You have recently been appointed to a risk management position in a large hospital. On you first day in your new position, several key staff approach you individually to discuss their opinions concerning the use of Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Several of the staff expressed their view that FMEA was not designed to be used in healthcare and to “force” it to work with a healthcare based risk management program will result in faulty analysis and actually increase risks. Other staff clearly supported FMEA and believe it is the future in healthcare risk management.
Before you meet with staff to discuss FMEA you need to know the following:
• What is Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)?
• In the context of risk management, how can it be used to improve processes in healthcare organizations?
• What impact can it have on preventing sentinel events?
• What are the Joint Commission’s requirements in this case?
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Failure Mode and effects Analysis (FMEA)
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Failure Mode and effects Analysis (FMEA)
The application of Failure Mode and effects Analysis (FMEA) in the management of health facilities has received equal measures of criticism and support from medical facilities. In this case, medical professionals in support of the FMEA argue that adopting the strategy in the management of hospital operations results in efficiency and effectiveness. Medical professionals against the FMEA argue that it results in delays and decreased levels of success and it was not designed to be used in hospitals. There is confusion on the part on the executive employees in the in medical facilities on the application of FMEA in the operations and management of medical facilities. Equally important, FMEA has its share of advantages and disadvantages that are used in the support or criticism in its application respectively. The implementers of the FMEA need to capitalize on its advantages while at the same time reducing the disadvantages to ensure that medical facilities operate to the benefit of all the stakeholders. Additionally, as an appointee on risk management in a hospital, a tasked with addressing issues and aspects surrounding the application of FMEA in medical facilities. FMEA is used in the management and controls of increase the success rates by way of risk management, prevention of sentinel events through the requirement of joint commissions
What is Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)?
The FMEA is a structured approach to discover and evaluate failures and challenges possible in the implementation of a process or activity then taking the appropriate actions to counter them (Carlson,2012). The failure mode presents the means that results in failure in the process. On the other hand, effects entail how failures result in defects, wastage and harmful effects and outcomes on the part of the customer. Therefore, FMEA is developed to identify, prioritize and limiting failures that may occur in the course of implementing a process. The FMEA enhances the application of the best practices, approaches, and policies harnessed through experience and knowledge of a Cross-Functional Team (CFT) to evaluate the process and design progress in the course of implementing activities.
The design of FMEA explores and evaluates the malfunctions in a product, service or a process in terms of quality, quantity, safety, ethics, regulatory concerns, and other vital aspects. The malfunctions are viewed from the point of properties, tolerance, and geometry, interaction with other aspects and their impacts on the environment and the surrounding and impacts on the lives of the people (Carlson,2012). Additionally, the process of FMEA evaluates failures and challenges that impact the product quality, customer satisfaction, environmental hazards and reliability of the process. Equally important, the FMEA process is derived and evaluated from environmental factors on the process performance, measure systems impacts on acceptance, materials, equipment utilized, materials used human factors and methods and procedures used in the course of operations. The identified issues and chances are identified and prioritized in developing appropriate solutions to maximize chances of success.
• In the context of risk management, how can it be used to improve processes in healthcare organizations?
FMEA can be implemented in medical facility operations in the management of risks. In this case, risk management ensures that changes in risks are overturned to success aspects or rather countering the challenges in medical organizations. First, upon the identification of a risk FMEA presents multiple choices for mitigating the risk (Lipol and Haq, 2011). Challenges and failure modes in medical facilities are identified resulting in different solutions for the same risk or challenges. This fact presents the medical professionals with a chance to settle for the best solution. The best solutions have maximum advantages and capabilities in resolving the existing challenge. Consequently, FMEA has a high capability of verification and validation of changes or implementation of solutions. The solution identified can be verified and validated to increase chances of success by way of eliminating risky solutions. This approach approves the solutions to ensure that solutions or policies implemented in medical facilities are effective and appropriate. Furthermore, application of FMEA in the operations of a medical facility enhances the collaboration of the design of the policies and processes in countering the existing failures. Collaboration ensures that solutions adopted can be easily and smoothly applied in the processes and activities in a medical facility. Therefore, FMEA results in the development of the right solutions for the identified problems thus managing the risks. Furthermore, FMEA enables one to develop cost-effective or low-cost solutions that are aligned to risk management. The solutions for the problems are cost-effective to ensure an organization can operate within the financial constraints and in case of a loss the medical facility can recover. The medical facility operates way below the budget as a way of risk management strategy. In risk management, the FMEA methodology enables a medical facility in identifying and correcting process failures early on so that one can avoid and eliminate the adverse consequences of poor performance and failure.
