Fluent Essays

Write approximately 1,500 words addressing the following questions: · How has globalization impacted health care in the United States? · In what ways and why are patients, workers, management practices, and health policies flowing across international borders? Book login-https://brytewave.redshelf.com/app/ecom/shelf Password- Burns, L. R., Bradley, E. H., & Weiner, B. J. (2018). Shortell and Kaluzny’s health care management: Organization design & behavior (7th ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. ISBN- 9781305951174 Apply and cite at least three references scholarly articles above and beyond the textbook. Write approximately 1,500 words addressing the following questions:   · How has globalization impacted health care in the United States?   · In what ways and why are patients, workers, management practices, and health policies flowing across international borders? Hospital Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan [Student Name] Saint Leo University [Course/Number] [Instructor Name] August 21, 2021 Running head: HOSPITALDISASTER PREPAREDNESS ANDRESPONSE PLAN 1 HOSPITAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN 26 Student Signature: [Type Full Name Here] Introduction Saint Leo University Hospital will be a healthcare organization that will be serving numerous individuals. It will provide different services ranging from emergency services to treating acute and chronic ailments to inpatient and outpatient services and laboratory services. Therefore, it should be adequately equipped to handle all these services effectively by having elaborate equipment and infrastructure and adequately trained personnel. However, the organization should also be prepared to deal with any disasters that may occur. Disasters are events that may occur suddenly without any notice. They may either be natural, such as earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, or human influence, such as exposure to toxic chemicals or terrorist attacks. An infectious disease outbreak is one of the natural disasters that may affect a healthcare organization (Purohito et al., 2018). It alludes to a sudden uncontrolled spread of an ailment in a location that exceeds the typically expected rates. It overwhelms the resources of healthcare facilities and the healthcare personnel therein. Evidently, the possibility of encountering a disease outbreak such as an influenza pandemic requires Saint Leo University Hospital to be adequately prepared. It should instigate adequate measures to respond to and minimize damage during such an occurrence rapidly. Module One Exposure to a disease outbreak such as an influenza pandemic may pose several challenges to Saint Leo University Hospital. For example, the upsurge in the number of cases that the facility will receive when such an eventuality occurs may result in insufficiency of the resources that are available in the organization such as technological equipment, medical personnel, medications and medical supplies and beds that are available for occupancy (Jester et al., 2018). Therefore, it is necessary to make response plans that will aid in safeguarding vulnerable populations such as the patients present in the facility and ensure continuity of the facilitys functionality. It also includes supporting the medical providers tasked with handling the disaster and incorporating practical, dynamic approaches during the response plan (Harris et al., 2021). The process includes several critical steps. Complex Systems Thinking According to Hashikawa and Gold (2018), complex systems thinking are essential for finding practical solutions to complicated issues. A disease outbreak can cause multiple problems; hence the need for elaborate planning to deduce effective processes that should be included in the response and recovery plan to adequately reduce the level of damage caused and prevent further harm. Evaluation of Involved Risks The first strategic step encompassed in the complex system thinking approach while preparing for the possibility of encountering disease outbreaks is assessing the susceptibility of the healthcare organization to different ailments. The healthcare organization must undertake extensive surveillance to deduce the possible episodes it can experience and the necessary measures needed to contain them (World Health Organization, 2018). For example, during an influenza outbreak, the organization may need separate facilities for isolating the ill and adequate protective clothing for the workers to protect them from contracting the ailments. Subsequently, information such as the ages most susceptible to the illness and its rate and route of spread is pertinent to the rescue plan. The Participation of Stakeholders The stakeholders in Saint Leo University Hospital will play an essential role in the disaster preparedness and response plan. The stakeholders in this context include the individuals involved in the organizations decision-making process or those who are impacted by the decisions made therein (World Health Organization, 2018). They consist of the healthcare and non-medical professionals and the members of the facilitys executive team. Additionally, it includes external stakeholders such as the ailing individuals, vendors, and the community where the facility is located. The Required Resources The presence of adequate resources is fundamental when making disaster preparedness and response plans. According to Jester et al. (2018), some of the pertinent resources that should be included in the disaster and response plan include medical supplies