US Healthcare Delivery System: Reform and Restructure and the Role of Nurses
Examine changes introduced to reform or restructure the U.S. health care delivery system. In a 1,000-1,250 word paper, discuss action taken for reform and restructuring and the role of the nurse within this changing environment.
Include the following:
Outline a current or emerging health care law or federal regulation introduced within the last 5 years to reform or restructure some aspect of the health care delivery system. Describe the effect of this on nursing practice and the nurse's role and responsibility.
Discuss how quality measures and pay for performance affect patient outcomes. Explain how these affect nursing practice and describe the expectations and responsibilities of the nursing role in these situations.
Discuss professional nursing leadership and management roles that have arisen and how they are important in responding to emerging trends and in the promotion of patient safety and quality care in diverse health care settings.
Research emerging trends. Predict two ways in which the practice of nursing and nursing roles will grow or transform within the next five years in response to upcoming trends or predicted issues in health care.
You are required to cite a minimum of three sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Nursing Practice and Healthcare Delivery Model
Scholars Name
Institution of Study
Course: Unit Name and Code
Instructor
Date of Submission
“Nursing Practice and Healthcare Delivery Model Revision”
Introduction
With the current laws and regulations governing the U.S healthcare system, insurance companies have been benefiting while patients have been receiving substandard services from various institutions. It is important to note that these kind of inefficiencies have resulted in the wastage of resources yet citizens are not getting quality treatment. The U.S. healthcare system has faced ongoing political debate. Reforms have been enacted in recent years, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA), to improve quality, accessibility, and affordability. The ACA addresses critical issues, requires insurance coverage for all, and creates marketplaces for consumers to compare and buy policies (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2022”). This has increased access to health insurance and quality healthcare services for many individuals and families.
Current Healthcare Law
In 2010, the government passed the “Affordable Care Act”, also known as “Obamacare”, which has significantly affected the medical field. The ACA’s primary objectives were to expand access to health insurance, enhance healthcare quality, and lower healthcare costs. Because of this legislation, a more significant number of individuals have access to essential healthcare services such as preventive and primary care. The ACA also instituted various measures to enhance patient safety, such as mandatory use of “electronic health records” (EHRs) and participation in value-based purchasing programs, which have helped to improve the overall quality of care delivered to patients “(U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2022”). Moreover, ACA has created opportunities for nurses to play a more active role in patient care and decision-making, contributing to a more collaborative and effective healthcare system.
Nurses have a key role in implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates. Their job is to provide high-quality patient care, which has become difficult due to the ACA. Nurses must provide the right care at the right time and protect patient information. The ACA will resolve the nursing shortage problem in the country. The act improves access to patient data and health information, allowing nurses to provide better care. The ACA also causes an increase in patients seeking care, and nurses must be prepared to handle the increased demand (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2022). With their skills and experience, nurses are capable of providing excellent care to every patient.
Quality measures and pay for performance are two crucial changes introduced by the Affordable Care Act to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. It is important to note that quality measures play a significant role in identifying weaknesses and prioritizing opportunities that exist in healthcare. At the same time, these measures identify what works and what does not work to craft improvement process. According to Cherry & Jacob (2021), quality measures prevent overuse, underuse, and misuse of healthcare services and also identify disparities in care delivery and outcomes. These measures focus on evaluating and rewarding healthcare providers based on their quality of care. Quality measures may include patient satisfaction surveys, readmission rates, and clinical outcomes. Healthcare providers receive compensation for their services through pay for performance (Crowell & Boynton, 2020). These measures aim to provide a comprehensive approach to healthcare delivery that prioritizes quality and encourages healthcare providers to deliver the highest possible standards of care.
The impact of quality measures and pay for performance on patient outcome and nurses
Introducin...