Discussion Post: Health Care Reform
Patient Protection and the Affordable Care Act shifted the healthcare system from treating disease to prevention and wellness focus (Benjamin, 2011). It is better to prevent disease than to treat people after they get sick, treatment from a preventative view reduces high healthcare cost (Levine et al., 2019). America's plan for disease prevention will require all of us to take ownership of our health (Benjamin, 2011). Nurses role would be to educate patients, concerning diet, activity, and disease prevention. We need to stop diseases before they start and allow all Americans to be healthy and fit. Nurses are fulfilling their role in advancement of their education. More nurses are returning to school to obtain a BSN degree. Understanding primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention is important when educating and planning with the patients. Another approach being used is the BETTER WISE prevention program (Sopcak et al., 2021). A Prevention Practitioner (PP), meets with the patient for an hour or more the visit focuses on primary prevention and screening of cancer, diabetes and heart disease and associated lifestyle factors such as diet, physical activity, smoking and alcohol (Sopcak et al., 2021). A multipronged approach is needed which includes organizational leadership, a shift in institutions culture, team based care and patients willingness to learn preventative measures (Levine et al., 2019).
• Explain how health care reform has helped shift the focus from a disease-oriented health care system to one of wellness and prevention. Discuss ways in which health care will continue this trend and explain the role of nursing in supporting and facilitating this shift. In replies to peers, provide an example of wellness and prevention initiatives your organization or specialty area has in place.
The response must include a reference list. Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.