NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Walden University NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues– Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
How to Write the Body for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Rapidly rising cost of care in developed countries; continue to be a significant national healthcare issue of concern, especially here in the United States. Insurance coverage is among the strongest predictors of access to care and better health outcomes. The uninsured are less likely to receive preventive services and are more likely to delay or forgo care because of cost. They are more likely to have emergency department visits which are less cost-effective, also are more likely to experience potentially avoidable hospitalization than their counterparts with health insurance coverage (Yabroff et al., 2021). While healthcare economics is complex, technological innovation and costs associated with the adoption and use of health technology have become the primary driver of healthcare cost inflation. In the United States, health technology (H.T.) enables the scope and quality of care patients receive. Unfortunately, patients pursue expensive H.T. in response to information asymmetry, which leads them to associate high-tech care with quality and, of course, inefficient or no insurance coverage that shelters them from the actual cost of care. Research has shown lots of evidence relating to ineffective and inappropriate use of H.T. with resultant cost inflation and variable healthcare quality (Hofmann, 2009).
With the escalating cost of healthcare and the rise of high deductible health plans, patients are becoming increasingly responsible for significant portions of their bills. The average income of families with employee health insurance rose from $76,000 in 1999 to $99,000 in 2009 but increased spending on health care largely offset this gain. Families’ health insurance premiums rose from $490 to $1115, and out-of-pocket healthcare spending almost doubled. It is no wonder that so many admitted patients pay attention to the bill they will receive on discharge instead of their recovery (Simone, 2011).
Impact of the Increased Healthcare Cost on my Work Setting
I currently work at a hospital that serves a large number of unfunded and undocumented patients; some of these patients are homeless, and others live in living conditions that are hazardous to their health. This exposes my work environment to a high volume and high acuity of critically ill patients, resulting in a high volume and high acuity workplace. The majority of our patients cannot afford preventive care and therefore present in critical conditions. The majority of these patients come from other states, neighboring communities, and not always from the two communities we serve. As a result, my workplace frequently experiences total diversion status. Any nurse working at my workplace is regarded as a super nurse by the community. Most nurses from my workplace are specifically hired when they transfer to other hospitals because it is assumed that if you can care for Grady patients, you can care for any patient anywhere.
Methods by which my Healthcare Setting has responded to the aforementioned Concern
My healthcare facility is a non-profit organization that provides the highest quality of care, prompting the slogan “Atlanta cannot live without Grady.” According to a recent study, the United States’ health-care spending is higher than that of other countries, most likely due to higher prices and possibly more easily accessible technology, rather than higher income or an abundance of hospitals and doctors. Norbeck (2013) My healthcare setting implemented a cost-cutting policy in which uninsured or low-income patients can obtain a “Grady Card” if they meet the essential criteria. Patients must, however, be residents of one of the two communities we serve.
We have physician advisors, case managers, and utilization review personnel who review patients’ clinical information and follow up as needed to ensure proper diagnosis documentation for billing purposes and the ordering of only medically necessary procedures to avoid overbilling (Jackson et al., 2015).
Finally, case managers are constantly reviewing charts to ensure that physicians place Medicare patients who meet inpatient criteria on appropriate status, as this significantly reduces or eliminates the burden of healthcare costs on patients. The hospital ensures that discharge follow-up calls are made within 2-3 days of discharge. All arrangements, including transportation, were made to ensure patients’ compliance with follow-up visits, lowering the likelihood of readmission and ER utilization. Reducing readmissions is a current priority for my health-care system, and timely outpatient follow-up is emphasized as an essential component of transitional care models (Jackson et al., 2015).
If you were to ask 10 people what they believe to be the most significant issue facing healthcare today, you might get 10 different answers. Escalating costs? Regulation? Technology disruption?
These and many other topics are worthy of discussion. Not surprisingly, much has been said in the research, within the profession, and in the news about these topics. Whether they are issues of finance, quality, workload, or outcomes, there is no shortage of changes to be addressed.
In this Discussion, you examine a national healthcare issue and consider how that issue may impact your work setting. You also analyze how your organization has responded to this issue.
To Prepare:
Review the Resources and select one current national healthcare issue/stressor to focus on.
Reflect on the current national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and think about how this issue/stressor may be addressed in your work setting.