and utilities, adequate medical and assistive staff, and sufficient space to cater for the expected surge in the number of patients. Organizational Theories and Behaviors Organizational theories and behaviors analyze the theoretical frameworks that direct administrative decisions and how they impact the institutions functionality. While formulating the hospital preparedness and response plan, the organization will apply the human relation theory (World Health Organization, 2018). The stakeholders inherent in the organization will be incorporated in making effective plans that will ensure that the organization is adequately prepared to handle pandemics. On the other hand, the systems approach theory will be included while implementing the plan to address all significant aspects. Effective theoretical models will elicit positive behavior from the workers and adequate implementation of the process (Harris et al., 2021). For instance, including the employees viewpoints is essential in ensuring that they implement the plan effectively. Leadership Theories and Roles The leadership theories and styles used in Saint Leo University Hospital will play a significant role in determining how effectively the disaster preparedness and response plans are formulated and incorporated therein. The organizations leadership will be tasked with making policies concerning the strategies that should be used in creating the plan and the modalities that should be used in implementing it (Jester et al., 2018). Subsequently, the leadership styles and theories applied will be essential in determining the success of the plan. For example, the leaders will promote teamwork during a disaster to ensure a rapid response. Additionally, suitable leadership styles will be essential in eliciting positive outcomes during the plans implementation. For example, while the democratic leadership model may be necessary during the preparatory phases, the autocratic leadership framework is essential during the implementation phase (Harris et al., 2021). The appropriate leadership model will produce the desires results when applied effectively. Module Two The organizational design in Saint Leo University Hospital and its structures will play a significant role in developing, implementing, and evaluating the disaster preparedness and response plan in readiness for a pandemic, such as an influenza outbreak. Subsequently, the motivating factors present therein will be essential during the application of these vital processes. Organization Design and Coordination Organizational design elucidates the structural processes incorporated in an organization to facilitate adequate continuity of significant functions. Itzwerth et al. (2018) indicate that it includes aspects such as the organizations goals, the strategies incorporated to achieve them, and the tasks involved in the process. On the other hand, coordination entails critical elements such as control of significant processes, decision systems, and information systems. Organizational design The organizational design in Saint Leo Hospital should be adequate to handle the goal at hand, which is responding to a pandemic such as an influenza outbreak. Therefore, it should have the necessary structures needed to implement this role. Some of the systems that the organization will instigate during the planning process that will ensure that it is fully prepared to handle a pandemic such as an outbreak of influenza include creating negative pressure rooms that can act as isolation facilities to limit the spread of the ailment (Purohit et al., 2018). Subsequently, it also includes procuring decontaminants that will be used in the detoxification process that is essential in limiting the spread of the illness. Further, another significant necessity is providing protective clothing that will safeguard healthcare providers from contracting the ailment, which can deter the continuity of the response plan and intensify the outbreaks severity. Another significant structure that should be considered in the planning phase that impacts the organizations structural design is putting in place strategies to manage the upsurge in the volume of patients that follow a disease outbreak. The hospitals design should be manipulated to handle such an eventuality by storing extra beds for use during an emergency (World Health Organization, 2018). It also includes identifying spaces that can be converted into areas for holding patients during a crisis. Coordination Coordination is a significant process while developing the disaster preparedness and response plan. The medical facilities must put in place modalities that will ensure adequate coordination between different multidisciplinary teams during the implementation of a response plan (World Health Organization, 2018). The coordination efforts include installing sound control systems that define who performs which roles during the plans performance. The organization will identify the structures used to control the response efforts to ensure a smooth flow of the necessary activities. The process will include articulating the chain of command that will be employed when a pandemic strikes. For example, the organization will outline the individuals that different parties must report to for easy continuity of operations. Another significant aspect of the coordination process is the instigation of the decision system. The process entails identifying the protocols that will be used in making decisions during a disease outbreak. This aspect specifies the people who should be consulted whenever a decision has