CHAPTER 14 Consumerism and Ethic 425 ASE: Consumer-Driven Changes for the ABC He
ID: 413073 • Letter: C
Question
CHAPTER 14 Consumerism and Ethic 425 ASE: Consumer-Driven Changes for the ABC Health Options Clinic has been made the new director of the ABC Health Care Options Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. The clinic is a large. multi-specialty clinic providing general and specialty health services to the southeastern Phoenix area been in existence since 1963, with 53 physicians and 10 multi-physician groups. The Intemal Medicine (IMP) family Practice (FMP) and OB-GyN (Ocp) groups are the largest and have a history of exerting the most control in the s affairs Refore he took early retirement, the previous director began a plan to make the clinic more consumer-friendly ncoporating new additions such as mandatory electronic medical records based on a tethered system. Saturday office hours, and two freestanding satellite minor emergency and primary care clinics in southeastern Phoenix to assist with the uninsured and underinsured population groups. In the last meeting, the chiefs of staff for each of the three primary physician groups expressed their opinions regarding some of the new changes, particularly the satellite clinics for the oninsured and under-insured populations. Dr Smee, chief of staff for IMP was concerned that this would bring in·an unfavorable sort into our clinic." decrease their fiscal solvency, and increase the liability Whereas Dr. Loo, chief of staff or FMP felt that this was a good way that the clinic can impact the issue of lack of access to care and would increase their ability to provide quality health care to all, but was wary of how the clinics would be staffed particularly over the Dr. Rodriguez, an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes care, stated concern about the tethered electronic medical record system, which is proposed to be linked with Google Health and Health Vault. Her primary concern was the safety of the nformation and presumed privacy of health information in personal health records that would be linked to the clinics records Drs. Blue and Green from theumatology and orthopedics felt that this push to increase the clinic's public image and consumer appeal is a good strategy, and one which could increase the clinic's ability to remain competitive. Mary Johnson, the lead nurse practitioner from the family practice group, felt that the move toward a more consumer-friendly system and increasing access to care for all was a good move and stated that she and six other NPs were willing to staff the satellite clinics on Saturdays on a rotating basis For the last two weeks, Robert has been reviewing all the meeting notes and interviewing representatives from the physicians in each clinic. While the majonity of the physicians and groups were in favor of the changes, the Internal Medicine group (IMP) was opposed to the changes and felt threatened by any new change to their accustomed routines. Robert has called an all-clinic meeting on Friday to discuss these changes and how they will impact the routine of the clinic or if they should be done at all. As he ponders his situation, he has to decide what the best choices are Questions L. What are the key problems? 2. How will these consumer-driven changes affect the clinic overall? Per physician group? 3. Are the tethered medical records a good idea? 4. What ethical concems have been expessed by the physicians that could impact the success (or failure) of these new s. Are the satelite clinics such a good idea? What will their impact be on the clinic financially Will one group bear the majonity changes? of the financial obligation and liabilities for this population?Explanation / Answer
1.Key Problems: The key problems of with the introduction of new changes is:
i) The information in the electronic medical record of patients when linked with Google Health Valut may leak the personal health information that reduces the safety of i nformation of pateints.When the information is leaked it may impact the image of the clinic.
ii)Whether the doctors are altogether as group are welcoming the new changes is also a question .
iii) Whether all the doctors really are ready to work on rotated basis on saturdays in the new i.e, incresed work hours also needs to addressed.
2.The new consumer-driven changes may have a positive impact on the clinic as the new chages are more consumer friendly.As a satellite clinics are also provided, the consumers can have more goodwill about the clinic.Thus, the clinic can become competitive.As per phyisician grou, they can welcome the new consumer freindly changes as it improves the number of patients attending to clinic as it inturn improves clinic.
3)Yes, the tethered medical records a good idea.It can make the accessibility of health information readily available.
4)The ethical concerns expressed by the physicians that could impact the business. One of the negative concern is regarding the privacy of health record information.It is also a major concern for the organization because if the vital information is leaked it could disturb the image of the organization.So.this issue needed to be taken care.And secondly, it is more positive as one of the lead nurse Mary Johnson viewed that its a good move and majority are willing towards it.if the privacy of information is protected it is more consumer friendly.
5) The satellite clinics is a good idea. It helps for fast communication of health record information of the consumers.The information can be accesible within time anywhere.