Read Me First



Read Me First

Week Three

Introduction

PEOPLE ARE INFLUENCED EVERY DAY BY THE MEDIA IN THE FORM OF TV, RADIO, MAGAZINES, AND ADVERTISING. THIS INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN IN THE BRANDS PEOPLE BUY, WHAT FOODS THEY EAT, AND EVEN HOW THEY CHOOSE THEIR HEALTH CARE. BARRY D. WEISS, MD (2006) STATES THAT THE HEALTH LITERACY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS ONLY AT ABOUT AN 8TH GRADE LEVEL AND THAT AT LEAST 20% UNDERSTAND HEALTH CARE AT A 3RD GRADE LEVEL. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HEALTH CARE ILLITERATE RANGES FROM 5 TO 10%, WHICH MEANS THAT THE NEED TO EXPLAIN HEALTH CARE AT A LEVEL OR IN A MEDIA FORMAT THAT MOST CAN UNDERSTAND IS IMPERATIVE.

Health news stories can influence individual behavior, but they can have a larger effect on public health availability and accessibility from the response of policy makers. Media coverage of a health issue can prompt public policy changes. These policy changes reach those people who were never exposed to a health issue through the media. Using media as a tool to change policy and as a forum to educate people can help more people make healthier behavior decisions.

This week in relationship to the course and the program

IN WEEKS ONE AND TWO, YOU BUILT FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE BY IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES THAT EXIST IN DELIVERING CARE. BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE WERE DESCRIBED. YOU ALSO ANALYZED MODES OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND IDENTIFIED RESOURCES WITHIN THOSE MODES TO HELP PROMOTE AND SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.

This week, you begin to look at how to alleviate those problems by becoming a health policy change agent. You look at how health policies may be contributing to the challenges that exist and how to use outside resources such as the media to change existing policies. You have an opportunity to analyze the relationships between the media, health policy, and its effect on advanced practice nursing and how to use available resources to become a change agent.

Hints for a reading strategy of the assigned materials

WHILE READING THE ASSIGNED CHAPTERS IN THE TEXT, KEEP IN MIND SOME OF THE COMMUNICATION SKILLS YOU HAVE USED AS A NURSE IN THE PAST, TECHNIQUES THAT YOU POSSIBLY NEED TO IMPROVE UPON AND SOME THAT WERE EFFECTIVE. MAKE A LIST OF THOSE TECHNIQUES THAT YOU KNOW HAVE WORKED AND THEN, AS YOU READ, ADD TO THE LIST THOSE NEW TECHNIQUES THAT MAY HELP YOU IN TALKING WITH BUSINESS PEOPLE OR THOSE IN THE GOVERNMENT. ADDITIONALLY, EXAMINE WAYS THAT YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL CAN ENLIST THE HELP OF THE MEDIA IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ABOUT HEALTH ISSUES.

Being part of a larger group or coalition is a great advantage for getting your message out. Look around your city and state and identify the APRN groups and how they are making a difference in your community. Who are the contact people for each group, and how can you join?

Some questions to ask as you hone your critical thinking

KEEPING POLICY AND THE MEDIA’S INFLUENCE ON INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR IN MIND, THINK ABOUT THE FOLLOWING:

1. How would you convey specific health information to patients at a clinic where you work?

2. How would you convey that same information to the media?

3. How can you use the media in your local community to influence local policy makers?

4. How can you align policy with the issues that are addressed on a daily basis?

5. What factors should you consider when facing policy issues?

Summary

AT SOME POINT IN MOST NURSES’ CAREERS, THEY HAVE WITNESSED HEALTH CARE DISPARITY. IN POLICY & POLITICS IN NURSING AND HEALTH CARE, THE AUTHORS DESCRIBE THE MOMENT AT WHICH MOST PROFESSIONAL NURSES REALIZE ACTION IS IN ORDER. THEY CALL THIS THE AHA MOMENT, THAT MOMENT WHEN THE NURSE REALIZES THAT IGNORING THE DISPARITY WILL NO LONGER WORK. IT IS THE MOMENT AT WHICH THE NURSE DECIDES TO STOP BEING AN OBSERVER AND BECOME A DOER.

Many influences shape health care provision: the media, local common practice, cultural influence, and insurance restrictions. In a perfect world, health care providers would unite to ensure patients a full range of health care provider options and the right to choose between these options. However, the truth is that turf wars in the provision of health care occur often in today’s medical marketplace. In November of 2005, the American Medical Association (AMA) formed a committee to review qualifications, education, academic requirements, licensure, certification, independent governance, ethical standards, disciplinary processes, and peer review for all “limited licensure health care providers and limited independent practitioners” (Legislative News and Views). This would mean that the AMA could examine, control, and dictate the provision of care for all allied health professionals. In response to the divisive efforts by the AMA, numerous nursing and allied health professional groups formed a coalition to ensure that the growing needs of the U.S. health system could be met and that patients have access to quality health care providers of their choice. The coalition urged the AMA to cease their divisive efforts to oppose the established practice rights of allied health professionals.

The battle continues, not only for patients but also for recognition of the value and legitimacy of the nursing profession. Does it bother you that other professions can control your practice? Do you feel that professional nurses are working hard enough to formulate U.S. health care policy? What is your aha moment? What actions can you take to be proactive in your profession?

REFERENCEs

LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND VIEWS (SPRING/SUMMER 2006). AWHONN JOINS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS TO VOICE CONCERN OVER THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION’S (AMA) SCOPE OF PRACTICE PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER ACTIONS. {DATA FILE} RETRIEVED FROM

Weiss, B. (2006, August). Health literacy. American Academy of Family Physicians, 327(1).

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