to be made. The senior executives in the organization will be assigned different decision-making capacities to fast-track the implementation process (Purohit et al., 2018). Further, the instigation of adequate information systems is also significant because it enables efficient conveyance of messages from one person to another. Motivation Motivational factors are vital during the development, implementation, and evaluation of the disaster preparedness and response plan. Motivational factors are the incentives that encourage individuals to participate in significant initiatives (Itzwerth et al., 2018). The motivational factors incorporated in Saint Leo University Hospital to promote successful implementation of the hospital preparedness and disaster plan include using educational factors. Training the hospital staff members about the steps they should take whenever a pandemic occurs will motivate them to respond effectively to such an eventuality. Another significant motivating factor is psychological factors such as concern over the safety and well-being of employees. Showing concern for employees is a substantial aspect of implementing a disaster preparedness and response plan. It boosts the morale of employees and increases the chances of their optimizing their potential when developing and implementing disaster preparedness and response plan (Purohit et al., 2018). Therefore motivation factors are significant in ensuring that the response plan is implemented promptly and effectively. Module Three Development of the disaster preparedness and response plan is an elaborate activity that involves different individuals. Therefore, there is a need to instigate measures to ensure that the process goes smoothly and the plan is adequately developed, adopted, and implemented. In Saint Leo University Hospital, two distinctive approaches will be incorporated to ensure that the disaster preparedness and response plan instigated in readiness for pandemics such as an influenza outbreak is developed, adopted, and executed. Work Teams To respond to a pandemic such as an outbreak of influenza Saint Leo University Hospital should have good work teams that will undertake all the necessary tasks to contain the spread of the virus and care for the large number of ailing individuals seeking treatment services. Therefore, while developing the disaster preparedness and response plan, it is crucial to ascertain that it contains modalities geared towards having good work teams needed to execute the plan (Alduraywish et al., 2019). The hospital should have an adequate number of healthcare and assistive professionals who will act as first responders in an outbreak and undertake the necessary tasks effectively. The staff should have the competencies needed to care for the patients adequately. For example, during an influenza pandemic, the team should be aware of the practical care plans that will effectively elicit positive outcomes when treating patients. They should conceptualize the central processes inherent in the treatment process, including identifying and taking samples from those suspected to have the virus for testing (Harris et al., 2021). Subsequently, they should be aware of the necessity of isolating the infected patients to contain the spread of the virus. Further, the medical professionals encapsulated as part of the multidisciplinary team that will act as first responders during a pandemic should know when to refer patients and the protocols to use in the process. Additionally, the organization should instigate continuous training programs for healthcare professionals to ensure that they are adequately equipped to handle any pandemics. The training programs include impromptu drills to gauge whether the professionals are sufficiently skilled to handle a pandemic (World Health Organization, 2018). For example, the management can create fabricated scenarios to deduce whether the healthcare providers have fully mastered the protocols they should follow during such an eventuality. Such activities can help verify whether all the first responders understand the tasks they should undertake when a pandemic strikes (Alduraywish et al., 2019). Subsequently, it will help determine whether they understand the individuals they should report to and the treatment plans that they should follow to handle the situation effectively. Communication Communication is a significant element while developing, adopting, and executing a disaster preparedness and response plan. Firstly, it enables clear communication between the individuals involved in creating, adopting, and implementing the response plan. Eloquent communication ensures that messages are conveyed effectively from one person to another (Harris et al., 2021). Subsequently, it helps promote professionalism in the interactions between the interdisciplinary teams involved in the care of patients. It facilitates effective practices such as providing feedback on the continuity of various operations involved in the response plan and raising concerns over challenges that should be addressed. It is significant for Saint Leo University Hospital to implement effective communication channels while developing, to adopt, and implementing the response plan to facilitate effective teamwork between the interdisciplinary teams acting as first responders during the pandemic. Subsequently, it will also improve the effectiveness with which the different functions that should be implemented are performed (World Health Organization, 2018). Another benefit of communicating effectively is increasing the workers