Government influences

Medicare

A type of insurance program in which benefits are received after contributions are made through payroll deductions

Medicaid

Benefits are provided on a basis of need or poverty.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Enabled portability of health insurance, privacy of medical information, and coverage for preexisting conditions

PPACA (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act)

Make affordable health insurance available to more people, expand Medicaid, and reduce the overall growth of healthcare costs

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Program

Federal assistance program providing free, healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals to low-income women, new mothers, and children under 5

Nurse Practice Act

Defines the scope of practice for nurses within a state

Patient/Consumer bill of rights

Have a choice of providers

Have access to emergency services

Take part in treatment decisions

Receive respect and nondiscrimination

Maintain confidentiality of health-care information

Have resources for complaints and appeals

Informed consent

Nurse is responsible for signing as a witness that a patient has received information regarding risks, advantages, and alternatives available for a planned procedure in a language that can be understood by the patient

Multidisciplinary Team

Doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, radiology technicians, social workers, etc

Goal to ensure the optimum physical, social, and mental well-being of the patient

Plan of care

a tool for communication between staff, outlines the needs of the patient and the planned approach to meet these needs

Accreditation

Process by which an institution is recognized as meeting specific predetermined standards of care.

Hospitals not accredited are not eligible to receive state or federal funding assistance

Joint commission Criteria

Adopted criteria for hospitals for the pursuit of accreditation:

Infection Prevention and Control

Medication Management

Provision of care, treatment, and services

Rights and responsibilities of the individual

Management of the environment of care

etc.