discuss how public policies initiated at the national or state level ultimately influence what occurs at the institutional and local level of nursing practice and health care delivery

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Discussion: Health Care Policy

In this week’s media presentation, Dr. Trautman, Dr. Wakefield, and Ms. Coyle discuss how public policies initiated at the national or state level ultimately influence what occurs at the institutional and local level of nursing practice and health care delivery. Health care policy usually is developed to address health care cost, quality, or access, or a combination of the three. Due to the nature of their interaction with patients, nurses are well situated to be effective, knowledgeable advocates for their patients.

In this week’s Discussion, you will examine how current policies impact how you as a nurse provide health care. You will then select an issue of interest and determine how you could advocate for policy in that area.

To prepare:

  • Select one public policy that currently is impacting you and your practice. Consider the following:
    • What health care driver was the policy designed to address: cost, quality, access, or a combination?
    • Does the policy appear to be achieving its intended results? On what data are you basing your assumption?
    • What have been the effects (adverse or positive) of this policy on health care cost, quality, and access?
    • How is this policy affecting your nursing practice?
  • Next, select a health care issue—something you see or experience on a daily basis—about which you would like to influence a practice change through the policy process.
  • Review the Learning Resources, focusing on Kingdon’s Model. How would you utilize this model to guide your policy development?

Write a description of a public policy that is having an impact on your practice; summarize your analysis of the policy using the bulleted list above as a guide. Then, summarize the issue you would like to influence though a change in public policy, and outline how you would utilize Kingdon’s Model to guide your policy development.

What are the barriers to children in accessing health-care services in the United States

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Question description

NO COVER PAGE

Answer the following:

  • What are the sources of pediatric primary care in the United States? Are these sources sufficient for providing health-care services to the pediatric population? Why or why not?
  • Are there certain pediatric populations that lack access to health-care services? Why?
  • What are the barriers to children in accessing health-care services in the United States? Why do these barriers exist?

References:

Burns, C., Dunn, A., Brady, M., Starr, N., Blosser, C. (2016). Pediatric primary care: A handbook for nurse practitioners, (6th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders. ISBN:9780323243384

Goolsby, M. J. & Grubbs, L. (2014). Advanced assessment: Interpreting findings and formulating differential diagnoses, (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis. ISBN: 9780803643635

Hay, W., Levin, M., Deterding, R. Abzug, M. & Sondheimer, J. (2014). Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Pediatrics, (23rd ed.). Mc-Graw Hill. ISBN: 9780071848541

Chiocca, E. M., (2014). Advanced Pediatric Assessment (set ebook) (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing. ISBN: 9780826128683

Chiocca, E.M., (2014). Study Guide to Accompany Advanced Pediatric Assessment, (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company. ISBN: 9780826161772

BELOW IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

What are the sources of pediatric primary care in the United States? Are these sources sufficient for providing health-care services to the pediatric population? Why or why not?

Pediatric care sources have drastically improved over the last several years due to continued research in pediatrics, quality improvements made to increase the quality of care given by healthcare facilities, research/businesses, and the funding by the government. With all the extra added effort, time, money, and research, our healthcare system continues to have voids. The voids are: access and quality of healthcare and improvement, as well as flaws in the performers of healthcare. Careful consideration has been made to incorporate clinical based guidelines and decision trees to drive professionals to reach their maximum potential in healthcare, yet millions of children each year die due to preventable diseases like pneumonia. The access and education in healthcare has greatly improved, however as healthcare providers, we lack in the delivery of patient care due to many barriers. The delivery of pediatric care has been enhanced by many pediatric programs. Pediatric programs used by many practitioners and patients are: Healthy People 2010 and 2020, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF), United Nations Convention on Rights of Children (UNCRC), Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). These types of organizations all work to provide pediatric services to a vulnerable population. With all these types of programs, research, and time invested in the pediatric group, there still continues to be a gap in healthcare for this population and the only question that could arise is why?