satisfaction with their work despite having a huge workload. Ultimately, the process will reduce the probability of healthcare workers committing medical errors, enhancing the quality of care that patients receive and reducing the cost of treatment. Some of the practical communication approaches that should be adopted in Saint Leo University Hospital to ensure that the disaster preparedness plan is implemented effectively include conveying messages promptly using the appropriate channels. For example, it is significant to communicate to the management whenever the available resources cannot effectively cater to the available needs (World Health Organization, 2018). The strategies that should be used to ensure that messages are conveyed effectively include selecting an individual who will coordinate communication between different individuals during a pandemic. For example, the person will facilitate communication between patients families and healthcare providers to give feedback about patients progress (Harris et al., 2021). Subsequently, it is necessary to create a communication plan for the organization to identify the need for communication while implementing the response plan and how it will be facilitated. Module Four Several significant elements impact the process of developing, adopting, and planning disasters. These factors include power, political affiliations, and conflict management. These factors need to be analyzed to determine how they influence the disaster preparedness and disaster response levels. Power Saint Leo University Hospital should have adequate powers to prepare, adopt and execute disaster preparedness and response plan. The organization can attain the power by following the regulatory stipulations that have been put in place to guide healthcare facilities in responding to disasters such as an outbreak of a pandemic like influenza. The hospitals statutes must adhere to include the Presidential Policy Directive 8, which requires all institutions to put in place accurate measures to safeguard the masses against disasters (Hashikawa et al., 2018). Another significant tenet that the hospital has to adhere to to acquire the power it needs to develop, adopt and execute a disaster preparedness and response plan is the National Disaster Recovery Framework which outlines the processes that should be encapsulated to provide adequate response systems. Politics Politics plays a significant role while developing, adopting, and implementing disaster preparedness and response plan. This is because disasters, such as pandemics, have political underpinnings. The events have political inclinations because they affect citizens of the country (Wignjadipatro et al., 2020). Pandemics such as an outbreak of influenza affect many individuals negatively, making them political events that spark the attention of political leaders. Subsequently, the events are political because they reflect on the public policy of the country. The countrys public policy should facilitate the instigation of policies that cater to significant issues that affect the public, such as putting in place adequate disaster response plans (World Health Organization, 2018). Another factor that makes disasters considered to be issues with political underpinnings is that the quality of response instigated after a catastrophe is used to gauge the effectiveness of political leaders in performing their designated roles. Given that developing, adopting, and implementing disaster preparedness and response plans is a political issue. It is necessary to involve political leaders in the process of executing effective intends to respond to disasters. Firstly, the leaders are engaged by seeking their help in implementing effective plans by providing financial assistance to fund the projects (Hashikawa & Gold, 2018). Putting in place disaster preparedness and response plan is a costly endeavor that requires adequate financing. It includes high-cost activities such as employing additional workers to handle issues related to the response plan. Subsequently, it includes procuring technological devices, medications, and utilities set aside for emergencies. Therefore, the hospital may need additional funding to cater to these necessary expenses (World Health Organization, 2018). Thus, the hospital should exploit the political nature of the issue to seek funding from government agencies to instigate effective disaster preparedness and response plans. Conflict Management Conflicts are inevitable occurrences that are experienced in every organization. They are caused by various unavoidable factors, such as disagreements over what should be incorporated in the disaster preparedness and response plan. Saint Leo University Hospital is no exception. Creating and implementing a response plan may precipitate conflicts between different staff members in the organization (Wignjadipatro et al., 2020). The conflicts may be precipitated by various factors, including failure to convey important messages appropriately, some of the members of the work teams failing to cooperate, and disagreements over the strategies that should be incorporated in the conflict developing and executing the disaster preparedness and response plan. Therefore, it is necessary to anticipate conflicts and make tentative plans on how they will be addressed. According to Hishikawa and Gold (2018), there are different approaches to managing organizational conflicts. They include initiating negotiations between the warring parties. It also includes using problem-solving techniques and attacks and counterattacks between