NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

Walden University NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE – Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE 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 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE 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 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

The introduction for the Walden University NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE 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.

How to Write the Body for NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE 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 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

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 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

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 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

The healthcare system experiences various challenges with most of them becoming more evident during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forms one of the NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE. The number of people affected with the Covid-19 increased drastically considering the infectivity of the disease. The number of patients admitted to the hospitals increased as some of them required oxygen support. The burden caused by the Covid-19 to the healthcare system was mainly felt by the healthcare providers who are the frontline fighters of the pandemic. On the other hand, while the healthcare providers were entitled to fight the infection and save a life; they would risk their lives especially considering the limitations in the personal protective equipment supply. The infection control protocols refer to the activities aimed at reducing the spread of an infectious disease. The purpose of the NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE paper is to explore the infection prevention and control protocol as a major stressor in the healthcare sector and the associated competing needs and how the healthcare institutions are working to address the issue.  

National Healthcare Issue/Stressor and Impact in the Organization 

    Infection control and prevention is a significant national stressor experienced in the Covid-19 pandemic. The healthcare institutions were forced to reinforce the infection prevention measures and ensure thorough adherence to the protocol and reduce the spread of the infection. The healthcare providers are at higher risk of contracting the Covid-19 from the patients if they fail to observe the IPC requirement. The issue significantly affected our organization. While the healthcare providers are trained on the IPC protocols when handling the Covid-19 pandemic patients, a good number of them were able to be infected with the virus from the patients.  

The infection prevention and control were worsened by the shortage of PPE supplies. The increase in the number of Covid-19 cases requires an urgent response and so the consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) increased greatly. For example, in our case, a total of 85 patients were admitted with the Covid-19 diseases. Furthermore, a totalof9 healthcare providers contracted the infection and this would create a shortage in the number of healthcare providers considering that the affected individuals were to undergo isolation for 14 days. Other than the healthcare providers, 10 patients also contracted the infection from the positive cases. 

Summary of Reviews of Healthcare Issue/Stressor Addressed in Other Organizations 

The Covid-19pandemic affected all healthcare institutions. The severity of the diseases and the need to apply ICP depended on the number of new cases recorded on daily basis. Improving the ICP protocol would mean that the healthcare providers take a leading role to isolate the infected cases from the non-infected ones. On the other hand, they had to be cautious not to be infected. The hallmark of the stress presented by the protocol was evident in cases where the healthcare providers contracted the infection because the available workforce will reduce. The risk of getting infected by the Covid-19 virus increases proportionately with the number of patients a healthcare provider interacts with. There is the possibility that working for long hours could cause burnout in the healthcare providers and so reduce their compliance level to the ICP. Sun et al. (2021) discuss the strategies used in hospitals in China to address IPC and reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The study reports that the Chinese government reduced crowding in hospitals that reduced the risk of transmission, by establishing internet hospitals (Sun et al., 2021). The use of the internet means that the healthcare providers would still offer the medical services; though, without interacting directly with the patients (Sun et al., 2021).  

Similarly, Wee et al. (2020) report that implementation of the respiratory surveillance ward was developed during the Covid-19 pandemic in Singapore to fight the spread. The organization in Singapore implemented the RSW within six weeks and this reduced the cases of patient-healthcare provider transmissions. All the patients admitted with respiratory diseases were monitored accordingly and proper protocols were engaged to prevent their risk of acquiring Covid-19 among other diseases in the hospital. The use of personal protective equipment as an infection prevention and control requirement helped in curbing the spread of the disease among the healthcare providers and the patients. Covid-19 is a respiratory disease; therefore, surveillance on all the cases of respiratory illnesses ensures that all cases of Covid-19 disease are identified and the patients isolated in time. The infectivity of the disease depends on the viral load in the patient and the exposure time.  

Strategies Used to Address the Organizational Impact of National Issues/Stressors 

     The findings from the literature review indicate that the RSW is an effective method of reducing the cases of Covid-19 infections in hospitals. Early identification of the positive cases and isolating them will reduce the likelihood of the healthcare providers or patients getting infected. The healthcare institutions must be proactive in identifying the positive cases and minimizing their exposure time with the other non-Covid-19 patients. Observing the ICP protocols also helps in reducing the infection. The healthcare providers should always put on the required PPE to reduce their chances of getting infected with the Covid-19. The strategy impacts the organization positively considering that there will be minimal cases of the healthcare providers getting infected and isolated for 14 days. However, the strategy may adversely affect the organization financially since it is resource-intensive due to testing and bed capacity needed to isolate patients with respiratory symptoms.  

