...Quality and Values Initiatives in Health Care Introduction The relationship between the external quality and value initiatives in health care has been widely discussed in academic literature. Actually, this issue is of great importance as it reflects the role of patient satisfaction in healthcare. According to researchers, “in health care, the whole notion of quality has become a source of confusion and sometimes a distraction from genuine value improvement” (McClellan, 2008, p. 23). Quality is affected by patient outcomes and satisfaction. At the same time, quality helps to determine the value in healthcare. Many quality and value initiatives are aimed at reducing health care disparities that exist in American healthcare system, as well as at improving the quality of care (McClellan, 2008). Generally speaking, various quality of care initiatives contribute to the overall success of any health are organization, including financial success and success of nursing practices. To achieve higher level of quality of health care services, it is necessary to use effective mechanisms, which involve certain changes, such as additional staffing, new equipment, adequate audits, and other changes. Health care organizations should be focused on overcoming any barriers to successful quality improvement. Quality and values initiatives in health care help to achieve this goal. The major goal of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the external quality and value...
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...Discuss the potential impact of public health initiatives (such as Healthy People 2010 and others) on U.S. health care systems In March 23, 2010, Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to offer adequate health services for everyone including a uninsured person. It is an affordable solution of the problem that a large amount of Americans do not have health insurance plans. Americans will fully receive benefits from the law by 2014. It is the effective law to achieve optimum health care service to resolve and prevent perceived deficiencies in healthcare delivery. However, PPACA does not automatically guarantee the high quality and access to health care. The quality of health care in America is far behind compared to many foreign countries. Most of Americans struggle with health care insurances, because the private health care insurance in the U.S. is way more expensive. And, it is not certain if the health care reform is successful. The health insurance policies are too complicated for consumers to choose a suitable plan. Even though the U.S. government is on the right track to work PPACA, Americans still deserve a better health care program. The U.S. does not provide a universal health care system. In my opinion, the federal or at least each state government should provide a universal public health care system. Here are the reasons why the U.S. needed the health care reform and explanation how the U.S. is moving forward to the right direction...
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...Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative Vanessa Clark HCA/210 Sunday, November 18, 2012 Dr. Dawn Tesner The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative is a multi-payer initiative fostering collaboration between public and private health care payers to strengthen primary care. Medicare will work with commercial and State health insurance plans and offer bonus payments to primary care doctors who better coordinate care for their patients. Primary care practices that choose to participate in this initiative will be given resources to better coordinate primary care for their Medicare patients. The Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative (CPC or CPCI) will benefit patients as well the health care field. The CPCI will increase payments from Medicare and about 45 private insurers to primary care physicians and practices that: provide higher quality, easily accessible care; engage patients and caregivers as they transform their practices; emphasize prevention and management of chronic and complex conditions; assure better communication across practitioners and effective use of health information technology; and ensure smooth transitions of care for their patients across settings such as hospitals to home. This initiative will promote patient engagement and use the feedback from patients and family caregivers to help assess how effectively primary care practices are transforming themselves. This will give patients and caregivers a voice and encourage real partnership between patients...
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...Healthy Communities Cross-sector partnerships are sparking widespread action to improve community health COATESVILLE , PA SEATTLE, WA Access to healthy foods Access to preventative care and healthy housing LOS ANGELES , CA Quality early child care and education CHICAGO, IL Data and evidence to build health into all policies and practices MIAMI , FL Opportunities for physical activity and healthy living health community development • community development finance • community planning • early child care/education • human services • housing Introduction “ Building a healthier America is feasible in years, not decades, if we collaborate and act on what is making a difference.” —Robert Wood Johnson Foundation In 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation convened a commission of nonpartisan leaders to identify opportunities to improve the health of all Americans by creating environments that protect and actively promote health. Their report, Beyond Health Care: New Directions to a Healthier America, included 10 recommendations for improving the health of our communities, several of which focused specifically on the health of children. Because of the large role that social and economic factors play in shaping the health of communities, the Commission issued a call for collaboration that emphasized the need for leaders from all sectors— not just health...
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...Health Disparity as a Public Health Initiative A Public Health Initiative involves all the activities whose establishment points towards improving the present and forthcoming defines in the health sector. The significant aim of PHI encompasses from the provision of essentials that assists given countries to adhere to the practice of healthy policies. In the long run, it will in turn lead to the creation of various opportunities including research and training of health workers. One of the health initiatives involves the Health Disparity. There exists a broad discrimination in the event in which various patients receive health services. It, therefore, puts health disparity as one of the public health initiatives. In this regard, this paper discusses more health inequality and its relevance to the health sector (Barr, 2014). Health disparity is a standard issue in the present world. It is a matter that arises due to the distinctiveness in the ethnic background, the color difference of individuals and the even difference in the language spoken. However, in the event of finding a solution to the given disparity, there exist certain principles of economics for evaluating and assessing the need for health inequality. The first principle advocates for the equal treatment of everybody in need of medical attention. It is a principle whose aims majors in equity (Bayer, 2012). Regardless of an individual’s ethnic background, each and every person dwelling in the planet earth deserves...