the involved parties. The conflicts models used at Saint Leo University Hospital to manage the conflicts include negotiations and problem-solving frameworks. Negotiating is a strategic approach to resolving conflict where a third person brings together those who have disagreed and help them work out the issue. On the other hand, the problem-solving model focuses on determining the cause of the conflicts and how they can be solved. The managers will be tasked with resolving disputes (Hashikawa & Gold, 2018). Therefore, they should acquire the competencies needed to manage conflicts effectively. Module Five The process of developing, adopting, and executing the disaster preparedness and response plan will be affected by elements that impact the functionality of the medical facility. Some of the aspects that can affect the continuity of operations in the organization include organization complexity, organizational learning and innovation, and quality improvement. Organizational Complexity Organizational complexity makes it difficult for an entrepreneurial entity to initiate and implement projects. The term alludes to varying structural and operational factors in an organization that makes it complicated. Saint Leo University is likely to be a complex organization because it has several internal and external stakeholders. The stakeholders who are impacted by the organizations operations include the vendors who sell medical supplies and medications to the organization. They also consist of patients who visit the facility and the medical and non-medical employees employed therein (World Health Organization, 2018). Further, the community where the organization is located and the organizations shareholders are also significant stakeholders who are affected by its operations. Another aspect that contributes to the complexity of the medical facility is that multiple individuals share the same roles. In healthcare settings, different professionals work collaboratively to care for patients (Alduraywish et al., 2019). Further, the multiple processes inherent in the treatment process escalate the complexity of the organization. When developing, adopting, and executing the disaster preparedness and response plan, it is necessary to consider the complexity of the healthcare organization. The modalities used while creating the plan should factor in the operational challenges that may arise during its execution and address them. For example, the plan should outline the roles that different members of the multidisciplinary teams involved in patient care will undertake to avoid repetitions (Jester et al., 2018). Subsequently, the plan should consider environmental aspects such as the possibility of the pandemics spilling over to the community and causing an upsurge of patients. It should incorporate the protocols that will be used to contain the spread of the infection. Organizational Learning and Innovation The development, adoption, and implementation of the response plan are impacted by the inclination of Saint Leo University Hospital towards organizational learning and innovation. Organization learning and innovation denotes the process of acquiring new information that is essential to the running of an entrepreneurial unit and encapsulating it into its operations to improve its functionality (Purohit et al., 2018). Organizational learning and innovations are significant aspects in the adoption of the response plan into the medical facility. The healthcare providers will be in the front line in managing pandemics such as an outbreak of influenza. Therefore, the hospitals management, which will be in charge of overseeing the operations, should be knowledgeable on several aspects of modalities inherent in implementing a response plan to perform the role effectively. Organizational learning will help in developing practical leadership skills (World Health Organization, 2018). For the leaders to steer employees into executing a response plan effectively, they should conceptualize the leadership models they can employ to evaluate and monitor the implementation of the response plan. Organizational learning is also essential in applying ethical principles while developing and executing the response plan. The functions inherent in the response plans, such as conveying information, allocating resources, and caring for patients, are roles that require individuals to base their decisions on ethical foundations (Alduraywish et al., 2019). The principles, which include allowing patients to practice autonomy and refraining from any actions that may harm patients, are also essential in ensuring that the response plan is executed effectively. For example, it deters those in authority from misappropriating the funds for managing the response plan (Alduraywish et al., 2019). Organizational learning is also significant in helping the medical facility adopt practical communication skills while implementing the plan. Acquiring effective communication skills facilitates a smooth progression of activities while developing, adopting, and executing the response plan and avoids negative influences such as occurrences such as incidences of medical errors. Quality Improvement The concept of quality improvement involves the process of creating new products that are of a higher standard or improving the effectiveness of the services that are offered to the masses. Developing a disaster preparedness and response plan is an example of a quality improvement venture that Saint Leo University Hospital can adopt. The initiative aids in enhancing the quality of services