Reference no: EM133167749

1. Review the "Reality Check: 

Stephen, a hospital administrative consultant, selected a complex case on the 10th floor orthopedic unit for review. Stephen reviewed the patient's record. Following several questions about the patient's care, a staff nurse asked, "Would you like Dr. Williams, the orthopedist, to discuss this case with you?" Stephen said, "Sure, that will be fine." Dr. Williams soon arrived and appeared a bit disturbed that he had been summoned. Stephen introduced himself and said that he just had a few questions he would like to ask. Stephen asked Dr. Williams which diagnoses the patient related to the organization at the time of admission and which diagnoses were made during the course of the patient's hospitalization. Dr. Williams said, "I am treating the patient for her orthopedic problems, not all of these other diagnoses." Following a few questions with the physician, Stephen asked to interview the patient. Dr. Williams agreed, "OK." Stephen asked, "Could you please ask the patient if I could speak with her?" Dr. Williams said, "That's not necessary." Dr. Williams and Stephen walked to the entrance of the patient's room. Stephen waited outside the patient's room. Dr. Williams walked into the patient's room, returned to the hallway, and said, "The patient was sleeping, but I woke her up."

Upon entry to the patient's room, realizing Dr. Williams had forgotten Stephen's name, Stephen introduced himself to the patient. Dr. Williams asked Stephen if he wanted him to leave the room. Stephen, politely, said, "You can stay if you would like."

The patient said, "Oh, I know what you do. My husband is a nurse." Stephen smiled and asked about her care. She said that it was excellent. She said the food could be better but she was pleased with her overall care. She talked about her hip fracture and back problems. Dr. Williams, interrupting the conversation, proceeded to tell the patient about her orthopedic issues. He described in explicit and frightening detail how the discs in her back were collapsing and how things could progress and how she could eventually be confined to a wheelchair.

Following his brief conversation with the patient, Stephen said, "You will be all right." The patient smiled and said, "Thank you." Upon leaving the room, Dr. Williams asked, "What kind of doctor are you?" Stephen replied, "I am not a doctor; I am an administrative consultant." Not having listened to Stephen's answer, Dr. Williams said in a threatening manner, just outside the patient's room, "Don't you ever tell one of my patients they are going to be OK!" Stephen said calmly, "I was not speaking clinically; I was relating a compassionate goodbye to the patient." Stephen then extended his hand to Dr. Williams, saying, "Thank you for your time." Dr. Williams shook Stephen's hand and then quickly walked away down the corridor.

a) Discuss what action, if any, the hospital should consider taking to investigate the physician's behavior?

b) What information should Stephen share with the governing body?

2. You are a triage nurse in the emergency room of your hospital.  Discuss some of the potential ethical issues that someone in your job will face and how to successfully navigate these ethical issues.

References

Pozgar, G. D. (2021). Legal and Ethical Essentials of Health Care Administration (Third ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.