Is the health system really a system at all?

We call it a health system, and there are times when it works with an incredible life changing, interconnected fluency. But far too often what it is….is a complex bundle of separate silo-systems. Every day there are hundreds of episodes of asynchrony within the patients journey as discrete silo-systems bump and scrape and snag up against each other. Some are minor annoyances that test a patients, well…..patience. Others are truly exasperating experiences for everyone, demonstrating poor design, a lack of respect for our patients and a lack of advocacy by, well …….us. Here is one very simple example of the health system at work Mrs Fleck is a 45 yo female who presents to the emergency department after impaling her foot on a large 4cm splinter of wood whilst walking barefoot in her back garden. She presents at around 7PM on a public holiday Monday. The emergency department is experiencing access block, resulting in overcrowding and very long waiting times. She is finally seen by an ED doctor at around 11PM. The splinter is removed and the wound is cleaned and dressed. There is however, some concern that a piece of wood has broken away and remains lodged in her foot. The doctor books the Mrs Fleck in for an ultrasound, but as this service is not available this late, the patient is asked to present to the medical imaging department first thing in the morning. Mrs Fleck leaves the ED at 1240 AM. She presents as requested the next morning at 9 AM. And gets her ultrasou...
Source: impactEDnurse - Category: Nurses Authors: Tags: piss and vinegar Source Type: blogs