Class 1 Unit 4 COMMENT 2

Purpose: Discussion 

Thing to Remember:

• Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several  outside, peer-reviewed sources. 
• 1 References, try to find resources that are 5 years or less
• No errors with APA format.

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DISCUSSION: Opinion Leader

Hamric, Hanson, Tracy, and O’Grady (2014) describes opinion leaders as those who are well respected by their colleagues and can make change happen through mentoring other clinicians. Hamric et al. (2014) states characteristics of opinion leaders are “likeable, trustworthy, and influential.” Opinion leaders do not have to be just clinicians but can be anyone who is influential to the patient’s health (Heijmans, van Lieshout, and Wensing, 2017).  Heijman et al. (2017) conducted a study on health care providers and delivery of evidence based care for cardiovascular risk management, which found most opinion leaders were primary care providers and delivery of evidenced based care is associated with the presence of an opinion leader directing care. Another study on chiropractic care done by Bussieres, Maiers, Grondin, and Brockhusen (2017) found utilizing opinion leaders would ultimately improve patient care through evidenced based research when presented by respected and influential clinicians.

I am an opinion leader in my current role as a worker’s compensation case manager. Hamric, Hanson, Tracy, and O’Grady (2014) describes opinion leaders as those who are well respected by their colleagues and can make change happen through mentoring other clinicians. Hamric et al. (2014) states characteristics of opinion leaders are “likeable, trustworthy, and influential.”  I am the first case manager for the company I work for and have helped develop the standard of practice and train other case managers nationwide. I took my role to the next level and became certified as a case manager on my own to ensure I was doing the best I could for the company and my patients. I am well respected by community physicians in regards to awareness of current laws in the state regarding workers’ compensation, treatment practices, and work requirements. I am eager to share my expertise and knowledge with new case managers in the company as well as staff nurses.

In the future, I see myself being an opinion leader for preventative health. In my current role, I am not able to address the patient in a holistic fashion due to barriers with workers’ compensation I am only able to address the work issue at hand which is what has led me to return to school and pursue my NP. I want myself, my family and my patients to take charge of their own health and prevent disease. I will accomplish through relationship building, motivational interviewing, and clinical education. I will be positive and energetic regarding preventative health motivating everyone around me including myself to be a better version of themselves. I will be approachable and continue to be eager in sharing my knowledge with others. Opinion leaders can be very influential in patient outcomes and I strive to practice as such as a NP.

References

Bussières, A. E., Maiers, M., Grondin, D., & Brockhusen, S. (2017). Selecting and training opinion leaders and best practice collaborators: experience from the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative.Journal Of The Canadian Chiropractic Association, 61(1), 53-64.

Hamric, A.B., Hanson, C.M., Tracy, M. F., & O’Grady, E. T. (2014). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier

Heijmans, N., van Lieshout, J., & Wensing, M. (2017). Information exchange networks of health care providers and evidence-based cardiovascular risk management: an observational study. Implementation Science, 121-12. doi:10.1186/s13012-016-0532-1