As a professional nurse, you are expected to apply your expertise to patient care. On occasion, you will also be expected to share that expertise.
With evolving technology and continuous changes to regulations designed to keep up with these changes, there is usually a need to share information and expertise to inform colleagues, leadership, patients, and other stakeholders.
In this Assignment, you will study a recent nursing informatics-related healthcare policy, and you will share the relevant details via a fact sheet designed to inform and educate.
To Prepare:
- Review the Resources on healthcare policy and regulatory/legislative topics related to health and nursing informatics.
- Consider the role of the nurse informaticist in relation to a healthcare organization’s compliance with various policies and regulations, such as the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA).
- Research and select one health or nursing informatics policy (within the past 5 years) or regulation for further study.
The Assignment: (1 page not including the title and reference page)
Create a 1-page fact sheet that your healthcare organization could hypothetically use to explain the health or nursing informatics policy/regulation you selected. Your fact sheet should address the following:
- Briefly and generally explain the policy or regulation you selected.
- Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on system implementation.
- Address the impact of the policy or regulation you selected on clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow.
- Highlight organizational policies and procedures that are/will be in place at your healthcare organization to address the policy or regulation you selected. Be specific.
- Use APA format and include a title page, in-text citations, and a reference page.
Title: Fact Sheet on Nursing Informatics Policy: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA)
Introduction: The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is a significant healthcare policy enacted within the past 5 years, aiming to improve Medicare payment systems and promote the transition to value-based care. As a nurse informaticist, it is crucial to understand the implications of MACRA on healthcare organizations, system implementation, clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow.
Overview of MACRA: MACRA, passed in 2015, replaced the Sustainable Growth Rate formula and introduced a new payment system called the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The QPP incentivizes healthcare providers to deliver high-quality care and improve patient outcomes through two payment tracks: the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Models (APMs).
Impact on System Implementation: MACRA significantly impacts healthcare system implementation by fostering the adoption of health information technology. Nurse informaticists play a critical role in ensuring the successful integration of electronic health records (EHRs) and other health IT solutions to capture and report data required for MIPS participation. It requires healthcare organizations to streamline data management processes and develop robust reporting capabilities to meet QPP requirements.
Impact on Clinical Care and Patient/Provider Interactions: MACRA’s emphasis on quality and value-based care transforms clinical practices. Healthcare providers are now encouraged to focus on preventive care, care coordination, and patient engagement to improve patient outcomes. Nurse informaticists can assist in designing clinical decision support systems within EHRs to help providers make evidence-based decisions at the point of care, ultimately enhancing patient-provider interactions and promoting patient-centered care.
Impact on Workflow: MACRA necessitates changes in workflow to accommodate data collection and reporting requirements. Nurse informaticists can collaborate with various departments to optimize workflows, ensuring seamless data capture and submission processes. Additionally, they can facilitate staff training to enhance digital literacy and ensure compliance with MACRA guidelines.
Organizational Policies and Procedures: At our healthcare organization, we have implemented several policies and procedures to address MACRA compliance:
- MIPS Reporting Protocol: We have established a clear protocol for capturing and reporting data necessary for MIPS participation. This includes providing guidelines on data collection, documentation, and submission timelines.
- Training and Education: Our healthcare organization offers regular training and education sessions on MACRA requirements, EHR usage, and best practices for enhancing clinical workflows.
- Clinical Decision Support Integration: Nurse informaticists have integrated evidence-based clinical decision support tools into our EHR system to assist providers in delivering high-quality care.
- Patient Engagement Initiatives: We have launched patient engagement initiatives to promote active patient participation in their healthcare journey and improve patient outcomes.
- Quality Improvement Initiatives: Our organization continuously monitors performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and implement quality enhancement initiatives aligned with MACRA goals.
Conclusion: Understanding the impact of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) on healthcare organizations is essential for nurse informaticists. By complying with MACRA guidelines and implementing necessary policies and procedures, our healthcare organization strives to deliver high-quality care, optimize clinical workflows, and enhance patient-provider interactions in the pursuit of better patient outcomes.