The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper
This assignment which is part of order 118180 has to be done based on the choice here in this order 118183 which is global health workforce shortage not residential segregation(I did mention that some of the assignments were part of others)). I have already approved 118180 but it contained this assignment.
Please see instructions below. Thanks
- Based on the policy issue that you analyzed in Unit 6 and discussed in Unit 8, describe how you will evaluate the effectiveness of the existing policy and/or the policy solutions you recommend.
- Give an example of a formative and a summative evaluation of the policy.
733 Policy Evaluation
The selected policy issue of focus in this discussion is residential segregation in lines of income and race and its impact on health. Healthcare providers play a crucial role in evaluating the effectiveness of existing policies, thus proposing solutions for existing issues or changes that should be made to existing policies to address the policy issues. Evaluating the effectiveness of an existing policy is crucial in determining whether it is achieving the intended objectives and making a positive impact. McGill et al. (2021) note that evaluating the effectiveness of a policy entails defining objectives and measurable indicators, data collection, analysis and comparison, and findings communication. Similarly, I would evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies on residential segregation using the framework. I would begin by defining the evaluation objectives and measurable indicators, collecting data, analyzing the collected data, and presenting the evaluation findings.
A formative evaluation of a policy entails evaluating the process, while a summative evaluation of a policy entails assessing the overall impact of a policy (Arrogante et al., 2021). An example of a formative evaluation of the residential segregation policy would entail assessing the number of individuals in segregated residences who receive healthcare services as needed. A summative evaluation, in contrast, would assess the overall impact of the policy on health and access to populations in segregated residences.
References
Arrogante, O., González-Romero, G. M., López-Torre, E. M., Carrión-García, L., & Polo, A. (2021). Comparing formative and summative simulation-based assessment in undergraduate nursing students: nursing competency acquisition and clinical simulation satisfaction. BMC nursing, 20(1), 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00614-2
McGill, E., Er, V., Penney, T., Egan, M., White, M., Meier, P., Whitehead, M., Lock, K., Anderson de Cuevas, R., Smith, R., Savona, N., Rutter, H., Marks, D., de Vocht, F., Cummins, S., Popay, J., and Petticrew, M. (2021). Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: A research methods review. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 272, 113697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113697
Healthcare providers play a crucial role in evaluating the effectiveness of existing policies, thus proposing solutions for existing issues or changes that should be made to existing policies to address the policy issues. Evaluating the effectiveness of an existing policy is crucial in determining whether it is achieving the intended objectives and making a positive impact. The policy issue selected and analyzed previously, which is the focus of this discussion, is the global healthcare workforce shortage. This discussion describes how I would evaluate the effectiveness of existing policy and the policy solutions I would recommend, and it provides an example of a formative and summative policy evaluation.
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McGill et al. (2021) note that evaluating the effectiveness of a policy entails defining objectives and measurable indicators, data collection, analysis and comparison, and findings communication. Similarly, I would evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies on global healthcare workforce shortage using the framework. I would first define the evaluation objectives and the measurable indicators, followed by data collection. I would then analyze the collected data and present the evaluation findings to the relevant policymakers and stakeholders. The policy solutions I would recommend following the policy evaluation include global standardization of education in the medical field and lifting practice scope restrictions to allow qualified professionals to practice to their full experience and training, hence addressing the shortage issue The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper.
A formative evaluation entails assessing the process of policy development and implementation, while a summative evaluation of a policy entails assessing the overall impact of the policy on the population affected by the policy issue. An example of a global policy addressing the policy issue is the WHO Global Code of Practice on the international recruitment of healthcare personnel. A formative evaluation of this policy would entail assessing how the essential aspects of healthcare workforce recruitment are incorporated during development. In contrast, a summative evaluation would assess the policy’s overall impact on the actual healthcare systems implementing it and on the healthcare personnel recruited under this policy The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper.
References
Ghazinoory, S., & Aghaei, P. (2021). Differences between policy assessment & policy evaluation; a case study on supportive policies for knowledge-based firms. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 169, 120801. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120801
McGill, E., Er, V., Penney, T., Egan, M., White, M., Meier, P., Whitehead, M., Lock, K., Anderson de Cuevas, R., Smith, R., Savona, N., Rutter, H., Marks, D., de Vocht, F., Cummins, S., Popay, J., and Petticrew, M. (2021). Evaluation of public health interventions from a complex systems perspective: A research methods review. Social Science & Medicine (1982), 272, 113697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113697 The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper
733 Unit 6 Assignment: Policy Issue Analysis Worksheet
Part I
Analysis Criteria | Response |
Name of person completing the analysis; sphere of government.
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I am_, representing the World Health Organization (WHO) as a policy analyst. The WHO is a global health organization, and a United Nations agency that connects nations, partners and people around the world to promote health and serve vulnerable populations. The WHO’s mission is to ensure everyone, everywhere, attains the highest level of health (WHO, n.d.). |
Is their potential bias? Explain your response.
