Healthcare law and policy

 

 


Write a 4–6 page policy proposal and practice guidelines for improving quality and performance associated with the benchmark metric underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1.

In advocating for institutional policy changes related to local, state, or federal healthcare laws or policies, health leaders must be able to develop and present clear and well-written policy and practice guideline proposals that will enable a team, a unit, or an organization as a whole to resolve relevant performance issues and bring about improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes.

As a master's-level healthcare practitioner, you have a valuable viewpoint and voice to bring to discussions about policy development, both inside and outside your care setting. Developing policy for internal purposes can be a valuable process toward quality and safety improvement and ensuring compliance with various healthcare regulatory pressures. This assessment offers you an opportunity to take the lead in proposing such changes as well.

Propose an organizational policy and practice guidelines that you believe will lead to an improvement in quality and performance associated with the benchmark underperformance you advocated for improving in Assessment 1. Be precise, professional, and persuasive in demonstrating the merit of your proposed actions.

The policy proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, be sure to note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Explain the need for creating a policy and practice guidelines to address a shortfall in meeting a benchmark metric prescribed by local, state, or federal healthcare policies or laws. Use your topic from Assessment 1 to complete this.
What is the current benchmark for the organization and the numeric score for underperformance?
How is the benchmark underperformance affecting the provision of quality care or the organization's operations?
What are the potential repercussions of not making any changes?
What evidence supports your conclusions?
Summarize your proposed organizational policy and practice guidelines.
Identify applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law that prescribes relevant performance benchmarks that your policy proposal addresses (using your Advocacy Issues topic from the AHA).
Keep your audience in mind when creating this summary statement.
Analyze the potential effects of environmental factors on your recommended practice guidelines.
What regulatory considerations could affect your recommended guidelines?
What resources could affect your recommended guidelines (staffing, financial, and logistical considerations, or support services)?
Explain ethical, evidence-based practice guidelines to improve targeted benchmark performance and the impact the proposed changes will have on the targeted group.
What does the evidence-based literature suggest are potential strategies to improve performance for your targeted benchmark?
How would these strategies ensure performance improvement or compliance with applicable local, state, or federal healthcare policy or law?
How can you ensure that these strategies are ethical and culturally inclusive in their application?
What is the direct impact of these changes on the stakeholders' work setting/job requirements?
Explain why particular stakeholders and groups must be involved in further development and implementation of your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
Why is it important to engage these stakeholders and groups?
How can their participation produce a stronger policy and facilitate its implementation?
Present strategies for collaborating with the stakeholder group to implement your proposed policy and practice guidelines.
What role will the stakeholder group play in implementing your proposal?
Why is the stakeholder group and their collaboration important for successful implementation?
Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
Proofread your proposal, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your proposal.
 

Policy Proposal and Practice Guidelines for Improving Maternal Mortality Rates in Kisumu County, Kenya

 

 

1. Explanation of Need for Policy and Practice Guidelines

 

Maternal mortality remains a significant challenge in Kenya, and specifically within Kisumu County. While national and international efforts have aimed to reduce these preventable deaths, our facility's performance metrics indicate a critical underperformance that demands immediate and comprehensive intervention.

Current Benchmark and Underperformance: The national benchmark for maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Kenya, as per the Kenya Health Policy (2012-2030) and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1), aims for an MMR of less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. While precise, up-to-date county-level benchmarks can fluctuate, the most recent internal data for our facility in Kisumu County reveals an MMR of 120 deaths per 100,000 live births over the past year. This numeric score starkly indicates a significant shortfall in meeting the national aspirational benchmark.

How Benchmark Underperformance is Affecting Quality Care and Operations: This elevated MMR directly impacts the provision of quality care and severely strains our organization's operations.

Compromised Patient Safety and Trust: Each maternal death represents a tragic failure in our care delivery system. It erodes public trust in our facility and the healthcare system as a whole, discouraging women from seeking essential antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care.

Increased Workload and Burnout: The occurrence of maternal deaths often triggers investigations, audits, and emotional distress among healthcare providers. This adds to the existing workload, particularly for overworked staff, potentially leading to burnout and a decline in morale.

Reputational Damage and Resource Allocation Scrutiny: Persistent underperformance in such a critical metric can lead to negative publicity, scrutiny from regulatory bodies and the Ministry of Health, and potentially impact future funding and resource allocation decisions. Donors and partners may re-evaluate their support if quality indicators are not met.

Legal and Ethical Implications: Failure to provide the highest attainable standard of health, as enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution (Article 43 (1)), carries ethical and potentially legal repercussions for healthcare providers and the institution.

Potential Repercussions of Not Making Any Changes: Without decisive action, the repercussions of this underperformance will be severe:

Continued Loss of Life: The most devastating consequence is the continued preventable loss of mothers, leaving families fragmented and communities in distress.

Worsening Health Outcomes: The fear of poor outcomes may lead to a decrease in facility-based deliveries, an increase in home births without skilled attendance, and a rise in complications, ultimately worsening overall maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the region.

Erosion of Healthcare System Credibility: The inability to meet fundamental health targets undermines the credibility of the entire healthcare system in Kisumu County.

Increased Financial Burden: Complications arising from inadequate maternal care can lead to prolonged hospital stays, increased use of specialized resources, and a higher financial burden on both patients and the healthcare system.

 

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