Description of Competing Needs Impacting a Healthcare Issue/Stressor 

The Rising Cost as Inadequate Supply as Competing Needs 

The need to observe the infection prevention measures is essential to reduce the number of healthcare providers infected with Covid-19 disease. However, the surge in the Covid-19 cases resulted in the scarcity of the PPEs and this means that hospitals could not acquire enough for the healthcare providers. Besides, the cost of acquiring a single full PPE was high. Observing the ICP would result in an increased cost for the hospital. Besides, the limited PPEs available make it challenging to fully adopt the ICP and this could risk the lives of the healthcare providers who interact directly with the Covid-19 patients. 

Description of a Relevant Policy or Practice, Policy’s Strengths and Challenges, and Ethical Consideration on a Healthcare Issue/Stressor 

RSW Strategy  

 Adopting the RSW strategy is important because it ensures that the Covid-19 cases are identified and isolated in time; therefore, it reduces the risk of infection transmission in the hospital. On the other hand, it may not be possible to identify all cases of Covid-19 on admission and so some decisions made will be based on speculations.  Furthermore, there are ethical implications linked with the policy. It may appear discriminative to isolate all the patients with respiratory illnesses and so some with minor influenza virus infections among other upper respiratory diseases may fear seeking medical help from the hospital.   

Recommended Policies to Address Competing Needs and Shortcomings of Existing Policies Administration of Healthcare through Internet 

The identified NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE can be addressed through the implementation of the interaction between the patients and healthcare providers over the internet. The strategy will be most effective because it minimizes the contact between the patient and the healthcare providers (Borycki & Kushniruk, 2017). Though, there is an increased risk of patients infecting their family members if they fail to observe the infection prevention and control measures at home. However, the approach is cost-effective and does not require additional healthcare providers since the patients will take a proactive role in promoting their wellbeing (Orton et al., 2018). Furthermore, due to the non-exposure, the demand for personal protective equipment will reduce and the healthcare providers will be able to practice freely without the fear of getting the deadly disease. 

Also Read:

ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES TO SUPPORT HEALTHCARE ISSUES

DEVELOPING ORGANIZATIONAL POLICIES AND PRACTICES

LEADERSHIP THEORIES IN PRACTICE

YOUR LEADERSHIP PROFILE

PERSONAL LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHIES

WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT

Module 4: Workplace Environment Assessment

CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN

Conclusion 

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a significant challenge to the healthcare system and made it difficult for healthcare providers to observe the infection control and prevention measures. Working for long hours could expose them to burnout and increase their exposure to the virus. However, adopting the care delivery through the internet approach offers a cost-effective and safe solution to the health stressor.  

NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE References 

Borycki, E., & Kushniruk, A. (2017). Patient safety and health information technology. E-Health Two-Sided Markets, 19-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-805250-1.00004-6 

Orton, M., Agarwal, S., Muhoza, P., Vasudevan, L., & Vu, A. (2018). Strengthening delivery of health services using digital devices. Global Health: Science and Practice, 6(Supplement 1), S61-S71. https://doi.org/10.9745/ghsp-d-18-00229 

Sun, S., Xie, Z., Yu, K., Jiang, B., Zheng, S., & Pan, X. (2021). COVID-19 and healthcare system in China: challenges and progression for a sustainable future. Globalization and Health, 17(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-021-00665-9 

Wee, L. E., Hsieh, J. Y. C., Phua, G. C., Tan, Y., Conceicao, E. P., Wijaya, L., … & Tan, B. H. (2020). Respiratory surveillance wards as a strategy to reduce nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 through early detection: The experience of a tertiary-care hospital in Singapore. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 41(7), 820-825. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2020.207 

Sample Answer 2 for NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

Introduction 

This paper is determined to analyze Obesity and its impacts as a pertinent national issue in the United States.  It will also explain how the health issue is being addressed in other organizations.  Obesity is a treatable health disease that is a worldwide concern, associated with excess fat in the body. It is genetically and environmentally caused. It is diagnosed by a healthcare provider and is classified as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater (Fryar et al, 2018). 

