NURS 6050 Week 10 Assignment

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.

Assignment: Assessing A Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

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. NURS 6050 Week 10 Assignment

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 For:

Discontinuation of Isolation for Persons with COVID-19 Not in Healthcare Settings (Interim Guidance) CDCCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Additional Resources

NOTE: Specific guidance for return to work for healthcare facilities for healthcare personnel can be found at: Criteria for Return to Work for Healthcare Personnel with Confirmed or Suspected COVID-19 (Interim Guidance)

■ Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

■ Interim Guidance for Implementing Home Care of People Not Requiring Hospitalization for 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

■ Interim guidance for persons who may have 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) to prevent spread in homes and residential communities

■ 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?

■ 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.

Required Readings

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

■ Chapter 7, “Health Policy and Social Program Evaluation” (pp. 116–124 only)

Glasgow, R. E., Lichtenstein, E., & Marcus, A. C. (2003). Why don’t we see more translation of health promotion research to practice? Rethinking the efficacy-to-effectiveness transition.

American Journal of Public Health, 93(8), 1261–1267.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Shiramizu, B., Shambaugh, V., Petrovich, H., Seto, T. B., Ho, T., Mokuau, N., & Hedges, J. R. (2016). Leading by success: Impact of a clinical and translational research infrastructure program to address health inequities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 4(5), 983–991. doi:10.1007/s40615-016-0302-4

Williams, J. K., & Anderson, C. M. (2018). Omics research ethics considerations. Nursing Outlook, 66(4), 386–393. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2018.05.003 NURS 6050 Week 10 Assignment

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library database Program/Policy Evaluation

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 time in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?–

Reporting Of Program/Policy Evaluations

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 the 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.–

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template Sample Paper

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

Evaluation of The Affordable Care Act (ACA)Policy

Description

Patient protection and Affordable Health Care Act, also popularly known as ‘Obama Care’ is a health policy that was signed into law by President Barack Obama on 23rd March, 2010. At the moment, the policy stands out as the most extensive in the United States’ healthcare system since the approval of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The impacts of the policy have been vast and wide. The most significant element of the policy is that it provides subsidies which makes healthcare insurance affordable (Blumenthal et Al., 2015). Another aspect of the policy is that it emphasizes preventive care by improving legislations that govern how the care itself is delivered.

How was the success of the program or policy measured?

The success of the ACA policy can only be effectively measured by considering how much it reduces the number of uninsured people and if it improves the quality of care, whose availability will be at a low cost. Its success will also be quantified by reviewing the federal and state budget

s which will take several years to be noticeable. Basically, it can be said that the policy has been successful at availing affordable care to millions of Americans. This is because, following its introduction, more than 20 million people have been able to access healthcare insurance with more medical coverage. In addition, those who were poorly insured get a chance to access quality medical insurance at a relatively low cost.

How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

Before the implementation of ACA, many people were uninsured due to the loopholes in the public insurance system, and inaccessibility to affordable health insurance. The ACA policy has demonstrated the largest gains in coverage in the history of United States’ healthcare. The policy extended medical coverage to low income earners and provided subsidies to the people below 400% of poverty. For instance, after it was signed in 2010, the number of uninsured elderly people reduced from 44 million in 2013 to 27 million in 2016.

What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

Evaluation of a healthcare policy involves a thorough activity of gathering, examining, and the use of evidence based data to come up with answers to some fundamental questions arising from the policy. Policy evaluations may be of various types such as process and outcome evaluations, cost-benefit andcost-effectiveness evaluations, and formative and summative evaluations. In terms of cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness, the ACA demands for all insurance companies to scrape off annual and lifetime limits and cover all costs to reduce the unnecessary catastrophic costs for individuals (French et Al., 2016).


What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?	Healthcare providers continue to utilize several strategies to adapt and remain compliant to the requirements of the ACA policy. However, as the policy continues to take root, it yields to unintended consequences. These include continuity of care whereby different organizations are unable to offer consistent care, which often arises from transferring patients from system to system (Dubois, 2015).Another consequence is the outpatient treatment. The policy advocates for 60% outpatient care and 40% in patients, which is a disadvantage since most patients view hospitals as safer places or in case of adverse reactions, a sense of security that they may not have with outpatient facilities.
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy?	The main stakeholders in the ACA policy are patients, insurance companies, healthcare providers, and the government (Weiner et Al., 2017). The patients benefit most from ACA because it minimizes the rise in healthcare costs making it accessible even to low income earners.
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	The policy has certainly met its original intent by a considerable percentage. A lot of reforms are evident in the healthcare sector courtesy of the ACA policy. For instance, the number of uninsured people has relatively reduced from 44 million in 2013 to 27 million in 2016
why not?
Would you recommend implementing this	I would recommend implementation of some of the provisions of the ACA policy like improving communication when dealing with low literacy patients. This assists in improving patient care, and satisfaction thus promoting a good public reputation for the institution.
program or policy in
your place of work?
Why or why not?
Identify at least two	As a nurse, I would compare the financial input and outcomes in the organizations utilizing the ACA provisions. I would also look at the labor costs to establish if the healthcare facilities incur positive or negative financial impacts. Secondly, I would also

ways that you, as a	have a look at the patient outcomes before and after implementation of ACA policy provisions.
nurse advocate,
could become
involved in evaluating
a program or policy

after one year of implementation.
General Notes/Comments	The ACA policy has generally improved the health sector of the United States in terms of accessibility and affordability. Health facilities are encouraged to continue implementing the provisions of the policy to improve patient care and satisfaction.

NURS 6050 Week 10 Assignment