Healthcare policy and regulatory/legislative topics related to health and nursing informatics.

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.

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.

study a recent nursing informatics-related healthcare policy, and you will share the relevant details via a fact sheet designed to inform and educate.

Create a 1-p 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

Full Answer Section

     
  • Clinicians can access a more comprehensive patient history, potentially leading to better-informed treatment decisions.
  • Patients can have more control over their health information and easily share it with authorized providers.
  • Streamlined data exchange can improve workflow efficiency for nurses and other healthcare professionals.
Organizational Policies and Procedures:
  • Our organization will conduct a thorough assessment of our current EHR system's interoperability capabilities.
  • We will establish a committee of IT professionals, nurses, and physicians to develop a plan for implementing the required standards.
  • Staff training will be provided on new data sharing protocols and patient communication regarding information exchange.
  • We will develop and implement internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the act's data security and privacy requirements.
Benefits:
  • Improved patient care through a more holistic view of their medical history.
  • Increased patient engagement and empowerment.
  • Enhanced collaboration and communication among healthcare providers.
  • Streamlined workflows and improved operational efficiency.
Challenges:
  • Costs associated with upgrading or replacing EHR systems.
  • Potential need for additional training for staff.
  • Ensuring data security and privacy during information exchange.
Conclusion: The 21st Century Cures Act represents a significant step towards a more interoperable healthcare system. By implementing the necessary changes, our organization can enhance patient care, improve workflow efficiency, and contribute to a more connected healthcare ecosystem.  

Sample Answer

   

Fact Sheet: The 21st Century Cures Act and Interoperability

Policy/Regulation: The 21st Century Cures Act (2016) mandates improved interoperability within the healthcare system.

Impact on System Implementation:

  • Requires healthcare providers and health information technology (IT) vendors to implement systems that use open, standardized Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to facilitate data exchange.
  • This may necessitate upgrades or replacements of existing electronic health record (EHR) systems to ensure compatibility with these standards.

Impact on Clinical Care, Patient/Provider Interactions, and Workflow:

  • Improved interoperability allows for seamless sharing of patient medical records across different healthcare providers.