NURS FPX 6030 Assessment 4 Implementation Plan Design

Implications of these Strategies 

TL approaches, such as decision-making involvement and team decentralization, involve a team of people to improve collaboration within inpatient care and the quality of care coordination (Ystaas et al., 2023). Such collaboration results in accurate patient evaluation and ensures the patient receives the right treatment from different specialists. With reduced confusion and increased trust, patients will have a better experience in their care. Involving the team in decision-making optimizes resource use, streamlines workflows, and reduces unnecessary procedures or delays, contributing to cost control.

Yet, there is a knowledge gap about the long-term effectiveness of team decentralization in inpatient care settings, especially concerning patient outcomes and cost control. Management strategies that target resource utilization, prioritization, and processes will revolutionize the inpatient environment. These strategies help ensure the patient receives timely interventions and needs like medication or equipment. When wait times are reduced, patients are happier, and health care is delivered more disciplined and on predictable lines. From a cost perspective, these strategies cut wastage and do away with duplication in care, thus achieving better utilization of the limited hospital resources and, at the same time, controlling costs, not at the expense of quality. However, a knowledge gap exists regarding optimal resource allocation in busy hospital environments.

Adopting evidence-based practices, patient education, and enhanced communication will improve care quality by ensuring interventions are based on the best available evidence, leading to better patient outcomes (Engle et al., 2021). Patients will feel more engaged and supported through education and clear communication. These practices can also reduce complications, readmissions, and unnecessary treatments, providing more cost-effective care. There’s uncertainty about how patient education strategies can be standardized across diverse populations. 

Delivery and Technology 

Delivery Methods 

Two key delivery methods are proposed to improve type II diabetes management: current educational interventions such as patient education workshops and mHealth applications. The workshops will focus on lifestyle modifications, including personalized meal planning, structured exercise programs, and stress management through counseling and mindfulness techniques (Kumari et al., 2021). Group education by different health care professionals, with the focus of imparting useful diabetes knowledge and skills in the management of the disorder. It will promote patient involvement, enhance knowledge in diabetes care, and enable the patient to make proper timeless for improved diabetes management. Monitoring through mHealth tools will supplement the flow of work in workshops.

This approach assumes patient willingness, basic health literacy, and commitment to attend sessions, encouraging sustainable, long-term behavioral changes for effective diabetes management. Another suitable mode of delivering the intervention is using mobile health (mHealth) technology. An app or a wearable device can assist patients in logging their diet, activity, and stress level and get feedback simultaneously (Giebel et al., 2024). This method enables constant supervision and compliance with the individual health plan that patients should follow. It also allows communication with the healthcare providers and receive support between visits. Employing mHealth technology, the intervention maintains the patient’s interest and motivation towards adopting a healthier lifestyle and, thus, better glycemic control and other well-being results. This analysis assumes that patients own or have access to a smartphone or a device, are comfortable with technology, and will also regularly monitor the data.

Current and Emerging Technologies 

Patient Education Workshop

• Current Technological Options: The usual way to perform education workshops is through video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. These technologies assist by increasing accessibility to seminars for patients with restricted mobility or those in areas far from the hospital, thus having the biggest positive impact. Also, using presentation tools such as PowerPoint and media interaction improves learning since it appeals to the participation of the participants (Mohapatra & Zayapragassarazan, 2021). 
• Emerging Technological Options: The education of patients might be significantly enhanced by using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). For example, VR can recreate how to cook healthy meals, whereas AR can display instructions on the patient’s physical space for exercising correctly. These technologies available in the future can also improve learning by engaging patients in realistic environments where they can actively practice instead of just being taught. (Gandedkar et al., 2021). The largest positive impact may come from VR as it is more engaging and memorable than the traditional means of learning. However, there remains a paucity of research on how best to apply VR/AR in patient populations and the feasibility and efficacy of doing so.

mHealth Technology

• Current Technological Options: Today’s mHealth possibilities are applications like MyFitnessPal for dieting and exercising and gadgets like Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc., for physical activity and sleep. These technologies assist in the following ways: feedback to the patient is given on the spot, care is individualized, and compliance with the health plan is enhanced. The most significant current technology is wearable technology, particularly the Apple Watch because it offers constant health tracking and is part of the patient’s daily life. Yet, there is a knowledge gap on patient compliance with mHealth technologies or the impact of such technologies on glycemic control in the long term.
• Emerging Technological Options: New technologies involve AI algorithms for prognostic and individual patient care (Gandedkar et al., 2021). AI could have the biggest benefit as it provides recommendations based on the data analysis of the patient’s information and can be very useful in long-term patient management. Future research is yet to identify the best approaches to applying these technologies.

Stakeholders, Policy, and Regulations

Implementing the intervention plan for type II diabetes management involves several stakeholders, including nurses, physicians, dietitians, fitness trainers, mental health counselors, administrative staff, and patients. Nurses and physicians require training on mHealth technology and updates on best practices for diabetes management. Dietitians, fitness trainers, and counselors need defined workflows and resources to align with program goals, while administrative staff must handle logistics such as scheduling workshops, procuring devices, and ensuring data privacy. Patients need access to education, mHealth tools, and personalized care plans to engage with the intervention fully. Meeting these needs is important for having individuals’ approval and support in the implementation process. 

