Nursing Agenda for Health Care Reform Since 1989, The American Nurses Association (ANA) had tasked itself to improve the delivery of the health care system in the United States. As one of the major stakeholders of the industry, the ANA had closely monitored and noted “the overwhelming problems of the health care system in the country. In all the reforms that ANA had adopted, “ANA remained committed to the principle that all persons are entitled to ready access to affordable, quality heath care services (ANA, 2008, p. 1). Consequently, in 2008, ANA published an update of the 2005 ANA Health System Reform Agenda that reaffirmed the principle that “health care is a basic human right” (ANA, 2008, p. 1). In addition, ANA also agreed with the …show more content…
Basic Components of the Agenda
The four areas of concern that were addressed by the ANA Agenda for Health Care Reform were critical issues that were found to be in need of “bold action” (ANA, 2008, p. 3) not only from the nursing profession but also from other stakeholders, e.g., “policy-makers, industry leaders, providers, and consumers” (ANA, 2008, p. 3) as well. The first issue of concern was access to health care. By access, ANA reiterated every person’s right to health care. Simply put, health care must be affordable, accessible, and acceptable. Quality care was the second issue that ANA addressed in its health care reform. Using the aims of the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the ANA elaborated quality care as one that is “safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable” (ANA, 2008, p. 6). Quality care, as further described by the IOM is based on the “relationship between nurse staffing and patient outcome” (ANA, 2008,
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With the passage of the ACA, the Federal government in collaboration with the states, reformed the “healthcare system by giving more Americans access to quality, affordable health insurance” (Obama Care Facts, Summary, n.d.). Thus, the ANA Agenda for Reform had been partly achieved. In addition, the Agenda also served as a wake-up call that brought key nursing and patients’ issues to the fore, e.g., Safe Staffing, Safe Patient Handling, and Title VIII (Nursing Workforce Development) Funding (ANA, 2016), just to mention a
The first provision of the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) “Code of Ethics” states, “ The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.” The second provision states, “The nurse’s primary commitment is the patient, whether the patient is an individual, family, group, or community” (Fowler, 2010). As nurses we need to respect the autonomy and allow for the patient to express their choices and concerns. We also need to provide them with support by giving them knowledge and understanding so they
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010 with the goal of expanding healthcare coverage to all Americans by reforming insurance policies and practices (Tillett, 2011). The ACA upsurges the demand for an increase in primary care providers in order to supply quality care to the much larger population that will have coverage and therefore acquiring healthcare. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) through its report The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health has generated a solution to the shortage of primary care providers by promoting a transformation of the nursing profession to fill the gap.
In 2009, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) and former ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR witnessed this historical moment. American nurses celebrate with satisfaction, because their hard work paid off, enacting historical health care reform legislation that benefits not only nurses but their patient as well. Despite that the health care reform is now a reality, is important to keep working in order to make sure that the reform is implemented effectively (Routson, 2010).The ANA has been in favor of a health care reform that would provide high quality medical services for all. ANA believe that with Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act, millions of American will be protected against the lost or denied health insurance coverage and improved access to primary and preventive care. (ANA, 2011)
In her paper emerging model of quality, June Larrabee discusses quality as a construct that includes beneficence, value, prudence and justice (Larrabee, 1996). She speaks of quality and value as integral issues that are intertwined with mutually beneficial outcomes. Her model investigates how the well-being of individuals are affected by perceptions of how services are delivered, along with the distribution of resources based on the decisions that are made (Larrabee, 1996). She speaks of the industrial model of quality and how the cornerstone ideas of that model (that the customer always knows what is best for themselves) does not fit the healthcare model (Larrabee, 1996). Larrabee introduces the concept that the patient va provider goal incongruence affects the provide (in this case the nurse) from being able to positively affect healthcare outcomes (Larrabee, 1996). The recent introduction of healthcare measures such as HCAHPS: Patients' Perspectives of Care Survey has encouraged the healthcare community to firmly espouse an industrial model of quality. HCAHPS is a survey where patients are asked questions related to their recent hospitalization that identifies satisfaction with case based solely on the individuals’ perception of the care given. This can lead to divergent goals among the healthcare team or which the patient is a member. Larrabee’s model of quality of care model
The American Nurses Association (ANA) developed a foundation for which all nurses are expected to perform their basic duties in order to meet the needs of the society we serve. The ANA “has long been instrumental in the development of three foundational documents for professional nursing; its code of ethics, its scope and standards of practice, ands statement of social policy.” (ANA, 2010, p. 87) The ANA defined nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” and used to create the scope and standards of nursing practice. (ANA, 2010, p. 1) These “outline the steps that nurses must take to meet client healthcare needs.” () The nursing process, for example, is one of the things I use daily. Other examples include communicating and collaborating with my patient, their families, and my peers, and being a lifelong learner. I continually research new diagnoses, medications, and treatments for my patients. As a nurse of ...
As I began watching Reinventing Healthcare-A Fred Friendly Seminar (2008), I thought to myself, “man, things have changed since 2008.” And as the discussion progressed, I started to become irritated by how little had changed. The issues discussed were far-reaching, and the necessity for urgent change was a repeated theme. And yet, eight years later, health care has made changes, but many of its crucial problems still exist.
