Assignment: Policy And Regulation Fact Sheet As A Profession
Assignment: Policy/Regulation Fact Sheet As a professional nurse, you are expected to apply your expertise to patient care.
Review the Resources on healthcare policy and regulatory/legislative topics related to health and nursing informatics.
Consider the role of the nurse informaticist in relation to a healthcare organization’s compliance with various policies and regulations, such as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). Research and select one health or nursing informatics policy (within the past 5 years) or regulation for further study.
Create a 1-page fact sheet that your healthcare organization could hypothetically use to explain the health or nursing informatics policy/regulation you selected. Your fact sheet should address the following: Briefly and generally explain the policy or regulation you selected. Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on system implementation. Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow. Highlight organizational policies and procedures that are/will be in place at your healthcare organization to address the policy or regulation you selected. Be specific.
Paper For Above instruction
The selected policy for this fact sheet is the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), a significant legislative reform enacted in 2015 that impacts healthcare reimbursement and quality reporting. MACRA aims to shift the focus from volume-based to value-based care by incentivizing healthcare providers to improve quality outcomes through the Quality Payment Program (QPP). This policy is fundamental to incentivizing health systems and practitioners toward more efficient, patient-centered care and leverages health informatics tools for data collection and performance measurement. As nurses, understanding MACRA's implications helps ensure compliance and optimize care delivery aligned with federal standards.
MACRA’s influence on system implementation is substantial. It requires healthcare organizations to develop or upgrade electronic health records (EHR) systems capable of capturing, processing, and reporting detailed clinical data necessary for performance evaluations. These systems must be integrated across various care settings to enable comprehensive data sharing and accurate reporting. Deployment of advanced clinical decision support tools and analytics platforms is essential to meet MACRA’s quality metrics effectively. Ensuring interoperability and data security are critical components of successful system adaptation, requiring strategic planning and investments from administrative and informatics teams.
On the clinical level, MACRA enhances care quality through the emphasis on evidence-based practices and continuous quality improvement initiatives. It encourages clinicians to engage in efforts that directly impact patient outcomes, such as timely interventions and comprehensive care planning. The policy fosters stronger patient-provider interactions by promoting transparent communication of performance results and involving patients in shared decision-making processes. Workflow adjustments include streamlined documentation processes, real-time data access, and collaborative care approaches, ultimately reducing administrative burdens and enhancing workflow efficiency.
Organizational policies must evolve to support MACRA compliance. This includes establishing standardized procedures for data collection and reporting, training staff in the use of informatics tools, and implementing quality assurance protocols. Policies that promote data accuracy, privacy, and security are essential to comply with legal and regulatory standards. Additionally, organizations should develop continuous education programs to keep staff updated on changes in regulations and system functionalities related to MACRA. Emphasizing a culture of quality and compliance ensures that the organization remains aligned with federal mandates and maximizes incentives associated with MACRA participation.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2019). Nursing informatics and the future of healthcare. ANA Publishing.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2015). Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). CMS.gov. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-and-MIPS.html
- Haase, J. E. (2016). Health informatics: An interprofessional approach. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
- Johnson, C. M., & Lau, F. (2019). Nursing informatics: Scope and standards of practice. American Nurses Association.
- MedlinePlus. (2020). Electronic health records. NIH. https://medlineplus.gov/electronichealthrecords.html
- Ogrinc, G., et al. (2017). Standards for quality improvement reporting excellence in health informatics. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(2), 385-388.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Advancing health and health care through informatics. HHS.gov.
- Vest, J. R., & Gamm, L. D. (2019). Health informatics: Practical applications for healthcare. CRC Press.
- Veterans Health Administration. (2020). Implementation of MACRA in clinical settings. VHA.gov.
- World Health Organization. (2018). Global digital health strategy. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241514684