Concept Analysis Diagram Health Policy

Concept Analysis Diagram – Health Policy

Nursing Practice

Directed toward what contributes to a normal concept and is thereby related to all factors involved in or with the concept. Not always needed to have a normal outcome.

Attributes

Defining characteristics of the concept
What property, quality, or data must be present for the concept to exist

Antecedents

What precedes the concept for it to exist
Events or incidents that must happen before the concept

Consequences

Untoward events or outcomes that occur due to malfunction within the concept
Positive events or outcomes that occur due to proper functioning within the concept

Interrelated Concept

Concepts which can affect change in the other
Concepts which work together to ensure a normal process
Concepts which if depleted or impaired can cause a negative consequence in the other

Sub-Concept

Critical components of major concept

Explanation of Health Care Policy Diagram

The term Health policy refers to “actions and decisions by government bodies or professional organizations that influence the actions and decisions of individuals within the health care system” (North Carolina Concept Based Learning, p. 2361). Health care policy focuses on how an organization functions within the context of a socioeconomic-political environment at every level including local, state, and national. The process for developing health policies is very similar to the nursing process; a problem-solving, decision-making framework. Because of their role as caregivers, teachers, advocates, and managers, nurses are in a unique position to be at the forefront of policy planning by identifying client problems that go beyond a clinical focus by relating to the larger health care environment. For example, a nurse caring for an unemployed diabetic client identifies that the individual is ineligible for health insurance and is therefore unable to afford supplies, medications or follow up care; or the uninsured mother who uses the emergency room to access primary health care for her children. The concept of health care policy may include but not limited to, decisions related to federal subsidies for education of health professionals, licensing and regulations of health professionals, state regulations that cover insurance benefits, Medicare reimbursements to nurse practitioners, state-mandated immunizations for school children, and proposed health programs.

Policy development involves three basic steps, formulation, implementation, and evaluation. The formulation phase is similar to the nursing process assessment and planning phase. During this phase, data are collected with input from consumers and/ or other key individuals or interest groups. Data comes from a myriad of sources including federal departments or agencies, testimony by experts, clients, insurers, hospitals, nurses, and physicians. Cost benefit analysis of data are done to determine the feasibility of possible solutions as well as development of criteria to evaluate the data such as efficiency of service, equity of access, political feasibility and safety. Once a solution has been selected, Federal or State law is drafted and then it works its way through the legislative process. The implementation phase involves developing rules and regulations, communicating the adopted policy, and putting the “plan into action” (North Carolina Concept Based Learning, p. 2362). Finally, the evaluation phase of policy development includes assessing the degree to which the policy achieved its goals. The Federal department or agency responsible for implementation of the policy develops the evaluation plan and therefore monitors the outcomes. The outcomes analysis is ongoing and may involve collection of additional data, reporting measures to Congress at specific times, and recommending legislative changes (new law or amendments to law).

Sub-concepts in health care policy planning and development that affect standards of professional nursing practice and the health care environment includes, regulatory agencies (DHHS, OSHA, state and local agencies), accrediting bodies (Joint Commission, ACEN, CCNE) and professional organizations (ANA, NSNA, Specialty Practice Organizations). Several interrelated concepts such as Health Care Organizations, Patient Education, Patient Centered Care, Quality Improvement, Ethics, Safety, Evidenced Based Practice, End of Life issues, and Leadership and Management link to the definition of Health Care Policy as it affects the public at large as well as helps to integrate the interests of many, both at the political level and at the grass roots level. Consequences of health care policy are varied; some individuals and families benefit while others are disadvantaged by the process. As frontline workers and advocates, nurses are in a position to influence health care policy issues both at the bedside and decision-making levels.