The goal of policy analysis is to provide in-depth, relevant, and evaluative information about a policy. Using a framework as a guideline for the analysis provides scaffolding for logically and carefully considering the policy issue. To select a framework, one should consider the focus of the policy being analyzed and whether the policy is intended to be predictive or prescriptive. For this Discussion, you will choose a policy issue that is important to you and after evaluating the frameworks described in the Learning Resources, select the framework most appropriate for analyzing the issue.

To prepare:

Reflect on your understanding of the policy process: how policy is formulated, adopted, implemented, and evaluated.

Review the various frameworks presented in this week’s Learning Resources and consider how they are applied to nursing and health policies. How do they assist you in understanding and shaping policy?

Brainstorm a list of the issues that are most important to your practice (these can be issues at the institutional, local, state, national, or international level). Then identify a specific nursing or health care policy related to one key issue and consider which of the frameworks you would use to examine the issue.

Note: You may not select the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for this analysis.

By tomorrow 03//2018, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with at least 3 scholarly references from the list of required readings below. Include the level one headings as numbered below”

Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

1) Identify the policy you have selected.

2) Describe the framework that you would use for this particular issue and provide your rationale.

3) At what other stages in the policy process might an analysis framework provide guidance?

Required Readings

Blackman, V. S. (2005). Putting policy theory to work: Tobacco control in California. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 6(2), 148–155. doi: 10.1177/1527154405276289

In this article, the author applies Kingdon’s multiple streams theory to agenda setting and the public policy issue of tobacco use. In addition, the author points out two limitations of Kingdon’s model—the need to build alliances and the varying power levels among stakeholders.

Craig, R. L., Felix, H. C., Walker, J. F., & Philips, M. M. (2010). Public health professionals as policy entrepreneurs: Arkansas’s childhood obesity policy experience. American Journal of Public Health, 100(11), 2047–2052.

Fawcett, J., & Russell, G. (2001). A conceptual model of nursing and health policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing, 2(2), 108–116. doi: 10.1177/152715440100200205

Fawcett and Russell provide a five-level conceptual model of nursing and health policy, and diagram the relationship between the model and new health policies. Guidelines for health policy analysis and evaluation are also provided.

Hewison, A. (2007). Policy analysis: A framework for nurse managers. Journal of Nursing Management, 15(7), 693–6 99. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2934.2006.00731.x

Initially, this article presents a broad analysis of policy making and then provides a specific framework of policy analysis for nurse managers. The author focuses on the necessity for nurses to become involved in health care policy making

Policy analysis: A framework for nurse managers. Journal of Nursing Management, 15(7) by Hewison, A. Copyright 2007 by BLACKWELL PUBLISHING – JOURNALS. Reprinted by permission of BLACKWELL PUBLISHING – JOURNALS via the Copyright Clearance Center.

Howie, W. O. (2009). Mandatory reporting of medical errors: Crafting policy and integrating it into practice. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 5(9), 649–654. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2009.07.012

John, P. (2003). Is there life after policy streams, advocacy coalitions, and punctuations: Using evolutionary theory to explain policy change? Policy Studies Journal, 31(4), 481–4 98. doi: 10.1111/1541-0072.0003

This article advances the use of evolutionary theory as policy theory. The author proposes that aspects of evolutionary theory such as randomness, competition, and selection be applied to policy theory but cautions that more research regarding its applicability is needed.

Rawat, P., & Morris, J. C. (2016). Kingdon’s “Streams” model at thirty: Still relevant in the 21st century? Politics & Policy, 44(4), 608-638. doi: 10.1111/polp.12168

Russell, G., & Fawcett, J. (2005). The conceptual model for nursing and health policy revisited. Policy, Politics, & Nursing, 6(4), 108–116. doi: 10.1177/1527154405283304

In this article, Russell and Fawcett revise their 2001 conceptual model of nursing and health policy and provide guidelines for nursing-specific research.

Optional Resources

Bardach, E. (2004). Presidential address—The extrapolation problem: How can we learn from the experience of others? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 23(2), 205. doi: 613545361

When electronic health records (EHRs) first entered the market, their primary focus was to collect and analyze patient information within health care settings. As technological capabilities grew, so did the interest in making these records available to patients. In addition, many health care professionals saw benefits in allowing the patient to enter his or her own health data into EHR platforms. Though many patients are already utilizing personal health records (PHRs) to manage and track their own health, some believe that an integrated system would provide a better, more comprehensive picture of a patient’s health history.

As a result, many EHR platforms are now equipped with a PHR tool. This PHR tool allows patients to enter health information as they would in a stand-alone PHR system. In addition, web-based portals within the EHR allow patients to access information entered by their physicians and health care providers.

Like many emerging trends and technologies, there is much discussion about the potential benefits and challenges of this type of integrated system. While many health care professionals are excited about the empowerment provided to patients, others express significant concerns about access, security, ethics, and other implications.

In this Discussion, you explore how integrating PHRs into EHR platforms could impact you and your patients.

To prepare:

Review the media Patient-Centered Technologies, and reflect upon Dr. Simpson’s statements about the ownership of patient data.

