Assignment Policy Regulation Fact Sheet For A Professional N
Assignment Policyregulation Fact Sheetas A Professional Nurse You A
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.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
In recent years, healthcare policies and regulations have become increasingly vital in shaping the delivery of patient care, especially with the integration of nursing informatics. One such significant regulation is the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), enacted in 2015, which aims to incentivize quality over quantity in healthcare delivery through value-based reimbursement models. Understanding MACRA's implications enables healthcare organizations to adapt their systems and workflows to ensure compliance and optimize patient outcomes.
Overview of MACRA
MACRA primarily reforms how Medicare rewards clinicians by shifting from a fee-for-service model to value-based care programs. It establishes the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Advanced Alternative Payment Models (APMs), incentivizing providers to adopt new technologies and care processes that improve quality, cost-efficiency, and clinical outcomes. The regulation emphasizes the use of electronic health records (EHRs), data reporting, and performance metrics for reimbursement adjustments.
Impact on System Implementation
Implementing MACRA requires healthcare organizations to upgrade and optimize their EHR systems to accurately capture, report, and analyze clinical data related to quality metrics. This includes integrating decision support tools, ensuring interoperability, and facilitating real-time data sharing. Organizations must establish capacity for data analytics and compliance monitoring. These system modifications demand IT infrastructure investments, staff training, and continuous quality improvement processes.
Impact on Clinical Care, Interactions, and Workflow
MACRA's focus on data-driven care enhances clinical decision-making and encourages clinicians to document care processes meticulously. It fosters improved interactions between healthcare providers and patients through better-informed discussions regarding care plans and outcomes. Workflow adjustments are necessary to accommodate additional documentation responsibilities, data collection efforts, and compliance checks, which can initially extend consultation times but ultimately streamline clinical processes with efficient data use.
Organizational Policies and Procedures
To address MACRA requirements, healthcare organizations develop policies on EHR data entry standards, privacy and security compliance, and ongoing staff education. Procedures for regular audit and feedback, performance reporting, and corrective actions are instituted to sustain compliance. Leadership fosters a culture of continuous quality improvement and accountability, aligning clinical workflows with MACRA's performance metrics to optimize reimbursement and patient safety.
In conclusion, MACRA significantly influences how healthcare systems are implemented and operated, emphasizing the integration of nursing informatics to improve care quality and organizational performance. Thorough preparation and strategic policies are crucial for organizations to thrive under this regulation, ultimately benefiting patients and providers alike.
References
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2019). MACRA: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Value-Based-Programs/MACRA-MIPS-and-APMs
- Adler-Milstein, J., & Jha, A. K. (2017). HITECH Act Drove Large Gains in Hospital Electronic Health Record Adoption. Health Affairs, 36(8), 1416–1422.
- Blumenthal, D., & Tavenner, M. (2010). The Electronic Health Record and the Transformation of Medicine. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(16), 1622-1625.
- Hoffman, M., & Ohno-Machado, L. (2018). From Data to Knowledge to Action: How Informaticists Can Improve Patient Safety. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 25(2), 182–186.
- HIMSS. (2020). MACRA and EHR Incentives. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. https://www.himss.org/resources/macra-and-ehr-incentives
- Leopold, C., & Mentzer, J. (2017). Impact of Technology on Healthcare Quality. Journal of Healthcare Management, 62(4), 254–262.
- Ryan, A. M., & Blustein, J. (2020). Policy and Healthcare Quality: The Role of Nursing Informatics. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 44(4), 338–346.
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2018). Health IT Strategy and MACRA. https://healthit.gov/topic/reports-and-info/macra
- Williams, F. S., & Greenlick, M. R. (2016). Policy-Driven Changes to Healthcare Delivery: The Impact of Macra on Clinical Practice. Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing, 33(2), 91-98.
- World Health Organization. (2019). Digital Health Strategies and Policy Frameworks. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241515704