offered in the facility by planning for a pandemic such as an outbreak of influenza to ensure that the amount of damage experienced is minimal when it occurs. Subsequently, the plan incorporates measures to prevent the uncontrolled spread of the ailment to limit the number of individuals exposed to it. Further, the plan promotes early management of the disease and its effects hence reducing the number of mortalities that it causes. Module Six Strategic Management Strategic planning refers to a myriad of activities that ensure that an organization achieves its objectives. The processes involved in strategic management include the planning for different operations and functions, analyzing their impact on the organization, and assessing their effectiveness in ensuring that an enterprise meets its goals (Itzwerth et al., 2018). Strategic management will be fundamental in developing, adopting, and executing the disaster preparedness and response plan. It will aid in developing the response plan by anticipating different situations expected during a pandemic, including an upsurge in the number of patients who will visit the healthcare facility. It will also plan for the predicted shortage of resources and instigate measures that will help in overcoming the challenges (Jester et al., 2018). It will also be vital in the implementation phase because it will analyze the effectiveness of the response plan in undertaking its designated role and make any changes that may be needed. The essentiality of employing strategic management in creating and implementing disaster preparedness and response plan for managing a pandemic is ensuring that the organization has continuous plans geared towards the plans success. For example, the organization can put in place continuously learning opportunities such as drills and training exercises to ensure that the employees have fully mastered the steps they should take during a pandemic (World Health Organization, 2018). Subsequently, strategic management provides an avenue for constantly gauging and testing the effectiveness of the protocols and modalities included in the response plan to ensure that they can effectively perform their assigned roles. Inter-organizational Collaboration Inter-organizational collaboration is a significant aspect when preparing a disaster preparedness and response plan. Inter-organizational collaboration refers to an innovative engagement where healthcare organizations partner to provide quality services to the masses. Saint Leo University Hospital must engage in inter-organizational collaboration when developing, adopting, and implementing the response plan. It ensures that the facility can access the resources it needs to manage a pandemic such as an outbreak of influenza (Purohito et al., 2018). The medical facility can source from other organizations the resources it needs, such as medical equipment and supplies. In the process, the quality of care that will be disseminated in the organization will improve significantly. Another way inter-organizational collaboration will positively impact the disaster preparedness and response plan to contain a pandemic like an influenza outbreak is by enhancing the quality of care that patients receive. During an influenza outbreak, the collaboration between healthcare organizations can improve the quality of care that patients receive by sourcing specialists in handling the ailment from those medical facilities with whom it partners (Itzwerth et al., 2018). Deploying experts in managing the medical issue into the response plans ensure that patients receive quality care that suits the patients needs. Organization Values/Mission/Vision The values that an organization upholds and its mission and vision determine its commitment to creating an effective disaster preparedness and response plan in readiness for emergencies such as an outbreak of influenza. Saint Leo University Hospital is a value-driven facility that will ensure the needs of the ailing individuals who seek treatment in the institution. Subsequently, it cares about the welfare of those in its employ and strives to ensure that their well-being is maintained at all times. Some of its core values include integrity. The institution is committed to acting with integrity while making decisions that affect patients or employees (World Health Organization, 2018). On the other hand, the mission of the medical facility is to provide quality care that suits the distinctive needs of patients and provide a safe working environment for the healthcare providers. Its vision is to be an exemplary organization that offers impeccable services. The response plan that the medical facility will develop will align with its values, mission, and vision. It will contain precepts that will assure the safety of the patients. For example, the organization will use evidence-based practices while executing the plan to ensure patients safety and well-being. Subsequently, it will ensure that the healthcare providers are protected by providing protective clothing to ensure that they do not contract the ailment. Similarly, its vision and mission will impact the response plan significantly (Wignjadipatro et al., 2020). The organizations mission and vision will also be reflected in the response plans efficacy in controlling the pandemic effectively, which will demonstrate the commitment of the organization to provide quality care that suits the patients needs and safeguard its employees from harm. Module Seven Health Policy and Regulation Healthcare policy and regulation will serve a significant role in Saint