Essay Sample on High Cases of Surgical Wounds after Surgery

Introduction

In the current past, cases of large numbers of hospitalized patients developing wound infection following a surgery are on the rise. In medical language, this condition is referred to as Surgical Site Infection (SSI). Reports of SSI are later followed by serious medical complications that have exposed medical practitioners as incompetent and unethical when discharging their duties in hospitals. According to Giacometti et al (2000), wound infection in the United States are among the highest causative factor to healthcare-associated deaths, patient morbidity and extra costs incurred after a medical surgery. This medical malpractice has raised concerns which need to be addressed before the situation gets out of hand. Different hospitals around the globe and in the United States always try their best to offer effective services as possible. However, with the growing concern of Surgical Site Infection (SSI), the entire health-care industry continues to ruin its reputation that might turn out to be irreversible. My intention is to come up with what is the root cause of the surgical wounds increase and also, selecting FADE (Focus, Analyze, Develop, Execute) Improvement Model to correct the situation.

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FADE Improvement Model

FADE Model seems to be the best tool to utilize in high cases of surgical wound condition. The four phases that would confront the issue are first, focusing on the issue of having a statement which rightly describes the issue. Second, Analysis of the causative agents of the surgical wound infection after the surgery then goes ahead to define and implement a solution (Khalighi, 2007). Finally, execution and monitoring of the plan are evaluated and slight modifications are done where needed.

Focus Phase

The skin is considered a natural buffer against any infection, however, with every precaution put in place to prevent any infection, a surgery process increases risks to develop an infection. As such, there is a chance of 1% to 3% that one could develop a surgical wound provided the doctor's process has involved breaking into the skin. Levels of surgical wounds can be categorized in three groups namely surgical incisional which is slight wound just above the area of the skin, second is the deep incisional wound occurring just below stretching to the muscle area under the skin (Giacometti et al., 2000). Lastly, the organ or space wound occurs in another area of the skin other than the skin. It can be between the space organs or the body organs themselves. According to CDC (Center for Disease Control), a surgery wound always develop within the first month after the medical surgery. FADE Improvement matches as the suitable model to correct the situation.

Analyze Phase

Germs are the main causative agents of infection after a surgery with research highlighting that the three main bacteria as streptococcus, staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas. As science dictates, germs are everywhere and can be easily passed from one area to another through contact. As such, surgical wounds get infected by germs through different forms. First, a patient from a surgical operation might get infected through contact with a contaminated surgical instrument or healthcare practitioner (Mangram et al., 1999). Second, germs in the air can infect a wound in circumstances where a surgical wound has not been properly dressed and treated well with an antiseptic solution. Lastly, surgical wounds can arise from germs inside the body or on body surface which later spread towards the wound.

Developing Action Plan

Based on high cases of increased surgical wounds among patients, communication and education on Surgical Site Infection are one major action plan under FADE Improved Model Memo that can be employed. Communication of risk factors to the patient and family works well. Some of this risk factors include proper care of the skin, management of wound and behaviors such as smoking (Mangram et al., 199). Education on symptoms related to SSI and a manual awareness of post-op surgical should be taken seriously to reduce wound contamination during the recuperating period.

FADE Improvement Model also emphasize that clinical and health care practitioners should also attend to patients in a clean environment and clean surgical equipment. Appropriate sterilization and cleaning disinfectants are to be used. In fact, most healthcare organization have so far called for a limit the use of steam sterilization and formaldehyde which are among sterilization blacklisted by Food and Drug Administration because of their weak penetrating power compared to Ethyl Oxide (EtO) Sterilization (Mangram et al, 1999). Lastly, under the action plan, I believe patients are supposed to be keen to follow doctor's instructions in regards to wound care and always be ready to seek any medical attention in case one notices symptoms related to Surgical Site Infection (SSI). For this plan to work, it is a collective contribution from the medical practitioners, patients and any other caregivers in contact with the patients.

Execution of the Plan

Pilot programs such as Surgical Infection Prevention (SIP) Project are among workable execution plan that can function as a monitoring and control program against increased cases of surgical wound infection. Hospitals have realized that there is increased incurred costs in the treatment of postoperative complications and reduction of patient mortality resulting from SSI (Orsted, 2018). Furthermore, the creation of a treatment plan that would reduce risk factors that are precursors to surgical wound is an appropriate execution plan in dealing with high rates of the wounds during pre-operative, intra-operative and finally post-operative stages of operation.

An all-rounded assessment of factors leading to surgical wounds is a good preventive action against SSI. "Patient-centered care" is perhaps another enthusiastic program which promotes active participation among families, caregivers and patients against surgical wounds. In this program, there is a partnership program to ensure that any decision made during the three phases of operations (Pre, Intra and Post) respect the preferences, wants, and needs of patients. Also, it ensures that patients are equipped with education and any other support need to make a decision while at the same participate fully in their healing process (Orsted, 2018). Lastly, surgical wounds problem among patients has also increased due to changing lifestyles, these lifestyles include the use of substances such as tobacco and cosmetics that might contaminate the area of infection. A proper initiative by Food and Drug Administration can also be incorporated in the execution of the plan to increase awareness by categorizing substances that aggravate cases of surgical wounds before, during and after an operation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, levels of surgical wounds are on the rise and it is the initiative of the healthcare system, patients and general public to solve this issue to reduce increased cases in the society. FADE Improvement Model is the appropriate approach to resolve the issue since it takes a keen interest I focusing on the issue, analyzing the causes, developing the action to come up with solutions and lastly executing through viable programs that can regularly control the issue.

References

Giacometti, A., Cirioni, O., Schimizzi, A. M., Del Prete, M. S., Barchiesi, F., D'errico, M. M., & Scalise, G. (2000). Epidemiology and microbiology of surgical wound infections. Journal of clinical microbiology, 38(2), 918-92

Khalighi, M. (2007). Basics of Quality Improvement (QI). Retrieved from https://depts.washington.edu/uwmedres/patientcare/objectives/hospitalist/Quality_Improvement_BasicsBasics.pdf

Mangram, A. J., Horan, T. C., Pearson, M. L., Silver, L. C., & Jarvis, W. R. (1999). Guideline for prevention of surgical site infection, 1999. American journal of infection control, 27(2), 97-134.

Orsted, H., (2018). Prevention and Management of Open Surgical Wounds Swrwoundcareprogram.ca, 2018. Online. Internet. 7 Jun. 2018.Available: http://www.swrwoundcareprogram.ca/Uploads/ContentDocuments/Article%20-%20WCC%20Open%20Surgical%20Wounds.pdf.