POLICY/REGULATION FACT SHEET
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 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 reference page.
- Use the Safe Assign Drafts to check your match percentage before submitting your work.
Title: Healthcare Informatics Policy/Regulation Fact Sheet
Introduction: This fact sheet is designed to inform and educate healthcare professionals and stakeholders about a recent nursing informatics-related healthcare policy or regulation that has been implemented within the past 5 years. Understanding this policy is essential for healthcare organizations to ensure compliance and efficient healthcare delivery.
Policy/Regulation Description: The policy/regulation under consideration is the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). MACRA was enacted to replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula and introduced a new payment framework for healthcare providers. It emphasizes the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care, promoting improved quality, reduced costs, and greater access to healthcare services.
Impact on System Implementation: MACRA necessitates the implementation of advanced healthcare information systems and electronic health records (EHRs) to capture and report quality and performance data. Healthcare organizations must adopt and optimize health informatics systems to comply with MACRA’s requirements. This includes enhancing interoperability and data exchange capabilities.
Impact on Clinical Care, Patient/Provider Interactions, and Workflow:
- Clinical Care: MACRA encourages healthcare organizations to focus on improving patient outcomes, care coordination, and evidence-based practices. Clinical care is enhanced through better data-driven decision-making, leading to safer and more effective treatments.
- Patient/Provider Interactions: MACRA promotes patient engagement and shared decision-making. Patients have increased access to their health information and are encouraged to actively participate in their care plans. Providers benefit from more informed and involved patients.
- Workflow: Compliance with MACRA may necessitate workflow adjustments. Healthcare providers need to ensure the accurate capture and reporting of data for quality measures, which may affect the way clinical workflows are organized and managed.
Organizational Policies and Procedures: At our healthcare organization, the following policies and procedures are in place to address MACRA:
- EHR Optimization: We have implemented an EHR system optimized for MACRA compliance, enabling efficient data capture and reporting of quality measures.
- Provider Training: We offer ongoing training to ensure our healthcare professionals understand and adhere to MACRA requirements.
- Data Security: Rigorous data security measures are in place to protect patient information in line with MACRA regulations.
- Patient Engagement: We encourage and support patient engagement through electronic access to health records and educational resources.
- Quality Improvement: Continuous quality improvement initiatives are central to our organization, aligning with MACRA’s goals.
Conclusion: Understanding and complying with the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) is crucial for our healthcare organization. It has a significant impact on system implementation, clinical care, patient/provider interactions, and workflow. By adhering to organizational policies and procedures, we ensure that we meet MACRA’s requirements and continue to provide high-quality, value-based care to our patients.