NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
Walden University NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION– Step-By-Step Guide
This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.
After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.
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How to Write the Body for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.
Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.
How to Format the References List for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.
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Sample Answer for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
The purpose of this work is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the New York State Medicaid program’s Children’s Design Evaluation. This involves a detailed examination of the program’s implementation, outcomes, and impact on the health of children and youth under age 21 in New York State. The goal is to identify the program’s strengths and areas for improvement, assess its effectiveness in meeting its original objectives, and provide recommendations for future policy and program development. This analysis will contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services and outcomes for children and youth in New York State. As a nurse advocate, the insights gained from this analysis will inform advocacy efforts and guide interventions to enhance the health and well-being of this population.
In conclusion, the program represents a significant effort to improve the health outcomes of the target audience. The program’s focus on early intervention and prevention is commendable, and its potential impact is substantial. However, the program has faced challenges in its implementation, and these challenges highlight the importance of careful planning, resource allocation, and ongoing evaluation in implementing such a program.
The analysis of the program’s evaluation has provided valuable insights into its effectiveness and areas for improvement. As a nurse advocate, these insights can inform your advocacy efforts and guide interventions to enhance the health and well-being of this population. Despite the challenges, the program has the potential to make a significant positive impact on the health outcomes of children and youth in New York State. With ongoing evaluation and adjustment, the program could make significant strides in achieving its objectives.
This work underscores the importance of program evaluation in healthcare policy and program development. It highlights the role of healthcare providers, particularly nurses, in this process. Their experience and patient advocacy can enhance health outcomes for the populations they serve. Moving forward, it is crucial to continue evaluating and refining healthcare programs and policies to ensure they effectively meet the needs of their target populations. This will contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services and outcomes for the target population.
New York State Medicaid program’s Children’s Design Evaluation Analysis Template
| Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation | New York State Medicaid program’s Children’s Design |
| Description | The program is an amendment to the existing 1115 waiver program. It was implemented on August 2, 2019. It simplified care for kids and teens below age 21 who need home- and community-based physical and behavioral health treatments. The state could move services covered by the consolidated Children’s Waiver from fee-for-service to Medicaid managed care (MMC) and target eligibility to medically needy family-of-one children who meet clinical criteria and are enrolled in the waiver but do not qualify for Medicaid due to family income (Harry et al., 2021). |
| How was the success of the program or policy measured? | The success of the program was measured through an ongoing evaluation process. It assessed how well special needs children could access primary care practitioners who understood them and the magnitude to which enrollees were accessing home- and community-based services (HCBS) promptly resulting in improved health care outcomes (Harry et al., 2021). |
| How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected? | The program was aimed at providing health insurance for children without insurance who were ineligible for Medicaid. The interim review revealed that parents of children with chronic diseases exhibited considerable satisfaction with their primary care providers. However, they expressed lower levels of satisfaction with their ability to obtain specialized equipment and therapies, as well as coordination efforts across numerous healthcare providers. Initially, the levels of quality indicators for children were relatively stable, except for certain primary care indicators for small children, which showed improvement. Improvements were also shown in various indicators, such as the frequency of preventive visits, rates of immunization, utilization of the medical home for healthcare, adherence to preventative instructions, and the parent-reported health status of the child. |
| At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted? | Evaluation is still ongoing but, the interim evaluation was conducted after the program’s implementation (Rand.org, n.d). |
| What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation? | Data on quality indicators for children, satisfaction levels of parents of children with chronic conditions, and perceptions of stakeholders were used to conduct the policy evaluation |
| What specific information on unintended consequences were identified? | Stakeholders found the transition to the Children’s Design to be difficult and expressed specific concerns around the impact on children’s families in terms of accessing care and the potential decrease in service availability. This implies that although the program has achieved certain favorable effects, there might still be room for enhancement to fully achieve its planned results. Subsequent assessments will yield more extensive understanding of the program’s influence (Harry et al., 2021). |