Also Check Out: NURS 6053- Week 3 Discussion Organizational Policies and Practices to Support Healthcare Issues
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Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Global healthcare systems are facing unprecedented times and uncertain future based on the current situation of Covid-19 pandemic. This has prompted quick adoption of technology in healthcare systems from booking of appointments to billing. Therefore, I believe one of the major current healthcare issues is on technology disruption. Much questions have been raised on the big data usage, incorporation of telehealth, synchronization of the national health data systems and on the confidentiality and security of the patient’s health records as cases of cybersecurity have soared with increased adoption of information technology in healthcare (Sittig et al., 2018).
Big data in healthcare systems refers to the accumulation of large sets of digital information about the patients’ biodata, medical history, clinical interventions, current and past medical concerns of the patients. This data is accumulated overtime rather than that which is received in small amounts and not stored for future references (Thew, 2016). This prompts the healthcare nurse informatics to employ the use of data analytics and data mining tools so that they can extract meaningful patterns, study the correlation and develop predictions (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2018). Use big data has proved to be essential in healthcare management especially when analyzed and used to inform critical decision-making points and even guide future evidence-based change projects (Byrd et al, 2018). This information is used by managers and administrators to identify patterns and areas of strength and weakness within the system and help plan in resource allocation.
However, big data faces one of the greatest security challenges especially on the confidentiality of the patient’s information. Cases of cyber insecurity have been rising since most healthcare facilities and organizations adopted use of technology to manage the spread of Covid-19 pandemic. The patient’s confidential data may be easily accessed if the systems security checks are not well enforced. In some of the online platforms like Amazon, for online shopping, the systems put in adequate security checks and user authentication and verification steps. The breech of patient’s confidential medical information could have adverse effects on the healthcare facility or organization hence incur a lot of expenses in terms of compensation and in the end the reputation of the organization will also be severely damaged.
Therefore, it is imperative for healthcare organizations and systems that procure any digital platform for managing healthcare records to invest heavily on ensuring the system is safe and secure from cyber security threats and phishing on patient’s data (Bibhuranjan, 2019). Moreover, there is need to improve the software technology to develop systems that are less susceptible to hacking. It is also essential to ensure that patients are well educated on ways of safely using the digital platforms and there should be readily accessible customer care agent to help patient’s carry out proper verification and maintain safety of their data.
Increased usage of digital platforms and information technology poses another safety threat to the patients as they are likely to seek for medical advice from online blogs and unverified media sources that could be misleading to the patients. This information collected on such blogs has no scientifically proven or evidence-based data to support the claims or the medical advice offered. Moreover, the information could be provided by individuals who have no professional training in the areas that they are providing the medical information. There has been rapid increase in blogs from unregistered dietician and fitness coaches whose methods are not scientifically viable to rely on as professional medical procedures. Many patients have fallen prey to such misleading information that even sometimes discourages the use of conventional medication and clinical intervention measures (Young, 2016).
In conclusion, it is imperative for the federal and state government to come up with strict measures, laws and policies that govern the use of information technology in healthcare. The guidelines should be clear and the regulations must be standardized to enhance security of the patients’ data and also safeguard them from unverified and unethical practices and information availed to them on social media platforms. Any digital platforms or media engaging in medical or clinical information must have passed the licensure criteria that would be guided by strict conformity to the ethical issues in healthcare and meets the set standards.
References
Bibhuranjan. (2019). Big data analytics – How beneficial is it for healthcare? Technofaq. https://technofaq.org/posts/2019/05/big-data-analytics-how-beneficial-is-it-for-healthcare/#:~:text=%20Big%20Data%20Analytics-%20Benefits%20in%20the%20Healthcare,is%20very%20important%20for%20any%20organization…%20More
Byrd, T.A., Kung, L., & Wang, Y. (2018). Big data analytics: Understanding its capabilities and potential benefits for healthcare organizations. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 126(1), 3-13. doi:10. 1016/j.techfore.2015.12.019
McGonigle, D., & Mastrian, K. G. (2017). Nursing informatics and the foundation of knowledge (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sittig, D. F., Wright, A., Coiera, E., Magrabi, F., Ratwani, R., Bates, D. W., & Singh, H. (2018). Current challenges in health information technology–related patient safety. Health Informatics Journal, 26(1), 146045821881489. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458218814893
Thew, J. (2016). Big data means big potential, changes for nurse execs. HealthLeaders. https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/nursing/big-data-means-big-potential-challenges-nurse-execs
Young, A. (2016). The pros and cons of big data in the healthcare industry. HealthCareZone. https://www.healthtechzone.com/topics/healthcare/articles/2016/11/18/427248-pros-cons-big-data-the-healthcare-industry.htm
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Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
You have extensively responded to healthcare stressors in your organization. I would like to add how Covid-19 has affected healthcare systems and reimbursement. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare costs, insurance, and reimbursement systems worldwide. The unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic have led to increased healthcare expenses, changes in insurance coverage, and shifts in reimbursement policies.
