Assignment: a Healthcare Program Evaluation

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NURS 6050 Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

Assignment: a Healthcare Program Evaluation

The primary goal of a healthcare program is to prevent or control disease, injury, disability, and death. Evaluation of a healthcare program allows stakeholders to analyze its operations, including which activities took place, who conducted the activities, and who was reached as a result (Adams & Neville, 2020). Healthcare programs are evaluated to track progress toward the program’s objectives and establish whether the program’s interventions generate the expected progress on outcomes (Adams & Neville, 2020). and support and to identify opportunities for continuous quality improvement. This paper seeks to describe an evaluated healthcare program, including how success was measured, people reached by the program, data used for evaluation, impacted stakeholders, and my recommendations for the program.

 

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation  

Better Choices Better Health Diabetes (BCBH-D) Self-Management Program.
Description  

  • BCBH-D program is an all-online workshop.
  • Participants of the program logged on at their convenience to learn about:
  • Healthy eating and menu planning.
  • Managing blood glucose (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Strategies to address problems such as frustration, fatigue, and isolation.
  • Appropriate exercise for controlling blood glucose and maintaining and improving strength, flexibility, and endurance (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Appropriate use of Diabetes medications.
  • Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Goal-setting.
  • Disease-related problem-solving.
  • The program ran for six weeks, with new lessons being posted every week. The participants logged on 2-3 times per week for a total of 1-2 hours (Turner et al., 2018).

 
How was the success of the program or policy measured?

 

  

  • The success of the BCBH-D program was measured by its impact on comorbid illness attributed to DM, Health care utilization, and Health care costs within 12 months after establishing the program (Turner et al., 2018).
  • The impact was compared with a propensity score-matched control cohort of DM patients who were provided usual care but did not participate in the BCBH-D program.

 
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

 

  

  • The BCBH-D program reached 558 persons with Diabetes Mellitus.
  • The health program had a significant impact since the participants had a reduced all-cause health care utilization and medical costs (Turner et al., 2018).
  • The impact realized with the BCBH-D program include:
  • Decreased all-cause utilization.
  • Reduced ED visits and outpatient visits (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Decreased unadjusted total all-cause medical cost by $2207 (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Direct cost savings of the BCBH-D were $815.

 
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

 

  

  • Outcome evaluation data included pre-and post-intervention all-cause and diabetes-specific utilization and costs.
  • Diabetes-specific utilization referred to hospitalizations and ED visits with a primary diagnosis of Diabetes (Turner et al., 2018).
  • It also includes outpatient services such as office visits, laboratory tests, imaging, and procedures with any diabetes diagnosis on the claim.
  • All-cause utilization referred to any claims-based health care utilization inclusive of Diabetes and any other diagnosis on the claim (Turner et al., 2018).
  • All-cause and Diabetes specific utilization data for the 12-month pre-and post-intervention periods included ED visits, hospitalizations, and outpatient services, reported as visits per 1000 participants (Turner et al., 2018).

 

 
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?

 

 Some participants did not attend all the program’s sessions and, as a result, did not complete the program’s entire course (Turner et al., 2018).
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.

 

  

  • Stakeholders identified in the evaluation of the BCBH-D program include persons diagnosed with Diabetes mellitus (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Patients with Diabetes would benefit the most from the results and reporting of the BCBH-D program (Turner et al., 2018).
  • The program’s impact would influence the development of other Diabetes self-management programs, which would help reduce healthcare utilization and costs for diabetic patients.
  • DM patients would also benefit from improved health outcomes such as controlled glycemic levels, reduced DM comorbidities, and reduced DM-related complications.

 
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?

 

  

  • The original goal of the BCBH-D self-management program was to reduce healthcare utilization and healthcare costs attributed to the management of Diabetes (Turner et al., 2018).
  • The program adequately met its goal, as evidenced by results showing that participants in the peer-facilitated BCBH-D program experienced decreased all-cause health care utilization and medical costs (Turner et al., 2018).
  • Based on the results, there was a significant decrease in all-cause utilization and costs for the participants for ED, inpatient, and outpatient services.
  • There was also a decrease in total all-cause medical and pharmacy costs (Turner et al., 2018).
  • There was a decreased utilization in the participants for DM comorbid chronic conditions.
  • Notably, there were reduced claims for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and depression among participants in the BCBH-D program during the follow-up period (Turner et al., 2018).

 
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?

 

  

  • I would highly recommend implementing a health program similar to the BCBH-D Self-Management Program in my current healthcare organization.
  • Implementation of the program would significantly reduce healthcare costs used in the management of DM, which has the highest expenditures (Adam et al., 2018).
  • It would also reduce ED visits and hospitalizations of patients and thus enable the organization to channel the resources to manage other conditions.
  • I recommend the program because it would significantly improve health outcomes for persons with DM, who have one of the worst morbidity and mortality rates in our healthcare setting and other healthcare systems (Adam et al., 2018).

