Assessment 3: Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations Paper

Assessment 3: Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations Paper

Hypertension is a primary risk factor for more burdensome conditions, including stroke and heart disease. In turn, heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of premature deaths, a massive economic burden, prolonged hospitalization, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Amidst the need to address high blood pressure and its modifiable factors like obesity, tobacco product use, alcoholism, and physical inactivity, healthcare professionals have various options for consideration. For instance, coordinating care with patients and family members, incorporating the widespread role of advanced technology into care plans, and linking the affected population with the proximal community resources are among evidence-based practices for preventing, treating, and managing hypertension. The proven approaches obtain backing from organizational, state, and federal policies that determine healthcare professionals’ scope of practice. Consequently, this paper analyzes the impact of healthcare technology on hypertension, potential barriers and costs associated with technologies, how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can address hypertension, applicable practice standards, and organizational, or governmental policies associated with high blood pressure.

The Impact of Healthcare Technology on Hypertension

Traditionally, healthcare professionals relied massively upon ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring as the primary approaches for preventing, treating, and managing hypertension. However, advanced technologies provide limitless opportunities that shift from the conventional strategies for care delivery. According to Kario (2020), wearable devices are among the technological components that allow frequent blood pressure monitoring, timely and accurate detection of phenotypes that have negative effects on cardiovascular prognosis, and monitoring of environmental risk factors for high blood. Further, wearable devices blend with remote technologies, such as m-Health applications, enabling patients or at-risk populations to benefit from the artificial intelligence that promotes the utilization of individual time-series data combined with information on environmental factors that increase people’s susceptibility to high blood pressure.

Although wearable devices and remote technologies like m-Health applications promote timely and accurate detection of risk factors, the absence of communication with healthcare professionals can jeopardize the effectiveness of these technologies in preventing, treating, and managing hypertension. As a result, telemedicine technology accommodates these technological components to form a reliable disease management and prevention system. Wang et al. (2021) argue that telemedicine entails interactive platforms, including wrist-worn oscillometric devices, mobile applications, telephone transmission capabilities, text messaging or email communication modalities, and feedback systems. According to Omboni et al. (2020), telemedicine comprises hardware that supports these technological components. Examples of telehealth hardware are video cameras, mics and speakers, sensors, laptop computers, smartphones, desktops, and tablets.

Telemedicine hardware support data collection, communication, and transmission. Scientific studies by Wang et al. (2021) and Omboni et al. (2021) agree on the significant contribution of telemedicine technology in improving interventions for hypertension prevention, treatment, and management. The researchers contend that telemedicine promotes e-learning, medical imaging and diagnostic, remote consultation, drug management, progress tracking, vital signs monitoring, and timely communication.

Potential Barriers and Costs Associated with Telehealth Technology and m-Health

The effectiveness of telemedicine technology in hypertension management is dependent on various factors, including the organizational capacity to install supporting software and hardware, policy and regulatory issues, and cost considerations. Also, the availability of smartphones and wearable devices to community members and network connectivity are issues of concern regarding the incorporation of telemedicine technology in hypertension management. According to Gajarawala & Pelkowski (2020), barriers to telehealth include limitations when performing comprehensive physical examinations, a high likelihood of security breaches, regulatory constraints, and a lack of significant reimbursement from Medicare, state Medicaid programs, and commercial insurance plans. For instance, an absence of reimbursement from reputable and reliable insurance plans forces healthcare organizations to bear the massive costs of installing and maintaining telemedicine hardware and software. Finally, people’s lack of knowledge and awareness of telemedicine usability can pose a significant threat to the technology’s effectiveness in preventing, treating, and managing hypertension.