Review the article, “Dreams and Nightmares: Practice and Ethical Issues for Patients and Physicians Using Personal Health Records” found in this week’s Learning Resources. Consider how PHR capabilities can be integrated into EHR platforms.

Examine the “dreams” and the “nightmares” the authors associate with this type of integrated health record. Select one benefit or one challenge of integrating PHRs into EHR platforms. Then, consider its potential impact on health care providers and patients. Why is this considered to be a benefit or challenge for health care professionals and patients?

By Day 3

Post a brief description of your selected benefit (I choose Promoting data use or Promoting responsibility) or challenge and support your selection. Explain the potential impact on health care professionals and patients.

APA Style, 600 characters minimum (not including the reference on this 600 words count)

As I write above, I choose Promoting data use or Promoting responsibility one of those.

Required Readings

Saba, V. K., & McCormick, K. A. (2015). Essentials of nursing informatics (6th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Review Chapter 1, “Historical Perspectives of Nursing Informatics”

In this chapter, the authors explain the transition from paper-based records to electronic records. The chapter provides an overview of the historical events that contributed to the rise of electronic health records.

Chapter 25, “Care Delivery Across the Care Continuum: Hospital-Community-Home”

Chapter 25 analyzes the impact of home health on the health care system. The chapter explains the current level of home health technology and how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) changes this aspect of health care.

Chapter 44, “Initiation and Management of Accessible, Effective Online Learning”

This chapter explores the past and present perspectives of distance education, important teractive electronic tools and essential strategies for the online learner.

Chapter 45, “Social Media in the Connected Age: Impact on Healthcare Education and Practice”

The focus of this chapter is on the evolution of the Internet, mobile tools and the use of social media in healthcare education.

Chapter 35, “Consumer/Patient Engagement and eHealth Resources”

As access to health care information increases, patients are becoming more informed about and engaged in their health. This chapter discusses current trends in health care, including patient empowerment, consumerism, and widespread use of computers and technologies for health.

Crilly, J. F., Keefe, R. H., & Volpe, F. (2011). Use of electronic technologies to promote community and personal health for individuals unconnected to health care systems. American Journal of Public Health, 101(7), 1163–1167.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The authors of this article describe technologies that have been used to increase access to health care for underserved populations. The authors present strategies, benefits, and challenges of addressing this issue, and they provide examples of successful programs.

Walker, J., Leveille, S. G., Ngo, L., Vodicka, E., Darer, J. D, Dhanireddy, S., … Delbanco, T. (2011). Inviting patients to read their doctors’ notes: Patients and doctors look ahead: Patient and physician surveys. Annals of Internal Medicine, 155(12), 811–819.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

In this article, the authors discuss the results of their study on the outcomes of allowing patients to read their doctors’ notes. The study highlights the benefits of sharing notes with patients and how doing so can promote better outcomes.

Wynia, M., & Dunn, K. (2010). Dreams and nightmares: Practical and ethical issues for patients and physicians using personal health records. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 38(1), 64–73.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The authors of this article highlight the primary uses and benefits of personal health records (PHRs) as an electronic health record (EHR) tool. In addition, the article presents an overview of practical and ethical issues that may emerge from integrating PHR components into EHR systems.

Report Issue
Select a health care organization in your community to conduct an interview with an appropriate risk management employee. The organization can be your current employer, or a different health care facility in your community. Acute care, urgent care, large multi-provider private medical clinics, assisted living facilities, and community/public health clinical facilities are all ideal options to complete the requirements of this assignment. Make sure to select an individual who can provide sufficient information regarding how that organization manages risk within its facility to answer the questions below.

In your interview, address the following:

Identification of the challenges the organization faces in controlling infectious diseases.

Risk management strategies used in the organization’s infection control program, along with specific examples.

How the facility’s educational risk management program addresses key professional issues, such as prevention of negligence, malpractice litigation, and vicarious liability.

Policies the facility has implemented that address managing emergency triage in high-risk areas of health care service delivery.

Strategies the facility utilizes to monitor and maintain its risk management program.

Post-interview, compose a 750-1,000 word summary analysis of the interview to include the questions above as well as the following elements:

A brief assessment of the organization’s risk management program, including what works well and what could work better (the pros and cons).

Action steps you would take to improve the program. Select one area and provide your rationale and possible steps required to implement your suggestion.

Cite appropriate references as needed to support your statements and rationale.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

In collaboration with your approved course mentor, you will identify a specific evidence-based practice proposal topic for the capstone project. Consider the clinical environment in which you are currently working or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a quality improvement suggestion, a leadership initiative, or an educational need appropriate to your area of interest as well as your practice immersion (practicum) setting. Examples of the integration of community health, leadership, and an EBP can be found on the “Educational and Community-Based Programs” page of the Healthy People 2020 website.

Write a 500-750 word description of your proposed capstone project topic. Make sure to include the following:

The problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need that will be the focus of the project

The setting or context in which the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need can be observed.

A description providing a high level of detail regarding the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need.

Impact of the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need on the work environment, the quality of care provided by staff, and patient outcomes.

Significance of the problem, issue, suggestion, initiative, or educational need and its implications to nursing.

A proposed solution to the identified project topic

You are required to retrieve and assess a minimum of 8 peer-reviewed articles. Plan your time accordingly to complete this assignment