Module 6 - Healthcare Costs and Financial Management

Healthcare Costs and Financial Management

Resources

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Florida Nurses Association. (2008). Advanced practice nurses: Improving access to healthcare and 
      containing costs. Retrieved from www.blackboard.ecu.edu

Synthesis: This article explores how advance practice nurses working in the role of physician extender can help expand healthcare services to rural, underserved areas and populations. Additionally, the article explores the current legal barriers in place, some of which are unique to the state of Florida, that prevent Nurse Practitioners from practicing at their full potential. These barriers represent a slow reluctance to update and change legislation to follow current national trends in the role of advance practice nurses. 

Rating - 4 Very informative for any nurse planning on a career as a nurse practitioner. 
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Institute for Healthcare Improvement. (2009). Increasing efficiency and enhancing value in health care:         

      Ways to achieve savings in operating costs per year. Retrieved from www.blackboard.ecu.edu

Synthesis:  This article discusses several focused areas of cost saving, many of which are focused on patient satisfaction and waste reduction methods. With a strong accounting component prevalent throughout the entire article, this may be of more interest to CFO/CNO as compared to APN or bedside nurse. 

Rating - 3 Lots of information, but may be more appropriate for  financial leaders in nursing. 
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Stanton, M., Rutherford, M. (2002). Reducing costs in the health care system: learning from what has         

      been done. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Research in Action Issue 9. AHRQ Pub.            

      No. 02-0046.

Synthesis:  This article discusses cost saving methods as they relate to insurance plans and reimbursement, including employer sponsored items such as flexible spending accounts, cost sharing plans and increased competitive pricing between HMO's and insurance plans. The research is mostly retrospective analysis over the last 10 plus years and has very little to do with acute patient care. 

Rating - 2 Informative, but material has limited use in acute patient care.  

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Warden, G. (n.d.). Improving quality and controlling cost through delivery system integration.        
      [Powerpoint slides]. Retrieved from www.blackboard.ecu.edu 

Synthesis: This article explores methods of cost control and quality improvement tactics that have been tried within the Henry Ford Health System and discusses the outcomes. Though some of the projects returned a financial improvement, the incentives do not pay for improved quality of care, thus not changing patient outcomes significantly. 

Rating - 3 A short, yet interesting read, though large amount of the data is greater than 7 years old. 
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World Health Organization. (2010). Health system financing. The path to universal coverage. Retrieved 

      from http://www.who.int/whr/2010/whr10_en.pdf

Synthesis: This article discusses the World Health Organization's stance on universal health coverage and the barriers preventing the implementation of such a plan. The article provides easy to understand information regarding the three main challenges to be overcome by national governments before they can offer equal, universal coverage for all individuals. 

Rating - 3 An easy to comprehend article discussing one of the hot topics of both the political platforms. 

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Reflection

This week's module focused on healthcare costs and the role advanced practice nurses play in controlling those costs. After reviewing several various resources, a consistent positive relationship between costs and the advance practice nursing became apparent. In the role of physician extenders, APN's provide quality, affordable care to patients who might otherwise not have access to a provider at all. In the role of clinical nurse specialist, advance practice nurses can expertly coordinate care with both patient outcome and financial responsibility in mind.