Posted: May 31st, 2023

NRS 428 Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues

Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues
NRS 428 Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues

Apply screening and referral principles to nursing care of populations.
Examine the role of public health in addressing environmental issues.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the U.S. health care system.
Examine how policy in the U.S. health care delivery system affects specific populations.
Examine the effects of health care reform on the U.S. health care system and its stakeholders.
Benchmark – Policy Brief: Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues
The benchmark assesses the following competencies:

1.4 Participate in health care policy development to influence nursing practice and health care.

Research public health issues on the “Climate Change” or “Topics and Issues” pages of the American Public Health Association (APHA) website. Investigate a public health issue related to an environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population.

Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue.

Follow this outline when writing the policy brief:

Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.
Create a problem statement.
Provide suggestions for addressing the health issue caused by the current policy. Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change. Include necessary stakeholders (government officials, administrator) and budget or funding considerations, if applicable.
Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system.
Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
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Policy Health Issue: The Ongoing Opioid Epidemic

Introduction

The opioid epidemic has become a significant public health issue in the United States, affecting individuals and families from all walks of life. Opioid misuse and addiction have become widespread, leading to devastating consequences, such as overdose deaths and the spread of infectious diseases. This policy brief summarizes the opioid epidemic, its effects on the population, and proposes potential solutions to address the issue.

Description of the Policy Health Issue

The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis that has affected millions of Americans, particularly those who suffer from chronic pain or have been prescribed opioids for medical purposes. The use of prescription opioids has contributed to the rise in opioid addiction and overdose deaths. In 2019 alone, approximately 49,860 people in the US died due to opioid-related overdoses, representing a significant increase from previous years (CDC, 2020).

The opioid epidemic is a national issue that affects individuals and communities across the US. It is estimated that over 2 million people are currently struggling with opioid addiction, while an additional 10.3 million individuals have misused prescription opioids (SAMHSA, 2019). The opioid epidemic impacts individuals of all ages, races, and socio-economic backgrounds, making it a critical issue that requires immediate attention.

Problem Statement

The opioid epidemic is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to address. Many factors contribute to the opioid epidemic, including the overprescribing of opioids by healthcare providers, lack of access to addiction treatment services, and the spread of illicit opioids such as fentanyl. Despite efforts to address the opioid epidemic, including the implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs and increased access to overdose-reversing medications, opioid overdose deaths continue to rise.

Addressing the Health Issue Caused by the Current Policy

To address the opioid epidemic, policymakers must take a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. The following are recommendations for addressing the opioid epidemic:

Increase Access to Evidence-Based Treatment: Policymakers should allocate resources to increase access to evidence-based addiction treatment programs, including medication-assisted treatment (MAT), behavioral therapy, and recovery support services. Access to these services can help individuals with opioid addiction manage their symptoms, reduce their risk of relapse, and improve their overall health and well-being.

Improve Prescribing Practices: Healthcare providers should receive training on safe and effective prescribing practices to reduce the overprescribing of opioids. This can include implementing prescription drug monitoring programs, conducting regular medication reviews, and using alternative pain management options.

Increase Funding for Research: Policymakers should allocate funding for research into alternative pain management options, including non-opioid medications, behavioral therapy, and non-pharmacological treatments. This research can help identify safer and more effective treatments for chronic pain that do not carry the risk of addiction and overdose.

Impact on the Healthcare Delivery System

The opioid epidemic has had a significant impact on the healthcare delivery system, leading to increased healthcare costs and a strain on healthcare resources. Individuals with opioid addiction often require extensive medical care, including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and addiction treatment services. The cost of treating opioid addiction and its associated health complications has been estimated at $78.5 billion annually (NIH, 2020). Addressing the opioid epidemic can help reduce the burden on the healthcare delivery system and improve healthcare outcomes for individuals and communities affected by the crisis.

Necessary Stakeholders and Funding Considerations

To address the opioid epidemic, it is crucial to involve multiple stakeholders, including government officials, healthcare providers, addiction treatment specialists, and community organizations. Policymakers at the state and federal levels can allocate funding for addiction treatment programs and research into alternative pain management options. Healthcare providers can receive training on safe prescribing practices, and addiction treatment centers can receive funding to expand their services and improve access to evidence-based treatments. Community organizations can also play a role in addressing the opioid epidemic by providing education and outreach to individuals and families affected by addiction.

