Healthcare Program Evaluation Analysis

Healthcare Program Evaluation Analysis

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.

To Prepare:

  • Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
  • Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you and get approval to use it from your Instructor.
  • Review the healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM FREE PAPER HERE

The Assignment: (2–3 pages)

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, 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 program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
  • 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 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.

 

SAMPLE ANSWER

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis

 

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation  

Evaluation of the Medicaid Health Home option for beneficiaries with chronic conditions

 

Description Medicaid health homes, authorized by section 1945 of the Social Security Act allow for the coordinated care and integration of services for Medicaid beneficiaries with multiple chronic mental, physical and behavioral health conditions. The heath home model targets high cost high need populations and provides integrated physical, mental and behavioral health care services. Additionally, the program links these patients to nonclinical services and supports them in their homes and communities

 

How was the success of the program or policy measured?

 

 

A five-year evaluation of the program’s implementation and its impacts on utilization and costs was conducted. Success was measured by analyzing improved access to integrated and coordinated primary and behavioral healthcare that reduces unnecessary use of costly facility-based care thus resulting in reduced spending.

 

 

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 program targets Medicaid beneficiaries from all the states in America. Medicaid serves more than 66 million low-income beneficiaries. Of the 66 million, more than 9 million individuals qualify for Medicaid based on their disabilities. More than half of individuals with disabilities suffer from mental illnesses with 45% of them having multiple chronic conditions (Paradise & Nardone, 2014). Qualifying conditions to be accepted into the program include; serious and persistent mental health conditions, substance use disorder, diabetes, obesity, heart disease or asthma.

There was a significant impact of the policy since a majority of the affected spent less Medicaid money on treatment at medical facilities.

 

 

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

 

 

The evaluation relied on a mixed-methods approach focusing on both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data was collected from document reviews, site visits and telephone interviews with key stakeholders in all the states that were evaluated to track progress on how the health home models were implemented. Quantitative evaluation used administrative data to assess improvements on the rate of hospital admissions, skilled nursing facility admissions, emergency department visits and Medicaid spending for health home enrollees.

 

What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?

 

The evaluation was not able to look beyond broad utilization and spending patterns to better comprehend spending patterns and to better understand how the health home model transformed the mix of services delivered to its enrollees. The analysis recommends further quantitative research to be conducted in this area to strengthen the evidence base for policymakers and states with respect to the performance of the program
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.

 

 

The stakeholders identified in the evaluation include; the urban Institute, the Office of Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation in the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.

The results of the evaluation will benefit States, policymakers, health home enrollees, program designers and healthcare providers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

The initial goals of the long-term evaluation of the Medicaid health home model were:

 

  1. To assess models, providers, processes, states that are opting for health homes;
  2. To assess the extent to which health homes increased the coordination across clinical and nonclinical domains of care;
  3. To assess whether health home services improve quality of care and whether it affects utilization and spending outcomes (“ASPE”, 2017).

 

ü  The evaluation did not successfully associate health home enrollment with reductions in facility-based spending. However, the evaluation found significant increases in Medicaid spending. Thus, the evaluation partially achieved goal number three

ü  By assessing eleven states and their adoption of the Medicaid health home model, the evaluation achieved its first and second goal.

 

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

 

 

I would not recommend implementing the Medicaid health home model at my place of work. This is due to the fact that there is limited research on the effectiveness of the model and no clear guidelines on how a healthcare facility might benefit from the program. Additionally, the model has several data issues and no standard program design. Thus, there is no significant data available on the best design to use as a facility. Lastly, the healthcare facility that I am affiliated with does not offer care services to patients with chronic mental and behavioral needs therefore, it might not benefit from the findings of the evaluation.

 

 

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.

 

 

As a nurse advocate, one can become involved in the evaluation process by giving feedback to the implementation team. When giving feedback, the nurse advocate determines whether system concerns are unit specific or affect the entire system. Nurse advocates should also participate in focused surveys to assist the evaluation team determine severity of the system errors and to identify compliance or non-compliance patterns (Weckman & Janzen, 2010).

 

 

 

 

General Notes/Comments After a program is initiated, it must be occasionally evaluated to ensure that it meets the purpose it was initiated for.

 

 

 

 

References

“Evaluation of the Medicaid Health Home Option for Beneficiaries with Chronic Conditions: Evaluation of Outcomes of Selected Health Home Programs, Annual Report- Year Five 05/11/2017”. (2017). Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https:aspe.hhs.gov/basic-report/evaluation-medicaid-health-home-option-beneficiaries-chronic-conditions-evaluation-outcomes-selected-health-home-programs-annual-report-year-five

Paradise, J. & Nardone, M. (2014). Medicaid Health Homes: A Profile of Newer Programs. KFF. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/report-section/medicaid-health-homes-a-profile-of-newer-programs-issues-brief/

Weckman, H. & Janzen, S. (2010). The Critical Nature of Early Nursing Involvement for Introducing New Technologies. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(2). Doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol14No02Man02

 

 

 

Are you struggling to create a sound and comprehensive nursing paper? Do you feel overwhelmed with the amount of time and effort it takes to write a good piece? Are you looking for the best nursing paper writing service that can assist you in your nursing paper needs? Look no further than our skilled team of professional writers who specialize in providing high-quality papers with the best nursing paper writing services reviews. Make your order at nursingpaperhelp.com

Needs help with similar assignment?

We are available 24x7 to deliver the best services and assignment ready within 3-4 hours? Order a custom-written, plagiarism-free paper

Get Answer Over WhatsApp Order Paper Now