| What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples. | Stakeholders identified in the evaluation include providers, advocates, Medicaid Managed Care plan representatives, and government partners. The stakeholders, as well as the families and children who are recipients of the program, would derive the most advantages from the outcomes and documentation of the program evaluation. The evaluation results can inform improvements to the program that directly impact their health outcomes. For example, the evaluation identified specific areas where service accessibility or quality is lacking, the program can be adjusted to address these issues, leading to better health outcomes for the children and youth involved. In addition, healthcare providers and the New York State government can also benefit significantly from the evaluation results. The providers can use the results to improve their practices and workflows, while the government can use the results to make informed decisions about funding and policy directions. |
| Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not? | Based on the interim findings from the independent evaluation, the program met its original intent of streamlining care for kids and teens who are below the age of 21. However, there were challenges in the transition to the Children’s Design, particularly concerning the burden of accessing care on children’s families and reductions in service availability. These findings suggest that while the program has made some progress towards its objectives, there are areas where it has not fully met its original intent. The challenges in transitioning to the new design and the concerns about access to care and service availability indicate that there is room for improvement in the program’s implementation. However, the improvement in some primary care indicators for young children is a positive sign that the program is having some impact. |
| Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not? | Yes, I would recommend this program in my place of work. The program’s focus on early intervention and prevention aligns with the goals of many healthcare facilities to provide comprehensive and proactive care. The program has potential benefits in streamlining care for children in need. Yet, it’s important to consider the challenges identified in the evaluation and develop mitigation strategies. |
| Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation. | As a nurse advocate, I could contribute to the policy evaluation by: Assisting in the collecting of data that might be used to analyze the policy’s efficiency and effectiveness. Conduct surveys or interviews with patients and families to gather feedback on the program. Analyze patient outcomes and service usage data to assess the effectiveness of the program Providing feedback on the program’s effectiveness based on my observations and experiences. Volunteering to partake in policy review meetings after I have identified the legislators involved (Milstead and short, 2019). |
| General Notes/Comments | The initiative aimed to enhance clinical and recovery health outcomes for children and teenagers who require behavioral health and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS). Additionally, its objective is to enhance prompt availability of programs that cater to early childhood requirements, preventing them from escalating into more expensive and intricate issues in maturity. Despite some challenges, the program has the potential to make a positive impact on the health outcomes of these individuals. However, its success depends on careful implementation, ongoing evaluation, and the commitment and involvement of healthcare providers. As a nurse advocate, I would play a key role in this process by providing feedback on the program’s effectiveness based on my observations and experiences, and by advocating for the needs of the children and youth involved in the program. |
Also Read:
GLOBAL HEALTHCARE COMPARISON MATRIX AND NARRATIVE STATEMENT
References
Rand.org (n.d) Health Care Program Evaluation. Retrieved February 3, 2024, from https://www.rand.org/topics/health-care-program-evaluation.html
Liu, Harry H., Joshua Breslau, Stephanie Rennane, Lisa Wagner, Annie Chen, Gabriela Alvarado, Ingrid Estrada-Darley, and Andrew W. Dick (2021), Independent Evaluation of the New York State 1115 Waiver Amendment: The Children’s Design: Interim Findings, RAND Corporation, RR-A782-1, 2021. As of January 25, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA782-1.html
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
The program selected for evaluation was the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The federal government program was first established in 1974 to support low-income women and their children (Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center, 2022). An agency conducted the evaluation as a third party to ensure no conflicts of interest. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), through its Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPCs) at Johns Hopkins, supports quality assessments through systemic evidence-based and science-based reviews.
Healthcare Policy
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (SSNP)(WIC) serves a special population:
- Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
- Non-breastfeeding mothers for up to six months.
- Infants
- Children up to age five at risk of food insecurity.
The SSNP is a federal program offered in 50 states and five territories with nearly 10,000 clinic sites. It distributes grant funds to provide supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, and nutrition education (USDA Food & Nutrition Services, 2023).
Evaluation
There is a guide to the US Food and Nutrition evaluation under WIC evaluations (1991). The guide was published in 1991. The principles of the assessment have stayed the same, and the guide is described as a framework from which evaluators can build evaluations to meet their needs. It was an excellent reference for examining the quality of the third-party AHRQ approach. The guide poses several vital questions, such as whether the program is effective, what the barriers are to making it effective, and whether this program is the right one to offer the population.
The review by AHRQ included 82 quantitative and 16 qualitative studies, with 42 studies comparing the outcomes of participation of those who qualify for WIC and those who qualify for WIC but did not participate (2022). The report is a 1685-page evaluation that cannot be captured here; however, they did provide a captivating summary that concluded that participation in the program produced improved birth outcomes, lower infant mortality, and better cognitive development in children who participated. They also concluded that WIC supported better food choices for pregnant women and their children. The summary recommended that more research on maternal outcomes and academic achievement be conducted for comparisons (Johns Hopkins EPC, 2022).
Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health (SDH) are the factors that affect our health that we may not have control over, such as where we are born and live, where we learn, work, and play, and what services and community we have access to in our environment. These factors or determinants can impact the risks that populations are exposed to and affect their health and quality of life (Healthy People, 2023).
For maternal and child health, many SDHs are focal in this program: access to healthcare, nutrition, social and community, education, and economic stability are the five dominant SDHs related to maternal and infant health.
This vulnerable population can have so many barriers to access, lower levels of education, and rely on social and community resources for financial aid. Having the WIC program well established and in so many clinics (10,000) across the country removes a barrier to access. It provides education, financial support, and a much-needed community demonstrated through the evaluation to improve outcomes for women and their children.
Conclusion
Program evaluations are careful considerations of the effectiveness of the implementation, as well as the outcomes and objectives of the program. AHQR completed a comprehensive evaluation of the WIC Special Supplemental Nutrition Program and determined improved outcomes for those who participated compared to those who elected not to. This program removed barriers that directly impacted the SDH, such as access to healthcare, nutrition, social and community, education, and economic stability.
References
Healthy People 2023. (2022). Social determinants of health. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/social-determinants-healthLinks to an external site.
Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center. (2022, April). Comparative effectiveness review number 253: Maternal and child outcomes associated with the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC). Retrieved January 18, 2024, from https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/product/pdf/cer-253-maternal-child-outcomes-wic.pdfLinks to an external site.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service. (2023, April 7). About WIC. Retrieved January 17, 2024 from https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/about-wic-glanceLinks to an external site.
USDA Food and Nutrition Services. (1991). WIC evaluation resource guide. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/WICEvaluationResourceGuide.pdfLinks to an external site.
Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6050 ASSESSING A HEALTHCARE PROGRAM/POLICY EVALUATION
The purpose of this assignment is to highlight the significance of policy analysis or evaluation in provision of successful health care delivery. Successful policies and programs require developers to consider different aspects of evaluation from their initial point. Policy or program evaluation informs stakeholders about the impact it has had since its implementation and what can be done to enhance its effectiveness to different health populations. The paper evaluates the Affordable Care Act 2010 based using this template.
Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation | Affordable Care Act 2010 Policy |
Description | The aim of the policy is to increase the number of individuals covered by medical insurance. The policy also aims at improving the quality of medical care and costs.
|
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
| The success of the policy is measures using health insurance companies and effects on the number of individuals with health insurance. These firms reported an increase in enrollment based on estimated projections by the policy (Courtemanche et al., 2018). For instance, the rate of uninsured individuals dropped by close to 20% since the policy’s enactment. |
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
| Over 20 million people that were never insured got covered through the Affordable Care Act. These include individuals with pre-existing conditions (Sommers et al., 2017). The uninsured levels fell in all levels of income, households, level of education and among the various ethnic groups. The issue of paying bills was resolved as more people who did not visit healthcare providers dropped with more accessing care interventions. |
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
| The enactment of ACA policy was based on the declining rates of employer-based insurance coverage and an increase in the number of individuals without medical insurance. For instance, the level of uninsured nonelderly individuals was a concern as soon as their parents’ coverage stopped due to high cost of insurance premiums. |
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
| The insured will have limited access to healthcare providers and get sub-standard service since only a small number of providers will accept lower rates than those in the private market. Healthy young adults were mandated to buy extensive policies without any need due to subsidies for the uninsured. The plan leaves limited options for the participants and discourages entry of new players as they cannot dictate prices which reduces competitiveness. |
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
|
The involved stakeholder in policy evaluation included state and federal government and agencies, health insurance firms, political leaders, the Supreme court and the public. The main beneficiaries of the policy include young adults since the premiums were reduced to allow them purchase insurance coverage (Milstead & Short, 2019). Irrespective of the ethnic group, income or education level, everyone would benefit from the policy upon enrollment due to the lower rates of premium. |
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
| The Affordable Care Act 2010 met its original intent and objectives since the number of uninsured individuals and households dropped significantly. The policy subsidized insurance premium rates. Insurance companies reported improved enrollment rates while hospitals recorded a rise in the number of visits by patients covered for different health care needs (Sommers et al., 2017). The policy’s ability to increase health insurance markets and options is considered as a fundamental part of its effectiveness and attaining intended objectives.
