This case examines the consequences of frequent admissions and excessive emergency department use (ED) use at County General Hospital (CGH). The data indicates that nine individuals in central Texas have had over 2,000 admissions in the past six years (Capella University, n.d.), with an estimated expenditure exceeding $2 million in resources. Frequent non-urgent visits to emergency departments are a widespread issue in many countries. The EMTALA mandates that federally funded hospitals must offer medical treatment to all individuals who arrive at the emergency department, regardless of their ability to pay. This paper aims to assess the information provided in the case study by using peer-reviewed scholarly articles as evidence to support the case analysis. This involves explaining the reasoning behind the choice of articles and how they support the analysis.
The loss of approximately $200,000 in revenue caused by frequent emergency room visits upset Matt Losinki, the chief executive officer of County General Hospital. Making ethical decisions refers to this as “moral consciousness.” According to the findings of the Chief Executive Office, frequent trips to the emergency department led to a rise in expenses, as well as congestion, wait times, and patient discontent. Patients constantly visiting the emergency room are in critical condition and need immediate medical attention. Visits to the emergency department drive up the overall cost of healthcare significantly. According to Lindor and Ghaith (2022), improvements to the quality of treatment will make it possible to cut down on and eventually do away with, the need for frequent emergency room visits for normal patients.
The ethical decision-making paradigm has three fundamental components: moral awareness, judgment, and behavior. All parties collaborate in order to identify a solution to the perplexing situation. Moral awareness may be seen as a cognitive process by which an individual attains an understanding of a particular ethical matter and comprehends the possible ramifications associated with their decision-making. Moral decision-making forms ethical judgments on whether actions or choices are morally acceptable or wrong. The decision made by an individual may potentially be influenced by their own biases or divergent perspectives (Schein, 2020).
The manifestation of ethical behavior is seen by the subsequent actions taken after making a sound choice. Individuals strive to make optimal decisions based on previous scholarly investigations when engaging in ethical conduct. The discourse around overusing emergency department (ED) services in the Texas area created a sense of moral awareness within Mr. Losinski. He postulated that CGH may be encountering a similar issue as a consequence. The decision to conduct an internal study on the issue inside his organization and present it to the management team to address the dilemma showed ethical integrity (Sartini et al., 2022). Matt should use his ethical behavior as a healthcare practitioner and adhere to four ethical criteria to tackle the prevailing issue effectively. The primary factors contributing to the issue are the overuse of emergency department services and a decline in income.
The field of public health expresses concern about the issue of emergency department (ED) congestion. This phenomenon is associated with increasing healthcare expenses, extended waiting periods, prolonged stays in emergency departments, diminished patient satisfaction, and mortality. The issue of emergency department (ED) congestion incurs financial burdens on the healthcare system. County and university hospitals in the United States have successfully mitigated congestion issues by using strategies to enhance the process of transferring patients from emergency departments to inpatient clinics. According to Sartini et al. (2022), implementing this approach can provide annual cost savings of $10 million for county hospitals and $4 million for university hospitals.
Effective communication is a crucial skill that leaders must possess. The process of problem-solving necessitates the engagement of active listening skills and the creation of innovative ideas. Mary told Matt that Medicare provides coverage for 75% of eligible recurring emergency department visits via active listening. Mary failed to explain to Matt the importance of the item. Matt asked Aniysha, the administrative resident, for statistical data on those who often frequent the emergency department. Matt can communicate his grievances and provide statistical evidence to the executive committee during his presentation to the management team. D