Healthcare Program and Policy Evaluation Analysis Template
Healthcare Program and Policy Evaluation Analysis Template
Healthcare policy or programs are key in enhancing patient care services and ensuring that patients have desirable health outcomes. The implication is that such policy programs or policies require frequent review and evaluation to help strengthen areas of weakness and improve them for better results (Boaz & Davies, 2019). As such, evaluation may take the form of data and information collected regarding a policy which can then be used for improvement purposes. Nurses can take a central role in such initiatives as part of patient advocacy. Therefore, the purpose of this assignment is to explore a program or policy evaluated and complete a healthcare policy or program evaluation.
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| Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation |
Affordable Care Act/Policy |
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This policy was formulated in the last decade with the main purpose of reducing healthcare costs in the USA. This reduction was to be achieved by providing affordable healthcare cover to the many uninsured individuals (Courtemanche et al., 2019). The highlight of the policy is that it barred insurance companies from refusing to cover individuals who have a pre-existing condition, came up with the market place and expanded Medicaid. |
| How was the success of the program or policy measured?
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Various measures have been used to measure the success of the policy. For example, the success has been gauged through the number of individuals covered under the policy. Data showed that with the policy, millions of previously uninsured individuals had been insured (Courtemanche et al., 2019). The other success indicator is healthcare service quality improvement. This quality is measured by how well the healthcare centers are offering care services to patients.
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| How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
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As earlier indicated. Millions of Americans have been reached by the Affordable Care Act. The impact of the policy was also observed in the reduction of death cases among those from disadvantaged backgrounds and old individuals due to Medicaid expansion. The evaluation done in 2017 showed that within four years up to 2017, close to twenty thousand fewer deaths were recorded (Glied & Jackson, 2017)
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| What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
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The valuation of the policy was accomplished using data from various institutions across the country. For example, the data was obtained from the state and federal health departments, the world health organization, and the center for disease control and infection (Courtemanche et al., 2019).
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| What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
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Even though this policy has been effective, there have been various unintended consequences experienced. Some of them are opposition which has majorly been brought by the Republican and Democrats politics (Thompson et al.,2018). Politicians from opposing political divides usually argue against each other when policy issues are brought forth for discussion. Another consequence experienced is poor legislation. For example, some legislators proposed that part of the policy be repealed, or the policy be scrapped in its entirety. |
| 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.
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A large group of stakeholders was identified in the policy evaluation. The stakeholders include the state governments, legislators, the federal government, healthcare providers, and healthcare consumers (Thompson et al.,2018). Healthcare consumers refer to individuals who use the coverage services offered under the care act. Therefore, they benefit from the healthcare services. Legislators played a key role in making this policy work and to enforce it; they are still available in case there is a need to revise part of the law. The consumers are to benefit the most as they will be able to access various healthcare services which were not covered before the affordable care act.
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| Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
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From the recent data, it is observable that this policy largely met the objectives as many people have been able to access healthcare services at affordable costs. For example, individuals across all socio-economic statuses have been able to get quality healthcare (Courtemanche et al., 2019). The implementation of the policy has also led to considerable improvement in the healthcare service quality and access
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| Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
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Yes, offered a chance, I would recommend the policy’s implementation. My current organization focuses on improving patient care quality in the care environment. The facility also focuses on improving patients’ access to care. These goals align with the Affordable Care Act’s goals and objectives, as well as some of the goals that have been accomplished by the policy. As such, it can effectively be implemented in the workplace.
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| 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.
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Nurses can play a role of advocacy to ensure that the formulated policies benefit the patients. The implication is that as an advocate, I would use various strategies to evaluate a program or policy. I would evaluate the roles played by the stakeholders and the benefits. I would also evaluate the quality of training offered to the healthcare staff to help achieve the policy or program goals.
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| General Notes/Comments |
Affordable care act is one of the policies that have changed the healthcare landscape in the US, and it involved various stakeholders who ensured that the policy serves its purpose. Millions of individuals have since benefited from the policy provisions helping the policy to achieve its goals and objectives in the process. Even though the policy faced the toughest times during the Trump era, where at one point, the president wanted that the policy is scrapped completely (Thompson et al.,2018), the policy is still on course to further achieve its original objectives.
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Conclusion
Policy evaluation helps in finding out how a particular policy has performed or its effectiveness as measured against particular benchmarks. The Affordable Care Act has had evaluations that have largely pointed to the policy being on the right course to fulfilling its goals. Nurses should actively take part in the policy process, including advocacy and evaluation, to help improve patient outcomes.
References
Boaz, A., & Davies, H. (Eds.). (2019). What works now?: evidence-informed policy and practice. Policy Press.
Courtemanche, C., Marton, J., Ukert, B., Yelowitz, A., Zapata, D., & Fazlul, I. (2019). The three‐year impact of the Affordable Care Act on disparities in insurance coverage. Health Services Research, 54, 307-316.
Glied, S., & Jackson, A. (2017). The future of the Affordable Care Act and insurance coverage. American Journal of Public Health, 107(4), 538-540. https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303665
Thompson, F. J., Gusmano, M. K., & Shinohara, S. (2018). Trump and the Affordable Care Act: Congressional repeal efforts, executive federalism, and program durability. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 48(3), 396-424. https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjy007
Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.
Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
To Prepare:
• Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
• Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
• Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:
• Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
• How was the success of the program or policy measured?
• How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
• How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
• At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
• What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
• What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
• 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.
• Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
• Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
• Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
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