Challenges and Solutions

The World health Organisation is an agency of the United Nations that specializes in promoting international health.... The main responsibility of the World health organization is to assist individuals with medical problems across the globe.... Leadership in the World health Organisation entails the process of establishing appropriate management approaches to promote the availability of health facilities and services in the world....
11 Pages (2750 words) Essay

Nurses as Leaders in Health Care Settings

Leadership in the nursing care setting is one of the most difficult tasks to undertake.... Leadership is an important quality for nurses because the health and well-being of patients rely on the initiated care administered by nurses.... In this case study, paternalism is apparent from the actions of the nurses in acting seemingly in the best interests of the patient but ignoring his personal choices in relation to his care.... Based on standards of care, paternalism may or may not be considered as the best action for the patient....
10 Pages (2500 words) Term Paper

Management in Health Studies - Metropolitan Private Care Home

Succession planning and talent management are essential in the health care sector where leaders confront unprecedented pressure to change their organizations.... The paper "Management in health Studies - Metropolitan Private Care Home " highlights that the decision reached by the manager should be guided by organizational values, policies, ethics, and culture.... Opportunities in health practice include supportive and clear government policies and the availability of a functional health committee in society....
15 Pages (3750 words) Case Study

Team Leader Role-Nurse in Charge

We were two leaders in the area but worked in shifts since our services were expected to be offered throughout without any break.... he main objective of team nursing is offering the best quality of care for the patients by taking a chance of the abilities of every member of the staff and having close supervision of both care of the patient and the operations of those who are offering it.... urses at all levels ranging from the ones on the ground offering direct care to the patients to those at the management levels because they are all considered as an authority and responsibility to offer assistance to members of the society....
15 Pages (3750 words) Personal Statement

Leadership in Health and Social Care

The paper "Leadership in health and Social Care" is a perfect example of a literature review on management.... The paper "Leadership in health and Social Care" is a perfect example of a literature review on management.... The paper "Leadership in health and Social Care" is a perfect example of a literature review on management.... This essay will review the concepts of leadership, the role of leadership in influencing change in health and social care as well as the barriers and facilitators to quality improvement in health and social care institutions (Donahue, Miller, Smith, Dykes, & Fitzpatrick, 2011; McCleskey, 2014)....
14 Pages (3500 words) Literature review
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us