|
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
| Yes, I would highly recommend the policy in my workplace because of the benefits that it offers to employees and even employers. The policy promotes health through subsidized insurance premiums that allow individuals with pre-existing conditions to enroll and get medical care. The policy promotes primary care interventions as individuals can access healthcare services for reviews and screening (Courtemanche et al., 2018). The policy also demonstrates the need for state and federal governments to understand the importance of health insurance coverage in reducing the cost of healthcare. |
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation.
| As a nurse advocate, evaluation of the policy is essential, especially its outcomes and impacts on the targeted populations. In this case, the policy had intended and unintended consequences and its evaluation is important in informing better interventions to address the negative effects. Through the evaluation, one makes a comparison on outcomes and anticipated results to ascertain the difference (Laureate Education, 2018). Secondly, evaluation of cost and benefit is essential as it demonstrates the overall economic viability and sustainability of the policy, particularly in the long-term (Williams & Anderson, 2018). Cost-benefit analysis and cost-effectiveness studies cane be critical in understanding the effects of the policy.
|
General Notes/Comments | The enactment of the ACA 2010 remains a historic and landmark decision that transformed healthcare forever and ensured that more Americans could access better health interventions. The positive effects of ACA 2010 are critical for cost-reduction efforts and quality of care. Conversely, the act has unintended effects like reduced competitiveness of the healthcare environment. However, the policy remains a critical part of enhancing quality care and affordable health in the country.
|
References
Courtemanche, C., Marton, J., Ukert, B., Yelowitz, A., & Zapata, D. (2018). Effects of the Affordable Care Act on health
care access and self-assessed health after 3 years. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 55, 0046958018796361.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2018). The Importance of Program Evaluation [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Learning.
Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerations. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393.doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.05.003
Sommers, B. D., Maylone, B., Blendon, R. J., Orav, E. J., & Epstein, A. M. (2017). Three-year impacts of the Affordable Care Act:
improved medical care and health among low-income adults. Health Affairs, 36(6), 1119-1128. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.0293
Mental health is something I am very concerned about and advocate for. As a nurse I am first handedly seen prejudice toward mental patients and an impact it has on the community in general and individual in particular. Even though mental health did not have a direct correlation with mortality1(other than suicide), it does have a huge impact on the quality of life of the patients2. In the most severe mental cases initialization is required and that can involve a lot of different issues.
The Florida Mental Health Act, also known as the Bakers Act, was passed to allow for the creation of the mental health programs that would allow to “reduce the occurrence, severity, duration, and disabling aspects of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders” as stated in Section 394.453 of Florida Statues. It was passed in 1971 and allows involuntary institutionalization along with examination of the individual. As stated by law,72 hours are allowed for examination in designated facilities3. The results of the examination can pertain many possible outcomes such as (but not limited to): release of the individual, inpatient placement, outpatient placement, voluntary treatment, etc. Form of the Bakers Act exist in Minnesota too and called Mental Health Civil Commitments4.
Critics of the involuntary hospitalization point out that crisis stabilization is a temporary and short-lived solution to a bigger mental health issue and Act should be reformed5. One of the arguments for the reform is that public defenders do not have access to the patient’s medical records and ongoing counseling (Section 394.4615)6. Even though I find this to be a valid point, as a nurse, I believe there is bigger issues that are involved in the process. First and foremost, is that there is a great state-to-state variability in this, as well as variable interpretation of the involuntary commitment statue in each state over time7. Through nursing Organizations, we can demand to review the standards and conditions, so that they can be more uniform and unified throughout the whole of the United States and across the state lines. This considerable variation is particularly peculiar in the light of the fact that psychiatric nomenclature is standardized and extremely well defined.
Mental health patients seem to be on the outskirts of the bigger medical healthcare problems, but nurses can get involve by doing small steps. For the nurse health care does not end at the state line, even though they are licensed by the state. This partitioned system can be a hindrance, but that is a where social media, network, and nursing associations can step in. Just by directly contacting individual nurses, our actions will have a butterfly effect. Reaching out, encouraging, and supporting other nurses, we can generate change in the states that vary. Reaching out to the family of the patients also can be an avenue that needs to be explored. Just like in our profession, it all starts with individual contact and interaction. Educating each other and encouraging to get involved, talking about each other experiences not only the first step toward policy changing, but bonding experience that has a positive effect on our own mental health. Comparing and contrasting notes with nurses from another states, can push them toward contacting their own local politicians or even becoming one themselves. Overwhelmed with shortage of time, maybe helpful to explore the resources available in that state, but I believe it all starts with individual interactions. If we want to standardize mental health care across the state lines, we must not only lead by example, but walk beside.
