Institute of Medicine’s Six Domains and their Importance to HealthCare

Ranking the Institute of Medicine’s Six Domains and their Importance to the HealthCare System
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Ranking the Institute of Medicine’s six domains and their importance to the HealthCare system
Today, hospital performance is increasingly essential to patients who want the best healthcare system. As a result, hospitals must continually innovate and integrate principles and statutes that could help them enhance patient outcomes. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) designed six domains that hospitals need to integrate to enhance the quality of care. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the six domains are patient-centeredness, safety, effectiveness, equity, efficiency, and timeliness. The vital six domains are of paramount concern to both the hospital, medical professionals, and the patient. Provided herein is a discussion of the domains, a ranking of the domains, and the importance of each of the domains.
Patient-Centeredness
Patient-centeredness is ranked as the most significant. The IOM defines it as care that is respectful of a patient based on needs, preferences, and values, and it entails the notion of ‘nothing about me without me’ (National Academy Press, 2001). The concept of patient-centeredness is derived from the basis of mutuality in healthcare in the case that both the patient and the medical practitioner agree that the patient is the focal point of attention. They work together to achieve the patient’s best possible outcome (Michelle & Ashley, 2013). Under this domain, patients give the final say on the clinical decisions, and medical practitioners must respect them. An apt example is when a patient is admitted and has a legal order, written or oral (do-not-resuscitate order). The attending doctor will have to respect the choice of the patient’s will and follow the order when the patient’s heart stops (to not resuscitate).
Patient-centeredness is important because it improves satisfaction among patients and their families. This improves communication and builds relationships between the patient and the hospital. Moreover, there is a better reputation towards the organization since there is satisfaction from the patient. Another boost to the hospital is the minimized expenses and thus saved costs are used in other areas of the hospital. Patient-centeredness is ranked first because patients form an integral part of the healthcare system. Hence, there needs to be a relationship and respect directed towards them. In addition, the medical fraternity must respect the patient’s choices, needs, diversity, values, and preferences. If a patient has either a written or an orally spoken do-not-resuscitate order, then medical practitioners have to respect their choice no matter the circumstances.
Safety
Safety stipulates that avoiding harm to patients from the care that is intended to help them. There is increased attention on improving patient safety by reducing medical errors among hospitals, including diagnostic error, treatment error, nosocomial infection, procedures, and prevention, among many others (Anthony & Murray, 2005). This domain carries much more weight than the ancient Maxim rule that states, ‘do no harm.’<...