Health care delivery models | Nursing homework help
Introduction The healthcare industry in the United States has undergone significant changes in the past few years, particularly with the introduction of laws and regulations aimed at reforming and restructuring the healthcare delivery system. These changes have also had a significant impact on nursing practice and the roles and responsibilities of nurses in providing high-quality and safe patient care. This paper examines the changes introduced to reform or restructure the US healthcare delivery system, the role of nurses within this changing environment, the effect of quality measures and pay for performance on patient outcomes and nursing practice, and emerging trends in nursing practice.
Healthcare Reform and Nursing Practice One of the most significant changes introduced to reform the US healthcare delivery system is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA was signed into law in 2010 and aimed to increase access to healthcare for millions of Americans while also reducing healthcare costs. The ACA also introduced several changes that have affected nursing practice, including the expansion of Medicaid, the creation of healthcare exchanges, and the introduction of value-based purchasing (VBP) programs (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016).
One of the major impacts of the ACA on nursing practice is the increased demand for primary care services. As more individuals have gained access to healthcare through the ACA, there has been a surge in demand for primary care services, which has resulted in nurses assuming more responsibilities in primary care settings (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016). Nurses have had to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape by taking on more responsibilities, such as performing routine health assessments, educating patients on disease prevention and management, and providing follow-up care. Additionally, nurses have been required to work collaboratively with other healthcare providers to ensure that patients receive high-quality, coordinated care.
Quality Measures, Pay for Performance, and Nursing Practice Quality measures and pay for performance programs have become increasingly prevalent in the US healthcare system. These programs aim to improve patient outcomes by incentivizing healthcare providers to meet specific quality metrics. Nurses play a critical role in these programs, as they are often responsible for collecting and reporting quality data to ensure compliance with program requirements (Katz, 2019).
The effect of quality measures and pay for performance programs on nursing practice is twofold. First, nurses are required to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to ensure that patients meet quality metrics. This has resulted in increased pressure on nurses to provide high-quality care and to continually monitor and evaluate patient outcomes. Second, nurses are also responsible for collecting and reporting data on quality metrics, which requires significant time and effort.
Professional Nursing Leadership and Management Roles As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, new nursing leadership and management roles have emerged. These roles are critical in responding to emerging trends and promoting patient safety and quality care in diverse healthcare settings. One such role is the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), who is responsible for leading nursing practice across an organization and ensuring that nursing practice is aligned with organizational goals and objectives (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016).
Another important nursing leadership role is the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), who is responsible for leading clinical teams in providing high-quality, safe patient care. The CNL is responsible for coordinating care, facilitating communication among healthcare providers, and ensuring that patients receive appropriate care in a timely manner (Finkelman & Kenner, 2016). These roles are critical in ensuring that nursing practice is aligned with organizational goals and objectives, and that patients receive safe, high-quality care.
Emerging Trends in Nursing Practice As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, several emerging trends are likely to have a significant impact on nursing practice. One of these trends is the use of telehealth technologies, which enable healthcare providers to deliver care remotely. This technology has the potential to increase access to care, particularly in rural and underserved areas,