Funding considerations for addressing the opioid epidemic can vary depending on the approach taken. For example, funding for addiction treatment programs can be obtained through state and federal grant programs, while funding for research can be obtained through organizations such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Policymakers may also need to allocate funding for the implementation and enforcement of safe prescribing practices and the expansion of overdose-reversing medication programs.

Conclusion

The opioid epidemic is a critical public health issue that requires a comprehensive approach to address. The recommendations outlined in this policy brief, including increasing access to evidence-based treatment, improving prescribing practices, and increasing funding for research, can help address the opioid epidemic and reduce its devastating effects on individuals and communities. By involving multiple stakeholders and allocating funding to support these efforts, policymakers can make significant progress in combating the opioid epidemic and improving healthcare outcomes for those affected by addiction.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2020). Overdose death maps. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/maps.html

National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2020). Opioid crisis. Retrieved from https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/opioid-crisis

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2019). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP19-5068, NSDUH Series H-54). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
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This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

Topic 4 DQ 1: Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues
Research the delivery, finance, management, and sustainability methods of the U.S. health care system. Evaluate the effectiveness of one or more of these areas on quality patient care and health outcomes. Propose a potential health care reform solution to improve effectiveness in the area you evaluated and predict the expected effect. Describe the effect of health care reform on the U.S. health care system and its respective stakeholders. Support your post with a peer-reviewed journal article.

Topic 4 DQ 2: Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Many of the provisions of the law directly affect health care providers. Review the following topic materials:

“About the Affordable Care Act”
“Health Care Transformation: The Affordable Care Act and More”
What are the most important elements of the Affordable Care Act in relation to community and public health? What is the role of the nurse in implementing this law?

Community Assessment and Analysis Presentation
The RN to BSN program at Grand Canyon University meets the requirements for clinical competencies as defined by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), using nontraditional experiences for practicing nurses. These experiences come in the form of direct and indirect care experiences in which licensed nursing students engage in learning within the context of their hospital organization, specific care discipline, and local communities.

This assignment consists of both an interview and a PowerPoint (PPT) presentation.

Assessment/Interview

Select a community of interest in your region. Perform a physical assessment of the community.

Perform a direct assessment of a community of interest using the “Functional Health Patterns Community Assessment Guide.”
Interview a community health and public health provider regarding that person’s role and experiences within the community.
Interview Guidelines

Interviews can take place in-person, by phone, or by Skype.

Develop interview questions to gather information about the role of the provider in the community and the health issues faced by the chosen community.

Complete the “Provider Interview Acknowledgement Form” prior to conducting the interview. Submit this document separately in its respective drop box.

Compile key findings from the interview, including the interview questions used, and submit these with the presentation.

PowerPoint Presentation

Create a PowerPoint presentation of 15-20 slides (slide count does not include title and references slide) describing the chosen community interest.

Include the following in your presentation:

Description of community and community boundaries: the people and the geographic, geopolitical, financial, educational level; ethnic and phenomenological features of the community, as well as types of social interactions; common goals and interests; and barriers, and challenges, including any identified social determinates of health.
Summary of community assessment: (a) funding sources and (b) partnerships.
Summary of interview with community health/public health provider.
Identification of an issue that is lacking or an opportunity for health promotion.
A conclusion summarizing your key findings and a discussion of your impressions of the general health of the community.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA format ting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance. Topic 4: Policy and Environmental Issues

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For Topic 4 DQ1, you could begin by researching the delivery, finance, management, and sustainability methods of the U.S. healthcare system. Then, you could evaluate the effectiveness of one or more of these areas on quality patient care and health outcomes. You could propose a potential healthcare reform solution to improve effectiveness in the area you evaluated and predict the expected effect. Finally, you could describe the effect of healthcare reform on the U.S. healthcare system and its respective stakeholders. To support your post, you could use a peer-reviewed journal article such as “The Effects of Health Care Reform on the Medicaid Primary Care Delivery System: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Publicly Funded Clinics” by D. C. Radnofsky and S. R. Collins.

For Topic 4 DQ2, you could review the materials provided and identify the most important elements of the Affordable Care Act in relation to community and public health. You could also discuss the role of the nurse in implementing this law. To support your answer, you could use a peer-reviewed journal article such as “The Affordable Care Act: A Brief Summary” by A. S. Kesselheim, D. M. Mello, and A. M. Studdert.

For the benchmark assignment, you could research public health issues related to an environmental issue within the U.S. healthcare delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population. You could then create a policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue. To support your policy brief, you should include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources. You should also prepare the assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide.

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