Healthcare Policy: Goals, Challenges, Sources, and Principles, Exams of Nursing

Download Healthcare Policy: Goals, Challenges, Sources, and Principles and more Exams Nursing in PDF only on Docsity! NR 652 EXAM PREP LATEST Healthcare Policy Concluding Graduate Experience II ANSWERED 2023/2024 1. What are the main goals of healthcare policy? Provide examples of policies that address each goal. - The main goals of healthcare policy are to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, ensure access and affordability, and promote quality and efficiency of healthcare services. Examples of policies that address each goal are: the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which expanded health insurance coverage and implemented reforms to improve quality and efficiency; the Healthy People 2030 initiative, which sets national objectives and targets for improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities; the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), which changed the payment system for Medicare providers to reward value and quality; and the Patient Protection and Quality Improvement Act (PPQIA), which established a voluntary reporting system for patient safety events and encouraged the development of patient safety organizations. 2. What are the main challenges or barriers to implementing effective healthcare policy? Provide examples of how these challenges or barriers can be overcome or mitigated. - Some of the main challenges or barriers to implementing effective healthcare policy are: political polarization and ideological differences, which can create gridlock and resistance to compromise; competing interests and stakeholders, which can influence policy agendas and outcomes; lack of evidence or data, which can limit the evaluation and improvement of policy interventions; ethical dilemmas and trade-offs, which can raise questions about the fairness and justice of policy decisions; and social and cultural factors, which can affect the acceptability and feasibility of policy solutions. Examples of how these challenges or barriers can be overcome or mitigated are: engaging in bipartisan dialogue and collaboration, seeking common ground and mutual benefits; involving diverse and representative voices in the policy process, balancing the needs and preferences of different groups; investing in research and innovation, generating and disseminating relevant and reliable information; applying ethical principles and frameworks, considering the values and consequences of policy alternatives; and adapting to local contexts and realities, respecting and responding to the diversity and complexity of health issues. 3. What are the main sources or levels of healthcare policy? Provide examples of policies that originate from each source or level. - The main sources or levels of healthcare policy are: federal, state, local, organizational, and individual. Examples of policies that originate from each source or level are: the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which issues rules and regulations for federal health programs; the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries; the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which enforces public health laws and codes; the Joint Commission, which accredits and certifies health care organizations; and the American Nurses Association (ANA), which develops standards of practice and codes of ethics for nurses. 4. What are the main types or categories of healthcare policy? Provide examples of policies that belong to each type or category. - The main types or categories of healthcare policy are: allocative, regulatory, redistributive, protective, 6. What are some of the strategies and skills that can be used to communicate healthcare policies effectively? What are their objectives and challenges? - Some of the strategies and skills that can be used to communicate healthcare policies effectively are: message design (such as framing, tailoring, or storytelling), message delivery (such as oral presentation, written report, or visual display), message dissemination (such as media outreach, social media engagement, or network building), and message evaluation (such as feedback collection, impact assessment, or outcome measurement). Their objectives are to inform educate persuade or mobilize the target audience about the healthcare policies and their implications. Their challenges are to overcome the barriers of awareness understanding acceptance or action that may exist among the target audience. 1. What is the difference between universal health coverage and universal health care? Provide an example of a country that has implemented each one. - Universal health coverage means that all people have access to the health services they need, without facing financial hardship. Universal health care means that the government provides health services to all citizens, regardless of their ability to pay. An example of a country that has universal health coverage is Germany, which has a social health insurance system that covers most of the population. An example of a country that has universal health care is the United Kingdom, which has a national health service that is funded by taxes and provides free care at the point of use. 2. What are some of the main challenges and opportunities for improving health equity in low- and middle- income countries? Give at least three examples of each. - Some of the main challenges for improving health equity in low- and middle-income countries are: lack of resources and infrastructure, weak governance and accountability, social and economic inequalities, cultural and gender norms, and environmental and climate change. Some of the main opportunities for improving health equity in low- and middle-income countries are: increased global solidarity and cooperation, innovation and technology, community participation and empowerment, human rights and social justice, and intersectoral action and partnerships. 3. What are the four main functions of a health system, according to the World Health Organization? Explain each one briefly and give an example of a policy or intervention that relates to each function. - The four main functions of a health system are: service delivery, health workforce, health information, and health financing. Service delivery refers to the provision of effective, safe, quality, and people-centered health services that meet the needs and preferences of the population. An example of a policy or intervention that relates to service delivery is the integration of primary care and public health services. Health workforce refers to the availability, accessibility, competence, and motivation of health workers who can deliver health services. An example of a policy or intervention that relates to health workforce is the recruitment and retention of rural health workers. Health information refers to the generation, analysis, dissemination, and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health status, and health system performance. An example of a policy or intervention that relates to health information is the establishment of a national health information system. Health financing refers to the mobilization, allocation, and utilization of financial resources to ensure that all people can access health services without financial hardship. An example of a policy or intervention that relates to health financing is the implementation of a social health insurance scheme. 4. What are some of the key principles and values that guide ethical decision-making in healthcare? Give at least four examples and explain how they apply in practice. - Some of the key principles and values that guide ethical decision-making in healthcare are: respect for autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, dignity, confidentiality, accountability, and solidarity. Respect for autonomy means that people have the right to make informed choices about their own health and well-being, without coercion or manipulation. Beneficence means that healthcare providers should act in the best interests of their patients and promote their welfare. Non-maleficence means that healthcare providers should avoid or minimize harm to their patients and prevent unnecessary suffering. Justice means that healthcare resources should be distributed fairly and equitably among different groups and individuals, based on their needs and preferences. Dignity means that healthcare providers should treat their patients with respect and compassion, regardless of their personal characteristics or circumstances. Confidentiality means that healthcare providers should protect the privacy and security of their patients' personal information, unless there is a valid reason to disclose it. Accountability means that healthcare providers should be responsible for their actions and outcomes, and be transparent about their performance and quality. Solidarity means that healthcare providers should work together with other stakeholders to achieve common goals and address shared challenges. 5. What are some of the main sources of evidence for informing healthcare policy? Give at least three examples and describe their strengths and limitations. - Some of the main sources of evidence for informing healthcare policy are: systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational studies, and expert opinions. Systematic reviews are comprehensive summaries of existing research on a specific topic or question, using rigorous methods to identify, appraise, synthesize, and report relevant studies. They provide high-quality evidence on the effectiveness or impact of interventions or policies, as well as their potential harms or benefits. However, they may be limited by the availability, quality, relevance, or heterogeneity of the primary studies included in them, or by publication bias or conflicts of interest among the reviewers. RCTs are experimental studies that randomly assign participants to receive either an intervention or a control condition, and measure the outcomes of interest before and after the intervention. They provide strong evidence on the causal relationship between an intervention or policy