 
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation.

 

  

A nurse advocate can become involved in a program’s evaluation after implementation by:

  • Disseminating a program evaluation, particularly a program that extends over to the public health pyramid, to interdisciplinary health care audiences interested in the health problem or interventions used to address the health problem (Issel, 2016).
  • Nurse advocates can also submit a health program’s evaluation reports to a myriad of health journals. This can inform other health providers and organizations of the program’s impact in improving health outcomes and efficiencies in patient care, influencing them to implement similar programs (Issel, 2016).

 
General Notes/Comments  

  • The BCBH-D Self-Management Program is an ideal healthcare program that should be implemented in all healthcare organizations providing care to diabetes patients.
  • Similar programs can also be established to include patients with other chronic or lifestyle conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.
  • The State governments should facilitate health care organizations to establish such programs through funding and mobilization to help improve health outcomes in the population and lower health care costs.

 

 

 

Conclusion

, in which the solutions must include engaging community members and organizations in a coalition. The BCBH-D Self-Management Program was an online program that enrolled 558 diabetic patients. The goal of the program was to reduce healthcare utilization and costs associated with Diabetes. The success of the program was measured using data on diabetes-specific utilization and costs. It led to decreased all-cause utilization, reduced ED and outpatient visits, reduced unadjusted total all-cause medical costs, and increased direct cost savings. I would recommend a similar program in our organization and include interventions for patients with other chronic illnesses to reduce healthcare costs and improve healthcare outcomes.

References

Adam, L., O’Connor, C., & Garcia, A. C. (2018). Evaluating the impact of Diabetes self-management education methods on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 42(5), 470-477. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.11.003

Adams, J., & Neville, S. (2020). Program Evaluation for Health Professionals: What It Is, What It Isn’t and How to Do It. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1609406920964345. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406920964345

Issel, L. M. (2016). Health Program Planning And Evaluation: What Nurse Scholars Need To Know. Practice-Based Clinical Inquiry in Nursing: Looking Beyond Traditional Methods, 3.

Turner, R. M., Ma, Q., Lorig, K., Greenberg, J., & DeVries, A. R. (2018). Evaluation of a Diabetes Self-Management Program: Claims Analysis on Comorbid Illnesses, Health Care Utilization, and Cost. Journal of medical Internet research, 20(6), e207. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.9225

Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

Thank you for sharing your two ideas for opportunities to participate in policy review. I feel I would be more comfortable participating in policy review by joining a professional nurse organization (PNO) than collaborating with elected officials. Milstead & Short (2017) describe how vital policy evaluation is for transforming and evolving our current healthcare system. Walden has done a great job expressing the importance of policy. I imagine many nurses stop at an associate or bachelor degree and never learn about policy review and how to get involved. Gazarian et al. (2020) noted that nurses are well qualified to “identify health problems that can be addressed through health policies and to evaluate the effects of those policies.” Essentially, we are in the middle of healthcare and can assess the need for change or evaluate the effect a policy or policy change could have. There is a need for adding more policy education at every level of nursing. It would also be helpful for information to be provided regarding how to get involved with local elected officials. I also believe that a PNO would be a great means of learning how to get involved. Thank you for another great week of discussion!

References

Gazarian, P., Ballout, S., Heelan-Fancher, L., & Sundean, L. J. (2020). Theories,

models, and frameworks used in nursing health policy dissertations: A scoping review. Applied Nursing Research. 

Milstead, J.A., & Short, N.M. (2019). Health Policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed).

Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Hi Sasha

Thank you for writing such an informative discussion board on the responsibilities of nurses about healthcare review. As nurses, we work with patients daily. Therefore, we have all the essential information and beneficial feedback translated during policy review. According to an online journal, “In fact, it is the moral and professional obligation of nurses to be engaged in legislation that impacts their patients. When nurses influence the politics that improve healthcare delivery, they are ultimately advocating for their patients (5 et al., 2021)”. In turn, there are always positive outcomes. Although reaching out on a state or federal level might not have a positive impact, you brought a valid point of nurses having meetings and inviting them over. Hence, we are to present our inputs on policy review. For the nurses to be able to participate in policy review, according to an online article, “HPNs have the option of earning their certification as a Public Health Nurse or in a more specialized area via the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) (health policy nurse at a glance.” With the certification at hand, nurses can reach out to politicians on a state or federal level and help with positive input reviewing healthcare policy.