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...The United States healthcare system continues to be the costliest compared to other developed nations. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) Triple Aim Initiative was initiated to improve the delivery of healthcare by focusing on improving the patient experience of care, improve the health of the populations, and reduce the per capita cost of health care (Landry & Erwin, 2015). The IHI believes that focusing on these three objectives can help improve the models for providing healthcare (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2009). In order for the Triple Aim Initiative to be successful it need to be patient center and has a five system components that needs to be fulfill. These five systems include: 1. A focus on individuals...
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...HOLTE VISUAL and PERFORMING ARTS COLLEGE Centre 20131 BTEC -- BTEC Level 3 National: Health & Social Care | | | |Unit 2: |Equality, Diversity and Rights in Health and Social Care | | | | |Learner Name: | | |Issue Date: |Completion Date: | |6TH September 2012 |18TH October 2012 | |Checklist: | |Task: | |Task 1: P1 | |Task 2: P2 | |Task 3: P3 ...
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...ADVANCING HEALTH Introduction Studies show that the nursing profession cover most of the workforce in the health sector, and they are mainly served with the responsibility of acting as patients’ advocates as well as defining the care that is to be provided to ailing patients (Hamric, Spross and Hanson 21). Nurses mainly work on the frontline of patient care, and they tend to play a significant role in realizing the objectives formulated in the in the 2010 Affordable Care Act and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative (RWJFI) in collaboration with the Institute of Medicine (IOM), which define the need to change and advance healthcare (Initiative on the Future of Nursing n.d). Therefore, as much as there is a need to restructure the current healthcare, it is important to first address issues that interfere with the provision of quality and evidenced healthcare. To promote changes and advance health, the IOM report recommends nurses to practice to the full extent of their education, achieve higher levels of education and training through improved education process, and nurse to be involved in decision making processes touching on healthcare (Institute of Medicine n.d). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health The impact of the IOM report on nursing education The primary goals of nursing education is mainly to prepare nurses to meet the ever increasing patients’ needs, function as leaders, and provide quality and evidence based nursing care that...
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...1970 to help the government and non-government establishments make decisions in health care by evidence base practices. In 2010 The Institute of Medicine, sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and AARP, conducted a study on the future of nursing. The study was involved and asked the questions of “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why,” and “how” of nursing to produce better quality patient care. The IOM instituted initiatives or a project plan to reform nursing care. Lets touch base on how the IOM initiatives made in impact on nursing education, nursing care, and nursing leadership roles. Education Education is a very important part of a nursing career, with advancing technology, the nurse has to stay informed and up to date. Education can be acquired by certifications and advancing in higher education. The IOM initiative has increased the awareness of the need of higher educated nurses. Nursing is broad and is advancing to public health care, preventative care, and chronic care, not just acute care. (Aiken, 2011) The IOM initiative drives the education system to help nurses pursue higher education without difficulties, like in the past. There is more programs designed to help the nurse work and go to school at the same time. The initiative implemented the idea for more funding for applicants, as well as, for the schools. The increasing need for nurse practitioners in the public health sector is another motivation to pursue a higher education in nursing. The IOM committee...
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...on the Crewkerne Specialist Day Care Centre, a mental health initiative. It assesses the initiative's aims, its benefit to well-being and its contribution to public health. It also discusses why the initiative was required, the service users' needs and what contributed to them. The essay looks at a government policy which may have influenced the centre's development, who is involved, and the extent to which it makes use of multi-agency and partnership working. The centre welcomes older clients suffering mostly from forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's. It aims to allow clients a better quality of life and make them feel like part of the community for longer (Project manager, 2008). This is achieved by providing a safe, comfortable and happy atmosphere as well as helping and listening to clients and their relatives. Physical, mental and practical activities stimulate clients and encourage interaction with others and self-worth. The centre is an extension of a day hospital situated in a separate location, and is governed by the Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (2008). This initiative has been chosen because it is close to home and having met some clients the centre cares for, it is clear to see how beneficial it is to the community and its service users. 'Public Health' refers to preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through society, communities and individuals (Wanless, 2004). Mental illnesses are a public health issue as they affect many people...