Firstly, the costs associated with COVID-19 have been substantial. Hospitals and healthcare facilities faced significant financial burdens due to the surge in patient volume, increased demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), testing supplies, and the need for additional staff and equipment. The costs of COVID-19 testing, treatment, and vaccination efforts have also contributed to rising healthcare expenses. These increased costs have put strains on healthcare systems and have been reflected in higher healthcare premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for individuals and employers (Waitzberg et al., 2021).
Secondly, the pandemic has brought about changes in insurance coverage. Many insurers expanded coverage to include COVID-19-related services, such as testing, treatment, and telehealth visits. Some insurers waived cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment to alleviate financial burdens on patients. However, the pandemic has also highlighted gaps in coverage, especially for those without insurance or with limited coverage. The loss of jobs and subsequent loss of employer-sponsored health insurance further exacerbated the issue (Waitzberg et al., 2021).
Thirdly, reimbursement policies underwent modifications to adapt to the unique circumstances of the pandemic. Telehealth services, for instance, saw increased utilization as a means to provide care while minimizing in-person contact. Reimbursement policies were revised to accommodate and encourage telehealth visits, ensuring healthcare providers were adequately reimbursed for virtual consultations. Additionally, government programs, such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in the United States, introduced financial relief measures and additional funding to support healthcare providers and ensure timely reimbursement for COVID-19-related services (Cutler, 2020).
In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound effects on healthcare costs, insurance coverage, and reimbursement systems. The increased expenses, changes in insurance coverage, and modified reimbursement policies have been necessary to address the unique challenges posed by the pandemic and ensure access to healthcare services during this unprecedented time.
References
Cutler, D. (2020). How will COVID-19 affect the health care economy?. In JAMA Health Forum, 1(4). e200419-e200419) Doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2020.0419
Waitzberg, R., Quentin, W., Webb, E., & Glied, S. (2021). The Structure and Financing of Health Care Systems Affected How Providers Coped With COVID‐19. The Milbank Quarterly, 99(2), 542. Doi: 10.1111/1468-0009.12530
Content
Name: NURS_6053_Module01_Week02_Assignment_Rubric
| Excellent | Good | Fair | Poor | ||
| Develop a 3- to 4-page paper, written to your organization’s leadership team, addressing the selected national healthcare issue/stressor and how it is impacting your work setting. Be sure to address the following:
· Describe the national healthcare issue/stressor you selected and its impact on your organization. Use organizational data to quantify the impact (if necessary, seek assistance from leadership or appropriate stakeholders in your organization). |
Points Range: 23 (23%) – 25 (25%)
The response accurately and thoroughly describes in detail the national healthcare issue/stressor selected and its impact on an organization. The response includes accurate, clear, and detailed data to quantify the impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor selected. |
Points Range: 20 (20%) – 22 (22%)
The response describes the national healthcare issue/stressor selected and its impact on an organization. The response includes accurate data to quantify the impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor selected. |
Points Range: 18 (18%) – 19 (19%)
The response describes the national healthcare issue/stressor selected and its impact on an organization that is vague or inaccurate. The response includes vague or inaccurate data to quantify the impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor selected. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 17 (17%)
The response describes the national healthcare issue/stressor selected and its impact on an organization that is vague and inaccurate, or is missing. The response includes vague and inaccurate data to quantify the impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor selected, or is missing. |
|
| · Provide a brief summary of the two articles you reviewed from outside resources, on the national healthcare issue/stressor and explain how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations. | Points Range: 27 (27%) – 30 (30%)
A complete, detailed, and specific synthesis of two outside resources reviewed on the national healthcare issue/stressor selected is provided. The response fully integrates at least 2 outside resources and 2 or 3 course-specific resources that fully support the summary provided. The response accurately and thoroughly explains in detail how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations. |
Points Range: 24 (24%) – 26 (26%)