Care Coordination and Utilization of Community Resources to Address High Blood Pressure

Care coordination and linking at-risk populations to community resources are essential strategies that support interdisciplinary and patient-centered care. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ] (2018) defines care coordination as the process of “deliberately organizing patient care activities and sharing information among all the participants concerned with a patient’s care to achieve safer and more effective care.” In current healthcare systems, care coordination includes teamwork, care management, effective interdisciplinary collaboration and communication, the creation of proactive care plans, supporting the patient’s self-management goals, and aligning community resources with patient and population health needs and goals (AHRQ, 2018). The approaches to care coordination can improve interventions for preventing, treating, and managing hypertension.

People grappling with high blood pressure and modifiable risk factors like obesity and overweight require access to community resources, including community-based organizations, physical exercise opportunities, expert offices, and patient education resources. Other resources include reputable websites like the American Heart Association (AHA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. These resources provide opportunities for patient education, regular blood pressure screening, stress management, and healthy weight management.

Barriers to Care Coordination and the Utilization of Community Resources in the Context of Hypertension

Although care coordination and the utilization of community resources improve the health and wellness of people with hypertension, patients and healthcare professionals encounter various constraints when coordinating care. According to Tan et al. (2020), barriers to care coordination and the subsequent utilization of community resources are the underlying misconceptions regarding hypertension, negligence, distance to health institutions, ineffective communication, a lack of grass-roots level educational campaigns, and role ambiguities. These challenges lead to fragmented care plans, non-adherence to treatment options, and limited access and utilization of community resources.

State Board of Nursing Practice Standards and Organizational or Governmental Policies with Healthcare Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources

Nursing profession standards, and organizational, and governmental policies regulate the use of telemedicine technology, care coordination, and the subsequent utilization of community resources. According to Haddad & Geiger (2022), provision 8 of the American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics requires nurses to collaborate with other professionals and the public in protecting human rights, promoting health diplomacy, and reducing health disparities. Equally, provision number 9 prompts nursing professional organizations to articulate nursing values, maintain integrity, and integrate the principles of social justice into health and nursing policy (Haddad & Geiger, 2022). These ethical standards form the basis of care coordination and interdisciplinary collaboration when developing care plans.

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Equally, telemedicine technology is dependent on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 which entails the ethics of information security, privacy, and confidentiality. Edemekong et al. (2022) argue that HIPAA covers people working in healthcare facilities, non-patient care employees, billing companies, and electronic medical record companies. The policy establishes procedures for maintaining the privacy and security of personally identifiable information (PHI), initiates programs to prevent and control fraud, and creates standards for improving healthcare efficacy. Notably, HIPAA requires healthcare professionals to obtain consent from patients or telemedicine users before transmitting data within and outside a healthcare facility (Edemekong et al., 2022). Finally, it prompts organizations to implement physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect PHI. Examples of these safeguards are virus detection, securing hardware, training employees on effective interventions for handling information, and developing recovery plans.

How Nursing Ethics Will Inform the Approach to Addressing Hypertension Through the Use of Applied Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources

As a nurse practitioner, I have an overarching obligation to benefit the patient, prevent harm, allow patients to make informed decisions, and ensure justice. These bioethical principles apply when caring for a patient with hypertension. For example, I should educate the patient about telemedicine technology, protect and safeguard personally identifiable information (PHI), and involve the patient in a collaborative care plan. According to Haddad & Geiger (2022), provision number 3 of ANA’s code of ethics for nurses requires them to promote, advocate for, and protect the patient’s rights, health, and safety. As a result, a care plan for addressing hypertension should be consistent with ethical standards by emphasizing the patient’s self-management goals, improving two-way communication, educating the patient on technology-aided vital sign monitoring, ensuring data security, privacy, and confidentiality, and developing timely follow-up plans.