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The WHO solely relies on scientific data and research for its reports, therefore have minimal biases. However, there is a potential bias in this policy issue analysis due to the differences in perspectives. Different geographical areas disproportionately face The healthcare workforce issue, thus a possibility of bias. Other biases may include political, economic and cultural biases of policies influencing workforce development. However, the analysis will strive to be balanced and unbiased. |
What is the issue that requires a policy solution?
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The issue requiring a policy solution is the global health workforce shortage (Džakula & Relić, 2022)The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper. The global healthcare workforce has been facing shortages for a long time, with physicians and nurses facing more shortages. Therefore, the healthcare system faces an imbalance between healthcare need and supply, leading to decreased access to care, increased burnout and workload, a decline in the quality of care, and strain on the healthcare infrastructure. In addition, the issue requires a legislative solution due to its effect on global health. The effect is widely felt, thus ruling out the issue from requiring a private sector or individual solution. |
Context: Add evidence for the following perspectives:
Social Economic Ethical Political Legal Environmental Cultural
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The healthcare workforce shortage policy issue can be viewed from different perspectives, thus highlighting the issue’s different dimensions. The primary social issue related to the healthcare workforce shortage is inequalities in access to healthcare services, mainly seen in underserved and minority populations. According to Foley and Luz (2021), healthcare workforce shortage triggers care access inequality since the issue strains the system and prevents it from being able to provide services across populations as needed.
Economically, healthcare workforce shortages lead to increased care costs, as the healthcare system loses revenue and productivity and has to incur extra costs for temporary staffing and paying overtime. In addition, reduced workforce participation contributes to low economic productivity. According to Atte (2021)The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper, the healthcare workforce shortage raises ethical questions for patients, healthcare providers, and the system. The issue may force healthcare providers to prioritize cases based on illness severity and available workforce, compromising ethical principles such as justice and beneficence. Furthermore, the healthcare workforce shortage is a political challenge that demands coordinated action from different political agencies and stakeholders since political factors like healthcare funding influence healthcare (Cometto et al., 2020). Addressing the issue also requires political will to push migration, credentialing and licensure policies. From a legal perspective, Shamsi and Peyravi (2020), note that healthcare workforce shortage may cause legal implications for patients following poor care quality and failure to meet regulatory compliance. The issue also depends on legal frameworks governing licensure and practice scope. From an environmental and cultural perspective, healthcare workforce shortages may negatively impact the environment of healthcare institutions, leading to overcrowding and intersecting cultural values and norms regarding illnesses, traditional medicine practices, and beliefs in healthcare delivery (Muthuri et al., 2020). |
Costs
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The healthcare workforce shortage is associated with economic and non-economic costs, weighing heavily on the patients, healthcare systems, and society. The economic costs include loss of productivity and revenue, increased pay for overtime and temporary staff, and increased costs for recruitment and retention. Cometto et al. (2020) note that non-economic costs related to healthcare workforce shortage include care provider burnout and turnover, decreased patient satisfaction and poor patient outcomes. |
Issue Analysis Part II
Who are the Stakeholders in this policy issue?
What is their ‘stake”? What is their value orientation?
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There are various stakeholders involved in the healthcare workforce shortage policy issue. These stakeholders include the government, policymakers, healthcare providers, educational institutions, professional unions, and associations (Pereno & Eriksson, 2020). Government and policymakers’ stake in healthcare workforce shortage is developing and implementing workforce policies and regulations. Their value orientation is maintaining the healthcare system’s sustainability and meeting public health goals.
Healthcare providers are stakeholders in the issue since it directly affects them. Their value orientation is prioritizing patient care, ethics, and professional autonomy. Educational institutions also have a stake in addressing the shortage through training. These stakeholders prioritize professional excellence and responsiveness to workforce demands. Professional associations and unions present the healthcare professionals’ interests and prioritize advocating for their rights, working conditions and professional development opportunities before policymakers. |
What are the health risk(s) addressed by the policy issue?
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The primary health risks the policy issue addresses are reduced access to healthcare services and health disparities and inequalities. Studies show that the healthcare workforce shortage limits individuals’ access to timely and appropriate healthcare services (Boniol et al., 2022)The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper. Inaccessibility to healthcare services increases the risk of complications and poor health outcomes. In addition, healthcare workforce shortages exacerbate disparities in access to healthcare among minority populations. |
How would the policy impact these risks? Use evidence.
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Addressing the policy issue would considerably impact the above-mentioned health risks. According to Boniol et al. (2022), addressing healthcare workforce shortages would increase the availability of healthcare services in underserved populations, thus increasing access to care services. In addition, policies to reduce healthcare workforce shortage would prioritize equitable distribution of healthcare services, thus reducing health disparities (Cometto et al., 2020; Pereno & Eriksson, 2020)The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper. |
Specify the intended and unintended policy consequences to the best of your ability.
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The intended policy consequences include reduced barriers to care to ensure that the general population receives healthcare services when needed (Boniol et al., 2022), enhanced care quality due to adequate staffing, and increased capacity to deliver safe and effective care. The unintended policy consequence is increased healthcare government and institutional spending since there will be an increased fund to pay the additional healthcare workers.
