NURS FPX 4065 Assessment 3 Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4065 Patient-Centered Care Coordination

Prof. Name

Date

Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination

Hello, my name is _______, and it is a privilege to address you today. I currently serve as a care coordinator at the Longevity Center, an organization committed to supporting individuals with mental health conditions through education, advocacy, and access to essential healthcare services.

Agenda

This presentation explores the ethical and policy considerations that shape mental health care coordination at the Longevity Center. The discussion emphasizes the role of multidisciplinary collaboration, the influence of federal and state regulations such as the Baker Act and HIPAA, and the guidance provided by the ANA Code of Ethics. It also highlights ethical challenges, such as equitable access and cultural responsiveness, while underscoring the importance of reducing disparities through community partnerships and sustainable care systems.

Significance of Care Coordination in Chronic Disease Management

Care coordination is vital in addressing mental health conditions at the Longevity Center, as it ensures that patients receive timely, integrated, and continuous services. Adults with chronic psychological disorders often require support from multiple providers and agencies, including psychiatrists, therapists, social workers, and community organizations (Bury et al., 2022). Without coordination, individuals may experience gaps in treatment, frequent relapses, and unnecessary hospitalizations, ultimately increasing healthcare costs.

In Florida, mental illness impacts approximately 2.8 million adults, and in 2021 alone, nearly 40.9% reported symptoms of depression (National Alliance on Mental Illness [NAMI], n.d.). At the Longevity Center, structured coordination allows patients to access comprehensive resources, minimizing fragmentation and improving outcomes.

Governmental Policies’ Effect on Care Coordination

The effectiveness of care coordination at the Longevity Center is strongly influenced by state and federal regulations.

Policy/Act	Purpose	Impact on Care Coordination
Baker Act (Florida Mental Health Act)	Provides legal framework for psychiatric crisis intervention	Ensures patients’ rights are protected during involuntary treatment; supports timely crisis response (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2024)
HIPAA	Safeguards health information privacy	Allows secure information sharing among psychiatrists, primary care providers, and social workers to ensure continuity of care (Subbian et al., 2021)
Value-Based Care Reforms	Encourages integrated and preventive healthcare models	Promotes early intervention, preventive strategies, and patient-centered care approaches (Pincus & Fleet, 2022)

Community organizations, such as NAMI Florida, complement clinical interventions by offering peer support, advocacy, and education, reinforcing the integrated approach to mental health care.

Ethical Questions or Dilemmas for Care Coordination

National Policy Provision

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded access to mental health services by improving coverage and emphasizing integrated care delivery. While these reforms enhance accessibility, they create ethical challenges when cost-containment measures conflict with patient autonomy and individualized care. For example, value-based models encourage cost-effective treatments, but patients with complex needs often require personalized care plans that extend beyond standardized pathways (Braun et al., 2023). This tension raises questions about how best to uphold beneficence and respect patient autonomy.

State Provision Policy

In Florida, Medicaid behavioral health programs seek to provide equitable services to low-income populations. Yet, many patients experience long wait times, limited specialist access, and administrative barriers. These issues challenge the ethical principle of beneficence, as delays in care can worsen psychiatric conditions (Patel et al., 2025). Furthermore, disparities persist between Medicaid recipients and privately insured patients, creating inequities that undermine the principle of justice.

Local Provision Policy

At the local level, programs like community mental health initiatives supported by NAMI Florida provide free screenings, peer counseling, and workshops (NAMI Florida, 2025). However, resource allocation becomes an ethical concern when the demand for services exceeds capacity, leading to inconsistent access. This situation raises questions of fairness and justice, particularly when underserved populations face exclusion due to limited resources.

Impact of the Code of Ethics for Nurses

The ANA Code of Ethics serves as a guiding framework for nurses at the Longevity Center, ensuring that care is both ethically sound and patient-centered. Provision 2 requires nurses to place the patient’s dignity and well-being first, advocating for individualized and respectful care. Provision 8 calls for collaboration to reduce disparities and promote human rights, particularly relevant in underserved communities (ANA, 2025).

The principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and autonomy underpin these provisions, guiding nurses to make ethical decisions that foster trust and equity (Braun et al., 2023). At the Longevity Center, adherence to these principles ensures that patients receive consistent support, even in the face of limited resources.

Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity

At the Longevity Center, social determinants of health (SDOH) significantly affect care coordination and outcomes.

SDOH Factor	Barrier in Care	Ethical Concern
Economic Stability	Financial hardship prevents patients from accessing private services	Violates justice by creating inequities in access
Transportation	Lack of reliable transport limits attendance at appointments	Challenges autonomy and continuity of care
Housing Security	Unstable housing increases stress and worsens mental health	Raises concerns of beneficence and fairness
Health Literacy	Low awareness of resources delays treatment seeking	Affects informed decision-making and autonomy

By addressing these determinants, nurses fulfill their ethical obligation to deliver culturally responsive, equitable care (ANA, 2025).

Recommendations for Support and Collaboration

To overcome systemic challenges, collaborative partnerships are essential. Organizations like NAMI Florida and the Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF) provide peer counseling, housing support, and advocacy services (MHACF, 2025). Nurses, guided by the ANA Code of Ethics, are encouraged to advocate for culturally sensitive practices, participate in policy reform and community engagement, and strengthen multidisciplinary collaboration. These strategies ensure that patients at the Longevity Center receive holistic and ethical care, improving long-term outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the integration of ethical principles and policy frameworks is vital in coordinating mental health care at the Longevity Center. Nurses, supported by the ANA Code of Ethics and community partners such as NAMI Florida and MHACF, play a pivotal role in addressing systemic barriers. By embracing culturally competent strategies, fair resource allocation, and collaborative models, the Longevity Center can enhance mental health equity and ensure sustainable patient-centered care.

References

ANA. (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. American Nurses Association. https://codeofethics.ana.org/home

Braun, E., Scholten, M., & Vollmann, J. (2023). Assisted suicide and the discrimination argument: Can people with mental illness fulfill beneficence‐ and autonomy‐based eligibility criteria? Bioethics, 38(1), 61–68. https://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13243

Bury, D., Hendrick, D., Smith, T., Metcalf, J., & Drake, R. E. (2022). The psychiatric nurse care coordinator on a multi-disciplinary, community mental health treatment team. Community Mental Health Journal, 58(7), 1354–1360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-022-00945-7

Florida Department of Children and Families. (2024). Baker act | Florida DCF. Www.myflfamilies.com. https://www.myflfamilies.com/crisis-services/baker-act

MHACF. (2025). About us. Mental Health Association of Central Florida. https://mhacf.org/learn-more/