Healthcare regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement for diabetes programs, are crucial for successful implementation. HIPAA regulates the use and protection of patient data in mHealth, thus demanding effective cybersecurity for the platforms (Edemekong, et al., 2024). The reimbursement policies determine the funding of the workshops and the patients. Implementing these regulations may cause higher initial expenses and increase the need to educate personnel. Additional support considerations include leadership endorsement, interprofessional collaboration, and financial backing. Leadership drives resource allocation and organizational alignment, while collaboration ensures cohesive teamwork. Financial support, such as grants or reimbursements, sustains the program. Addressing funding gaps or stakeholder misalignment is essential for success.

Existing and New Policy Considerations 

Current policies like the HIPAA play a role in the improvement of implementation through the protection of information to enhance the trust of patients in mHealth applications as well as the involvement of the patients. However, HIPAA compliance brings problems or barriers, including the added costs of administration and technology in data encryption, storage, and constant audit. Another relevant policy is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which supports the concept of preventative care and diabetes management programs (Furmanchuk et al., 2021). The ACA supports the intervention by providing insurance coverage of preventative care and promoting better health knowledge and practices. However, the reimbursement mechanisms under the ACA may take time to produce funding, which may affect program delivery and sustainability.

A new policy consideration is institutional policies requiring using mHealth tools in chronic disease management and encouraging attendance at diabetes workshops. This would have a positive implication on implementation by affording a framework for technology adoption, improving patient and staff involvement, and directing organizational objectives to support the program. However, new policies might also negatively affect implementation by adding more hierarchical levels, extensive training of stakeholders, and high initial investment (Giebel et al., 2024). It is important to weigh out the pros and cons of policy considerations to effectively and sustainably implement the intervention plan and attain the desired goals of the health sector.

Timeline 

The six-month timeline for implementing the type II diabetes intervention plan is divided into two phases: development (three months) and implementation (three months). The development phase focuses on assessing patient needs, creating educational materials, and obtaining necessary approvals. Staff training on interdisciplinary workflows and technology use is also conducted. The implementation phase starts with recruiting patients, launching interventions, and using mHealth tools to monitor progress. This realistic timeline provides ample time for planning, resource allocation, staff training, and patient engagement, with the flexibility to make adjustments if needed. Several factors can impact the timeline.

Resource availability, such as mHealth tools, educational materials, and staff, can delay development if procurement or approval processes are slow. Staff training may also be hindered by scheduling conflicts or resistance to new workflows. Patient adherence and engagement in the implementation phase may vary, requiring additional support to motivate patients. Technological barriers could cause delays. These factors may necessitate extended timelines for troubleshooting, retraining, or adjusting resources, causing revisions to the implementation timeline. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the implementation plan for improving type II diabetes management integrates leadership, management, and professional nursing practices with innovative delivery methods like patient education workshops and mHealth technology. The plan aims to improve care quality, patient experience, and cost-efficiency by engaging stakeholders and adhering to relevant healthcare policies and regulations. The final goal is to achieve optimal glycemic control among the target population in Riverside Community Hospital (RCH). 

References

Edemekong, P. F., Annamaraju, P., Afzal, M., & Haydel, M. J. (2024). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK500019/ 

Engle, R. L., Mohr, D. C., Holmes, S. K., Seibert, M. N., Afable, M., Leyson, J., & Meterko, M. (2021). Evidence-based practice and patient-centered care: Doing both well. Health Care Management Review, 46(3), 174–184. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000254

Furmanchuk, A., Liu, M., Song, X., Waitman, L. R., Meurer, J. R., Osinski, K., Stoddard, A., Chrischilles, E., McClay, J. C., Cowell, L. G., Tachinardi, U., Embi, P. J., Mosa, A. S. M., Mandhadi, V., Shah, R. C., Garcia, D., Angulo, F., Patino, A., Trick, W. E., & Markossian, T. W. (2021). Effect of the Affordable Care Act on diabetes care at major health centers: newly detected diabetes and diabetes medication management. BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care, 9(Suppl 1), e002205. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002205 

NURS FPX 6030 Assessment 4 Implementation Plan Design

Gandedkar, N. H., T. Wong, M., & Darendeliler, M. A. (2021). Role of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI) in tertiary education and research of orthodontics: An insight. Seminars in Orthodontics, 27(2), 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.sodo.2021.05.003 

Giebel, G. D., Abels, C., Plescher, F., Speckemeier, C., Schrader, N. F., Börchers, K., Wasem, J., Neusser, S., & Blase, N. (2024). Problems and barriers related to the use of mhealth apps from the perspective of patients: Focus group and interview study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 26, e49982. https://doi.org/10.2196/49982 

Kumari, G., Singh, V., Chhajer, B., & Jhingan, A. K. (2021). Effect of lifestyle intervention holistic approach on blood glucose levels, health-related quality of life and medical treatment cost in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Acta Scientiarum. Health Sciences, 43, e53729. https://doi.org/10.4025/actascihealthsci.v43i1.53729

Mohapatra, D. P., & Zayapragassarazan, Z. (2021). Effective learner engagement strategies in visual presentations. Journal of Education Technology in Health Sciences, 8(1), 2–11. https://doi.org/10.18231/j.jeths.2021.002 

Urton, D., & Murray, D. (2021). Project manager’s perspectives on enhancing collaboration in multidisciplinary environmental management projects. Project Leadership and Society, 2, 100008. ScienceDirect. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plas.2021.100008

Ystaas, L. M. K., Nikitara, M., Ghobrial, S., Latzourakis, E., Polychronis, G., & Constantinou, C. S. (2023). The impact of transformational leadership in the nursing work environment and patients’ outcomes: A systematic review. Nursing Reports, 13(3), 1271–1290. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13030108 

NURS FPX 6030 Assessment 4 Implementation Plan Design