Obesity is a serious healthcare problem associated with reduced quality of life and more impoverished mental health conditions. Similarly, it is also associated with an increase in the number of complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, and other types of cancers (Cipriani et al., 2016). Moreover, Obesity is a serious healthcare problem associated with reduced quality of life and more impoverished mental health conditions. Similarly, it is also associated with an increase in the number of deaths in the United States. (Chiao et al., 2015). Obesity is a nutritional disorder that is related to unhealthy eating. 

There are different risk factors of Obesity, including overeating, overconsumption of junk foods, reduced physical activities, and genetic inheritance (Werneck et al., 2018). The main problem is the increasing cases of Obesity among the population. Among the most concerning chronic health conditions is Obesity. Irrespective of whether an adult or a child experiences the condition, Obesity has been connected to poor life quality and various numerous killer comorbid conditions such as some types of cancer, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes (Chiao et al., 2015). Even though the disease has devastating effects on the population, it remains a complex health concern caused by a combination of individual factors like genetics and behavior and various other causes like physical activity, environment, food, skills, and education. Multiple factors such as exposures, medication use, dietary pattern, and lack of physical activity have also been shown to contribute (Werneck et al., 2018). Even though various interventions have been used to prevent and manage Obesity, the condition seems to be increasing among the population.  (Fryar et al, 2018). 

The Impact of Obesity on the Nursing Professionals. 

Nursing professionals face different problems in the healthcare system. These problems may be associated with the work environment as well as the treatment issues. Obesity has both mental and physical health complications for people of all ages. The complications related to Obesity range from medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, some types of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Also, Obesity is associated with reduced self-esteem, social isolation, as well as depression. 

The dominance of Obesity was 42.4% in 2017-2018. Moreover, from 1999–2000 through 2017–2018, the bulk of Obesity increased from 30.5% to 42.4%, and the prevalence of severe Obesity risen from 4.7% to 9.2%. Its related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer that are leading causes of preventable, premature death. Similarly, the estimated annual medical cost of Obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical cost for people who have Obesity was $1,429 higher than those of normal weight. (NCHS 2017-2018). The working adults of non-Hispanic blacks (49.6%) had the highest age-adjusted higher number of Obesity. Similarly, working-age of Hispanic (44.8%) and non-Hispanic White adults (42.2%) (Fryar et al, 2018). 

The age-adjusted dominance of Obesity among U.S. adults was 42.4% in 2017–2018. The prevalence was 40.0% among younger adults aged 20–39, 44.8% among middle-aged adults aged 40–59, and 42.8% among older adults aged 60 and over. There were no significant differences in prevalence by age group (Fryar et al, 2018).Among men, the prevalence of Obesity was 40.3% among those aged 20–39, 46.4% among those aged 40–59, and 42.2% among those aged 60 and over. Among women, the prevalence of Obesity was 39.7% among those aged 20–39, 43.3% among those aged 40–59, and 43.3% among those aged 60 and over. None of the differences by age were significant. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of Obesity between men and women overall or by age group (Fryar et al, 2018). 

The health problem has had profound financial implications. It has a substantial economic burden on the USA economy and other world’s governments and States. The resulting poorer health outcomes for obese individuals means that such people have to use the health care services more frequently, implying a notable increase in health care costs and burn out of nurses. As of the year 2016, close to two billion adults were overweight. Over six hundred and fifty million were classified as obese globally—implying that close to forty percent of the adult population were overweight, with thirteen percent among them obese. As of 2019, the statistics for children under five were not better as thirty-eight million of this population were classified as obese or overweight. 

Strategies Used in the Mitigation of Obesity 

The management of Obesity often requires evidence-based practices that aim at increasing safety measures. Currently, there are training processes that aim at reducing the increasing rates of mortalities associated with Obesity. The training processes include management of eating habits, engagement in physical activities, and other healthy behaviors. Educational processes on eating patterns are also undertaken to reduce the cases of Obesity (Cipriani et al., 2016). Besides, the proposed solution to the health problem includes educational programs and behavioral change among the population. Educational and behavioral change interventions are essential in the management of Obesity. 

Conclusion 

Obesity is a serious healthcare issue associated with reduced quality of life and lower mental health conditions. Moreover, it is related to an increase in the number of complications such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, and other types of cancers (Cipriani et al., 2016). There are different risk factors of Obesity, including overeating, overconsumption of junk foods, reduced physical activities, and genetic inheritance (Werneck et al., 2018). The main problem is the increasing cases of Obesity among the population. And this has negatively impacted nursing professionals. The proposed solution to the health problem includes educational programs and behavioral change among the population. Educational and behavioral change interventions are essential in the management of Obesity.  

