Introduction
Care coordination is the practice of proactively coordinating information and actions to enhance performance and well-being outcomes, such as meeting patients’ preferences and individual care needs. Nursing ethics frames the nurse-patient relationship. Ethical considerations play an important role in the health care business by defining the relationship between nurses and patients seeking treatment. Modern healthcare has struggled for some time due to ethical and regulatory difficulties. The government has responded by crafting well-thought-out policies for the healthcare sector. These regulations play a pivotal role in determining the health system’s performance. Because of the potential effect a violation of government rules and ethical standards of practice has on the coordination of care, and the nursing profession is defined and controlled expeditiously (Harrison et al., 2021). In this talk, I will examine the effects of different policies on care coordination in health care. Ethical considerations affecting nurses’ ability to coordinate care throughout the continuum of care will also be discussed.
Ethics and Principles of Medicine
Professionalism in decision-making, and adherence to guiding rules, acts, and values are essential components of delivering high-quality treatment to the community-dwelling older adults in nursing homes. A commitment drives quality healthcare to enhance the health and well-being of each patient. Care ethics are founded on the four tenets of autonomy, beneficence, justice, and non-maleficence. These guidelines are useful if there is a pressing need for mutually agreeable decision-making and an exhibition of professionalism in the face of an ethical problem (Rinne et al., 2019). The concept of beneficence upholds the patient’s right to choose treatment, the nurse’s commitment to the patient’s well-being is on display via the principle of non-maleficence, and the patient suffers no unnecessary damage thanks to the principle of justice.
Care Coordination in Nursing Homes
Nursing homes are community-based healthcare facilities that provide substantial care services beyond those often provided by hospitals. In addition to conventional medical treatment, they also consider the patient’s environment while considering ways to better the patient’s health. People seeking treatment from them span the spectrum, from those with terminal diseases needing palliative care to those who are old, disabled, developmentally disabled, or otherwise have a unique need. It is essential to provide high-quality healthcare services, which requires a care continuum with efficient care coordination.
Care coordination in nursing homes requires assembling all the personnel, facilities, and information needed to cater to each individual’s requirements. Every service provided to the patient and every action taken to aid in healing and boost the patient’s quality of life is all included in the care continuum (Harrison et al., 2021). Nursing home care plans should be created with the help of trustworthy partnerships and efficient lines of communication. All strategies for providing high-quality care must adhere to federal regulations and the ethical standards set out by professional nursing organizations.
Government Policies Influencing Coordination of Care in Nursing Homes
Here, we will talk about the important role of the government in healthcare coordination regulation. Several federally funded healthcare initiatives in the United States have had a major effect on care coordination. For example, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has encouraged people to apply for health insurance, which has affected how care is provided in nursing homes, among other places. Despite widespread opposition, it has dramatically expanded access to medical care and prompted more people to seek medical attention (Kripalani et al., 2019). As a result, there is a greater need for nursing facilities to work together efficiently to ensure that residents’ care is coordinated effectively.
Another policy that has affected nursing home care is Medicare’s health policy. It’s one of the oldest programs in place to ensure people in the United States can get the medical treatment they need. Medicaid was created not long after Medicare was put into effect and is a health insurance program for those with low incomes. Mothers who are working temporarily and who do not have health insurance are the primary recipients. The coordination of healthcare and service delivery in nursing homes, especially for low-income individuals at the community level, has been a major achievement, according to Boscart et al. (2020).
The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act promotes confidentiality concerning patient treatment information and is an example of a law enacted to safeguard healthcare practitioners and their patients from harm. It provides strategies for lowering the incidence of avoidable medical complications and other threats to patient health, allowing nursing homes to boost the standard of care they provide and the security of their residents (Fulmer et al., 2021). HIPAA ensures that people can keep their health insurance, even if they change jobs. This policy aims to facilitate better teamwork among nursing home staff, hence improving the quality of care provided to residents.
Ethical Dilemmas and Government Policies Raising Concerns in Care Coordination
Providing care at nursing homes has long been a source of dispute due to several ethical problems. Consequences from subsequent actions have been destructive to society and the economy. Some of these measures have struggled to gain widespread acceptance because of ethical issues.
This category of policies includes the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2020, which has not been fully implemented due to moral concerns. Lyhne et al., 2022 state that since its inception, it has had a negative impact on income tax rates whether or not an individual purchased the insurance coverage; a majority of immigrants have been left out; this is a violation of healthcare principles; and this, to date, has raised significant ethical disparity in the Act’s effectiveness.
Ethical issues about HIPAA have also hampered its wide deployment in nursing homes. As an example, HIPAA prioritizes privacy and safety for patients. Independent consent is required for the treatment of people with mental illness. Any unauthorized disclosure of patient information breaches the Act’s confidentiality provisions. This moral problem has delayed nursing facilities’ complete use of HIPAA.
Impact of Code of Ethics on Coordination of Care for Nurses
The code of ethics for the nursing profession is a set of principles that help to guide nurses and other healthcare professionals through difficult moral situations. In both good and bad ways, the healthcare system has been affected by the rules regarding nursing practice and ethical standards. These policies have acted as a guide in clinical decision-making, ensuring that excellent care continues to be provided, and have led to improved partnerships and lines of communication among multidisciplinary team members. However, some of these regulations have hampered nurses’ capacity to provide optimal care for their patients.
Codes of ethics that emphasize the health provider’s responsibilities to the patient, for example, might negatively impact the quality of care provided by an organization by stifling nurses’ ability to innovate new approaches to providing high-quality treatment (Rinne et al., 2019). One example is Healthy People 2030. It sets quantifiable goals for overall health and the necessary resources. Ultimately, it eliminates socioeconomic stratification and improves the standard of living for all members of society. Therefore, social variables including access to resources, social inclusion and exclusion, working conditions, and economic considerations are crucial to success.
Conclusion
Care at a nursing home is not restricted to any one model. Therefore, healthcare providers must consider healthcare regulations and ethical issues while treating their patients (Boscart et al., 2020). The policies will provide the groundwork for providing the highest possible standard of care and improving the overall quality of the patient’s experience. Nurses must adhere to the Nurses Code of Ethics. Because the Healthy People Initiative takes into account socioeconomic determinants of care, it is more likely than not that all patients will get the treatment that is both well-coordinated and of high quality.
References
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Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing Better Health And Health Care For Older Adults: Commentary describes six vital directions to improve the care and quality of life for all older Americans. Health Affairs, 40(2), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470
Harrison, J. M., Agarwal, M., Stone, P. W., Gracner, T., Sorbero, M., & Dick, A. W. (2021). Does integrating palliative care and infection management reduce hospital transfers among nursing home residents? Journal of Palliative Medicine, 24(9), 1334-1341. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2020.0577
Kripalani, S., Chen, G., Ciampa, P., Theobald, C., Cao, A., McBride, M., … & Speroff, T. (2019). A transition care coordinator model reduces hospital readmissions and costs. Contemporary clinical trials, 81, 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2019.04.014
Lyhne, C. N., Bjerrum, M., & Jørgensen, M. J. (2022). Person-centred care to prevent hospitalizations–a focus group study addressing the views of healthcare providers. BMC health services research, 22(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08198-6
Rinne, S. T., Resnick, K., Wiener, R. S., Simon, S. R., & Elwy, A. R. (2019). VA provider perspectives on coordinating COPD care across health systems. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(1), 37-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-04971-2
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