Using the Ethical Decision-Making Model to Analyze the Case Study

Using the Ethical Decision-Making Model to Analyze the Case Study

The ethical decision-making model consists of three components: moral awareness, moral judgment, and ethical behaviour. In the case study, the hospital administration faces the ethical dilemma of balancing the duty to provide care to all patients who present at the ED with the financial strain caused by repeat admissions from a few individuals.

Moral awareness involves recognizing the ethical implications of a situation (Fadel et al., 2019). In this case, the hospital administration is aware of the ethical implications of denying care to patients who present at the ED, regardless of their ability to pay. However, they also recognize the financial strain caused by the repeated admissions of a few individuals.

Moral judgment involves determining the best course of action based on ethical principles (Fadel et al., 2019). In this case, the hospital administration must weigh the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. The hospital administration must also consider the financial impact of repeat ED visits on the hospital’s ability to care for all patients.

Ethical behaviour involves implementing the chosen course of action consistent with ethical principles (Fadel et al., 2019). In this case, the hospital administration could consider implementing interventions such as care coordination or referrals to primary care for individuals who frequently use the ED for non-urgent medical issues. This approach would address the ethical concerns of beneficence and non-maleficence while promoting the fair distribution of healthcare resources.

Effectiveness of the Communication Approaches in the Case Study

In the case study, the healthcare professionals used various communication approaches to address the issue of a few individuals overusing emergency services. The healthcare professionals communicated with each other through meetings and email exchanges to discuss the problem and develop solutions. They also communicated with the patients to educate them on alternative care options and the consequences of unnecessary ED visits.

The healthcare professionals in the case study demonstrated effective communication by collaborating and sharing ideas to develop solutions to the problem. However, there were instances of ineffective communication, such as when patients were not properly informed about the consequences of unnecessary ED visits or alternative care options.

Effective communication approaches that should be used include active listening, clear and concise language, and nonverbal cues such as eye contact and body language. On the other hand, communication approaches that should be avoided include dismissive language, interrupting, and not providing enough information to patients (Kim et al., 2020).

The consequences of using effective communication approaches include improved patient outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and better collaboration among healthcare professionals. In contrast, ineffective communication approaches may lead to poor patient outcomes, decreased patient satisfaction, and decreased collaboration among healthcare professionals (Kim et al., 2020).