Reference 

Cipriani, G., Lucetti, C., Danti, S., Carlesi, C., & Nuti, A. (2016). Violent and criminal manifestations in dementia patients. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 16(5), 541-549. doi.10.1111/ggi.12608 

Chiao, C. Y., Wu, H. S., & Hsiao, C. Y. (2015). Caregiver burden for informal caregivers of patients with dementia: A systematic review. International Nursing Review, 62(3), 340-350.doi.10.1111/inr.12194 

Fryar, C. D., Carroll, M. D., & Ogden, C. L. (2018). Prevalence of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity among children and adolescents aged 2–19 years: United States, 1963–1965 through 2015–2016. http://www.publicnow.com/view/57BFCB292A6D12A9A3EE633921C052DED8F0D94B 

Werneck, A. O., Oyeyemi, A. L., Gerage, A. M., Cyrino, E. S., Szwarcwald, C. L., Sardinha, L. B., & Silva, D. R. (2018). Does leisure‐time physical activity attenuate or eliminate the positive association between Obesity and high blood pressure? The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 20(5), 959-966. doi.10.1111/jch.13292 

Sample Answer 3 for NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

Issue & Impact

Nurse practitioners serve as fundamental assets to healthcare service. They serve as the largest section of the health profession (Haddad et al., 2023). However, nurses face many obstacles within the healthcare setting. A major issue faced by nurse practitioners today is the shortage of nurses within the field of healthcare. Nurse-to-patient ratios are versatile based on staff and facility requirements, accommodations, and even coverage. Due to increased demand for nurse practitioners, nurses have had to adapt to unsafe ratios, responsibilities, and practices. This is due to the immediate impact that the past three years have had on the healthcare setting.

Nursing shortages have been a pertinent issue throughout the history of healthcare. However, 2020 exacerbated the issue of nursing shortages due to the advent of the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19 resulted in a severe impact on the healthcare setting. It demonstrated that without enough registered nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other clinicians, the U.S. healthcare system cannot function (Costa & Friese, 2022). The pandemic exposed major weaknesses in the healthcare setting and unnerved countless nurse practitioners and other clinicians.

While the pandemic resulted in an increased demand for nurse practitioners and other clinicians, the stressors of the pandemic also resulted in decreased motivation, safety, and job satisfaction for nurses. According to a national survey by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, “66% of respondents reported having considered leaving the profession, a percentage much higher than previously reported rates” (Costa & Friese, 2022). In fact, the literature of nursing shortages has seen a recent increase in scholarly attention since the pandemic began.

Summary of Literature

Nursing shortages are an unprecedented issue within the healthcare sector both nationally and internationally. In the examination of nursing shortages in the United States, it has been made evident that nurse practitioners have been more concerned with their responsibilities and duties in the past three years than other points in history not including natural disasters. Aside from the textbook, two articles on nursing shortages have been reviewed from outside resources. These articles address the issue of nursing shortages in different healthcare organizations. The following is a summary of the two articles from New England Journal of Medicine and the National Library of Medicine.

“Nursing Shortage” by Haddad et al. (2023) describes the advent of nursing shortages in the United States. This article from the National Library of Medicine also provides recent statistics on the prevalence of nurse practitioners in the United States. According to the article, there are approximately 29 million nurses and midwives globally, with 3.9 million nurses and midwives in the United States (Haddad et al., 2023). The article emphasizes the need for more nurses within the next decade, which has been influenced in large part by the discouraged nurses who served as essential personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Costa & Friese’s “Policy Strategies for Addressing Current Threats to the U.S. Nursing Workforce” (2022) explains how the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in decreased motivation for nurses to return to work. Studies in this article have shown that a range of stressors and traumatic experiences, including furloughs, a lack of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), increased violence, excessive workloads, and reduced support services have influence nurses’ apprehension to return to the healthcare setting (Costa & Friese, 2022). This article also emphasizes the increasing demand for nurse practitioners over the next decade.

Summary of Strategies

These articles highlight both the issues inherent with nursing shortages as well as potential strategies for addressing the organizational impact of national nursing shortages. Haddad et al. (2023) address technology and personal empowerment as vital strategies for decreasing the issue of nursing shortages. Costa and Friese (2022) describe state legislation as a necessary strategy for providing nurses with adequate resources and support tools which will encourage nurse practitioners to return to work. The following is a summary of the strategies highlighted respectively in the provided articles.

