Assessment 2: Ethical Standards and Policy Issues in Care Coordination
Name
Capella University
FPX4050
Dr. Name
April, 2024
Slide 2
Ethical Standards and Policy Issues in Care Coordination
In a healthcare setting, the role of community organizations is pivotal in understanding and applying ethical standards and navigating the complex landscape of policy issues that significantly influence care coordination. This paper explores the intricate dynamics in the healthcare system that specifically affects LGBTQ+ individuals. Coordinating care for the LGBTQ+ community presents unique ethical and policy challenges. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) stands at the forefront of addressing these issues, advocating for LGBTQ+-friendly healthcare practices across the United States. Examining current policies and ethical considerations aims to identify improvement areas and suggest strategies for more effective and inclusive healthcare coordination. The ultimate goal is to foster an environment where every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, receives respectful and competent care (McKay et al., 2023).
Slide 3
Impact of Governmental Policies on GLMA and Care Coordination
Governmental policies significantly influence the coordination of care for communities served by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA). GLMA’s role in enhancing LGBTQ+ healthcare equity involves not only representing healthcare professionals but also advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals’ health rights and needs. This advocacy is particularly relevant in the context of policies that affect healthcare access and quality for LGBTQ+ individuals. For example, healthcare laws and policies related to gender-affirming care and the legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights directly impact the services that can be provided and the manner in which care is coordinated. Policies that promote inclusivity and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals contribute to a healthcare environment where these individuals feel safe and respected, thereby facilitating better care coordination.
On the other hand, policies that limit or challenge LGBTQ+ rights, such as bans on gender-affirming care, create significant barriers to care coordination. These policies not only restrict access to necessary healthcare services but also contribute to a healthcare atmosphere where LGBTQ+ individuals might not feel welcome or understood. This can lead to fragmented care, where patients either receive incomplete care or avoid seeking care altogether due to anticipated discrimination or misunderstanding (Hempel et al., 2023). GLMA’s role in such a landscape involves both advocating for policy change and providing resources to healthcare providers and patients to navigate these challenges. Their efforts aim to ensure that all LGBTQ+ individuals receive competent, culturally responsive care regardless of the existing policy environment. Governmental policies related to health and safety profoundly influence how care is coordinated for LGBTQ+ communities, with GLMA playing a key role in both responding to and shaping these policies to promote health equity.
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Ethical Dilemmas in Care Coordination: National, State, and Local Policy Provisions
Significant policy provisions at various governmental levels often raise ethical questions or dilemmas that impact care coordination. The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) operates in a landscape where state-level policies significantly impact the provision of gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. In states where supportive policies exist, GLMA and healthcare providers can offer necessary services aligned with ethical standards of comprehensive and nondiscriminatory care. However, in states with bans or restrictions, especially concerning minors, GLMA faces ethical and practical challenges. These restrictions hinder the ability to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care and create ethical dilemmas for healthcare providers (Giannetta et al., 2021). The GLMA’s advocacy efforts are crucial in such environments, aiming to influence policy changes and support transgender individuals’ rights to access necessary healthcare services.
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Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Partnerships and Healthcare Coordination
The legal recognition of same-sex partnerships is another area where state and local policies intersect with GLMA’s mission. In regions lacking such recognition, healthcare coordination becomes complicated for same-sex partners, particularly in situations requiring medical decision-making authority. This lack of legal recognition affects end-of-life care, hospital visitation, and care planning. For GLMA and its healthcare provider members, this poses ethical dilemmas that challenge the balance between legal limitations and the ethical imperative to respect patient autonomy and family integrity. GLMA’s role includes advocating for policy changes that recognize and support same-sex partnerships, thereby facilitating more inclusive healthcare coordination (Lampe et al., 2024).
National Policies and the ACA’s Role
At the national level, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has had a significant impact on healthcare coordination, especially in expanding access and emphasizing preventive care. GLMA recognizes that changes or challenges to the ACA can disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including the LGBTQ+ population. Efforts to repeal or modify the ACA create uncertainty and potential setbacks in care coordination and long-term healthcare planning. This underscores the importance of GLMA’s continued advocacy at the national level for policies that uphold the gains made by the ACA, particularly in ensuring healthcare access for all, including the LGBTQ+ community. These policy provisions at various governmental levels present ethical dilemmas that are central to GLMA’s mission. The organization’s advocacy and policy intervention efforts are crucial in navigating these challenges and promoting equitable healthcare access and quality for the LGBTQ+ community (Manthey, 2020).
Slide 6
The Role of the ANA Code of Ethics in Care Coordination and Continuum of Care
The ANA Code of Ethics serves as a foundational document in nursing, outlining the standards of ethical nursing practice. It’s particularly relevant in care management and coordination, guiding nurses in their professional conduct and decision-making processes. The Code’s principles, including the commitment to patient welfare, the obligation to promote health, and the necessity of collaborative practices, are integral to enhancing care coordination. They support the ethical practice of nursing by focusing on patient-centered care and interprofessional collaboration (Karam et al., 2021).
Enhancing Care Coordination through Ethical Practice
Care coordination involves organizing patient care activities and sharing information among all participants in the healthcare process. It aims to deliver high-quality care and improve patient outcomes. The ANA Code of Ethics underscores this by emphasizing the nurse’s role in patient advocacy and collaboration with other healthcare providers. Ethical care coordination can help reduce healthcare costs, prevent hospital readmissions, and ensure the continuity of care, which is essential for long-term positive outcomes (Medina-Martínez et al., 2021).
