Capella FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4000 Developing a Nursing Perspective

Prof. Name

Date

Analyzing a Current Health Care Problem or Issue

The primary function of modern healthcare is chronic disease management because these diseases all require long-term care and coordination. This paper analyzes the issue, explores possible solutions, and evaluates ethical implications. Additionally, it describes the role of the applicable solution in four spheres of care.

Healthcare Concern Explanation 

Chronic disease management is becoming more and more of a challenge. These include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and chronic respiratory diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 60% percent of Americans have chronic disease, which affects about 40% who have multiple chronic conditions. These diseases are a major contributor to disability and a major cost driver in the country’s $4.1 trillion annual healthcare costs (Carney, 2023). One of the main problems of chronic disease management is its lack of coordinated care. The studies found that fragmented care is associated with negative outcomes in chronic illnesses such as increased emergency department visits, diagnostic test use, and rising healthcare costs (Joo, 2023).  

Additionally, disparities in access to healthcare, socioeconomic barriers, and limited health literacy contribute to inadequate disease management, resulting in preventable hospitalizations and complications. Furthermore, nonadherence to treatment regimens and lifestyle factors exacerbates chronic disease burden (Hacker, 2024). Many patients struggle with self-management due to financial constraints, lack of education, or insufficient provider support. Addressing these systemic issues is crucial for improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

Analyzing the Healthcare Issue

Chronic disease management is a significant problem, mainly impacting primary care and hospital settings where patients need to be monitored, medicated, and have lifestyle changes made for them. This problem is especially relevant in underserved communities where low awareness of healthcare services leads to disease progression (Chimezie, 2023). Healthcare providers face challenges in ensuring continuity of care, leading to frequent hospital readmissions and preventable complications.

The healthcare issues disproportionately affect older adults, low-income populations, and racial, ethnic, and minority populations who face barriers such as inadequate insurance coverage, health literacy gaps, and social determinants of health (Chaturvedi et al., 2023). To eliminate these imbalances, to accomplish equitable health care access, and to lay the foundation for better long-term health results for affected people.

Furthermore, caregivers and healthcare providers experience increased stress due to the complex nature of managing these conditions. It is an important issue for a baccalaureate-prepared nurse because of its direct impact on patient outcomes, healthcare costs, and quality of life. Chronic illness management can effectively prevent complications, reduce hospital readmissions, and increase overall well-being.

Given nurses’ central role in patient education, medication management, and care coordination, it is important to fill in chronic disease care (Karam et al., 2023). Additionally, as healthcare moves forward and from the patient-centric approaches, nurses publicly support strategies to improve self-management and health literacy. Effective chronic disease management by the nurses can often lead to reduced healthcare disparities, evidence-based care, and comprehensive, coordinated care delivery to ensure better long-term health outcomes.

Comparing Potential Solutions

Several care models have been suggested (integrated care models and telehealth services) and implemented to improve chronic disease management. PCMHs, as an integrated care model, emphasize coordinated care, physician communication, and reduced fragmentation (Ginting et al., 2022). The focus of these models spread the collaboration between primary care providers, specialists, and others in the healthcare field to create an easy means of communication. PCMHs reduce fragmentation and positively impact chronic disease management, patient outcomes, and hospital readmissions.

Telehealth, which expands access to care, particularly for patients in rural or underserved areas, is another solution for remote monitoring and consultations (Anderson & Singh, 2021). Healthcare patients in remote or underserved places are hindered from traveling and seeking healthcare, and it solves that underlying problem that helps patients adhere to their treatment plan. Telehealth also allows real-time data sharing and informs providers or provider teams about decisions and patient care.

Comparison of Opinions 

It is opinionated that integrated care models, like PCMHs, have the best described approach to managing chronic disease because they facilitate quality care coordination and reduce fragmentation. This is supported by research showing that the PCMH causes better health outcomes and lower readmission rates from the hospital (Ginting et al., 2022). Nevertheless, a few studies suggest that telehealth is as effective in increasing access to care for rural and underserved populations (Anderson & Singh, 2021).

On the contrary, some authors believe that integrated care models may facilitate health care providers’ communication with each other but bear the cost and complexity of being expensive and complicated for the wider spread adoption (Correia et al., 2024). Others focus on the uses of telehealth for chronic disease management, though it will not eliminate healthcare disparity but reduce the gap (Ezeamii et al., 2024). Nevertheless, critics claim that not all patients are available for telehealth, as some patients may not be able or willing to engage with the technology.

Pros and Cons of Telehealth Solution

Telehealth services are one of the best solutions for chronic disease management. There are other nonpharmaceutical benefits to telehealth for chronic disease management, particularly extending care provision into remote and underserved areas. It addresses the issues of travel barriers, increases adherence to the treatment plan, and facilitates real-time data sharing to make clinical decisions better (George & George, 2023).

