Introduction
Recent changes to the healthcare system in the United States have led to a significant reevaluation of therapy and the provision of optimal care for patients. Measures have been taken to reform or restructure the United States healthcare system to improve performance and achieve optimal results. The changes to the healthcare system have made it more accessible, efficient, and of high quality, allowing American patients to have the best care at the best prices.
Healthcare Laws
Over the past five years, numerous federal laws and regulations have been enacted to help transform the system. One of the most significant healthcare laws passed in the United States in the past five years is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The law proposes a number of changes, including reducing healthcare costs for people with low incomes, expanding access to doctors, and providing more paid medical services (Mason et al., 2020). This law is also aimed at reducing medical costs and supporting a national healthcare system, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
The changes made to the medical care system are of decisive importance for nursing practice. The national nursing community has made significant efforts to improve the system’s efficiency and provide high-quality medical care. Since nurses play a crucial role in delivering medical care, reforms and restructuring should align with their duties and responsibilities.
For example, the PPACA proposes providing more medical services, including preventive services and health management services. This provides nurses with more opportunities to deliver high-quality medical care and support to patients and those in need (Mason et al., 2020). The measures taken allow nurses to provide medical care more effectively and support patients and those in need.
The US medical care system is currently being reformed to enhance the quality of patient care. These changes empower nurses to deliver care more effectively, better support patients, and assist those in need. As a result of these improvements, nurses can provide higher-quality medical services and fulfill their professional obligations more efficiently, which has ultimately expanded their role and responsibilities.
Quality Measures
These changes aim to increase the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of healthcare. Quality indicators and payment for performance are key factors in reforming and restructuring the healthcare system in the US. Quality of care indicators allow for the evaluation of the effectiveness of medical institutions. They include quality of treatment indicators, such as average time to treatment start, the proportion of patients recovering from a particular illness, and the proportion of patients recovering after undergoing specific procedures (Pierce et al., 2021). Patients can use these indicators to assess the effectiveness of treatment at various medical institutions.
Payment for performance allows for payment based on the results achieved. This enables medical institutions to receive sufficient funding to deliver high-quality healthcare to patients. As the treatment of the sick becomes increasingly automated, medical institutions become more reliant on nursing practices. Nurses now have a great responsibility to provide quality healthcare.
Patients expect a high level of professionalism from them, and nurses must adhere to quality and efficiency requirements. They must adhere to treatment processes and protocols to ensure the necessary treatment results for the patient (Pierce et al., 2021). They must also adhere to the proper use of medical devices and instruments and monitor and track the patient’s treatment process.
Nursing Leadership
Professional nursing leadership and management play an essential role in responding to these changes. Professional nurses have the opportunity to participate in the process of reforming or restructuring the health care system, providing the necessary data for decision-making and guidance for the process of change. They can actively participate in the development of policies and procedures that will provide patient safety and quality care. (Pierce et al., 2021) They can also contribute to the development of strategies and processes that support national and local initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of care.
On the other hand, professional nursing management plays a crucial role in implementing these strategies and processes. They are responsible for planning, developing, and managing the practice of medical nurses. They can be instrumental in the development and implementation of national and local programs (Agee, 2020). They are of value in providing information and insights to solve problems using technology and tools, and they also take serious responsibility for directing professional development and promoting quality of care in healthcare facilities.
In general, professional nursing leadership and management are essential for reviewing or restructuring the healthcare system. They are necessary for developing and implementing patient safety and quality care programs, as well as for providing insights to solve problems. Professional nurses must utilize their knowledge and skills to promote patient safety and deliver high-quality care.
Emerging Trends
In light of upcoming trends and projected issues in healthcare, nursing practice, and nursing roles must evolve and transform over the next five years. Firstly, nursing should develop toward more active patient health analysis (Mason et al., 2020). Active analysis enables doctors and nurses to better understand a patient’s specific illness or condition, as well as to more effectively monitor patients.
Nurses should have more opportunities to be involved in the planning and delivery of healthcare services. This will allow them to provide more quality and personalized care to patients. Secondly, nurses must be prepared to actively use and administer technology. This will help improve the quality of care, reduce errors, and increase efficiency, as well as assist doctors and nurses in working more effectively (Agee, 2020). Various technologies, such as electronic medical records, robotics, intelligent analytics systems, and artificial intelligence, can lead to more efficient and safer practices.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the American healthcare system has undergone massive reform and restructuring in the past five years. The PPACA is the most consequential healthcare law passed in the US, which has enabled many changes to the system. These changes have had a significant impact on nursing, as nurses are essential in providing medical care and implementing reforms and restructuring. All of these changes will lead to a more efficient and higher-quality healthcare system, with nurses playing an even more significant role in delivering quality medical care to patients.
References
Agee, N. H. (2020). Leadership in disruptive times: The key to changing healthcare. Frontiers of Health Services Management, 36(3), 3-11.
Mason, D. J., Perez, A., McLemore, M. R., & Dickson, E. (2020). Policy & politics in nursing and health care-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Pierce, B. S., Perrin, P. B., Tyler, C. M., McKee, G. B., & Watson, J. D. (2021). The COVID-19 telepsychology revolution: A national study of pandemic-based changes in US mental health care delivery. American Psychologist, 76(1), 14.