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...establish what they think made their employees gave the companies higher marks. The outcome of the research indicated that best perks, initiatives and other opportunities on offer such as wellness programs were considered important by employees. Two companies that owe part of their ratings to their wellness programs include the Co-operators insurance company and the ATB Financial services. This essay aims at looking at their wellness programs (macleans.ca, 2014, n.d) Wellness programs help both the employees and employers to be more productive and in turn increase the company’s human resource potential. Well and fit employees are known to establish a good rapport with their employers and thus enjoy their job which in turn means that their work morale is always at the peak. The program further helps reduce the costs of health care and tax benefits. The wellness programs can be offered on the employer's places or off-the-site. However, some companies are now offering both on-site and off-site wellness programs. These programs include hypertension management, health risk appraisal, eldercare and childcare, physical fitness, smoking cessation and stress management among many others (Edelheit, 2013, p.201). The main goal of the wellness programs is for the company to encourage healthier lifestyles among the employees. Unlike traditional health care the wellness programs are focused on the prevention of illness....
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...Amerigroup’s PCMH Strategy • Our strategy is focused on transforming our delivery system and working more directly with providers of health care services to improve the quality and efficiency of the care delivered to Amerigroup members. • The core of this strategy is focused upon devoting resources to our primary care providers to assist them in becoming highly functioning patient-centered medical homes within an integrated delivery system • The foundation of this strategy starts with primary care providers and works through to the execution of the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) concept. Building upon this foundation the strategy expands to specialists, hospitals, and ancillary providers of services to build a delivery system for Amerigroup . members that are aligned to produce better outcomes, higher quality, and lower costs. AmeriGroup Florida Amerigroup Florida, a health plan, works collaboratively with seven psychiatric hospitals to improve patients' transitions to outpatient care, with the goal of reducing readmissions. The plan's behavioral health manager meets quarterly with hospital leaders to review data on admissions and length of stay, discuss select cases of readmitted patients to determine how patient care could have been managed differently, and identify strategies to improve quality and reduce the risk of readmissions going forward. Strategies focus primarily on steps that can be taken in the inpatient setting to facilitate the provision of appropriate...
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...Human Resources Management Approach to SAMHSA Strategic Initiatives Alena De la cruz Saint Leo University Professor McCabe October 25, 2014 The human resources department plays an important role when it comes down to strategic planning. To illustrate this form of planning is a vital component in strategic human resource management. The human resource department must demonstrate a plan, which is the strategy which is intended to accomplish the goal of the organization over time. This is the way the organization functions. When the human resource department is on the same page as the organization this directly links the two together and guide them on a straight path of success while meeting the mission of the organization. Decision making is implemented through the human resource department on behalf of the organization by way of setting policies, careful planning and daily practices. In order for the organization to meet their mission and goals, the organization and human resource department must be on the same page with the business strategy of the organization culture in mind. “The goals of organizations differ within and among departments. All departments probably have goals that include employee satisfaction, survival, and adaptability to change” (Ivancevich & Konopaske, 2013). In order for this approach to work the plan must relate to the present and future critical needs of the organization...
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...Reliance Industries Limited CSR Initiative Analysis About Reliance Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) is India's largest private sector enterprise with businesses across the energy and materials value chain and a strong presence in the rapidly expanding retail, telecommunications and media sectors. RIL's diverse projects and operations touch lives of people in many ways and create value by helping in overall and holistic development of communities across multiple geographies. Through its various initiatives, the group endeavours to play a relevant role by serving communities and projects that address gaps in basic societal requirements. Reliance’s Philosophy RIL seeks to continue its contribution to the society through its distinct value proposition that meets the needs of millions of people, enhancing their lives through healthcare, improving quality of living by providing education and enabling livelihoods by creating employment opportunities-through the following: a) For the Business- value created for the society through business (including employment generation, market growth, creating opportunities etc.) b) By the Business- value created through CSR initiatives across different operatingfacilitieswithappropriatelinkagestolocalcommunitiesinwhichtheyoperate. c) Beyond Business- value created through interventions for the communities in diverse geographies across India. The key philosophy of all CSR initiatives of RIL is guided by three core commitments...
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...Health care Ecosystems Kaiser Permanente is known as the largest integrated managed care organization which is based out of Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanent was founded in 1945 by industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and a physician by the name of Sidney Garfield. Kaiser’s Mission Statement is “to provide affordable high-quality healthcare services and improve the health of our members and the communities we share.” Kaiser’s Vision/Value Statement” is to be a leader in total health by making lives better.” Kaiser Permanente prides itself with community involvement and support throughout their regions. Kaiser Permanente supports a diverse selection of organizations that work to improve the health of the area residents and the surrounding communities. Kaiser Permanente also funds events that support business, economic vitality and community growth and development. The diverse involvement impacts the growth of the organization by marketing themselves to being a “leader in total health”. In visiting the many Kaiser medical groups or hospitals you can’t help but run into the farmer’s market which promotes fresh fruits and vegetables for the community to purchase. The cooking demonstrations of healthy eating is a social as well as an economic event open to the patient’s, employee’s and the community. With our focus on childhood obesity within our nation, Kaiser Permanente helps promote a healthy lifestyle to all walks of life. Social responsibility and community involvement validates...
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