NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue

Name

Capella University

NHS-FPX 6008 Economics and Decision Making in Health Care

Prof. Name

Date

Health Care Economic Issue and Its Impact

In nursing homes, inadequate staffing is a multifaceted issue with far-reaching consequences. A clear correlation exists between higher patient-to-nurse ratios and increased burnout and job dissatisfaction among nursing staff. This affects the care quality provided and impacts the healthcare professionals’ well-being. Furthermore, data indicates that nursing homes with lower staff-to-resident ratios experience a higher incidence of adverse events such as falls, pressure ulcers and medication errors. These preventable conditions not only compromise the health and safety of residents but also lead to increased healthcare costs due to the need for additional medical interventions and treatments (Perruchoud et al., 2021). Additionally, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have reported that nursing homes with inadequate staffing levels have a significantly higher rate of hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge than adequately staffed facilities. This places additional strain on an already overburdened healthcare system and highlights the critical role that staffing levels play in ensuring positive health outcomes for nursing home residents. The economic impact of inadequate staffing in nursing homes must be balanced (Gandhi et al., 2021).

A study published in Health Affairs estimated that inadequate staffing contributes to several billion dollars annually in healthcare costs. These costs arise from preventable hospital readmissions, longer hospital stays, and the need for additional medical interventions, all of which could have been avoided with sufficient staffing levels (Winter et al., 2020). In nursing homes, inadequate staffing degrades care quality, harms resident health, and economically burdens the healthcare system. Addressing this requires more staff, better training, and policies prioritizing resident well-being.

Rationale for selecting the Health Care Economic Issue

The selection of inadequate staffing in nursing homes as the primary subject of this healthcare economic issue is based on the fact that it affects a vulnerable population profoundly. Nursing homes require consistent and comprehensive care for elderly residents with complex medical needs. Inadequate staffing undermines this care, leading to detrimental resident outcomes and significant economic costs (Sworn & Booth, 2020). Personal experiences and values played a crucial role in informing this choice. Having a family member in long-term care exposed me to the challenges faced by nursing home staff and residents. Observing the struggles of overworked staff highlighted the importance of adequate staffing. My values of compassion, respect for the elderly, and commitment to equitable healthcare drove me to focus on this issue. Witnessing the toll on residents and caregivers solidified my understanding that inadequate staffing is a profound ethical and economic concern. Inadequate staffing in nursing homes directly affects the quality of care, safety, and dignity of elderly residents (Omotowa & Hussey, 2020).

The correlation between staffing levels and adverse health outcomes, such as increased falls, medication errors, and hospital readmissions, underscores the urgency of addressing this problem. Economic data shows that inadequate staffing contributes to billions in unnecessary healthcare costs annually due to preventable complications and extended hospital stays (Winter et al., 2020). Inadequate staffing in nursing homes significantly impacts a vulnerable population and imposes economic burdens, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and policy reforms. Personal experiences and ethical values reinforce the urgency of ensuring high-quality care for the elderly.

Effect on Work, Organization, Colleagues, and Community

The healthcare economic issue of inadequate staffing in nursing homes has significantly impacted work, organization, colleagues, and community. Personally, as a healthcare professional, I have experienced the strain of working in understaffed environments, where the workload is overwhelming and resources are stretched thin. This affects my ability to provide quality care and contributes to burnout among colleagues. Inadequate staffing challenges in my organization lead to compromised care and increased risks of adverse events like falls and medication errors. Moreover, the struggle to manage workload affects team morale and contributes to high turnover rates (Kalánková et al., 2020).

Colleagues express frustration due to the increased workload and limited resources, impacting their job satisfaction and mental health. Furthermore, disparities in access to quality healthcare are worsened, particularly for diverse or lower socio-economic groups (Ora et al., 2020). Inadequate staffing in nursing homes has far-reaching consequences, affecting work, organization, colleagues, and community. It compromises care quality, staff morale, and contributes to disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. Urgent action is needed to address this critical issue.

Identification of the Contributing Gap

The identified gap contributing to the need to address the economic issue of inadequate staffing in nursing homes lies in the disparity between the increasing demand for long-term care services and the insufficient supply of qualified healthcare professionals to meet this demand. Public health data indicates a projected growth in the aging population, leading to an increased need for long-term care services in nursing homes. However, despite this growing demand, there is a shortage of registered nurses and nursing aides, resulting in inadequate staffing levels in many facilities (Harrington et al., 2020). A peer-reviewed journal article highlights the gap between staffing needs and available resources in nursing homes. The study found that a higher patient-to-nurse ratio correlates with increased levels of burnout and job dissatisfaction among nursing staff. This evidence underscores the critical need to address the staffing shortage to ensure quality care for elderly residents in nursing homes (Ora et al., 2020). The identified gap between the increasing demand for long-term care services and the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals necessitates urgent action to address the economic issue of inadequate staffing in nursing homes. Failure to bridge this gap compromises the quality of care provided and jeopardizes the health and well-being of vulnerable elderly residents.

Conclusion

Inadequate staffing in nursing homes poses a significant economic burden and compromises the quality of care for elderly residents. This issue leads to increased burnout among staff, higher rates of adverse events, and unnecessary healthcare costs. Addressing the identified gap between demand and supply of healthcare professionals is critical to ensure quality care and alleviate economic strains on the healthcare system. Urgent action, including policy reforms and investments in staffing and training, is imperative to mitigate the far-reaching consequences of staffing shortages in nursing homes.

References

Gandhi, A., Yu, H., & Grabowski, D. C. (2021). High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information. Health Affairs, 40(3), 384–391. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00957

Harrington, C., Dellefield, M. E., Halifax, E., Fleming, M. L., & Bakerjian, D. (2020). Appropriate nurse staffing levels for U.S. nursing homes. Health Services Insights, 13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178632920934785

Kalánková, D., Kirwan, M., Bartoníčková, D., Cubelo, F., Žiaková, K., & Kurucová, R. (2020). Missed, rationed or unfinished nursing care: A scoping review of patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12978

Omotowa, O. O., & Hussey, L. C. (2020). Nurse staffing and falls among the older adults in nursing homes • The Journal of Nursing Home Research. Www.jnursinghomeresearch.com. https://www.jnursinghomeresearch.com/2398-nurse-staffing-and-falls-among-the-older-adults-in-nursing-homes.html

Ora, C. D., Ball, J., Reinius, M., & Griffiths, P. (2020). Burnout in nursing: A theoretical review. Human Resources for Health, 18(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-00469-9

NHS FPX 6008 Assessment 1 Identifying a Local Health Care Economic Issue

Perruchoud, E., Weissbrodt, R., Verloo, H., Fournier, C.-A., Genolet, A., Amoussou, J. R., & Hannart, S. (2021). The impact of nursing staffs’ working conditions on the quality of care received by older adults in long-term residential care facilities: A systematic review of interventional and observational studies. Geriatrics, 7(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics7010006

Sworn, K., & Booth, A. (2020). A systematic review of the impact of “missed care” in primary, community and nursing home settings. Journal of Nursing Management, 28(8). https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12969

Winter, V., Schreyögg, J., & Thiel, A. (2020). Hospital staff shortages: Environmental and organizational determinants and implications for patient satisfaction. Health Policy, 124(4), 380–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.01.001