The pediatric population needs a “medical home” for healthcare instead of episodic care in clinics and in emergency rooms. Despite all the research, educational literature, vaccinations, and many other interventions, mortality rates still continue to climb. The pediatric population mortality rates continue to be high at sixty-eight percent in the Unites States alone (Burns, Dunn, Brady, Starr, & Blosser, 2013). These rates are preventable if we could increase compliance for the pediatric population, increase access to well childcare and immunizations (pneumonia), mortality rates could drastically decrease therefore leaving a higher cure rate and a decreased mortality rate. As healthcare providers, we know that the children are vulnerable. We as practitioners must decrease cultural barriers for pediatric patients as well as increase access to care for a healthier future.

Are there certain pediatric populations that lack access to health-care services? Why?

There are pediatric populations/families that lack access to care. So, the answer to this question is: Yes. Some people may lack healthcare knowledge as well as financial means to care at no fault of their own. Individuals also may lack transportation services to healthcare providers. Assistance from services as in the government (Medicaid/Medicare), programs like Florida Kid Care, waivers for the elderly population, state funds, and most services come with a price or penalty and even with high payment for middle class families, plus copays and deductible/ out of pocket amounts. Many parents cannot provide the daily necessities to their children with government assistance; at times daily necessities must come before healthcare. In the U.S. today, there is still a considerable amount of fetal demise and maternal/fetal complications. Whether the lack of care is placed on the mother due to cultural obligations in pregnancy, decreased access to care, or cultural barriers; we must educate our patients on the importance of preventing curable diseases with routine prenatal visits. “Infant mortality is an important indicator of the health of a nation” (Cash & Glass, 2014 p.389), and for as advanced as we are in the U.S., we sure do lack in many ways. I feel that it does not look professionally if we can keep up on our technological world and not the care of our bodies while pregnant. There are still a high number of children who use episodic care in the ER due to practitioners not accepting government assisted programs. The reimbursement rates are slowly killing small doctor offices and forcing out of business or to sign on as a partner at a local hospital. The practitioner’s office is often double booked causing a back-up of patients and a lack of access to care due to patient wait times. As practitioners, we must motivate our pediatric families in getting the recommended care in a timely fashion in order to use the research-based preventative medicine that research has so graciously given us.

What are the barriers to children in accessing health-care services in the United States? Why do these barriers exist?

What is the role of public health in times of Population Crises and Emergencies

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Question description

Public health emergencies are increasing worldwide. When there are more people, there is an increase in susceptibility (i.e., more people = more susceptibility). A broader, more extensive framework is necessary to protect communities from public health emergencies.

Please answer the following questions:

  1. What is the role of public health in times of Population Crises and Emergencies?
  2. How does the National Response Framework relate to the role of public health?
  3. How does the Incident Command System improve emergency response?

ALL FORUMS

Initial Response: Initial responses should be no less than 200 words in length not including your reference(s) and supported by at least two references (aside from the textbook). Initial responses are due no later than 11:55 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Day 3 of each week. This allows time for other students to respond to your initial response. Please be aware that just “cutting and pasting” sections of articles (in lieu of writing an original initial post) is not acceptable and will negatively impact your grade.

the impact social media can have upon disseminating information about public health issues and for public health campaigns

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Question description

Social Media Tools On March 12, 2011, a tsunami hit Japan with tremendous force, killing thousands of people and annihilating communities. You, like many others around the world, may have watched this event unfold due to the open access to social media. People were able to find loved ones and communicate large amounts of information within a short period of time (Blackburn, 2011).

Now, imagine the impact social media can have upon disseminating information about public health issues and for public health campaigns. Consider the scope of people who you might reach through this one type of communication medium and how you might impact the world by disseminating messages through social media.

For this Application Assignment, consider contemporary social media tools and other communication technology tools you referred  (mass media, telephone, internet, TV, and etc.) to in your discussion that are available to you. Think about which tools could provide your public health campaign the greatest scope and which social media tools might be most appropriate for the public health issue you selected. Also, consider the population you may be interested in reaching, and how social media may be best utilized for that population.

Reference:
Blackburn, B. (2011). Japan earthquake and tsunami: Social media spreads news, raises relief funds. ABC World News. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/japan-earthquake-tsunami-drive-social-media-dialogue/story?id=13117677

Submit the assignment: Part II: Communication Tools (2–3 pages)