Now that I have this class behind me, I am so fulfilled to convey that this course was so different from the previous. Throughout this class, I turned to deep analysis of major forms of reimbursement, equity and affordability in healthcare delivery, healthcare policy, finance, and regulatory environment including local, state and national healthcare development. Affordable Care Act support nurse’s central role in cost control, care quality, and patient safety increasing the chances for nurses to make care as healthier as possible. The social environment, political and economic impact cultural worries of current economic impact of health care reform, health insurances coverages and payments. A collaboration among health staff and nursing advocacy
There has been a drastic cut in both the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates. According to Robert (2012), “cuts of more than $360 billion to Medicare and Medicaid will be made over the next 10 years. The focus of nursing needs to emphasize more on wellness care and prevention rather than acute care” (McNeal, G., 2012). Nursing practice will need to shift more towards community and population focused nursing. Baccalaureate prepared nurses are provided with a curriculum that includes both community health and leadership skills that are not included in the associate program. By encouraging associate’s degree nurses to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an increase in the awareness of the needs of the community and population may be seen. The IOM report has outlined the anticipated obstacles that healthcare will face if changes are not made. By allowing nurses to provide care within their full scope of practice, quality care may be provided at an affordable cost to the population. The use of advanced practice nurses in primary care may provide quality, access, and cost efficient healthcare to high-risk populations and possibly decrease hospital admission rates, thus lowering the overall cost of healthcare. If nurses partner with doctors and other healthcare providers, it may improve healthcare by providing seamless transitions (Institute of Medicine,
The APRN is a valuable and promising health care asset when developing policies and regulations that benefit patients and meet the goals of the PPACA. According to Abood (2014), “accepting responsibility offers nurses the unique opportunity to make a difference and to have the satisfaction of being part of bringing a better health care system into reality for themselves and their patients”. Therefore, it is important for the APRN to be politically engaged, even though it requires definite skills and
The current practice of nursing is expected to evolve as the ways in which patient care is delivered continues to develop. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has inspired new models of care that improve accessibility, continuity of care, cost efficiencies, and the accountability of health care systems. Concepts, such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), Primary Care Medical Homes (PCMH), and Nurse-Managed Health Clinics (NHMC) are necessary to support the initiatives of health care reform, which includes developing methods of advancing approaches in the continuum of care to improve patient outcomes. Considering recent initiatives, it is crucial that the role of registered nurses evolves to meet the changing demands
As a woman, mother, daughter, sister and nurse I have a strong belief that it is our right as human beings to care for each other; irrelevant of social or economic station. I feel passionate that all individuals have access to the highest quality healthcare and that universal health care for every man woman and child should be accessible. The American Nurses Association (ANA) for decades has advocated policymakers to recognize the true value of nursing and is instrumental in advancing public health by supporting the Patient Protection and Affordable Car Act (2010); which created essential health benefits for millions of Americans (ANA, 2018). If you are not familiar with the ANA’s Principle for Health
When President Barack Obama made true of his promise to reform the health care system, by signing into law on March 23, 2010 the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, as a response to our nation’s health care dilemma, it highlights the following: superior and inexpensive care, refining the quality and efficacy of care, avoiding long-lasting ailment and “improving public health”, “transparency and program integrity”, and “community living assistance services and supports” (USDOL, 2016). The full implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) presents to various healthcare professionals, including nurses, not only challenges but also opportunities in forming a care structure that is focused on patients’ needs. According to the Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing (2011), the spirit of the system is driving the whole structure to focus primarily on the following: “chronic conditions, primary care, including care coordination and transitional care; prevention and wellness; and the prevention of adverse events, such as hospital-acquired infections.” This is withdrawing from the “acute and
Nurses are at the forefront of the healthcare system and therefore must actively engage in policies that impact the healthcare system. DNP graduates can initiate the process of change by pointing out potential problems within the healthcare delivery system and spearheading legislation through lobbyists and nursing organizations. Nurses should be the middle-man between patients and policy makers. Patient advocacy has been part of nursing for a long time. Zaccagnini and White (2014) highlighted how Florence Nightingale advocated for the British soldiers’ poor living conditions during the Crimean war once she recognized the connection between policy makers and public health. Local, national and global nursing organizations provide ways for nurses to voice issues and concerns that affect public health welfare. In the United States of America, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Council of State Board of Nursing(NCSBN) can be used as a platform to raise awareness and concerns for public health and
... research have positively influenced the health care field. Nursing practice, education, and research are embracing and responding to changing demographics. Advances in processing capacity and speed have contributed to the explosion of information technology applications. One issue still remains, that is the lack of health care coverage for many Americans today. It is a saddening and stressful moment for health care providers, especially nurses, across the globe. Hopefully, Obama Care will do more for the population than past health care reforms. Furthermore, we must remember that research in the nursing field is done in order to improve the outcomes of patients and to advance the health and well being of communities. Everything must be done in order to create more funding and create more opportunities for more nurses, in order to help the ever-growing population.
Being a registered nurse affords one the option of working in many diverse healthcare settings. In any practice setting the climate of health care change is evident. There are diverse entities involved in the implementation and recommendation of these practice changes. These are led by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Institute of Medicine (IOM), nursing campaign for action initiatives, as well as individual state-based action coalitions. Nurses need to be prepared and cognizant of the transformations occurring in health care settings as well as the plans that put them at the forefront of the future.