One of the main resources that has helped nurses navigate challenges throughout the healthcare setting in the past few years are digital databases. These help with data storage and recall of patient information. The introduction of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and other technological advances improve the likelihood of nurses’ willingness to stay in the profession (Haddad et al., 2023). However, these can also impact the nurse practitioner in a negative way. Some seasoned nurses struggle with the technology and remove themselves from the profession at an earlier rate (Haddad et al., 2023).

Another option is increasing employee motivation. Ensuring that nurses feel inspired, empowered, and appreciated for their work is essential to promoting confidence in the workplace. According to Haddad et al. (2023), an environment that empowers and motivates nurses is necessary to rejuvenate and sustain the nursing workforce. However, these methods can only be implemented appropriately through proper political procedure. State legislation that eliminates onerous scope-of-practice regulations for advanced practice providers would enable nurse practitioners, including midwives, to practice independently and could increase access to healthcare (Costa & Friese, 2022).

References

Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing: From expert clinician to influential leader (3^rd ed.). New York, NY: Springer.

Costa, D. K., & Friese, C. R. (2022). Policy Strategies for Addressing Current Threats to the U.S. Nursing Workforce. The New England Journal of Medicine, 386(26), 2454–2456.

Haddad, L. M., Annamaraju, P., & Toney-Butler., T. J. (2023). Nursing Shortage. National Library of Medicine.

Sample Answer 4 for NURS 6053 ANALYSIS OF A PERTINENT HEALTHCARE ISSUE

Reforms in the healthcare sector, like the enactment of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and subsequent changes that have occurred to this law, are meant to increase access to quality and affordable care. However, the cost of healthcare is rising and becoming pertinent healthcare in the United States, not just at the organizational level but also at the government level; both state and federal governments (Montero et al., 2022). This paper discusses the rising cost of healthcare across the U.S. health system despite the passage of ACA 2010 and other policies like the Quadruple Aim. The discussion provides a summary of two articles exploring the issue and how organizations are addressing it. It also offers strategies for addressing the impact on the organization of the issue and the overall effects it has on our healthcare facility.

Description of the National Health Stressor & Impacts on Organization

a). Cost of Healthcare

The cost of healthcare is increasing based on several factors, some within and others outside the control of organizations. The high cost of care is leading to imbalances and financial burdens for millions of Americans, some opting to remain uninsured and only accessing healthcare through emergency departments (EDs). In their article, Montero et al. (2022) discuss challenges that Americans are facing due to healthcare costs. The study shows that close to half of U.S. adults experience difficulties affording their cost of care while a significant share of those above 65 years encounter challenges in paying for various components of care, particularly services not covered by Medicare that include dental care and prescription drug costs. Despite the Affordable Care Act lowering the cost of health insurance, millions of Americans are not enrolling as expected due to the rise in premiums’ prices. These costs are attributed to a rise in demand for care due to an aging population, use of technology and equipment, and inflationary pressure making the equipment and cost of services increase.

b). Impact on Organization

The rising cost of care impacts the organization since it means that it must spend more on buying supplies and equipment to meet the increased demand for care. Again, the organization needs to hire more providers to ensure that all patients seeking care get services. More fundamentally, the organization must ensure that it complies with existing legislations like the EMTALA provisions which mandate it to offer emergency care even for uninsured individuals (Sommers, 2020). According to available data from the administration, the facility catered to 60 individuals who presented in the emergency department with conditions requiring stabilization but did not have medical or health coverage. This implies that the organization may make losses of close to $400,000 since it cannot be reimbursed the amounts from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Summary of Two Articles & Addressing the Issue in Other Organizations

i). Summary of the Articles

The first article by Buntin (2021) explores the confronting challenges to the U.S. Care system during and post the COVID-19 pandemic. The article stresses the rising cost of healthcare for millions of Americans and its impact on access to care across different populations, especially racial minorities, and low-income households. The second article by Crowley et al. (2020) focuses on strategies that can help lower the cost of care and improve coverage for millions of Americans. As such, both articles are emphatic that while the ACA 2010 made tremendous steps in increasing coverage for millions of Americans, the rising costs of insurance and service provision are causing more harm than the expected benefits to these populations.

ii). Addressing the Issue in other Organizations

Healthcare organizations across the U.S. are addressing the cost of care through innovative ways that include leveraging technologies and enrolling in value-based care models under the CMS. As asserted by the American Hospitals Association (AHA), the rising cost of care is a critical challenge for many healthcare organizations, and dealing with requires investment in technology to enhance access, even for remote patients with chronic diseases as that lowers transportation expenses. Technologies like mHealth and telehealth as well as telemedicine can allow organizations to improve access to healthcare services.

