Final answer:
System failures in healthcare may involve issues such as miscommunication and medication errors, and the physician's responsibility to follow up with a patient is crucial for ensuring understanding and care continuity, which can be improved by leveraging technology and better communication.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding the system failures in Dorothy Johnson’s care, without specific details provided on the case, it's challenging to pinpoint exact system failures uniquely related to her. Typically, system failures in healthcare can include miscommunication between healthcare providers, incorrect or delayed diagnosis, medication errors, and failure to follow-up properly with patients post-treatment.
The physician's responsibility to follow up with a patient includes ensuring that the patient understands their treatment plan, scheduling and conducting post-treatment examinations, and being responsive to any patient inquiries or concerns that arise after treatment. Reality often differs from the ideal due to high patient loads, administrative burden, and limited resources, which can lead to delayed or missed follow-ups. To improve the follow-up process, healthcare professionals can leverage technology for reminders and telehealth services, delegate tasks within their healthcare team effectively, and prioritize clear communication with the patient.
Addressing the additional provided topics, healthcare professionals are encouraged to collaborate effectively, with each role bringing value to patient care. Solutions to healthcare problems can appear simple, such as following a checklist, but can be complex in their implementation in diverse and dynamic clinical environments.