Leo University Hospital. Firstly, it will ensure that all activities in the facility adhere to the required standards. For example, the process and procedures involved in the care of the patients, such as physical examination, diagnostic tests, and surgical procedures, should follow the instigated regulatory stipulations that guide the professions. Subsequently, the organization will apply health policy and procedures to resolve any conflicts that emerge in the organization (World Health Organization, 2018). The guidelines will guide how the employees will act in the organization and how the ailing individuals will be treated and cared for by the staff. They define the roles that each employee in the organization should play. Subsequently, organizations policies are often changed from time to time to accommodate aspects such as changes in the statutes that guide healthcare in the country. The health policy and regulation observed by Saint Leo University Hospital will impact the development, adoption, and execution of the disaster preparedness and response plan. The organizations policies will clearly outline the content of the plan and the roles that different employees will play in the organization during its execution (Hashikawa & Gold, 2018). Therefore, the health policies will play a significant role in guiding the employees on the responsibilities they should undertake when a pandemic like an influenza outbreak occurs. Additionally, it will direct them on the protocols they should observe during the response and recovery process, such as the communication channels they should observe and to whom they should report. Regulations also play a significant role in the adoption and execution of the response and recovery plan. The organization will observe the regulatory statutes that guide the response and recovery plans and ensure that all their requirements are followed. Some of the regulations that the organization is obligated to follow include The Stafford Act, the Presidential Policy Directive 8, and the National Preparedness Goal (Purohit et al., 2018). The response and recovery plan of the organization should be in tandem with these tenets for it to be effective and binding. Health Information Systems Health information systems are the technological tools used in compiling healthcare data, processing, and storing it to enhance the quality of care that patients receive. It includes the medical information of patients, financial records of the finances spent in the healthcare organization, and information about the surveillance carried out to determine the vulnerability of different groups of individuals to ailments. Healthcare information systems play a significant role in developing, adopting, and executing a disaster preparedness and response plan that is structured to prevent emergencies such as an outbreak of influenza (World Health Organization, 2018). The information contained in the health information system will play a significant role in the process. For example, the patient care information will show the patient capacity that the hospital can comfortably handle. It will also aid in determining the additional resources that are needed to control a sudden upsurge of patients. Subsequently, the organizations financial records will provide information on the financial health of the organization and the additional funding that the organization may need to handle a pandemic (Itzwerth et al., 2018). Further, the surveillance reports will help in deducing the populations most likely to be affected adversely by the pandemic to instigate adequate measures to ensure their safety. The healthcare information systems will help formulate an effective response and recovery plan because it monitors healthcare data; hence it can detect the inadequacies present in the processes used in disseminating care to the patient populations. Therefore, by analyzing the accrued data, it is possible to develop an effective response and recovery plans that are guaranteed to elicit positive outcomes during a pandemic (World Health Organization, 2018). It provides the content that helps make decisions that are essential to the implementation of the response and recovery plan, such as creating policies that govern health systems. Subsequently, it helps determine the processes that should be accomplished in the organization to ensure that the plan is implemented effectively, such as training the healthcare professionals to improve their competency in handling disasters such as an outbreak of influenza. Further, the data accrued from the healthcare information system will ensure that the organization has adequate funds to cater to the intricacies needed while executing the response and recovery plans (Harris et al., 2021). It will monitor the systems to determine the potential shortages in financing that the organization may experience to initialize looking for additional funds needed to finance the essential operation effectively. Module Eight Personal Responsibility Personal responsibility is a significant aspect in developing, adopting, and executing the disaster preparedness and response plan. Every individual has a moral obligation to do what is right and refrain from wrongdoings. This aspect applies to all stakeholders in the healthcare system. During the process, all stakeholders should ensure the successful implementation of the response and recovery plan (Hashikawa & Gold, 2018). For example, healthcare professionals should develop the plan by providing insights on the practical processes that can be used to contain the pandemic. On