Summary of Strategies to Address Organizational Impact & Effect on Organization

i). Summary of Strategies

The scholarly sources present various strategies that organizations can use to address the effects of the rising cost of care. Buntin (2021) stresses the need to invest in technologies and innovative care models to help lower the overall costs of care. On its part, the article by Crowley et al. (2020) proposes having a single-payer system and emphasizes the use of value-based care for organizations to reduce the cost of care. These articles propose that using these strategies at the national level can help organizations lower their overall expenses, especially in situations where they cannot be compensated by CMS.

ii) Effects on Organization

The proposed strategies by the articles have a positive effect on our organization as they demonstrate that it will not incur losses emanating from uncompensated yet provided care. Again, implementing value-based care will protect it from these losses and allow it to offer quality care (Sommers, 2020). More fundamentally, the organization will improve its overall position as an excellent care provision center.

Conclusion

The cost of care remains a national stressor despite the existing healthcare reforms aimed at improving quality, accessibility, and lowering costs. The national stressor impacts access to healthcare as millions of Americans cannot afford care. Organizations like our facility can develop innovative approaches to address the stressor and ensure that all patients have access to quality care.

References

American Hospitals Association (AHA) (2022). 2022 Costs of Caring.

            https://www.aha.org/guidesreports/2023-04-20-2022-costs-caring

Buntin, M. B. (2021). Confronting challenges in the US Health Care System: Potential

opportunity in a time of crisis. JAMA, 325(14), 1399-1400. DOI:10.1001/jama.2021.1471

Crowley, R., Daniel, H., Cooney, T. G., Engel, L. S., & Health and Public Policy Committee of

the American College of Physicians. (2020). Envisioning a better US health care system for all: coverage and cost of care. Annals of Internal Medicine, 172(2_Supplement), S7-S32. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-2415

Montero, A., Kearney, A., Hamel, L. & Brodie, M. (2022). Americans’ Challenges with Health

Care Costs. https://www.kff.org/health-costs/issue-brief/americans-challenges-with-health-care-costs/

Sommers, B. D. (2020). Health insurance coverage: What comes after the ACA? An examination

of the major gaps in health insurance coverage and access to care that remain ten years after the Affordable Care Act. Health Affairs, 39(3), 502-50. DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01416.

The prevalence of infectious diseases, including but not limited to HIV, TB, and HCV, is a national healthcare issue that can have a significant impact on correctional facilities, where I currently work. There is a higher risk of transmission and outbreaks of these diseases in prison environments where inmates are housed in close quarters. Due to several factors, including limited access to healthcare, a higher prevalence of risk factors (such as substance abuse), and inadequate preventive measures, the incarcerated population frequently experiences higher rates of these infections compared to the general population (Busschots et al., 2022).

The impact of infectious diseases on correctional facilities is multi-fold. Firstly, it poses a significant health risk to both inmates and staff. The crowded living conditions and limited healthcare resources within correctional facilities can facilitate the rapid spread of infections. In addition, the prevalence of comorbidities among the incarcerated population, such as substance abuse and mental health disorders, can further complicate the management and treatment of infectious diseases (Busschots et al, 2022). Moreover, the healthcare burden associated with infectious diseases can strain correctional healthcare systems, which are often already overburdened and under-resourced. The costs of testing, treatment, and follow-up care for infectious diseases can be substantial. Correctional facilities must allocate resources to address these healthcare needs, which may divert funding from other essential programs and services (Lucas et al, 2018).

Additionally, infectious disease transmission within correctional facilities can occur outside of the institution’s physical boundaries. Infected ex-offenders who are released into the community may help spread the disease, which could have an impact on general public health. This emphasizes the connection between healthcare facilities in general and correctional facilities specifically, emphasizing the significance of addressing infectious diseases in these settings (Winter et al., 2022). Comprehensive strategies are required to reduce the impact of infectious diseases in correctional facilities. Adequate healthcare services, including access to antiretroviral therapy for HIV, directly observed therapy for TB, and new treatments for HCV, are some examples of these that could be provided. Promoting harm reduction practices like drug and alcohol treatment, needle exchange programs, and instruction on safe sex practices can also aid in lowering the risk of transmission (Cords et al., 2021).