Great post

References

5, The nursing profession’s potential impact on policy and politics. American Nurse. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://www.myamericannurse.com/nursing-professions-potential-impact-policy-politics/

Health policy nurse (HPN) at a glance. Discover Nursing. (n.d.). Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://nursing.jnj.com/specialty/health-policy-nurse

Sasha

A solution to overcome the challenges nurses encounter when evaluating policy is providing accurate information.  We agree joining a professional nursing organization is an opportunity to become involved in politics. I’ve seen post stating  joining a professional nursing organization is complicated and quite expensive. I joined the ANA and AANP this was easier than ordering  food from some apps.  Joining took me approximately 5 minutes per organization. I needed a payment method and my license number. Giving information that joining a professional nursing organization is complicated isn’t  accurate for every organization. This could be the case for specialty  areas of nursing, but was not my experience with the ANA site. This is important because the ANA is one of the largest professional nursing organizations. They are involved in lobbying and  give financial support to candidates running for office  (Milstead & Short , 2019).

I stated in my post the  price of membership for organizations like ANA are considered expensive by some nurses. A $129/yr for ANA and my state’s nursing association membership is a steal when you consider free continuing education, discounts on seminars, networking and employment information. It breaks down to $10.79/month and can be billed in installments  ( American Nurses Association, (ANA), n.d.). According to the  AANP site (n.d.),  student membership is $55 per year and it offers continuing education and  employment opportunities (American Association of Nurse Practitioners, (AANP), n.d.).  We are preparing to become nurse leaders and will have opportunities to encourage nurses to become politically active. This will be one our most important tasks as APRNs.

References

American Nurses Association. (n.d.). Join ANA and your state nurses association. https://www.nursingworld.org/membership/joinANA/

American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (n.d.). Join AANP. https://www.aanp.org/membership

Milstead,  J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurses guide (6th ed.).  Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Name: NURS_6050_Module05_Week10_Assignment_Rubric

Excellent Good Fair Poor
Program/Policy Evaluation

Based on the program or policy evaluation you seelcted, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

·   Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

·   How was the success of the program or policy measured?

·   How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

·   At what point in time in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
32 (32%) – 35 (35%)
Using sufficient evidence, response clearly and accurately describes the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

Response accurately and clearly explains how the success of the program or policy was measured.

Response accurately and clearly describes how many people were reached by the program or policy and accurately describes the impact of the program or policy.

Response accurately and clearly indicates the point at which time the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
28 (28%) – 31 (31%)
Using sufficient evidence, response accurately describes the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

Response accurately explains how the success of the program or policy was measured.

Response accurately describes how many people were reached by the program or policy and accurately describes the impact of the program or policy.

Response accurately indicates the point at which time the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
25 (25%) – 27 (27%)
Description of the healthcare program or policy outcomes is inaccurate or incomplete.

Explanation of how the success of the program or policy was measured is inaccurate or incomplete.

Description of how many people were reached by the program or policy and the impact is vague or inaccurate.

Response vaguely describes the point at which the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
0 (0%) – 24 (24%)
Description of the healthcare program or policy outcomes is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Explanation of how the success of the program or policy was measured is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Description of how many people were reached by the program or policy and the associated impacts is vague and inaccurate or is missing.

Response of the point at which time the program or policy was conducted is missing.
Reporting of Program/Policy Evaluations

·   What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

·   What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?

·   What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit the most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.

·   Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?

·   Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?

·   Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)
Response clearly and thoroughly explains in detail: -specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. -the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. -who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. -whether the program met the original intent and outcomes, including an accurate and detailed explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. -whether the program should be implemented, including an accurate and detailed explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. -at least two ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation of the program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Using sufficient evidence, response accurately identifies the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation. Response explains in detail specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. Response explains in detail the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. Response explains who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. Response includes an accurate explanation of whether the program met the original intent and outcomes, including an accurate explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. Response includes an accurate explanation of whether the program should be implemented, including an accurate explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. Response includes an accurate explanation of two ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation of the program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Response vaguely or inaccurately identifies the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation. Explanation of specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation is vague or incomplete. Explanation of the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation is vague or inaccurate. Explanation of who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation is vague or inaccurate. Explanation of whether the program/policy met the original intent and outcomes, and the reasons why or why not is incomplete or inaccurate. Explanation of whether the program or policy should be implemented, and the reasons why or why not, is incomplete or inaccurate. Explanation of ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation or policy after 1 year of implementation is incomplete or inaccurate.
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)
Identification of the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation is vague and inaccurate or is missing. Response includes vague and incomplete or is missing explanation of: -specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. -the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. -who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. -whether the program or policy met the original intent and outcomes, and the reasons why or why not. -whether the program or policy should be implemented, and the reasons why or why not. -ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation or policy after 1 year of implementation.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, low logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas.
Sentences are carefully focused– neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is incomplete or missing.
Written Expression and Formatting – English Writing Standards:

Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Contains many (≥5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written Expression and Formatting:

The paper follows correct APA format for title page, font, spacing, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list).
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Contains many (≥5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100

Name: NURS_6050_Module05_Week10_Assignment_Rubric

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