Reference
- Burns RA, Butterworth P, Browning C, Byles J, Luszcz M, Mitchell P, Shaw J, Anstey KJ. Examination of the association between mental health, morbidity, and mortality in late life: findings from longitudinal community surveys. Int Psychogeriatr. 2015 May;27(5):739-46. doi: 10.1017/S1041610214002051. Epub 2014 Sep 23. PMID: 25245267.
- Fusar-Poli P, Salazar de Pablo G, De Micheli A, Nieman DH, Correll CU, Kessing LV, Pfennig A, Bechdolf A, Borgwardt S, Arango C, van Amelsvoort T. What is good mental health? A scoping review. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2020 Feb;31:33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.12.105. Epub 2019 Dec 31. PMID: 31901337.
- https://www.myflfamilies.comLinks to an external site.
- https://mn.gov/omhdd/assets/Civil-Commitment-Process-Fact%20Sheet_tcm23-467173.pdf
- https://journeypure.com/ask-our-doctors/florida/what-is-the-baker-act/Links to an external site.
- http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0300-0399/0394/0394PARTIContentsIndex.htmlLinks to an external site.
- Forensic Issues. Bankole A. Johnson DSc, MD, MB, ChB, MPhil, DFAPA, FRCPsych, FACFEI, ABDA, in Addiction Medicine: Science and Practice, 2020
NURS 6050 WEEK 11 ASSIGNMENT GLOBAL HEALTHCARE COMPARISON MATRIX AND NARRATIVE STATEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Global Health Comparison
Individuals, health care organizations, and communities apply different strategies to cope with health problems. Formulating health policies is highly effective since many have political and legal support. These policies differ across countries, albeit addressing similar problems. This paper compares policies in the United States and Mexico in addressing childhood obesity.
Global Healthcare Issue | Childhood obesity
| |
Description | Childhood obesity is a global health concern with profound impacts on children’s health. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of high blood pressure and cholesterol and a huge risk factor for diabetes (Gätjens et al., 2020). It is among the diseases increasing the illness burden at homes, health care organizations, and countries. With lifestyles and nutritional habits changing, a multidimensional approach is needed to reduce childhood obesity. | |
Country | United States
| Mexico |
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue | United States applies policies to reduce risk at a very young age. It addresses mothers’ and children’s nutritional concerns through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The policy intervention seeks to reduce childhood obesity by providing healthy foods and nutrition education, particularly to low-income families (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020). | Mexico applies regulations to address childhood obesity problems. One such policy is the front-of-package labeling system that provides labeling specifications for pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic drink products (UNICEF Mexico, 2020). The policy provides warning labels for consumables with excessive critical nutrients and calories. |
What are the strengths of this policy? | WIC’s main strengths include addressing the needs of mothers and children simultaneously. It also targets mothers at critical periods- pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Besides nutritional provision, WIC also seeks to promote a healthy populace. | The policy guides adults when purchasing pre-packaged food and drinks for children. |
What are the weaknesses of this policy? |
| It is primarily educative in approach. In this case, it does not prevent the productive of processed foods and options high in calories. |
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)
| Living conditions, socioeconomic status, neighborhoods, and education have a huge impact on childhood obesity. Gätjens et al. (2020) found that children from low-income families are more vulnerable to obesity due to affordability and access to healthy food options problems. A suitable example is the high rate of obesity among African Americans and Hispanics. | Employment, education, neighborhoods, and socioeconomic activities determine people’s choices of lifestyles and food. Change in lifestyles and food options are among the leading triggers of childhood obesity. For instance, obesity rates are directly proportional to the consumption of processed foods. |
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue? | On cost, the US government funds the WIC to reduce costs associated with running the program. It was allocated $5.5 billion for the 2021 activities (Baldari & Aherne, 2020). Such support ensures more mothers and children can get healthy foods and access to health services and nutritional education. | The Mexican government heavily fines companies that fail to provide correct labeling of pre-packaged foods. It also advocates for the production of foods low in calories by less taxation, which improves their access. Such interventions are instrumental in reducing childhood obesity. |
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples) | WIC has been instrumental in reducing obesity rates in young children. Through WIC, obesity rates declined from 15.9% in 2010 to 13.9% in 2016 (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020). The decline was significant among minority populations. Reducing obesity improves overall health outcomes.