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Issue Analysis Part III
Specify 2-3 policy options (include ‘do nothing’ options – what happens if things continue as currently happening).
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Policy options to consider in addressing the healthcare workforce shortage are;
1. Do nothing 2. Global expansion and standardization of healthcare education and training programs (Zhang et al., 2020)The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper. 3. Reforming the scope of practice regulations across nations to allow care professionals to practice at the full extent of their education and profession.
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The rationale for policy recommendations
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The above-mentioned policy recommendations are the most appropriate and feasible to address the policy issue due to their effectiveness in addressing one of the root causes. However, the relevant stakeholders may decide to do nothing about the issue. Addressing the issue from the educational perspective will benefit the healthcare system economically by creating the availability of professionals to fill the gap. Research evidence also confirms the effectiveness of education and training policy interventions in addressing healthcare workforce needs (Boniol et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2020). Suppose the relevant stakeholders do not intervene, and the problem goes unaddressed. In that case, the negative impacts, such as workforce burnout, will continue to affect the system, leading to poor care quality and increased costs. However, stakeholders such as governments are anticipated to oppose the policy solutions due to related costs. The policy recommendations are easily enforceable by the governments, who will also monitor compliance. |
Identify criteria to evaluate policy options – enter on Scorecard.
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Put each policy option in the Scorecard to rate your policy and its alternative.
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Policy Options Scorecard
Identify your policy and reasonable options, including a “Do Nothing” option.
Use this Scorecard to rate your policy and the policy options. You can add criteria that you think are appropriate to your particular issue. Code your responses by using pluses and minuses. The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper
Code: ++ strongly positive, + positive, — strongly negative, – negative
Criteria: Evaluate your policy on each of these criteria | Policy
Practice Scope Reforms |
Policy Option # 1
Education Regulation |
Policy Option # 2
Do nothing policy |
Effectiveness
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++ | ++ | _ _ |
Protection of rights
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++ | ++ | _ |
Costs
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+ | _ | ++ |
Administrative feasibility
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_ _ | ++ | + |
Fairness
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++ | + | _ _ |
Evidence-based practice
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++ | ++ | _ _ |
Environmental effects
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_ _ | _ | _ |
Final Policy Problem Statement:
Healthcare workforce shortage has been a global policy issue impacting the healthcare system, individual patients and the governments. Despite the extensive research evidence on the essence of addressing the policy issue, not much effort has been seen on the same. The healthcare workforce shortage issue has had negative effects on the system, and individuals, ranging from increased costs, suboptimal care quality and healthcare disparities. Therefore, there is a need for all relevant stakeholders to collaborate and address the issue.
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Recommended Policy Solution–The best policy solution for addressing the issue is reforming the scope of practice regulations among nations. The policy is recommended since it will enable healthcare professionals to practice in different regions based on their training and education without restrictions. Addressing the issue from the practice reforms perspective will benefit the healthcare system economically by creating the availability of professionals to fill the gap. Research evidence also confirms the effectiveness of practice reform policy interventions in addressing healthcare workforce needs (Boniol et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2020). Even though education regulation may address the policy issue in the long term, the practice reform policy solution is recommended since it will address the issue and the current impacts of the issue on the system and individuals. Therefore, both policy recommendations should be used together in efforts to address the issue completely The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper.
ORDER HERE NOWReferences Atte, F. (2021). The moral challenges of health care providers brain drain phenomenon. Clinical Ethics, 16(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1477750920946614 Boniol, M., Kunjumen, T., Nair, T. S., Siyam, A., Campbell, J., & Diallo, K. (2022). The Global Health workforce stock and distribution in 2020 and 2030: a threat to equity and ‘universal’ health coverage? BMJ Global Health, 7(6), e009316. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009316 Cometto, G., Buchan, J., & Dussault, G. (2020). Developing the health workforce for universal health coverage. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 98(2), 109–116. https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.19.234138 Džakula, A., & Relić, D. (2022). Health workforce shortage – doing the right things or doing things right? Croatian Medical Journal, 63(2), 107–109. https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.107 Foley, K. T., & Luz, C. C. (2021). Retooling the Health Care Workforce for an Aging America: A Current Perspective. The Gerontologist, 61(4), 487–496. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa163 Muthuri, R. N. D. K., Senkubuge, F., & Hongoro, C. (2020). Determinants of Motivation among Healthcare Workers in the East African Community between 2009-2019: A Systematic Review. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 8(2), 164. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare8020164 Pereno, A., & Eriksson, D. (2020). A multi-stakeholder perspective on sustainable healthcare: From 2030 onwards. Futures, 122, 102605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2020.102605 Shamsi, A., & Peyravi, H. (2020). Nursing shortage, a different challenge in Iran: A systematic review. Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 34, 8. https://doi.org/10.34171/mjiri.34.8 World Health Organization. (n.d.). About. Accessed on March 8, 2024 https://www.who.int/about/ Zhang, X., Lin, D., Pforsich, H., & Lin, V. W. (2020). Physician workforce in the United States of America: forecasting nationwide shortages. Human Resources for Health, 18(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0448-3 |
The Policy Evaluation Discussion Paper