Specifically in my facility, there is an increase in the prevalence of HCV. Most infections are new infections as screening for these infectious diseases are done at initial intake with the majority of the incarcerated individuals negative at intake. The inmates develop tattoo paraphernalia from equipment and needles they are able to find and then end up using these same needles to tattoo themselves over and over. Despite health education on the dangers and complications of sharing needles, these individuals are left with no option but to continue these unsafe practices as they can only use what is available for them in that setting. Another example would when my facility experienced an outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in 2019. The outbreak occurred from contaminated water from the shower head in the bathroom. The outbreak was possible because of the shared bathrooms and tight living conditions in the prison. 

In conclusion, there are significant risks to the health and well-being of inmates, staff, and the general public due to the prevalence of infectious diseases in correctional facilities. A comprehensive strategy that prioritizes prevention, early detection, and efficient management of these infections is needed to address this issue. Adequate resources and support are essential to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services within correctional settings and to minimize the potential impact on public health (Chandra et al, 2022).

References

Busschots, D., Kremer, C., Bielen, R., Cuypers, L., Gils, T., & Van Damme, P. (2022). Hepatitis C prevalence in incarcerated settings between 2013–2021: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 22, 2159. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14623-6Links to an external site.

Chandra Deb, L., Hove, H., Miller, T. K., Pinks, K., Njau, G., Hagan, J. J., & Jansen, R. J. (2022). Epidemiology of Hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated populations in North Dakota. PloS one, 17(3), e0266047. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266047Links to an external site.

Cords, O., Martinez, L., Warren, J. L., O’Marr, J. M., Walter, K. S., Cohen, T., & et al. (2021). Incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis in incarcerated populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Public Health, 6(5), e339-e350. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(21)00025-6Links to an external site.

Lucas, K. D., Wheeler, C., McLendon, P., Leistikow, B. N., & Mohle-Boetani, J. C. (2018). The outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease associated with cooling towers at a California state prison, 2015. Epidemiology and Infection, 146(3), 297–302. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268818000110Links to an external site.

Winter, R. J., Holmes, J. A., Papaluca, T. J., & Thompson, A. J. (2022). The importance of prisons in achieving hepatitis C elimination: Insights from the Australian experience. Viruses, 14(3), 497. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14030497

NURS 6053 Discussion Alterations in Cellular Processes

Purpose Statement 

      This paper is being written to explain the pathology of cystic fibrosis. I personally have a friend who has this disease and have learned from her. The topics that will be covered are, how cystic fibrosis is created at a cellular level, genetics role in cystic fibrosis, the reasoning for the symptoms that the patient presented with, the description of the cells involved in cystic fibrosis, and how other characteristics would change the child’s response to cystic fibrosis. In short what I remember from nursing school is that cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder which is an autosomal recessive gene that is carried by both the mother and the father. The abnormality occurs in chromosome 7 which is where creates an inability to transport small molecules across the cell’s membrane, which in turn, dehydrates the cells of the epithelium and this then creates dry secretion. This is a broad overview of what this disease is, but I will go into further detail below.  

 The Role Genetics Plays in the Disease 

      Genetics play an important role in this disease, according to an article published in PubMed titled Cystic fibrosis genetics: from molecular understanding to clinical application states that due to a defective epithelial cell that is defective, this cell is inherited and is an autosomal recessive gene. The genetic information that is in the cell, which is the recipe for the cell to make proteins (Cutting, 2015).  According to Pathophysiology of disease: An introduction to clinical medicine, if a person receives a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTCR), or a person can receive two copies of the CFTCR gene. This copy has a mutation of the cystic fibrosis gene, furthermore these two copies of the CFTR gene have stored a mutation which is the on chromosome seven. So, when the recipe is being presented to the cell to be made, the genetic information is then stored into the deoxyribonucleic acid which is known as DNA.  This is part of the twenty-three pairs of chromosomes, but on the seventh chromosome, the cystic fibrosis recipe is stored in that chromosome. In the DNA, where the CFTCR gene recipe lives, if there is one copy of the recipe than the gene will not show up in the person but will be a carrier but if there are two copies of the recipe being stored in the chromosome than the cystic fibrosis gene than the person will have cystic fibrosis (McCance at el., 2019). 