However, telehealth comes with its issues, such as health care, internet connectivity, and digital literacy, which, to some patients, may prevent its wide use. Moreover, virtual consultations limit full physical examinations, which are necessary for managing some chronic conditions. There is also concern about a reduction in patient-provider relationships. Therefore, the best and most balanced way is to utilize a hybrid model combining telehealth and in-person care.

Ethical Principles and the Solution

It should be noted that ethical principles such as beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice need to be implemented while implementing telehealth in chronic disease management. 

1. Beneficence is upheld in improvements in access to care, hospitalizations, and disease management through continuous monitoring and timely interventions.
2. Telehealth is nonmaleficence, which means that telehealth does not cause harm, like misdiagnosis, because of the limited physical examination or technical issues that delay care.
3. Driving autonomy is supported by providing patients with digital tools, education, and remote monitoring that empowers them to do something about their care.
4. Equitable access to telehealth services is necessary for justice as those without internet access, are low in digital literacy, or lack socioeconomic access. 

Telehealth must take into consideration bias and prevent one group from financially profiting disproportionately to the detriment of other groups. The studies stress the necessity of having inclusive telehealth adoption policies like extending the insurance cover and digital literacy program (Anawade et al., 2024).

Spheres of Care and Telehealth 

Telehealth plays an important role in wellness and disease prevention through early detection, continuous monitoring for at-risk populations, and interventions that can be timed appropriately. Healthcare providers can regularly assess patients, identify risk factors, and suggest prevention care strategies before chronic conditions become more serious problems with remote consultations (Anawade et al., 2024). Tracking intangible or vital signs such as medication adherence, lifestyle behaviors, and digital health tools, including wearable devices and mobile health applications, encourages patients to manage their health.

Results from studies have found that telehealth helps improve patients’ preventive care measures, including hypertension and diabetes screening, which leads to reduced long-term complications (Ezeamii et al., 2024). Telehealth allows health care services to be distributed widely, empowering individuals to adopt healthier lifestyles, lowering the incidence of chronic diseases, and improving population health outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, integrated care models and telehealth solutions can significantly improve chronic disease management. Both approaches promote patient-centered care, enhance access, and improve outcomes. Ethical principles such as beneficence, autonomy, and justice must guide implementation to ensure equitable and effective care, particularly for underserved populations.

References

Anderson, J., & Singh, J. (2021). A case study of using telehealth in a rural healthcare facility to expand services and protect the health and safety of patients and staff. Healthcare, 9(6), 736. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060736

Anawade, P. A., Sharma, D., & Gahane, S. (2024). A comprehensive review on exploring the impact of telemedicine on healthcare accessibility. Cureus, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.55996 

Carney, T. J. (2023). Advancing chronic disease practice through the CDC data modernization initiative. Preventing Chronic Disease, 20. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230120

Capella FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Chaturvedi, A., Zhu, A., Gadela, N. V., Prabhakaran, D., & Jafar, T. H. (2023). Social determinants of health and disparities in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension, 81(3). https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21354 

Chimezie, R. O. (2023). Health awareness: A significant factor in chronic diseases prevention and access to care. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11(2), 64–79. https://doi.org/10.4236/jbm.2023.112005

Correia, R., do Nascimento, G., Fernandes, A. C., & Matos, C. (2024). Implementation and impact of integrated health and social care services: An umbrella review. Journal of Public Health Policy, 45(1), 14–29. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-023-00465-y

Ezeamii, V. C., Okobi, O. E., Wambai-Sani, H., Perera, G. S., Zaynieva, S., Okonkwo, C. C., Ohaiba, M. M., William-Enemali, P. C., Obodo, O. R., Obiefuna, N. G., Ezeamii, V. C., Okobi, O. E., Wambai-Sani, H., Perera, G. S., Zaynieva, S., Okonkwo, C. C., Ohaiba, M. M., William-Enemali, P. C., Obodo, O. R., & Obiefuna, N. G. (2024). Revolutionizing healthcare: How telemedicine is improving patient outcomes and expanding access to care. Cureus, 16(7). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.63881

George, D. A. S., & George, A. S. H. (2023). Telemedicine: A new way to provide healthcare. Partners Universal International Innovation Journal, 1(3), 98–129. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8075850 

Capella FPX 4000 Assessment 5

Ginting, M. L., Wong, C. H., Lim, Z. Z. B., Choo, R. W. M., Carlsen, S. C. H., Sum, G., & Vrijhoef, H. J. M. (2022). A patient-centered medical home care model for community-dwelling older adults in Singapore: A mixed-method study on patient’s care experience. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4778. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084778

Hacker, K. (2024). The burden of chronic disease. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 8(1), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.08.005 

Joo, J. Y. (2023). Fragmented care and chronic illness patient outcomes: A systematic review. Nursing Open, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.1607

Karam, M., Chouinard, M.-C., Couturier, Y., Vedel, I., & Hudon, C. (2023). Nursing care coordination in primary healthcare for patients with complex needs: A comparative case study. International Journal of Integrated Care, 23(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.6729