NR717 Week 6 ErnestYoung Discussion: Policy Analysis to Impact Population Health Example Solution Included
Policy Analysis to Impact Population Health
Defining the Problem
The term health disparity is used to describe the discrepancies in health status between subgroups of the population. Inequities occur when disparities between groups are considered unnecessary and unfair (Benson & Koroshetz, 2022). Socioeconomic status is correlated with health and nutrition disparities. Literacy, work status, shelter, nutrition, exercise program opportunities, and health care are all examples of social determinants of health (SDH) that need to be addressed to reduce health disparities (Benson & Koroshetz, 2022).
The widespread health inequalities within different countries can only be reduced via significant advances in the physical and social settings where vulnerable populations reside and work. The health and nutritional status of populations in countries where the SDH has been addressed has improved as they are the leading causes of health disparities.
Assembling Evidence
People from lower and higher income backgrounds now have equal access to healthcare courtesy of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). State and local governments have benefited from the act’s funding of disease prevention programs targeting hypertension and cardiovascular disease through the Prevention and Public Health Fund (Silberman, 2020).
Moreover, it has enhanced the collection and utilization of data on race, ethnicity, gender, primary language spoken at home, and disability status, all essential for a comprehensive assessment of health inequalities and determining effective strategies to address them. The government has also set up a system of departments dedicated to improving the health of minorities inside the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Developing Alternatives
Adopting policies that allow organizations to research ways of reducing health disparities can also be considered. For instance, Finding Answers: Disparities Research for Change is a financed initiative that, among other things, aims to promote healthcare fairness by disseminating systematic assessments of the research on proven methods for minimizing healthcare inequities. Institutions and organizations that have set aside resources to help fight disparities in health should be given a chance to make an impact.
Criteria to Evaluate the Alternatives
Since their introduction, the ACA standards have provided hospitals and organizations that have adopted them with a foundational operational structure. Security, safety, organization, care, initiatives, justice, and administration are just a few areas where ACA standards impact (Silberman, 2020). The alternatives should be able to follow these standards set by the ACA to prove effective.
Project Outcomes
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has facilitated to reduce the healthcare access differences between low and high-income households. People can now afford healthcare services through initiatives like Medicare and Medicaid. This policy has solved the social determinants involving the acquisition of care, especially socioeconomic status (McIntyre & Song, 2019). In the future, the care aims to decrease health disparities, especially among disadvantaged populations.
Analysis of Trade-offs
Other options, such as the education of the public on awareness about health disparities, their effects and how to solve them, have been shown to produce satisfactory outcomes. Health disparities based on racial discrimination cost $93 billion annually in extra medical care expenses and $42 billion in lost productivity (Galvani et al., 2020).
Health inequalities are expensive and detrimental to the nation since they contribute to more excellent rates of sickness and mortality from preventable causes among populations who traditionally have less access to resources. Community and legislative actions are needed to address healthcare disparities.
Making Decisions
The ACA policy should be adopted in helping to decrease the existing health disparities among the population of African Americans in Jackson. It will ensure that individuals can access affordable and high-quality healthcare, helping to bridge the gaps seen in the prevalence of hypertension and heart disease burden observed in the population. Higher reimbursements should also be established to ensure healthcare providers can offer superior care.
Communicating Results
Improvements in coverage and healthcare availability have occurred on a national scale due to the ACA’s coverage expansions. Recent research and other studies show that this policy has also contributed to historically low rates of racial disparity in accessibility and coverage since 2014.
References
Benson, T., & Koroshetz, J. (2022). Health disparities: research that matters. Stroke, 53(3), 663–669. https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.121.035087
Galvani, P., Parpia, S., Foster, M., Singer, H., & Fitzpatrick, C. (2020). Improving the prognosis of health care in the USA. The Lancet, 395(10223), 524–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(19)33019-3
McIntyre, A., & Song, Z. (2019). The US affordable care act: Reflections and directions at the close of a decade. PLOS Medicine, 16(2), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002752
Silberman, P. (2020). The affordable care act: Against the odds, it’s working. North Carolina Medical Journal, 81(6), 364–369. https://doi.org/10.18043/ncm.81.6.364
Policy Analysis to Impact Population Health Discussion
Purpose
The purpose of this discussion is to analyze a health policy related to the selected population and practice problem.