 Why the Patient is Presenting with the Specific Symptoms Described 

      The symptoms that the baby presented with were salty skin, periodically patient gets a swollen stomach, and not gaining weight normally. According to an article published Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, titled Inflammation in cystic fibrosis lung disease: Pathogenesis and therapy, the major organ systems that are made up of epithelia. The systems that are being affected in this patient are the sweat glands, liver’s bile duct, and intestines in the gastrointestinal tract. The article goes on to explain that the loss of pancreatic function leads to the patient suffering from malnutrition, and not growing normally. Therefore, the replacement of enzymes is important for this patient to be able to prevent the clogging of the cell because of the inability to breakdown an access amount key nutrient (Cutting, 2015). 

The physiologic response to the stimulus presented in the scenario and why you think this response occurred 

     After reading different sources, I was able to breakdown the pathology behind this patient’s symptoms. This disease starts with the CFTR gene protein being mutated in the chromosome seven, which there are two copies of the recipe, this mutation causes the decrease of chloride acceptance and ion being transported, then this makes the absorption of water to increase which throws off ciliary from completing the job and there is mucus that is dry, this is what causes the skin to be salty of the baby. The stomach inflammation and swelling that is being experienced, is due to the CFTR gene protein not having the right recipe present to the epithelial cell, this is causing malfunction by changing the reabsorption of the sodium, chloride and potassium in the cell, the recipe tells the cell to keep the sodium, chloride and potassium outside of the cell, this causes a back-up of outside of the cell structure and blocks the cell from absorbing the nutrients especially, proteins, fats and vitamins that are fat soluble. 

The Cells that are Involved in this Process 

      The cells that are involved in this process start with the epithelial membranes which are present in the digestive tract, pancreas, airways, and reproductive area. According to an article in Apoptosis Journal, stated that cystic fibrosis is a caused by the dysfunction in the epithelial cell which leads to inflammation and an inability to create homeostasis because of the constant inflammation caused by the CFTR gene. Furthermore, the epithelial cells end up failing and create apoptosis in the epithelial cell because of the inflammation the is created in the endoplasmic reticulum (Soleti at el., 2013). 

How another characteristic (e.g., gender, genetics) would change your response 

      For cystic fibrosis, it is important to understand that this would not be a disease if the parents did not carry the gene. The gene is the CFTR gene mutation, mentioned throughout this paper. According to a study done by Harvard Stem Cell Institute, where a lung cell was isolated to examine the function of the CFTR gene. It was shown in the study that if the ionocytes in the cell are not doing their job because it is expressing CFTR gene in increased levels, then the symptoms are created in the cell (Montoro at el., 2018). This occurs in the form of thick mucus and creates the response in the body that does not allow for the patient to regulate sodium, chloride, and potassium in a normal fashion. 

Conclusion 

      During this journey of studying disease in depth and truly understanding how they work will help in the future of my career. I believe that if screening done at the hospitals before they leave would be beneficial. When parents are informed about the possibility of something occurring and what it means, parents will be empowered and get treatment before or if cystic fibrosis symptoms could show up. Also, encouraging parents to come to their baby checkups, will also allow for the medical staff to ask the right questions and treat the baby early, if they see symptoms. Cystic fibrosis is a challenge some patients may struggle with and it is our job as practitioners to catch things before extreme measures need to be taken. 

References 

Cantin, A.M, Hartl, D, Konstan, M and Chmiel, J. (2015). Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis Lung Disease and Therapy. Journal of  Cystic Fibrosis. Retrieved from https://www.cysticfibrosisjournal.com/article/S1569-1993(15)00058-2/fulltext. 

Cutting G. R. (2015). Cystic fibrosis genetics: from molecular understanding to clinical application. Nature reviews. Genetics, 16(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3849 

McCance, K. L. & Huether, S. E. (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (8th ed.). St.  Louis, MO: Mosby/Elsevier. 

Montoro D.T., Haber A.L., Biton M. et at. (2018) A Revised Airway Epithlial Hierarchy Inclues CFTR-Expressing    Inoncytes. Nature. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0393-7 

Soleti, R., Porro, C., & Martínez, M. C. (2013). Apoptotic process in cystic fibrosis cells. Apoptosis : an                   international journal on programmed cell death, 18