A risk mitigation plan systematically identifies the potential risks, evaluates the probability and impact, and defines action to be taken to reduce its impact on patients, practitioners, and organizations (Pascarella et al., 2021). For instance, if the SAFER Guide assessment reveals that there are many data entry errors in an EHR system, which can cause medication errors, then the mitigation plan could include staff training on EHR workflows, implementing system alerts for high-risk entries, and periodic audits to monitor compliance. NURS FPX 8012 Assessment 4 Therefore, by eliminating these risks, the plan will significantly improve patient safety, regulatory compliance, and enhance organizational performance and provide a safer environment and health care environment.

Risk Management Plan

Ethical or Legal Issues Related to Identified Risks

Identified risks in healthcare settings can give rise to critical ethical and legal issues that directly impact patient safety, practitioner responsibilities, and organizational integrity. Where risk factors are not addressed properly, the consequences can be as low as affecting a patient’s life such as affecting the law liabilities of health service providers, thus compromising trust and quality care delivered.

One of the significant ethical issues that may arise with the risk of inaccurate data entry in EHR systems is the possibility of medication errors, misdiagnosis, or delayed treatment (Dixit et al., 2023). Inappropriate care decisions can be made based on incorrect or missing information, which can jeopardize patient safety and violate the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence. Ethically, there is a requirement for the providers of healthcare services to not harm and, therefore, ensure that the best interest of patients is served while using data-based information in their clinical decisions. If such risks are not curbed through adequate staff training and technology safeguards, patients may become victims of resultant harm, contrary to the central ethical obligations imposed on care providers.

Health organizations are further held legally accountable for various laws such as HIPAA and the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA). An organization failing to act on identified risks, for instance, inaccuracies in data or weaknesses in access controls, might expose itself to lawsuits for negligence when patients have suffered (Moukalled & Elhaj, 2021). For instance, in case data entry errors cause wrong medication dosages to be administered, the healthcare facility would be legally responsible for the adverse consequences, which could include malpractice lawsuits. Legal accountability mandates healthcare organizations to have strict data quality controls, and secure systems, and to take swift action on identified risks.

Another ethical issue is associated with inadequate access controls in EHR. Poor protection of patient information may lead to unauthorized access and potential breaches of confidentiality of the patient. In this case, the ethical principle of respect for patient autonomy is directly violated by the disclosure of patients’ personal health information without their consent. Further, unauthorized access undermines trust between patients and providers, which is necessary for proper care delivery. Failure to protect patient data also has legal implications since institutions are mandated by law to adhere to data privacy standards like HIPAA. Failure to put in place access control measures may lead to legal consequences, loss of reputation, and loss of patients’ trust.

In this regard, ethical issues associated with patient harm would occur due to inadequate staff awareness of safety protocols. In the context of healthcare, individuals are ethically bound to know what they do and ensure their actions do not harm patients. If the employees are not well aware of infection control measures and other safety procedures, then the chances of avoidable harm are much higher. In addition, the principle of justice can be breached insofar as some patients are disproportionately harmed due to systemic errors in safety training or enforcement. Healthcare facility sanctions, such as fines, may be imposed for a lack of proper education and training that led to patient harm.

Such failures in identifying and mitigating risks and addressing these risks in the healthcare setting raise not only ethical dilemmas about the care for patients but also create significant legal challenges for an organization. Consequently, a proactive approach to managing risk, involving the implementation of proper safeguards, would be key in sustaining patient safety as well as ensuring the integrity of healthcare organizations.

Justification of Actions to Address Identified Risks

Justifying their actions in front of identified risks is essential so that the right care is administered to patients. This is through ethical healthcare delivery and minimizing all potential legal liabilities. Regular training on data entry protocols, under the mitigation plan for inaccurate data entry in EHR systems, is one essential step (Carlos Ferreira et al., 2024). Equipping the hospital staff with an adequate understanding of entering data efficiently and effectively decreases the possibility of errors in prescriptions, misdiagnosis, or treatment delays. Justification exists from the basis that health workers should not harm, using good judgment not only for any form of human actions but also for each health-related action in terms of sound evidence and precise sources. Furthermore, equipping staff with appropriate training and system alerts on high-risk entries aligns with the principle of beneficence, which enhances the quality of care while minimizing potential risks to patients.

