Primary Task Response: Within The Discussion Board Area, Wri ✓ Solved

Primary Task Response: Within the Discussion Board area, write 500

Research the role of regulation and accreditation, and discuss the role that each plays in holding health care professionals and organizations accountable. Choose 2 of the following types of health care organizations: Acute care hospital, Nursing home, Home health care, Ambulatory care. Discuss accreditation as it relates to those organizations. Describe the role that accrediting agencies have in clinical quality improvement and improving health care outcomes. Note: Use APA style to cite at least 2 scholarly sources from the last 5 years.

Paper For Above Instructions

The health care sector is complex and highly regulated, necessitating rigorous standards to ensure the safety and quality of care provided to patients. This paper discusses the roles of regulation and accreditation in maintaining accountability within health care organizations, focusing on acute care hospitals and nursing homes. Additionally, it highlights the importance of accrediting agencies in fostering clinical quality improvement and enhancing health care outcomes.

Understanding Regulation in Health Care

Regulation refers to the establishment of rules and requirements that govern how health care organizations operate. This governing framework is essential for ensuring patient safety, protecting public health, and guaranteeing that health care professionals adhere to ethical and professional standards. In the U.S., various federal and state agencies oversee these regulations. For example, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) sets forth conditions of participation for hospitals and nursing homes that facilities must meet to receive federal funding (Rosenbaum, 2021).

Regulations often touch on various aspects of health care, ranging from staffing levels and patient care standards to infrastructure and reporting requirements. For instance, an acute care hospital is required to meet specific ratios of health care professionals to patients, ensuring adequate attention and care (McKee et al., 2020). In nursing homes, regulatory bodies set forth minimum standards regarding resident care, staffing qualifications, and facility conditions, promoting a stable environment conducive to health and well-being (Harris-Kojetin et al., 2019).

The Role of Accreditation

Accreditation serves as an additional layer of oversight that complements regulatory standards. Accrediting organizations establish voluntary programs that assess health care facilities against predefined performance criteria, which often exceed those set by regulations (Carpenter et al., 2020). For acute care hospitals and nursing homes, accreditation signifies that an organization meets specific standards of care and operational excellence.

Organizations such as The Joint Commission and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) provide accreditation that encompasses a wide range of quality measures, including patient safety, organizational performance, and patient outcomes. For instance, accreditation by The Joint Commission indicates that an acute care hospital has implemented protocols to improve patient safety, such as medication reconciliation and infection control practices (The Joint Commission, 2022).

Accountability Through Accreditation

Both acute care hospitals and nursing homes benefit from the accountability that comes with being accredited. Accreditation encourages organizations to commit to a continuous quality improvement process, where they routinely review and enhance their practices. For example, nursing homes that regularly attain accreditation are shown to have better clinical outcomes and improved resident satisfaction because they follow evidence-based practices (Kuo et al., 2021).

Accrediting agencies play a crucial role in clinical quality improvement by providing frameworks for evaluating and refining care processes. They often conduct regular assessments and surveys to ensure compliance with standards, thus fostering a culture of quality and safety within organizations. Hospitals and nursing homes may be required to undergo reaccreditation every few years, compelling them to consistently uphold high standards of care (Davis et al., 2021).

Impact of Accrediting Agencies on Health Care Outcomes

Accreditation contributes significantly to health care outcomes. By holding organizations accountable to best practices, accrediting bodies drive quality improvements that have a direct impact on patient care. For instance, a study by Casalino et al. (2019) found that accredited facilities report lower rates of adverse events and enhanced compliance with clinical guidelines compared to non-accredited facilities.

Moreover, the emphasis on continuous improvement leads to innovation in care delivery. Acute care hospitals, for example, may adopt new technologies or treatment protocols to achieve and maintain their accreditation status. The proactive engagement in quality assurance can ultimately lead to better patient care, reduced hospital readmission rates, and improved overall public health outcomes (Alkhalidi et al., 2021).

Conclusion

In conclusion, regulation and accreditation are integral to holding health care professionals and organizations accountable. Through rigorous standards and continuous quality improvement models, these systems help ensure that acute care hospitals and nursing homes maintain high levels of care for their patients. Accredited organizations not only fulfill basic regulatory requirements but also strive for excellence, ultimately leading to safer and more effective health care delivery.

References

• Alkhalidi, A., McCoy, L., & Hu, J. (2021). The impact of accreditation on patient care: A focus on acute care hospitals. Journal of Healthcare Management, 66(3), 204-220.
• Carpenter, J. A., Pariseau, M., & Harshman, S. (2020). The role of accreditation in health care: An analysis. Health Services Research, 55(4), 572-579.
• Casalino, L. P., et al. (2019). Quality of care and accreditation in nursing homes: Understanding the connection. Medical Care Research and Review, 76(5), 563-583.
• Davis, K. J., & Gibbons, J. (2021). Continuous quality improvement in health care: The pivotal role of accrediting agencies. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 33(2), 124-132.
• Harris-Kojetin, L. D., et al. (2019). Trends in nursing home quality: A focus on the role of regulation and accreditation. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 31(1), 1-18.
• Kuo, S. Y., et al. (2021). The relationship between accreditation and nursing home quality indicators. Journal of Aging Research, 2021, Article ID 6618142.
• McKee, M., et al. (2020). Health care regulation: What role does it play in patient safety? Health Policy, 124(3), 301-308.
• Rosenbaum, L. (2021). Regulations and accountability in health care: Implications for patient safety. New England Journal of Medicine, 385(8), 753-761.
• The Joint Commission. (2022). National Patient Safety Goals. Retrieved from https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/