The Well-Being of Care Providers and Quality Patient Care Health Policy
Successful leaders must strive to foster a community of practice that focuses on the well-being of nurses, physicians, and other health care providers across the organization. Illuminating the negative impact of this issue on the quality of patient care and the health care workforce requires a laser-like focus on developing, enacting, and implementing the policy of meeting the urgent need of well-being of health care professionals. Rasool et al. (2021) underscore that supporting employee well-being influences work and organization engagement behaviors. Common health issues that demonstrate the need for well-being include apprehension, illness, depression, and fatigue (Rasool et al., 2021). In order to achieve their goals, high-performing organizations must prioritize employees’ well-being to promote performance input, diminish waste, and reduce poor health insurance costs (Rasool et al., 2021). Finally, elevating the workforce’s well-being demands a healthy work environment that ensures health and safety outcomes for nurses, physicians, and other health professionals (Geiger-Brown and Lipscomb, 2010).
Policy Framework and Rationale
The need for prioritizing the well-being of care professionals has become a critical issue in advancing the health care delivery system. Protecting nurses, physicians, and other care providers’ overall well-being and safety influences patient outcomes and meets the organizational goals. Therefore, it is essential to foster a positive work environment that elevates the overall well-being of the health care workforce through holistic institutional initiatives.
The Centers for Disease Control Prevention’s (CDCs) Policy Analytical Framework outlines the step-by-step guidelines in prioritizing health improvement policies that include: 1). Identifying the problem or issue; 2). identifying an appropriate policy situation; 3). identifying and describing policy options by assessing and prioritizing policy options; and, 4) developing a strategy for furthering the adoption of a policy solution (CDC, 2013). This framework provides a structured method that begins with problem identification to adopt a suitable policy development. The policy framework forms the capstone that guides policy development. It exemplifies the organizational mission and examines the potential impact of the health policy on the public and health care. (CDC, 2013). In addition, it articulates the political and operational feasibility of the health policy (CDC, 2013). Furthermore, this model in policy development considers the financial and economic implications by examining whether there is value-added to the organization. (CDC, 2013).
Stages in the Policy Process and Analysis Framework Guidance
A critical phase in the process is determining the deterrents to policy development that impacts the budget (CDC, 2013). The process of policy development takes time and resources. Therefore, organizational leaders must be adept at scrutinizing the cost-benefits of the health policy. Operationalizing a health policy requires effective strategies to educate stakeholders and disseminate salient information about the health policy (CDC, 2013). For example, nurse leaders and policymakers must promote buy-in among care providers by considering their learning needs. Furthermore, research and evidence-based practice must support the health development policy.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013). CDC’s Policy Analytical Framework. US Department of Health and Human Services.
htttp://www.cdc.gov.policy
Forstag, E. H., & Cuff, P. A. (2018, October 11). A design thinking, systems approach to well-being within education and practice: Proceedings of a workshop. National Center for
Biotechnology Information. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31063291/
Geiger-Brown, J., & Lipscomb, J. (2010). The health care work environment and adverse health and safety consequences for nurses. Annual Review of Nursing Research. 28, 191-231.
Rasool, S. F., Wang, M., Tang, M., Saeed, A., & Iqbal, J. (2021, February 22). How Toxic Workplace Environment Effects the Employee Engagement: The Mediating Role of
Organizational Support and Employee Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental
Research and Public Health.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33652564/
