ASSIGNMENT- THE PRACTICAL ROLE OF POLICY

What has health policy done for me lately?

Developing health care policy is often an exercise in balancing competing interests, many of them political. Policy is often the product of elaborate negotiations between many interested parties.

It is sometimes difficult for individuals to see the connection between health care policies and their own personal health.

In short, people ask, "What does health policy mean to me?"

This Application will give you an opportunity to delve a little deeper into the practical role of policy, by examining a health policy issue that is of particular interest to you.

To prepare for this Application, select an acute or chronic health issue (such as motorcycle accident-related head trauma or type 2 diabetes) that is of interest to you.

Using the Walden Library and credible websites, research this issue to analyze a key policy related to the health issue you selected.

Select at least three articles about the policy to use in your paper.

To complete this Application, write a 3- to 4-page paper that addresses the following:

Describe the health care issue you selected. Explain why this issue is important, in terms of access, affordability, quality, and safety.

Identify a health policy that is related to the health issue you selected. Explain its intended purpose and indicate the source of the policy (i.e., state law, federal law, accreditation organization, etc.)

Cite and summarize the articles you selected.

Analyze what the literature says about the impact of the policy, in terms of cost, affordability, access, quality, and safety.

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines. Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week's Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources, as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure your in-text citations and reference list are correct.

RESOURCES

Current Issues in Healthcare Policy and Practice

Chapter 2, "Cost, Access, and Quality" (pp. 45-76 through "Current Indicators of Access")The cost of health care, access to it, and the quality of the care are often related to one another in a reciprocal and interactive way.

This chapter establishes a foundation for understanding health care costs and how those costs are directly related to access and quality. You will finish this chapter in next week's reading.