Reply separately to each of the following two classmates’ posts. (See attachment). In your reply posts, select two peers’ posts that address a policy other than the one you chose.

In 200 to 400 words, explain how you think their policy will impact access to care and costs.

TURNITIN ASSIGNMENT (FREE OF PLAGIARISM)

nursingHealth policy replies

Reply separately to each of the following two classmates’ posts. In your reply posts, select two peers’ posts that address a policy other than the one you chose.

In 200 to 400 words, explain how you think their policy will impact access to care and costs.

TURNITIN ASSIGNMENT (FREE OF PLAGIARISM)

POST # 1: Bridget

First responders are routinely exposed to traumatic events while on their job. There is overwhelming literature that supports that responders are at risk for increases in psychological symptoms (such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), secondary traumatic stress, and burnout) and decreases in well-being (including overall resilience and compassion satisfaction) (Tran, 2018). Flannery writes that responding to critical incidents may result in 5.9–22 % of first responders developing psychological trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder. These impacts may be physical, mental, and/or behavioral (2015). The first-responder population is at a high risk of developing mental health crisis due to the daily occurrence of critical incidents.

One major new health policy that is appropriate for implementation is requiring mandatory and routine mental health screenings for first responders such as paramedics, fire-fighters, and police officers. These screenings may be implemented through a protocol either in intervals of every six months or required after a particularly traumatic experience in the field. It is important to bring attention of the importance of this issue to our legislators so that formal action can be taken in order to advocate for this population’s health. Brownson, Proctor, and Purtle write, “Legislators (i.e., elected Senators and House Representatives at the federal- and state-level) are a critically important dissemination audience because they shape the architecture of the US mental health system through budgetary and regulatory decisions” (2017). Researchers writes that therapeutically addressing professional quality of life, specifically secondary traumatic events, and increasing self-efficacy (e.g., via Cognitive Behavioral Therapies), may reduce risk for adverse stress reactions in first responders (Brooks, Feeney, Hirsch, et al., 2016)

I chose this topic because I have witnessed firsthand the negative consequences of the lack of mental health services available in the paramedicine field specifically. I live in an area of MA containing cities that have the highest call-volume for emergency services. In this area, where I am currently working as an RN, there has been an increase in fire-fighter/paramedic suicides. Many members of this occupation are also known to be heavy drinkers. They are often mentally exhausted following emotionally exhausting shifts which then keep them from being able to maintain healthy hobbies outside the workplace. There is a lack of services available to first responders as far as debriefing after trauma situations and offering coping skills. If legislation is passed that requires cities and town to fund mental health services for their first responders, the overall health of this population will improve. The positive results of adequate mental health services legislation will be clear in under 5 years’ time. With increased occupational quality of life and strengthened coping skills, first responders will be better able to conduct healthy lifestyles out of work. Legislation that ensures frequent mental health maintenance through accessible support systems will allow for decreased stress levels and less incidence of depression. Tran cites studies that note that perceived accessibility of social support was associated with lower symptoms of PTSD, lower symptoms of secondary traumatic stress, lower general psychological distress (using a measure of stress, anxiety, and depression), higher resilience, and higher compassion satisfaction (2018). 

References

Brooks, B. D., Feeney, M. E., Hirsch, J. K.  Paul, R. M., & Sawyer, G. (2016). Quality of Life and Trauma in First Responders: Moderating Role of Self-Efficacy.

Brownson, R. C., Proctor, E. K., & Purtle, J. (2017). Infusing Science into Politics and Policy: The Importance of Legislators as an Audience in Mental Health Policy Dissemination Research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 44(2), 160-163.

Flannery, R. B. (2015). Treating Psychological Trauma in First Responders: A Multi-Model Paradigm. Psychiatric Quarterly, 86(2), 261-267.

Tran, B. B. (2018). Examining the Impact of Social Support and Other Coping Strategies on Mental Health in First-Responders (Doctoral Dissertation).