An accurate synthesis of at least one outside resource reviewed on the national healthcare issue/stressor selected is provided. The response integrates at least 1 outside resource and 2 or 3 course-specific resources that may support the summary provided. The response explains how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations. |
Points Range: 21 (21%) – 23 (23%)
A vague or inaccurate summary of outside resources reviewed on the national healthcare issue/stressor selected is provided. The response minimally integrates resources that may support the summary provided. The response explains how the healthcare issue/stressor is being addressed in other organizations that is vague or inaccurate. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 20 (20%)
A vague and inaccurate summary of no outside resources reviewed on the national healthcare issue/stressor selected is provided, or is missing. The response fails to integrate any resources to support the summary provided. |
|
| · Summarize the strategies used to address the organizational impact of national healthcare issues/stressors presented in the scholarly resources you selected and explain how they may impact your organization both positively and negatively. Be specific and provide examples. | Points Range: 27 (27%) – 30 (30%)
A complete, detailed, and accurate summary of the strategies used to address the organizational impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor is provided. The response accurately and thoroughly explains in detail how the strategies may impact an organization both positively and negatively, with specific and accurate examples. |
Points Range: 24 (24%) – 26 (26%)
An accurate summary of the strategies used to address the organizational impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor is provided. The response explains how the strategies may impact an organization both positively and negatively. May include some specific examples. |
Points Range: 21 (21%) – 23 (23%)
A vague or inaccurate summary of the strategies used to address the organizational impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor is provided. The response explains how the strategies may impact an organization both positively and negatively that is vague or inaccurate. May include some vague or inaccurate examples. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 20 (20%)
A vague and inaccurate summary of the strategies used to address the organizational impact of the national healthcare issue/stressor is provided, or is missing. The response explains how the strategies may impact an organization both positively and negatively that is vague and inaccurate, or is missing. Does not include any examples. |
|
| Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:
Paragraphs make clear points that support well-developed ideas, flow logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas. Sentences are carefully focused—neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria. |
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%–79% of the time. Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time. No purpose statement, introduction, or conclusion was provided. |
|
| Written Expression and Formatting – English writing standards:
Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation |
Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding. |
|
| Written Expression and Formatting – The paper follows correct APA format for title page, headings, font, spacing, margins, indentations, page numbers, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list. | Points Range: 5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors. |
Points Range: 4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1 or 2) APA format errors. |
Points Range: 3.5 (3.5%) – 3.5 (3.5%)
Contains several (3 or 4) APA format errors. |
Points Range: 0 (0%) – 3 (3%)
Contains many (≥ 5) APA format errors. |
|
| Total Points: 100 | |||||
Sample Answer 5 for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Staffing Shortages as a National Health are Issue/Stressor
Staffing shortages in the health care industry has become a significant issue and stressor all over the nation. Nurses work extremely hard and that is not a secret. With imminent staffing shortages in the health care profession and an increase in the volume of patients seeking care services, patient loads are increasing rapidly, thus making it difficult for nurses already short staff to manage all patient care needs effectively and efficiently (Bakhamis et al.,2019). The United States has a massive nursing shortage, and the problem is only set to grow. Due to an influx of patients into our health system, the retirement of baby boomers, and educational bottlenecks, nursing positions are not being filled fast enough to keep up with demand (Xue et al., 2016). Nurses overworked and understaffed on the front lines. There are millions of registered and licensed practical nurses in the United States. Most of these nurses, however, are not happy and comfortable in their work, they are stress, overworked, underappreciated, and underutilized leading to significant impact on the delivery of care.