Conclusion

Amidst the need to shift from traditional approaches for addressing hypertension, new technologies like wearable devices, m-Health applications, and telemedicine provide advanced options for the timely, accurate detection of risk factors and enhanced communication. Equally, these technologies support care coordination and the subsequent utilization of community resources by enabling remote consultation, case management, medication management, and follow-up. When incorporating telehealth technology in coordinated activities for addressing hypertension, it is vital to consider the ethical implications of data privacy, security, and confidentiality as provided by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Equally, healthcare professionals should adhere to ethical standards that underpin the nursing profession, especially the four bioethical principles; autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2018). Care coordination. https://www.ahrq.gov/ncepcr/care/coordination.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). High blood pressure facts. https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm

Edemekong, P. F., Haydel, M. J., & Annamaraju, P. (2022). Health insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA). StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500019/

Gajarawala, S., & Pelkowski, J. (2020). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013

Haddad, L. M., & Geiger, R. A. (2022, August 22). Nursing ethical considerations. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526054/

Kario, K. (2020). Management of hypertension in the digital era. Hypertension, 76(3), 640–650. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.14742

Omboni, S., McManus, R. J., Bosworth, H. B., Chappell, L. C., Green, B. B., Kario, K., Logan, A. G., Magid, D. J., Mckinstry, B., Margolis, K. L., Parati, G., & Wakefield, B. J. (2020). Evidence and recommendations on the use of telemedicine for the management of arterial hypertension. Hypertension, 76(5), 1368–1383. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.15873

Tan, J., Xu, H., Fan, Q., Neely, O., Doma, R., Gundi, R., Shrestha, B., Shrestha, A., Shrestha, S., Karmacharya, B., Gu, W., Østbye, T., & Yan, L. L. (2020). Hypertension care coordination and feasibility of involving female community health volunteers in hypertension management in Kavre District, Nepal: A qualitative study. Global Heart, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.5334/gh.872

Wang, J., Li, Y., Chia, Y., Cheng, H., Minh, H. V., Siddique, S., Sogunuru, G. P., Tay, J. C., Teo, B. W., Tsoi, K., Turana, Y., Wang, T., Zhang, Y., & Kario, K. (2021). Telemedicine in the management of hypertension: Evolving technological platforms for blood pressure telemonitoring. The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 23(3), 435–439. https://doi.org/10.1111/jch.14194

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In a 5-7 page written assessment, determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. In addition, plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group you’ve chosen to work with and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Introduction
As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you’ll be positioned to maximize the use of technology to achieve positive patient outcomes and improve organizational effectiveness. Providing holistic coordination of patient care across the entire health care continuum and leveraging community resource services can lead both to positive patient outcomes and to organizational improvements.

Preparation
In this assessment, you’ll determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the health problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts.

To prepare for the assessment:

Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your assessment and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF],which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.
Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Support page.

Instructions
Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1
Determine how health care technology, the coordination of care, and the use of community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF]provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions.

Part 2
Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Whom did you meet with?
What did you learn from them?
Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
What did you learn from that review?
Share the process and experience of exploring the effect of the problem on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Did your plan to address the problem change, based upon your experiences?
What surprised you, or was of particular interest to you, and why?
Capella Academic Portal
Update the total number of hours on the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in Capella Academic Portal.

Requirements
The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

Analyze the impact of health care technology on the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the advantages and disadvantages of specific technologies, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with technology use you see in your nursing practice.
Identify potential barriers and costs associated with the use of specific technologies and how those technologies are applied within the context of this problem.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address the patient, family, or population problem.
Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the benefits of care coordination and the utilization of community resources, including research studies that present opposing views.
Determine whether the evidence is consistent with how you see care coordination and community resources used in your nursing practice.
Identify barriers to the use of care coordination and community resources in the context of this problem.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health care technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
Explain how these standards or policies will guide your actions in applying technology, care coordination, and community resources to address care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Explain how nursing ethics will inform your approach to addressing the problem through the use of applied technology, care coordination, and community resources.
Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
Additional Requirements
Format: Format your paper using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
Appropriate section headings.
Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
Analyze the impact of health care technology on a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
Competency 6: Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes.
Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address a patient, family, or population problem.
Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

SCORING GUIDE
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.