•What impact can it have on preventing sentinel events?
Application of FMEA in the course of implementing medical facility eliminates sentinel events. Sentinel event in projects introduces losses and failures in the projects in medical facilities. Introducing FMEA in medical facility operations is effective in the elimination of sentinel events (Duwe, Fuchs and Hansen, 2005). In this case, the use of FMEA approach ensures that failures and barriers to the success of a project or operation are identified early in advance. This fact inclines hospital management to adopt effective policies and best policies to counter such failures and barriers thus preventing sentinel events. More so, FMEA approaches to project and process ensure that flexible solutions are devised for the challenges and failure. Flexible solutions ensure that a medical facility can incorporate changes in their policies and policies to mitigate arising issues thus eliminating chances of sentinel events. Additionally, the application of FMEA approaches in handling processes and procedure in a medical facility ensures that an organization incorporates various stakeholders in decision making thus eliminating sentinel events. FMEA incorporates different stakeholders through joint commissions or Cross-Functional Teams such that decisions made consider all the aspects and possible issues thus avoiding sentinel events in the course of implementation.
• What are the Joint Commission’s requirements in this case?
The joint commission in a medical facility is tasked with the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization considering the safety and quality of care given to the patient. The joint commissions further ensure that there is a constant improvement in the operations and processes in a medical facility by giving education and consultation services to medical facilities. In the implementation of FMEA, the Join commission calls for a meeting of the set requirements such as availability of all the necessary and appropriate equipment and tools to meet the desired goals and objects. Moreover, the Joint Commission calls for a standard and effective framework for the implementation of policies and procedures. The framework defines the implementation of different activities and processes to their successful completion. More so, the Joint Commission required that medical professionals involved in the implementation of the FMEA need to have obtained the minimum requirements to increase chances of success in the processes and projects. The requirement of the Joint Commission is modeled to ensure that quality of medical care and safety of patients is met in the medical operations and activities.
Conclusion
FMEA approach is effective in the management of medical operations and activities through identification of challenges and failures then developing appropriate solutions. However, the effectiveness of the implementation of FMEA in medical facility remains issue marred with criticism and supports in equal measures. FMEA identifies challenges and barriers in the implementation of activities and processes then devising solutions to counter them thus increasing chances of success. Additionally, the FMEA is effective in risk management by creating effective and appropriate solutions, policies and best practices to reduce risks and threats in projects. This approach decision is made with caution they are aligned to the success of the medical facilities. Moreover, the application of FMEA approach in the medical facilities works in the reduction of sentinel events that result in adverse effects medical operation. FMEA develops a work and operation framework that eliminates barriers and challenges in advance thus avoiding sentinel, events. Finally, the Joint Commission requirements ensure that FMEA approach is successfully implemented by ensuring all the necessary aspects met the desired condition.
References
Carlson, C. S. (2012). Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
Duwe, B., Fuchs, B. D., & Hansen-Flaschen, J. (2005). Failure mode and effects analysis application to critical care medicine. Critical care clinics, 21(1), 21-30.
Lipol, L. S., & Haq, J. (2011). Risk analysis method: FMEA/FMECA in the organizations. International Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences, 11(5), 74-82.
