Health Care Reform Initiatives

Healthy People 2020 can be viewed as a strategic approach for improving the health of the US population over a ten-year timeline, applicable nationally, regionally, and in states, counties, cities and towns. ... The Healthy People strategy was designed to define and promote a common sense of purpose and goals, with specific targets.

-JonathanFielding, Shiriki Kumanyika, & Ronald Manderscheid

The effects of the continuous effort of various health care reform initiatives to improve a population's health are difficult to track, measure, sustain, and analyze, but evaluating the impact of changing guidelines and requirements is part of effective operational management. How are improvements aligned with an appropriate return on investment, and how can this be measured?

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues' postings. Begin by selecting the "Post to Discussion" link and then select "Create Thread" to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before selecting Submit!

To prepare for this Discussion:

Read the three articles provided this week, and reflect on how these initiatives have impacted health care organizations.

Note: This Discussion will be graded using this rubric: Discussion Rubric (Word document)

Post by Day 3 a cohesive response to the following:

Describe how health care reform initiatives and mandates have impacted your organization. What changes in operations have been made in response to these initiatives? How well-organized were these changes? How have they offered measureable improvements in both clinical practice and performance? Explain how these improvements were a result of the reform initiative.

Support your response by identifying and explaining key points and/or examples presented in the Learning Resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues' postings. Consider how your colleagues' postings relate to the information presented in the Learning Resources and to your own posting.

Respond by Day 5 to at least two of your colleagues' postings and continue the Discussion through Day 7. Provide an alternative to the changes which have been made in your organization. How can improvements be measured?