This week, you discovered that the focus of healthcare policy has a growing emphasis on population health outcomes. As a DNP-prepared nurse, you must be able to critically appraise healthcare policies to influence policy decisions at every level.
Instructions
Review the lesson and readings about Bardach’s eightfold steps to policy analysis, especially in the Chapter 4 Policy Analysis section of the Patton text. Then, select a healthcare policy that impacts, or has the potential to impact, the practice problem and population selected in previous weeks of this course.
The following links will assist in your search for policies and/or bills.
- Current Legislative Activities. (Congress.gov)
- Nursing. (Gov info)
- Nursing. (Govtrack)
You can select a broad, national health policy (i.e., Accountable Care Act) or one that is specified for a specific health issue (i.e., Minority Diabetes Initiative Act).
Critically appraise the healthcare policy using Bardach’s eightfold steps to policy analysis:
- Define the problem
- Assemble evidence
- Develop alternatives
- Select criteria to evaluate the alternatives
- Project outcomes
- Analyze trade-offs
- Make decisions
- Communicate results
Please click on the following link to review the DNP Discussion Guidelines on the Student Resource Center program page:
Program Competencies
This discussion enables the student to meet the following program competencies:
- Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
- Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
- Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes
This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
- Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
- Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
- Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)
NR717 Week 7: Health Policy Advocacy
Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Written Testimony Discussion
Purpose
this discussion aims to demonstrate advocacy skills in health policy related to the selected population and practice problems. This week, you discovered that the DNP-prepared nurse needs to develop an advocacy plan to impact healthcare policy with an emphasis on population health. In this discussion, you will create written testimony that can be used to advocate for change to improve the outcomes for your selected population and practice problem.
Instructions
Review the lesson and readings about advocacy, especially the Jurns (2019) article on ISBAR. Then, using the population, population problem, and policy from previous weeks, prepare written testimony advocating for policy change or implementation. Using the ISBAR format presented by Jurns (2019), provide written testimony about policy change you would like to propose. You may address any policymaker from the local to national level but please identify your audience.
(I) Identify
- Address the person to whom you are speaking.
- Introduce self and provide credentials.
- Present expertise/experience and interest in issue.
(S) Situation
- Describe the issue.
- Identify the policy and provide the bill name and number if applicable.
- Present the consequences if the policy is not enacted using data.
(B) Background
- Acknowledge the decisionmaker’s interests.
- Restate your expertise and ability to comment on the issue.
- Share a personal note of interest or brief story.
(A) Assessment
- Give your expert professional assessment of the situation.
- Provide evidence supporting how the policy positively affects stakeholders.
- Identify support from stakeholders, special interest groups, and/or coalitions.
(R) Recommendation/Request
- Offer your recommendation for a course of action.
- Thank the policymaker for their time/attention.
- Offer your assistance and expertise.
Salutation
- Your name and title
- Credentials
- Contact information
Program Competencies
This discussion enables the student to meet the following program competencies:
- Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
- Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
- Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes
This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
- Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
- Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
- Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Formulate strategies for providing culturally relevant and high-quality healthcare to vulnerable and high-risk populations to address social injustice and health inequities. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)
NR717 Week 7 Advocacy to Impact Population Health Through Oral Testimony Assignment
Purpose
The purpose of this assignment is to demonstrate advocacy skills in health policy related to the selected population and practice problem. This week, you discovered that the DNP-prepared nurse needs to develop an advocacy plan to impact healthcare policy with an emphasis on population health.
In this assignment, you will create an oral testimony presentation that can be used to advocate for change to improve the health outcomes for your selected population, National Practice Problem, and policy. Formulation of the testimony supports professional formation, communication, and dissemination skills relevant to the DNP-prepared nurse.
Instructions
- Review the lesson and readings about advocacy, especially the Jurns (2019) article on ISBAR.