POST # 2: Amanda

A new health policy I would implement from the readings this week would be the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative. I believe this would be a policy that would benefit the people of the United States. The policy would promote a healthy lifestyle and would push for optimal health.  The Comprehensive Primary Care initiative is a four-year, multi-payer initiative that was made in order to strengthen and improve primary care (“Comprehensive Primary Care”, n.d.). This initiative would offer shared savings opportunities and population-base care management fees through state and commercial health insurance plans, to participating primary care practices (“Comprehensive Primary Care”, n.d.). The five functions of this initiative are risk-stratified care management, planned care of chronic conditions, preventative care, access and continuity, engagement, and coordination of care (“Comprehensive Primary Care”, n.d.). Implementation of these acts, usage of data, would promote improved patient care, better health for patients, and decreased costs of care. Every single citizen of the United States should have a primary care physician where they receive preventative, routine, and sick care. We should all have a primary care physician or a doctor’s office in which we can receive any care that we need in order to keep ourselves healthy (“Comprehensive Primary Care”, n.d.).

Implementation of this initiative would provide primary care facilities with greater funding than what they receive currently. Primary care is typically underfunded from insurances as they are usually paid by single payers, this initiative would implement multi-payer for funding primary care. Multi-payers would allow primary care to grow, transform, and provide care that is essential to providing optimal health states and lifestyles. Each primary care would receive payments from Medicare and monthly non-visit-based care management fee (). If primary care offices and physicians were funded with more money, the physician and the patients both will benefit. The patient and physician will have up-to-date technology in the office, electronic records, and patients will be able to access their chart and results electronically. Preventative care interventions would promote a healthy lifestyle for patients. Overall primary care will improve with this implementation and so will the health of the patients over the next five years. There is greater initiative for patients and for primary care with the implementation of this program. Primary care could offer incentives for preventative interventions which in turn will promote healthy patients. 

References

Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2020, from 

https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-primary-care-initiative/

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Running Head:

Health Policy, Politics and Perspectives

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Health Policy, Politics and Perspectives

Week #8: Discussion 1

A Connected Patient Is A Healthier Patient.

The main reason for choosing this particular topic is that when an interconnection is created between the patient and the doctor then the patient gets a step closer to getting cured. This is because the digital platforms that have been set up have made it possible for the patients even to get prescriptions while at home. The patient is able even to get methods on how they can lead a healthy life and even get to know better methods of how they can avoid chances of attaining risks (Williams, Samarth, 2011). The online platforms also remove the burden of patients moving from their areas at work just to go and have access to lab results but due to the digital platforms been set up the lab results are posted on the patient’s portal where only the patient can be able to access them.

When the digital health resources are made available to all users it creates perfect coordination between the doctor and the patient. This, therefore, enhances better treatment of the patients since their records are kept up to date hence there is no risk of data loss. Past when the patient had to carry cumbersome files back to their homes and would be forced to come back with them and every time they were needed to go back for examinations (Rosenbloom, 2011). Sometimes the patient could lose the files, and this would lead to the patient’s progress being forced to be reversed since the doctors are not able to track earlier treatments

The digital resources will be of help in the eradication of diseases in the world. This is because digital resources have helped by providing recent and powerful techniques that help combat deadliest diseases. These diseases are so critical that human beings cannot handle them on their own. Due to this control measures robots have been set up to help in combating these diseases. The researchers who are put in place to look for methods to cure these diseases have been equipped with high technology research facilities that they use to find out the cure for diseases

The digital resources have also enabled patients who suffer from a similar disease to get together. This has made possible by the existence of medical social platforms that make it possible for them to interact with each other. The social groups provide much help to the patients of which they usually give each other moral support and guidance. These social groups help the newly admitted patients get to know that they are not alone in the situation they are and hence should not find a reason to give up. The digital social platforms are also equipped with doctors specialized in their kind of ailing. These doctors are available in the groups and are there to provide any professional assistance that the patients cannot handle. They also provide tips on how to live well and to avoid risks of their condition worsening. By the use of these resources, there would be fewer cases of people dying due to lacking knowledge.

Digital resources will also make it possible for patients who live in areas that are not near hospitals to get access to treatment. These health resources will help in diagnosing the patient’s health while at home. This is because they are equipped with better resources that help them analyze the patient’s symptoms while still at home and even prescribes medication to the affected patient when the condition is not worse and can be handled by the prescription. When analyzing the condition and finds to be worse the digital healthcare system signals the emergency care unit where the patient is made to go physically to the nearest hospital for more assessment. By use of this digital system, it means that in the next five years the existence of local clinics would be a thing of the past. This would lead to increased healthcare standards since most of the clinics are not certified by law.

References

Williams, T. & Samarth, A. (2011). Electronic health records for dummies. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley Pub.

Rosenbloom, J. (2011). The handbook of employee benefits : health and group benefits. New York: McGraw-Hill.