Evolving Practice Of Nursing And Patient Care Delivery Models

Evolving Practice of Nursing and Patient Care Delivery Models

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Evolving Practice of Nursing and Patient Care Delivery Models

Introduction

The healthcare system is experiencing significant changes, and more emphasis is directed towards the quality of care and services provided to patients as well as population health. The changes that characterize the health care delivery systems present both challenges and opportunities to registered nurses (RNs). By sheer numbers, nurses are four times more compared to physicians and are required to play a role that is crucial in changing the health care system (Fraher, Spetz & Naylor, 2013). For this reason, the paper aims to summarize the feedbacks shared by three nurse colleagues regarding their impressions of the likely changes to the healthcare delivery and the new role of nurses in medical homes, clinics, communities, and hospital settings.

Summary of the Feedback Shared By Three Nurse Colleagues

According to the three colleagues’ point of view, the ongoing changes in the healthcare setting are considerably affecting them and their colleagues. As more and more Americans are accessing insurance cover via the Affordable Care Act, the pressure exerted on the healthcare professionals, to be precise nurses and the general healthcare delivery system is increasing. As a result of the transformation process, the primary objective of the healthcare system is to enhance the health of the population and deliver patient-centered care and in turn minimize the rate of hospitalizations (Aldhizer & Juras, 2015). Accordingly, the transformations have resulted in preventing avoidable readmissions. The changes in the healthcare sector have also resulted in the development of healthcare delivery models that promotes a collaborative approach to care. Health Homes and Accountable Care Organizations are also in pursuit of redesigning the care they provide and consequently eliminate hospital admissions. They are doing this with the aim of minimizing costly healthcare interventions.

The three nurses also pointed out that as a result of the transformation process; health care payers such as the CMS (the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) are shifting to paying for value and improving population health outcomes from free-for-service payments. Medicare payments are being connected to value via alternative care delivery and payment models including Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) and Patient-Centered Medical Homes (PCMHS). The shift in payment models is mandating healthcare providers such as physicians, clinics, hospitals, and long-term care to redesign the manner in which they deliver their care as well as how they redeploy their staffs in new settings and roles. Payers and healthcare system are increasingly focusing on upstream primary and preventive care whereas health care staffs are moving to outpatient settings from acute settings.

The nurses also pointed out that the transformations that characterize today’s healthcare organizations are also affecting their roles in the sector. For instance, they asserted that they are performing a wide range of roles in community-based care and ambulatory settings. New roles and job titles are resurfacing, to be precise in informatics analysis and design, patient coaching, population health management, and geriatric care. Nurses are expected to connect clients with services in the community and health settings. The expanding and emerging roles of nurses require them to apply their existing skills as well as develop new ones. It is so unfortunate that the current nursing programs differ in regards to preparing nurses for the emerging and expanding roles in the healthcare delivery. However, with the new system, nurses will be required to continuously learn about the evolving healthcare delivery system as well as transitional care and care coordination. Additionally, they will be required to take part in performance improvement, to collaborate inter-professionally, and enhance the delivery of care through the use of electronic medical records, data, and evidence.

Discussing Whether the Three Nurses’ Impressions Are Consistent With What Has Been Researched About Health Reform

The impression of the three nurses is consistent with what has been researched about reforms in the healthcare delivery system. According to research, as a result of the transformations being experienced in the healthcare sector, nurses are compelled to carry out various roles to meet the needs of the patients. For instance, nurses in the current healthcare setting are required to manage the care needs of patients, integrate care from various healthcare providers, and help in the transition of patients from the hospital to community or home settings (Aldhizer & Juras, 2015). Additionally, they are supposed to work as health coaches so that they can promote wellness and prevent illness. They are also embracing other fields including genomics, genetics, informatics, and telehealth to lower healthcare cost, improve population health and patient experiences (Toussaint, 2015). Additionally, nurses in their emerging roles are doing what is necessary to reduce costly and unnecessary hospital readmissions, providing patients with more patient-centered, more convenient, and more affordable primary care. They are also preventing medical errors. Therefore, the three nurses are knowledgeable about the transformations that characterize today’s healthcare delivery system.

In conclusion, the healthcare system is going through various changes. Compared to other health care providers, nurses are the largest group offering their services in long-term care, hospitals, ambulatory care, home health, clinics, and treatment and diagnostic facilities. Nurses in these new settings will assume various roles to increase value, advance health, and improve care. Additionally, they are required to coordinate with other health care professional to enhance the health outcomes of the population.

References

Aldhizer, G. R., & Juras, P. (2015). Improving the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare delivery systems: radical transformation in the wake of the Affordable Care Act. The CPA Journal, (1). 66.

Fraher, E., Spetz, J., & Naylor, M.(2013).Nursing in a Transformative Health Care System: New Roles, New Rules. Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative, 1-10.

Toussaint, J. S. (2015). The Framework for a Whole-System Transformation. Journal Of Healthcare Management, 60(6), 386-389.