I’m working on a health & medical discussion question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.
1. Telehealth and telemedicine exploits technology to broaden the reach of healthcare to include rural and medically underserved communities. APRNs are poised to play a vital role in delivery of telehealth care. Schlachta-Fairchild, Varghesej, Deickman, and Castellik (2010) discuss policy issues relevant to APRN practice and telehealth care. Which of those issues do you consider most critical? What actions should be taken by APRNs to remain compliant with local and national practice regulations and reimbursement policies? If you are a healthcare administrator, what is the role of an organization in providing access to telehealth services to the community?
2. How would you as a health administrator, train your staff to ensure that they are capable of helping patients of all health literacy levels use patient portals to obtain and understand basic information needed to make decisions about their care?
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Introduction:
As a medical professor, my role is to create college assignments and provide answers for medical college students. I also design and conduct lectures, evaluate student performance, and provide feedback through examinations and assignments. In this response, I will address two health and medical discussion questions related to telehealth, telemedicine, and health literacy levels in patient care settings.
1. The most critical policy issue relevant to APRN practice and telehealth care is ensuring compliance with local and national practice regulations and reimbursement policies. This is crucial for maintaining quality and ethical standards in telehealth services. APRNs should stay updated on the legal and regulatory frameworks governing their practice, such as state-specific telehealth laws, licensure requirements, and scope of practice guidelines.
To remain compliant, APRNs can take the following actions:
– Regularly review and adhere to state and national practice regulations for telehealth.
– Participate in continuing education and training programs related to telehealth practices.
– Follow professional codes of ethics and standards set by their respective nursing organizations.
– Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of telehealth encounters.
– Collaborate with other healthcare professionals and organizations to ensure a coordinated approach to telehealth care delivery.
– Advocate for policy changes and improvements that promote equitable access and reimbursement for telehealth services.
If I were a healthcare administrator, I would recognize the role of an organization in providing access to telehealth services to the community. This can be achieved through the following actions:
– Establishing infrastructure and technological support for implementing telehealth services.
– Ensuring secure and reliable communication systems for telehealth consultations.
– Developing clear policies and protocols for telehealth service delivery.
– Providing training and education to healthcare professionals on telehealth technology and practices.
– Exploring partnerships with local communities and organizations to identify and address barriers to telehealth access.
– Advocating for funding and reimbursement mechanisms to support telehealth services.
– Regularly evaluating the effectiveness and outcomes of telehealth programs to make necessary improvements and adjustments.
2. As a health administrator, training staff to effectively assist patients of all health literacy levels in using patient portals is essential. Here are some strategies for staff training in this area:
– Conduct training sessions on the functionalities and features of patient portals, including how to navigate the platform, access information, and interpret medical data.
– Emphasize the importance of clear communication and jargon-free language when interacting with patients through the portal.
– Provide resources and materials that explain medical terms and concepts in simple, easy-to-understand language.
– Offer role-playing exercises and case scenarios to help staff practice effective communication with patients and address their specific questions or concerns.
– Encourage staff to actively listen and ask open-ended questions to assess patients’ level of understanding and tailor their assistance accordingly.
– Foster a supportive and patient-centered culture within the healthcare organization that prioritizes health literacy and patient empowerment.
– Establish ongoing training and feedback mechanisms to continuously improve staff skills in assisting patients of diverse health literacy levels.
By implementing these training strategies, healthcare administrators can enhance staff capabilities in supporting patients’ use of patient portals and promoting informed decision-making about their care.
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