- Using the population, National Practice Problem, and policy from previous weeks, prepare testimony advocating for policy change or implementation, using the ISBAR format presented by Jurns (2019).
- Use the same testimony that was created for the Week 7 Discussion. Incorporate feedback provided in the discussion post.
- You may address any policymaker from the local to national level but please identify your audience.
- Create the oral testimony using Kaltura or voice-over PowerPoint. Click on the following link for instructions on how to use Kaltura:
o Kaltura Tutorials https://mychamberlain.sharepoint.com/sites/StudentResourceCenter/SitePages/Kaltura.aspx
o PowerPoint Voice-Over Tutorial https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/record-a-slide-show-with-narration-and-slide-timings-0b9502c6-5f6c-40ae-b1e7-e47d8741161c
Testimony Content and Organization
Your assignment will be graded on the content, accuracy, and quality of the testimony. Include each of the following components in your testimony:
(I) Identify
- Address the person to whom you are speaking.
- Introduce self and provide credentials.
- Present expertise/experience and interest in issue.
(S) Situation
- Describe the issue.
- Identify the policy and provide the bill name and number if applicable.
- Using data, present the consequences if the policy is not enacted.
(B) Background
- Acknowledge the decisionmaker’s interests.
- Restate your expertise and ability to comment on the issue.
- Share a personal note of interest or brief story.
(A) Assessment
- Give your expert professional assessment of the situation.
- Provide evidence supporting how the policy positively affects stakeholders.
- Identify support from stakeholders, special interest groups, and/or coalitions.
(R) Recommendation/Request
- Offer your recommendation for a course of action.
- Thank the policymaker for their time/attention.
- Offer your assistance and expertise.
Salutation
- Your name and title
- Credentials
- Contact information
Testimony Accuracy
- Provide sufficient information and detail.
- Explain content correctly to the policymaker being addressed.
- Identify a direct relationship between the policy intervention and the proposal.
Testimony Quality
- Demonstrate time management: Presentation is 3 minutes or less.
- Follow the ISBAR format.
- Adhere to Standard English usage and mechanics.
- Provide clear and understandable audio.
Program Competencies
This assignment enables the student to meet the following program competencies:
- Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
- Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
- Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes
This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
- Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
- Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
- Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Formulate strategies for providing culturally relevant and high-quality healthcare to vulnerable and high-risk populations to address social injustice and health inequities. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)
Rubric – W7 Assignment Grading Rubric
| W7 Assignment Grading Rubric | ||||||
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Identify Requirements: |
| 10 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Situation Requirements: |
| 30 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Background Requirements: |
| 20 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Assessment Requirements: |
| 20 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Recommendation/ Request Requirements: |
| 20 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Salutation Requirements: 1. Your name and title 2. Credentials 3. Contact information Requirements: |
| 10 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Testimony Accuracy Requirements: |
| 20 pts | ||||
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Testimony Quality Requirements: |
| 20 pts | ||||
| Total Points: 150 | ||||||
NR717 Week 8: Practice Readiness in Population Health and Health Policy
Reflection on Learning and Practice Readiness Discussion
Purpose
The purpose of this discussion is to reflect on your own readiness to practice as a DNP-prepared nurse and consider what you learned in this course and how this knowledge will impact your practice.
Instructions
Each week, you have been reminded that reflective inquiry allows for expansion of self-awareness, identification of knowledge gaps, and assessment of learning goals. As you reflect on your own readiness to practice as a DNP-prepared nurse, it is important to consider what you learned in this course.
As you review the course outcomes and your experience in this course, address the following:
- Analyze and evaluate how your thinking was challenged in this course related to (1) advocacy for population health, (2) disaster preparedness, and (3) health policy.
- Considering this new knowledge, examine how this learning prepares you to practice as a DNP-prepared nurse.
Program Competencies
This discussion enables the student to meet the following program competencies:
- Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
- Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
- Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes
This discussion enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:
- Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state, and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
- Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
- Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Analyze the role of the advanced practice nurse in disaster and emergency management. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Formulate strategies for providing culturally relevant and high-quality healthcare to vulnerable and high-risk populations to address social injustice and health inequities. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
- Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)