Besides training, proper access controls and authentication procedures need to be incorporated into the EHR system. This action would directly respond to the threat of data breaches that compromise the confidentiality and trust that patients should be able to maintain with the provider. From a moral point of view, keeping patients’ personal health information confidential is respect for patient autonomy. Legally, stronger access control measures will ensure that healthcare institutions comply with privacy regulations such as HIPAA (Subramanian et al., 2024). In this respect, proactive management of this risk ensures that the rights of patients are protected, reducing the chances of legal and financial consequences such as penalties or lawsuits associated with the breach of patient privacy.

The staff is made aware of the safety measures through constant workshops and briefings. Uninformedness might lead to unnecessary exposure, such as transferring infection or improper use of equipment, against patients and unethical practices. This promotes the values of safety protocols reinforced by healthcare providers, indicating dedication to the ethics principle of justice regarding equal standards of care from providers that are free from preventable harm. Further, the action ensures that staff keep abreast of best practices and stay ready for action that will demonstrate adherence to organizational and regulatory standards. In doing so, healthcare facilities foster a culture of safety that does not only reduce risk but also enhances the overall quality of care.

These actions are supported by the requirements of maintaining performance in an organization and avoiding legal consequences, as healthcare organizations are bound by many standards and care and safety regulations. For instance, an organization that fails to address these identified risks will be exposed to some negative outcomes: lawsuits, fines, or worse, loss of accreditation. As such, identifying risks through education, security updates, and sensitization promotes a proactive approach to safety and compliance. It ensures that the healthcare professional is well-equipped to manage risk, maintain ethics, and decrease the possibility of harm. All these help the patient and the organization in the long run. These actions, based on evidence-based practice, form a sound basis for reducing risks and enhancing patient outcomes.

Change Management Strategies

Effective change management will be critical for addressing the risks identified and the smooth integration of mitigation actions in practice (Yaseen, 2024). This includes leadership involvement. Leaders across all levels in the healthcare organization should be fully engaged in implementing the risk mitigation plan. Guidance and support in this regard provide a tone of organizational change. Their role in demonstrating desired behaviors places greater emphasis on the safety of their patients and upholding revised practices to get staff members bought into compliance through a culture. Leadership must then explain why things are changing: connecting changes straight to improved patient outcomes, legality, and overall organizational success will build trust and align everyone to bigger organizational objectives.

Another strategy is involving staff in engagement and participation processes in the change process (Azevedo et al., 2020). The most likely to accept change are healthcare providers who are also involved in designing and implementing the mitigation plan. Involvement could be through various means such as focus groups, training sessions, or feedback loops through which staff express their concerns or contribute ideas. Involving staff in decision-making can also help ensure that the changes made are realistic, relevant, and practical within the workflows of employees. This will also increase the chances of sustainable commitment to the new protocols by instilling a sense of ownership in them and improved data entry practices or increased security measures.

Ongoing education and training should ensure the effectiveness of the proposed actions (Munna & Kalam, 2021). This ranges from initial training to continuous educational opportunities that will sustain the reinforcement of safety protocols and data management practices. Regular workshops online modules or in-service training enable staff to update themselves on updates of these mitigation strategies. This continuous support makes the workers always stay interested in the risk management plan while also getting accustomed to any changes occurring due to a new technology or procedure. Thus, by socializing training in the organization, healthcare institutions also ensure that patient safety and best practice compliances are not responsibilities for a day but for life.

Lastly, mechanisms for feedback and evaluation will allow efforts toward change to be measured and adjusted (Xu et al., 2023). Regular audits of data entry accuracy, patient safety incidents, or security breaches should be conducted with staff survey follow-up as a means of measuring training and engaging effectiveness. Continuous monitoring of the results of this mitigation plan will provide healthcare organizations with a data-driven decision for further improvement. This feedback loop not only guarantees that risks are appropriately addressed but also promotes a culture of continuous improvement, wherein all staff members contribute to the success of the organization’s patient safety initiatives.

References 

Azevedo, M. C. de, Schlosser, F., & McPhee, D. (2020). Building organizational innovation through HRM, employee voice, and engagement. Personnel Review, 50(2), 751–769. https://doi.org/10.1108/pr-12-2019-0687

Carlos Ferreira, J., Elvas, L. B., Correia, R., & Mascarenhas, M. (2024). Enhancing EHR interoperability and security through distributed ledger technology: A review. Healthcare, 12(19), 1967. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12191967