Ethical Nursing Practice in LGBTQ+ Care: The Role of GLMA
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) aligns closely with the principles laid out in the ANA Code of Ethics, tailoring them to specifically address the healthcare needs of the LGBTQ+ community. The GLMA advocates for a healthcare environment that adheres to the ethical principles of respect, fairness, and equality. This includes advocating for gender-affirming care, combating healthcare discrimination, and ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals receive comprehensive, respectful, and culturally competent care (Numminen et al., 2024).
Care Coordination and Management in LGBTQ+ Health
In the context of GLMA, care coordination involves creating an inclusive and affirming healthcare environment for LGBTQ+ patients. This encompasses training healthcare professionals in LGBTQ+ health issues, advocating for policies that enhance access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals, and collaborating with other organizations and healthcare providers to ensure a continuum of care that respects and understands the unique needs of LGBTQ+ patients (Hughes et al., 2022).
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Evidence-Based Conclusions: Impact of Ethical Standards on LGBTQ+ Health Outcomes
Research and evidence suggest that adherence to ethical standards like those advocated by GLMA can lead to improved health outcomes in the LGBTQ+ community. For instance, healthcare environments that provide gender-affirming care and respect patient identity have been linked to decreased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among transgender patients. Similarly, training healthcare providers in LGBTQ+ cultural competency is associated with increased healthcare utilization and patient satisfaction among LGBTQ+ individuals (Khatri et al., 2023).
Slide 8
Policy Influence on Access to Care
GLMA’s advocacy for inclusive healthcare policies directly impacts the accessibility and quality of care for the LGBTQ+ community. Policies that support gender-affirming care, for example, align with ethical standards of non-discrimination and respect for patient autonomy. In contrast, policies that restrict such care can lead to increased mental health issues and a higher burden of disease within the LGBTQ+ community. GLMA’s stance and advocacy in these areas highlight the vital role of ethical standards in shaping healthcare policies that affect LGBTQ+ individuals. The ethical implications of these policy provisions are significant. They directly impact the health and well-being of individuals, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, and pose challenging dilemmas for healthcare providers striving to offer ethical, patient-centered care. Advocacy for inclusive, equitable policies is essential to ensure that healthcare ethics and patient needs are at the forefront of healthcare provision and policy-making (McKeown, 2023).
Slide 9
NURS FPX 4050 Assessment 2 Ethical Standards and Policy Issues in Care Coordination Conclusion :
This paper has highlighted the crucial roles of ethical standards and governmental policies in healthcare coordination and management, particularly within the context of LGBTQ+ health care as championed by organizations like the GLMA. The intersection of these elements showcases the importance of inclusive, patient-centered care guided by a strong ethical framework. As healthcare continues to evolve, the insights gathered here underscore the need for ongoing advocacy, policy reform, and ethical diligence to ensure equitable and effective healthcare for all communities (Ralph et al., 2021).
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NURS FPX 4050 Assessment 2 Ethical Standards and Policy Issues in Care Coordination References :
Giannetta, N., Villa, G., Pennestrì, F., Sala, R., Mordacci, R., & Manara, D. F. (2021). Ethical problems and moral distress in primary care: A scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7565.
Hempel, S., Ganz, D., Saluja, S., Bolshakova, M., Kim, T., Turvey, C., Cordasco, K., Basu, A., Page, T., Mahmood, R., Motala, A., Barnard, J., Wong, M., Fu, N., & Miake-Lye, I. M. (2023). Care coordination across healthcare systems: development of a research agenda, implications for practice, and recommendations for policy based on a modified Delphi panel. BMJ Open, 13(5), e060232.
Hughes, T. L., Jackman, K., Dorsen, C., Arslanian-Engoren, C., Ghazal, L., Christenberry-Deceased, T., Lance Coleman, C., Mackin, M., Moore, S. E., Mukerjee, R., Sherman, A., Smith, S., & Walker, R. (2022). How can the nursing profession help reduce sexual and gender minority related health disparities: Recommendations from the National Nursing LGBTQ Health Summit. Nursing Outlook, 70(3), 513–524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2022.02.005
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Khatri, R., Endalamaw, A., Erku, D., Wolka, E., Nigatu, F., Zewdie, A., & Assefa, Y. (2023). Continuity and care coordination of primary health care: a scoping review. BMC health Services Research, 23(1), 750.
Lampe, N. M., Barbee, H., Tran, N. M., Bastow, S., & McKay, T. (2024). Health disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer older adults: A structural competency approach. International Journal of Aging & Human Development, 98(1), 39–55.
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McKeown A. (2023). Ethical challenges and principles in integrated care. British Medical Bulletin, 146(1), 4–18.
McKay, T., Tran, N. M., Barbee, H., & Min, J. K. (2023). Association of Affirming Care with Chronic disease and preventive care outcomes among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer older adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(3), 305–314.
Medina-Martínez, J., Saus-Ortega, C., Sánchez-Lorente, M. M., Sosa-Palanca, E. M., García-Martínez, P., & Mármol-López, M. I. (2021). Health Inequities in LGBT People and Nursing Interventions to Reduce Them: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(22), 11801.
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Ralph, J., O’Grady, C., Boggs, J., & Barry, R. (2021). Remission of verruca vulgaris following incisional punch biopsy. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 46(6), 1163–1165.
