You are the director of a home health agency that has recently become part of a managed care system. In the past, only a physicians order was necessary for authorization from the Medicare system, but now, approval must come from the managed care organization (MCO). In the past, public health certified nurses (all Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates) have acted as case managers for their assigned caseload. Now, the MCO case manager has taken over this role, creating much conflict among the staff. In addition, there is pressure from your board to cut costs by using more nonprofessionals who are less skilled for some of the home care. You realize that unless you do so, your agency will not survive financially.
You have visited other home health agencies and researched your options carefully. You have decided that you must use some type of team approach.
DQ: Develop a plan, objectives, and a time frame for implementation. In your plan, discuss who will be most affected by your changes. As a change agent, what will be your most important role?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Importance of Implementing a Team Approach in Home Health Care
As the director of a home health agency transitioning into a managed care system, it is crucial to devise a comprehensive plan that integrates a team approach to address the changes and challenges faced. This shift from a traditional model to a managed care system requires a strategic plan, clear objectives, and a well-defined timeline for implementation. By adopting a team-based approach, we can streamline operations, enhance patient care, and ensure the financial sustainability of our agency.
Plan Overview
Objectives:
1. Integration of Team-Based Care: Establish interdisciplinary teams comprising healthcare professionals with diverse skill sets to provide comprehensive care to patients.
2. Improving Communication: Enhance communication channels between team members, patients, families, and external stakeholders to ensure coordinated care delivery.
3. Enhancing Patient Outcomes: Focus on patient-centered care to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance overall patient satisfaction.
4. Optimizing Resource Utilization: Efficiently allocate resources by leveraging the expertise of various team members to provide cost-effective care without compromising quality.
Time Frame for Implementation:
– Phase 1 (Months 1-2): Conduct staff training on the team-based care model and define roles and responsibilities of each team member.
– Phase 2 (Months 3-4): Establish interdisciplinary teams and assign patients based on their care needs and the expertise of team members.
– Phase 3 (Months 5-6): Implement regular team meetings to discuss patient cases, care plans, and progress evaluation.
– Phase 4 (Months 7-8): Evaluate the impact of the team-based approach on patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness.
Stakeholders Affected by Changes
1. Public Health Certified Nurses: Will need to adapt to new roles within interdisciplinary teams and collaborate closely with other healthcare professionals.
2. Managed Care Organization Case Managers: Will play a key role in coordinating care and ensuring alignment with MCO guidelines.
3. Nonprofessional Staff: Will receive training and support to enhance their skills and contribute effectively to patient care under the guidance of professional team members.
4. Patients and Families: Will benefit from a more coordinated and comprehensive care approach, leading to improved health outcomes and better overall experience.
Role as a Change Agent
As a change agent in this transformation, the most important role will be to:
– Facilitate Change: Communicate the rationale behind the shift to a team-based approach, address concerns, and rally support from staff members.
– Provide Leadership: Set clear expectations, provide guidance, and empower team members to embrace their new roles and work collaboratively towards common goals.
– Monitor Progress: Regularly assess the implementation process, gather feedback from stakeholders, and make necessary adjustments to ensure the success of the team-based care model.
By implementing a team-based approach in home health care, we can navigate the challenges posed by the transition to a managed care system, improve patient outcomes, enhance staff collaboration, and achieve long-term financial sustainability for our agency.