the other hand, they should use their competencies during the implementation phase to ensure that the response and recovery plan is implemented effectively. They will do so by undergoing adequate training to expand their expertise in dealing with emergencies such as an outbreak of influenza. Subsequently, they can incorporate best practices in the care of patients to elicit positive outcomes in the treatment process (Jester et al., 2018). On the other hand, the leaders in the organization take personal responsibility during the execution of the response and recovery plan by ensuring that all resources such as work teams and funds are allocated appropriately. Health Information Privacy The regulations instigated by the federal government, such as HIPAA, require organizations to uphold the confidentiality of patients medical information. This tenet will be considered by Saint Leo University Hospital when developing and implementing response and recovery initiatives for managing a pandemic such as an influenza outbreak. When creating the plan, the organization will put in place measures that ensure that the private content of patients is not compromised. For example, when the hospital is reporting a disaster, the personal information of ailing individuals should not be exposed to the public without seeking their consent (World Health Organization, 2018). Such an act can have legal ramifications on the organization. Subsequently, the data compiled through surveillance and monitoring the patient information to predict the populations most susceptible to the outbreak. However, the surveillance will be done discretely so that the private information is not compromised. Ethics Ethical consideration is a significant aspect in developing, adopting, and executing the plans for managing a pandemic such as an influenza outbreak in the healthcare facility. Ethical principles should be put into consideration while performing significant functions in the organization. It is necessary while allocating resources to different tasks in the organization, when caring for patients and when conveying information from one person to another (Hashikawa & Gold, 2018). For example, it is significant to practice autonomy during the research process by protecting patients data privacy. Subsequently, it is vital to beneficence while allocating the various resources such as finances and work teams to ensure that they are used for the good of the masses. On the other hand, while caring for patients, healthcare providers are required to practice non-maleficence. They should avoid any acts that may be harmful to the patients under their care and concentrate on those acts that are beneficial to them (Jester et al., 2018). Further, healthcare professionals should also practice justice by ensuring that all individuals are treated equally in the healthcare organization while managing the pandemic irrespective of their ages, sexes, sexual identities, cultural inclinations, or religious affiliations. International Collaborations International collaborations are also a significant aspect in the development of disaster preparedness and response plan. The international agencies can aid Saint Leo University Hospital in preparation for emergencies in different phases. Firstly, during the development stage, they can assist in creating plans that can effectively contain the pandemic and limit the harm it causes to the populations (Purohit et al., 2018). The process includes providing information about the effective systems that can be encapsulated in the healthcare organization, the strategies that can be used to monitor the effectiveness of the programs. Further, they can also provide training to the healthcare providers to increase their competency in handling emergencies. International collaborations are also significant when a pandemic strikes and the disaster preparedness and response plan is executed. The international agencies will assist the hospital by provided emergency supplies such as medications, utilities, drinking water, and food to cater to the upsurge in the number of patients who visit the medical facility (Itzwerth et al., 2018). Additionally, members of the international community can opt to work as volunteers to reduce the healthcare providers workload by taking menial tasks like ferrying patients from one part of the facility to another, distributing food and water, and cleaning up. Conclusion Creating the disaster preparedness and response plan is an essential activity as Saint Leo University Hospital waits to start its operations. It is significant for the organization to make an effective plan that adheres to all the regulatory requirements and effectively manages emergencies such as an outbreak of influenza. References Alduraywish, T., West, S., & Currie, J. (2019). Investigation of the pandemic preparedness education of critical care nurses. Life Int J Health Life Sci, 5, 40-61. Harris, G. H., Rak, K. J., Kahn, J. M., Angus, D. C., Mancing, O. R., Driessen, J., & Wallace, D. J. (2021). US Hospital Capacity Managers Experiences and Concerns Regarding Preparedness for Seasonal Influenza and Influenza-like Illness. JAMA network open, 4(3), e212382-e212382. Hashikawa, M., & Gold, K. J. (2018). Disaster preparedness in primary care: ready or not?. Disaster medicine and public health preparedness, 12(5), 644-648. Itzwerth, R., Moa, A., & MacIntyre, C. R. (2018). Australias influenza pandemic preparedness plans: An analysis. Journal of public health policy, 39(1), 111-124. Jester, B. J., Uyeki, T. 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