| Front-of-package labeling is a way of helping people to make informed decisions when buying foods and drinks. Accordingly, buyers avoid prepackaged foods with warning labels and go for the healthier options. |
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country. | Nurses should play an educative role to ensure that eligible populations enroll in the WIC program. WIC also reduces the illness burden in communities by reducing obesity rates, implies that it reduces nurses’ workload.
| Nurses should inform populations on the importance of labeling and how to identify unhealthy foods. They should also play an active role in influencing policies that require labeling of all foods to guide parents in decision-making. |
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples) | Childhood obesity burdens healthcare organizations by increasing the number of people receiving healthcare services. With the rates still high, there is an urgent need for policy frameworks to be expanded to ensure that they are multifaceted. For instance, WIC should be expanded to look into more interventions to address the childhood obesity problem besides healthy food options and nutritional education and referrals. | Healthcare organizations respond to populations’ health problems directly. The magnitude of their burdens and responsibilities is directly proportional to the impact and severity of global health issues. It is important to formulate policies such as front-of-package labeling to address childhood obesity. Global health issues necessitate the formulation and progressive update of such policies as their dynamics change over time. |
General Notes/Comments | WIC is commendable at all levels. It is among the interventions that address childhood obesity problem through a practical approach. If supplemented by other policy interventions and programs, it will help to reduce childhood obesity to a huge extent. | Children need protection from childhood obesity. The front-of package labeling is a practical approach to addressing this problem. The government should continue supporting it and improving its implementation approaches to keep children safe from the risk of obesity. |
A Plan for Social Change
The health practice keeps on evolving as illness dynamics change over time. A glance at health care issues shows that they transcend national and international borders and are characterized by disproportionate impacts across populations. The vulnerable and underserved populations remain the most adversely affected. With the healthcare environment highly evolving, healthcare providers should embrace a global perspective which can be achieved by engaging in activities that enable healthcare providers to broaden their view of care and health problems. Such practices involve research, team-based care, and medical missions. As a nurse leader, it is crucial to be in the front line of improving cultural sensitivity and other practices that make the health practice more global in its approach to everyday problems.
Incorporating a global perspective or lens can have huge implications on local practice and my role as a nurse leader. Spaulding (2018) suggested that a global perspective in healthcare requires its providers to be more interconnected. In the local practice, health care providers would be obliged to examine how issues such as diverse cultures and international influences and beliefs affect health and health outcomes. As a nurse leader, my role would broaden since I would be tasked with ensuring that nurses understand the interconnection between health systems and the importance of approaching health care matters with a broadened mindset to achieve the desired outcomes.
Health care providers should be critical thinkers and highly innovative in their approach to care. Embracing a global perspective implies that health care providers are ready to apply comprehensive approaches applicable at a global scale to enhance health outcomes. Such an approach to care is the foundation of social change since social change entails enabling societies to live better lives. It is more about improving productivity, which is achieved by using a global perspective and proven interventions to address health care challenges.
In conclusion, health care problems across the globe vary according to people’s geographical locations, resources, and socioeconomic situations, among other factors. Policy interventions are designed to reduce the illness burden and promote healthy living by reducing vulnerabilities and protecting vulnerable populations, among other objectives. The comparative analysis between the United States and Mexico’s policies illustrates this difference as the countries look forward to ensuring that their people live safely and healthily.
References
Baldari, C., & Aherne, D. (2020, Mar 13). Fact sheet: Impact of the president’s 2021 budget on nutrition. First Focus on Children. https://firstfocus.org/resources/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-impact-of-the-presidents-2021-budget-on-nutrition
Gätjens, I., Hasler, M., Di Giuseppe, R., Bosy-Westphal, A., & Plachta-Danielzik, S. (2020). Family and lifestyle factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and fat mass in children and adolescents. Obesity Facts, 13(6), 596-607. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511927
Spaulding, C. (2018, May 11). Our role in public health: Taking a global perspective. AAP News & Journals. https://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/05/11/our-role-in-public-health-taking-a-global-perspective-pediatrics-5-11-18
State of Childhood Obesity. (2020). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/policy/wic/
UNICEF Mexico. (2020, Mar 04). What are we waiting for?Child obesity in Mexico presents an urgency that demands immediate change. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-are-we-waiting-for-obesity-mexico