Unit 6 Discussion - Domko.docx

Memo Date: 11/22/2023 To: Chief Medical Officer and Chief Financial Officer From: Manager, Social Services/Ethics Committee Member RE: Obstetric Services Problem: According to Toolwire (n.d.), the administration has been discussing whether Bright Road should continue providing labor and delivery services. This is a contentious issue due to competing interests such as the willingness and ability of the hospital to continue providing these services in a cost-effective manner weighed against the overwhelming demand by the community. Reason for Recommendation: To ensure that Bright Road makes a decision that is both ethical and legal while preserving the business and the service to the community. Module 6: Ethical Implications of Patient Rights 1

Labor and Delivery Services Keri M. Domko Park University HA517DL : Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare Administration Dr. James Baird November 22, 2023 Module 6: Ethical Implications of Patient Rights 2

Problem Statement Currently, Dr. Miller is the only OB/Gyn at Bright Road (the hospital) with no staff for back up. There is staff that can help in an emergency until Dr. Miller arrives, but none with her qualifications. Bright Road is currently the only hospital in the community that provides labor and delivery (L&D) services, but the hospital does not have a budget to hire a second OB/Gyn. Does the hospital terminate L&D services or come up with a plan to maintain services without continuing to overburden Dr. Miller (Toolwire, n.d.) Recommendations It is recommended to keep the labor and deliver department. There are a few things that can be done to help drive the costs down and ease the burden on Dr. Miller. The family practitioner can act as a backup labor and delivery since malpractice insurance is not paid by the clinician, but the hospital. This would decrease our overall cost of insurance since the workload per provider will drop which will decrease the risk along with malpractice insurance premiums. According to Gallagher (n.d.), hospitals need medical malpractice insurance. When hospitals purchase insurance, it is known as hospital professional liability (HPL) insurance. The hospitals will insure many of the doctors and healthcare providers who work there. While hiring a second OB/GYN is not currently in the financial budget, it is something to look at in the future. It is imperative to involve the public affairs officer with education to the community about the importance of prenatal care. This should be provided in all languages spoken within the community. A greater availability of knowledge will help new mothers make more informed decisions about their health as well as that of their unborn child. The U.S. Department of Health Module 6: Ethical Implications of Patient Rights 3

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