Impact on Work Setting
Staffing shortages can have a significant impact on the quality of work, on productivity, creativity, competitiveness, nursing care outcomes, and on ensuring patients’ safety (Norful et al., 2018). At my health care organization due to staffing shortage, nurses sometimes work long hours because other nurses calling in sick, running one to four hours late from working under very stressful conditions resulting in burnout, injury, fatigue, and job dissatisfaction. Nurses suffering in my health care facility delay treatments and make other mistakes due to the relationship of the nurse-to-patient ratio (Xue et al., 2016). An unfortunate outcome is that patient quality of care suffers, resulting in a variety of complications including emergency room overcrowding and delay of treatment.
Organizational Response and Changes Implemented
A range of solutions has been offered as a way to solve the nursing shortage in my health care organization from subsidized funding, hiring new nurses, wage increases, and contracting with nursing agencies for nurses to fill in periodically. My health care organization provides tuition for nurses seeking to advance their degree. In addition, resources have been allocated towards increasing wages which has affected recruitment as well as retention of Registered Nurses already in the facility.
Another important strategy to further address the nursing shortage is that, nurses are allowed scheduling flexibility and coverage. This has help nurses to juggle their busy work schedule with home life and educational opportunities, and also allows room for decompressing between stressful, emotionally demanding shifts and days of work.
Health care of the nation, and patients, in particular will benefit the most from adequate staffing and a healthy and well rested nurse because efficiency and productivity will increase, the number of work-related mistakes at the same time will reduce, sick leaves are going to be rare, shorter, and burnout will not occur often (Norful et al., 2018). By introducing said strategies, we would not only increase staffing in health care but equally, reduce the stress-related illness rate among nurses and would also significantly raise the quality of healthcare and patient outcomes.
References
Bakhamis, L., Paul, D.P., Smith, H., & Coustasse, A. (2019). Still an Epidemic: The Burnout
Syndrome in Hospital Registered Nurses. Health Care Manag (Frederick); 38(1):3-10
Norful, A. A., de Jacq, K., Carlino, R., & Poghosyan, L. (2018). Nurse practitioner-physician
comanagement: A theoretical model to alleviate primary care strain. Annals of Family
Xue, Y., Ye, Z., Brewer, C., & Spetz, J. (2016). Impact of state nurse practitioner scope-of-
practice regulation on health care delivery: a systematic review. Nurs Outlook;
64(1):71-85.
Sample Answer 6 for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
I enjoyed reading your post. Staffing shortages seems to be an ongoing problem. This is a huge problem when it comes to patient and staff safety. It should be obvious to health care that when there is a nursing shortage, there is an increase in medical errors our negative outcomes. In 2006 California mandated that nurses will have no more than 5 patients on the medical floor. According to Patient Safety Network (PSNET), “The causal relationship between nurse-to-patient ratios and patient outcomes likely is accounted for by both increased workload and increased stress and risk of burnout for nurses” (PSNET, 2019).
On one of the hospital units where I work, we have a floor dedicated to older adults. At times we feel short staffed even though our numbers don’t look high but our acuity is really high. Some weeks we have older adults that are walkie talkies and then the next week we can hall all very high fall risks patients that are using walkers and wheelchairs. These are the days we feel short staffed and wish management would staff us according to acuity and not by a grid. During these stressful high acuity weeks, if a patient falls, we are called into a post fall meeting to meet with the CEO. One questions that is always asked is “what could you have done to prevent this fall”. This question to me is a bit passive aggressive. I have not been to this meeting but this is what my peers have told me. I believe that the question should be “what should we have done to prevent this fall”, talking as a team not as an individual. In the older adult units, these patients usually have a longer length of stay compared to our other behavioral floors. Longer lengths of stay usually can lead to a higher risks of falls especially on older adults that are on anti psychotic medications that may cause drowsiness. According to a study, there was an increased risks of falls for elderly people on anti psychotics, or benzodiazipines, leading to a more unsteady gait and balance instability (Jong, Elst, & Hartholt, 2013).
