Healthcare Program / Policy Evaluation
Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.
Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
To Prepare:
Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:
Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
Implementing Program
Your Name
Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
November 7, 2021
Healthcare Program / Policy Evaluation
Hand washing protocol – Hand hygiene is important for any healthcare professionals. This is because one of the risks that are associated with the provision of care (particularly in hospitals) is nosocomial infections which are acquired by patients during in-patient settings.
Accordingly, this importance is one of the reasons why I specifically chose this healthcare policy. I believe that by the mere improvement of regulatory policies (and strategies) on handwashing, the level of infections could be greatly reduced.
Description
Handwashing policies in the hospital setting may differ based on the rules of the administration. Nonetheless, the policies in handwashing protocols in New York provide that nurses and other staff should wash their hands within 10 seconds of entering a patient’s room. Accordingly, they are also required to wash their hands after entering a room. Use hand sanitizers and alcohol at least once every 15 minutes when they are not doing anything CITATION Bro211 \l 1033 (Brody, 2021). This also includes the policy implementation of the “20-second rule”, which means that hand washing should not be less than 20 seconds for each instance.
How was the success for the program/policy measured?
The success of the program/policy is evaluated based on anonymous self-evaluations of their compliance with the 20-second rule, as well as a comparison between the base number of nosocomial infections and changes (i.e., increase or reduction) to it after some time.
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program/policy selected?
Almost all stakeholders have been reached by this policy. On the one hand, healthcare workers are highly compliant with the program knowing that cross-infection would not only increase the risks to others but also themselves. On the other hand, it also reached patients and their companions in the hospital. Most of them frequently wash their hands or at least take advantage of the hand sanitizers provided for them.
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
The data that was used to conduct the program are; (1) measurements based on the self-evaluation of healthcare workers for the effectiveness of the policy and compliance therein, and (2) the reduction of nosocomial infections before and after the intervention period.
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
During the implementation of the policy/intervention, most healthcare workers were reminded about the significantly higher risks of cross-infection for noncompliance with this...