Policy Analysis and Development
You are in a health care policy internship program in a Senator’s office in Washington, D.C. The Senator wants to develop policy that requires all health care organizations that receive federal funds to implement the recommendations presented in the Institute of Medicine reports on quality care. You will develop a policy, so that it can become proposed legislation. To do so, you must collect data, describe the problem, solutions and related ethical issues, examine the cost-benefit analysis, identify stakeholders (such as lobbyists from American Hospital Association, health care providers, health care corporations, pharmaceuticals, insurers, etc.), and impact. Based on this information, you will create a policy description that will be the foundation for a bill.
- Work through the simulation.
- Answer all questions. Write the policy description. Submit and save the assessment.
- Save as “Policy_Analysis_andDevelompmentYourName” word document.
- Click on the Learnscape: Policy Analysis and Development assignment link to submit your word document.
The images on the left are screen shots to show you what you will see in your own Learnscape course.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, I understand the importance of healthcare policies that can improve the quality of care. In this scenario, a Senator wants to develop a policy that requires all health care organizations that receive federal funds to implement the recommendations presented in the Institute of Medicine reports on quality care. To develop this policy, it is important to consider various factors such as data collection, ethical issues, cost-benefit analysis, stakeholders, and impact. Let us delve into the questions and come up with a policy description that will be the foundation for a bill.
Question: What data will you need to collect to develop the policy?
Answer: To develop the policy, we need to collect data related to the quality of care provided by all healthcare organizations that receive federal funds. The data should include the number of patients, types of diseases or conditions, treatment outcomes, and any adverse events. We also need to collect data regarding the recommendations presented in the Institute of Medicine reports on quality care, which includes patient-centered care, care coordination, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement. Additionally, we need to collect data on the cost of implementing the recommendations in the IOM reports.
Question: What ethical issues are related to developing this policy and how would you address them?
Answer: Developing this policy raises ethical issues such as the potential violation of autonomy and the privacy of patients if data sharing is required. Some healthcare organizations may also feel that the policy infringes on their organizational autonomy. To address these issues, we need to ensure that patient privacy is protected by incorporating appropriate measures such as anonymization of data, obtaining patient consent, and instituting strict data security protocols. It is also essential to involve all stakeholders in the policy development process to address any concerns they may have and ensure that the policy is transparent and fair.
Question: What is the cost-benefit analysis of implementing the IOM recommendations and how would you evaluate it?
Answer: The cost-benefit analysis of implementing the IOM recommendations necessitates evaluating the costs of implementing the recommendations against the benefits of improved quality of care, such as reduced morbidity and mortality rates, increased patient satisfaction, and improved health outcomes. To evaluate the cost-benefit analysis, we would need to take into account the cost of implementing the recommendations, such as hiring additional staff, investing in new technology or infrastructure, and training staff. We would also need to assess the potential benefits of implementing the recommendations in terms of decreased medical errors, improved patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs in the long term.
Question: Who are the stakeholders in this policy and what impact would the policy have on them?
Answer: The stakeholders in this policy include lobbyists from various organizations such as the American Hospital Association, health care providers, health care corporations, pharmaceuticals, and insurers. The policy would impact these stakeholders by requiring healthcare organizations to implement the recommendations from the IOM reports, which could lead to additional costs, changes in organizational practices, and potential resistance or pushback from stakeholders. However, the policy could also benefit healthcare organizations by improving the quality of care and patient outcomes, which could increase patient satisfaction and potentially attract more funding or patients.
