Public Health System Options Menu, Research Paper Example

Nurses can play a number of significant roles to support policy change in the public health system. First, nurses have practical experience on the front-lines of health care delivery; thus, they are in a better position to tell policy makers what is working and not working. For example, Medicare and many Medicaid programs are changing payments to value-based outcomes and managed care organizations. This may mean lower costs for the payer; however, it may not necessarily mean better outcomes for the patients involved. To this end, nurses can play a positive rule in informing policy makers how and why current payment reform initiatives are not serving the populations. The same is true for private payers, but also with the added element of being an advocate: sometimes private insurers may reject services to patients based on “medical need”; however, their decision might not be based on all facts concerning the patient.  In these cases, the nurse can advocate for the patient making sure that all information is known and taken into account for the optimal medical decision making process.

Response to Crystal

I agree with Crystal’s points on this topic; indeed, I made some of the very points in my own analysis of the topic.  I am particularly interested in her point regarding nurse participation in quality assurance organizations such as the NCQA and JCAHO.  I believe that many nurses feel that quality activities are more part-and-parcel of clinical delivery and not necessarily an area of advocacy.  After contemplation, however, nurses have a unique perspective understanding the intersection of how selected quality metrics may or may not actually improve care delivery.

Response to Mitchell

I also share similar sentiments with Mitchell.  That is, nurses can play a powerful role in advocacy in the policy world. I wonder, however, if they couldn’t also play as powerful a role in the community to help them effect change.  Often times, when doctors, nurses or other health professionals advocate in the policy realm, they may be seen as “self-interested” actors.  However, if nurses were able to also advocate in the community and have them enter the policy process, it may lead to more robust results all around.

References

American Nurses Association.  Available at: www.nursingworld.com

Mason, D. J., Leavitt, J. K., & Chaffee, M. W. (2014). Policy and politics in nursing and healthcare. St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.