Jong, M. R., Elst, M. V., & Hartholt, K. A. (2013). Drug-related falls in older patients: Implicated drugs, consequences, and possible prevention strategies. Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety, 4(4), 147-154. doi:10.1177/2042098613486829
Pape, T. (n.d.). Nursing and Patient Safety. Retrieved December 4, 2020, from https://psnet.ahrq.gov/primer/nursing-and-patient-safety
Sample Answer 7 for NURS 6053- Week 1 Discussion Review of Current Healthcare Issues
Description of National Health Issue (High Cost of Care)
U.S healthcare cost is the highest globally, although the U.S is rated high regarding patient-centered care. The continuous upward cost of U.S healthcare costs has created economic hardship for some families in America (Lyford & Lash, 2019). Many quality issues are noted within the healthcare system. For example, medical errors have been attributed to several thousands of leaks per year in America, lack of transparency leading to fraud is noticeable in the U.S healthcare system, coding system has caused clashes between healthcare providers and insurance companies, and the policyholders have become the bargaining chips.
Up code is a way providers extort money from insurance companies, and insurance companies, on the other hand, may introduce higher premiums to the employers. There are also challenges in getting competent Doctors; health consumers need access to information about doctors’ credentials and accomplishments, making it difficult to make an informed decision. In America, the high cost of healthcare is linked to new technology, and money is pumped into training and managing new Electronic Health Records and Electronic Medical records. Most of these expenses come from the operational and staff cost required to be in charge of these new systems. In America, prescription drugs and diagnostic tests are so exorbitant. Increasing transparency is synonymous with reducing costs. For example, Drug companies never affix any price to their product when advertising it on TV. A significant way to facilitate transparency is by asking drug makers to disclose the cost of their products in media advertisements (Garness, 2019).
Various steps the government has taken to reduce the cost of healthcare have proven futile. Providing healthcare consumers with necessary and adequate information to better their health and teaching consumers about preventive screenings will reduce the risk of preventable conditions and save the cost of healthcare services.
When consumers are well educated about their health, it brings down demands for health services, potentially lowering healthcare service prices. Healthcare professionals are restructuring care to facilitate positive patient outcomes in combating the high cost of healthcare services. Healthcare professionals face the problem of creating new ways to restructure care and create systems that make providers liable for standard, cost, and patient care outcomes (Ricketts & Fraher, 2013).
How High Costs of Care May Impact My Work Settings
I work in a hospital. Many people in America either delayed or did not get healthcare services for cost reasons. Costs of healthcare services are the most debilitating factor to healthcare access. People with lower income and uninsured have difficulties affording healthcare costs. The rich and those with healthcare insurance also pay a very high price for healthcare services. The high price of healthcare can either make the patient skip or delay pursuing healthcare services.
The increase in the cost of healthcare services is linked to the quantity, not quality, of services. The advent of new technologies is driving the cost upward. There needs to be more information regarding medical services, and cost implication is also responsible for high costs. Doctors are scared of malpractice lawsuits and engage in defensive medicine; this leads to the prescription of irrelevant tests, and this practice drives up the cost. Some studies have shown that some patients spent more on healthcare services than their income could support.
In my hospital, patients are suspending care services because of healthcare costs. Most canceled healthcare appointments or procedures are traceable to the high cost, and appointments get canceled when patients receive high estimates. Even though patients know that untreated medical condition can aggravate, resulting in worsening symptoms, when a patient postpones care, cancel, or delay, it causes workflow disruptions. Revenue is lost, necessary clinician time is wasted, and it leads to a lack of inefficient care delivery.
The patient is shopping for providers that guarantee a positive patient payment experience. Without any doubt, when patients receive surprise bills, they will be tempted to search for different providers. This is a nightmare for healthcare providers. When patients switch providers, such providers will lose revenue and may be unable to meet their financial obligations. For a healthcare provider to maintain a competitive edge, such must offer a better payment experience. The increase in healthcare services costs is affecting healthcare organizations’ revenue generation. For providers to stay afloat, they must provide the best financial experience.
My hospital cuts jobs and reduces services in my workplace due to increasing costs and strain budgets. As the execution of the U.S Affordable Care Act moves, several healthcare systems seek considerable changes in how the healthcare workforce is sorted out (Pittman & Scilly-Russ, 2016). Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on the hospital budget. Our hospital is paying high wages to healthcare workers due to shortages, and this is driving the cost of healthcare upward.
As a result of this shortage, my organization scaled back services. In the hospital I worked, we have been experiencing low procedure volumes and supply chain issues post-pandemic. Hospital payroll has gone above the ceiling. The cost of healthcare delivery had made my healthcare organization cut executive compensation and readjusted workloads. Contract workers were switched to full-time employees, and existing staff were retained at a minimum wage increase. Some patient do not mind travelling for healthcare services to reduce the cost. As a way of increasing profitability, my workplace has resulted in reducing nurse staffing. The nursing staffing ratio directly relates to the quality of patient care outcomes. Reducing staffing has contributed to nurse burnout as nurses ended up working long, and nurse’s burnout has been the cause of high nurse turnover. Increased nursing turnover has been the source of an increase in overtime pay. Nurse burnout affects staff morale and productivity, as nurse turnover affects the nurse-patient ratio.
Social Determinant that Most Affect High Cost of Care
Social determinant of health includes stigma, disparity, poverty, racism, and lack of education. Social determinant of health are the situations in the surrounding where people work or live, and social determinant plays a vital role in quality-of-life outcomes. Health disparities, education discrimination, literacy, etc., contribute to arrays of health disparities and inequities. Socioeconomic factors encircle many several social determinants of health. Poverty can inhibit access to quality healthcare. Social determinant of health is not a medical factor, but they impact health outcomes. In this case, poverty and lack of education are social determinants that most affect the high cost of care.
How My Health System Work Setting Has Responded to the High Cost of Health Services
Because there are intermediaries between healthcare providers and patients, many sick patients are paying a high price to get treated. My health system implemented cost containment, and this facility designs effective cost-containment strategies to alleviate the cost of care without compromising high-quality care. Cost containment has led to the creation of new payment models and revamped care delivery (Palumbo et al., 2017).
My health system work setting responded to the high cost of healthcare through cost containment. Promoting comprehension of organizational costs, encouraging engagement throughout the hospital, having frequent meetings with the stakeholders, stressing the correlation between labor costs and productivity, and making available powerful tools for data-directed decision-making.
Using generic medicines, and asking the patient to do a routine health screening, enables the detection of health problems early, and if diseases are treated early, it saves cost. To alleviate the cost on the side of the patient, patients are advised to use in-Network Health care providers to save money. The management first communicates the plan to implement cost containment around all hospital departments. Essential expenditure and revenue data are passed to all stakeholders, so they must learn the rationale behind cost containment.
The appropriate authority can translate data and expose clinicians to insights into the system’s financial operations. Stakeholders such as doctors and nurse practitioners were provided with adequate financial data to enable them to make appropriate adjustments as they could potentially drive-up costs. Exposing cost data to frontline decision-makers in the healthcare system is a difficult decision. The reason for high healthcare costs can be linked to advancements in medical technology, the aging population, and the cost of labor.
To lower the cost of healthcare services, our hospital utilizes Telehealth, which has brought meaningful saving substantial financial savings to the hospital. The patient is seen virtually by doctors. These strategies were initiated at the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic. These strategies help the hospital to save money, and the patient does not have to make unnecessary trips to the emergency department which can make the patient cough out thousands of dollars per visit. Hospitals throughout the nations are adapting to these changes using the theory of complex adaptive systems. Complex Adaptive Systems theory is considered one feature of complexity science that describes how an organization adapts to an ever-evolving environment (Marshall & Broome, 2021).
References
Garness, K. (2019). The Challenge of High Drug Prices in America: Cost Disclosure in Direct-to-Consumer Advertising May Offer a Solution. American Health & Drug Benefits, 12(5), 254–255.
Lyford, S., & Lash, T. A. (2019). America’s Healthcare Cost Crisis: As the costs of U.S. healthcare continue to escalate, three commonsense reforms could reverse this unsustainable trend. Generations, 7–12.
Marshall, E. S., & Broome, M. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
Palumbo, M., Rambur, B., & Hart, V. (2017). Is health care payment reform impacting nurses’ work settings, roles, and education preparation? Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(6), 400–404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2016.11.005Links to an external site.
Pittman, P., & Scully-Russ, E. (2016). Workforce planning and development in times of delivery system transformation. Human Resources for Health, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-016-0154-3Links to an external site.
Ricketts, T. C., & Fraher, E. P. (2013). Reconfiguring health workforce policy so that education, training, and actual delivery of care are closely connected. Health Affairs, 32(11). https://www.proquest.com/docview/1458313016?accountid=14872%26forcedol=trueLinks to an external site.