Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination (PowerPoint Presentation Sample)

Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination Student Name Student university Slide 2 Introduction Slide Points Care coordination is defined as collaborative approach to ensure that cancer patients receive proper, timely and regular care in healthcare facilities (AON, 2024). Advantage of care coordination links with lowering the delays and enhancing patient alignment with the treatment process. It also helps in lowering medical errors which eventually improves trust and satisfaction among patients. Ethical factors – confidentiality, autonomy or patient and equity Policy factors- regulatory issues, insurance coverage gaps and workforce limitations Therefore, American Cancer Society is one of the organizations that play key role in addressing these issues. Slide Notes Care coordination is significant in American society as 40% of people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes (Medline Plus, 2024). Additionally, with fragmented cancer care researchers stated that patients have higher risk of 5-year mortality (Choi et al., 2022). Therefore, ACS plays a major role in bridging the gap between ethical and policy care coordination for people as their mission is to enhance life of people through advocacy, patient support and research (American Cancer Society, 2022). Slide 3 Ethical principles in care coordination Slide Points * Autonomy * Beneficence and non-maleficence * Equity and Justice * Confidentiality Slide notes Cancer care encompasses some ethical challenges like lack of informed consent, resource allocation, lack of access to proper care facilities, impact on socioeconomic and cultural factors and end-of-life decision making. Researchers state that low-income cancer patient face 6% lower rate of treatment initiation issue in comparison with people having higher socioeconomic status (Guadamuz et al., 2023). Slide 4 Policy issues in care coordination Slide Points 1 Health Insurance barriers- Source: (Deb, 2024) 2 Workforce shortages- Source: (Medicus Healthcare Solutions, 2024) Slide Notes Figure 1 and Figure 2 states the major issues in the policy regarding the care coordination. According to NBC report, US has been ranked second to last as its healthcare system is complex integrating proper insurance coverage issues, confusing bills of hospitals and out-of-pocket expenses (Lovelace, 2024). This can be linked with figure 1 which shows that only 20% of Americans possess public health insurance coverage compared to other developed nations (Deb, 2024). Additionally, there are shortages of oncologists in US healthcare systems and figure 2 also states that in 2034 the demand of oncologists will outpace the supply creating significant shortages. This will enhance the wait times, lower the access to facilities in rural areas in future. Apart from this, EHR interoperability issues (issues with seamless exchange of data among systems while aligning with security and integrity of data) also impact the effective care coordination in medical field in the US, thus leading to ineffective and fragmented care, increased rates of medical errors (Ali, 2022). Slide 5 Real life impact of ethical and policy issue sin care coordination Slide points A landmark example of ethical inconsistencies in the US medical care can be linked with Henrietta Lacks care. Back then in 1951, a black women Henrietta Lacks aged 31, sought treatment from John Hopkins Hospital located in Baltimore for cervical cancer. While the treatment was going on, researchers took samples of the tumor cells without getting her consent, thus bypassing the standard practice. The cells known as HeLa cells which were extracted because of their uniqueness that can be utilized in future medical projects. Thus, raised questions on ethical grounds regarding informed consent and autonomy (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2024). Slide 6 Continued…. Slide Points In recent years, because of Medicaid limitations, Hispanic or Latino population in the US are suffering from higher cost of treatment for cancer which enhance delays in getting cancer care. due to increased costs these people cannot get insurance which aligns with late diagnosis, restricted care treatments and eventually enhance health inequalities (ACS, 2022). Source: (ACS, 2022) Slide Notes Based on the above examples it can be stated that significant barriers are confronted by marginalized populations in the present world. In the Henrietta’s case ethical limitations have been exposed as well as policy issues in Medicaid also show limitations for Hispanic patients to access proper treatment. Thus, enhance health inequities, and negatively impact the health outcomes. Slide 7 American Cancer Society (ACS) * A dedicated nonprofit cancer fighting organization having a vision to end cancer for each individual. * The mission of the organization is to provide better lives to the people suffering from the disease through supporting patients, advocating, and researching for the same, ensuring that equal opportunities are bestowed in preventing, treating from cancer (American Cancer Society, 2025). * Since 1946, the organization has invested more than $5 billion in researching for the disease (American Cancer Society, 2016). Slide Notes Several key programs and services are offered by the organization like Reach to recovery, Relay for Life. Lodging services, navigation assistance and Rides to treatment are major services which provide assistance in transportation for patients travelling longer distances and lodging support to them (American Cancer Society, 2016) Slide 8 Ethical considerations in ACS * Support autonomy- ACS promotes autonomy by providing education regarding the care options and clinical trials. Researchers state that with proper education provided to the patients helps in improving treatment adherence by 30% (Sandhya Rani et al., 2024). * Palliative care- ACS also helps the patients in ethical decision making for withdrawing from a particular treatment or care process. * Lowering disparities- ACS provides funds to enhance support to the uninsured and marginalized populations. Slide notes These ethical considerations like enhancing the autonomy are beneficial for the patients as it helps them and their family members to make informed decisions for better adherence to the treatment process and positive health outcomes. Additionally, Hope Lodge’s and grants in transportation facilities also aids in improving ethical treatment regime as it helps bridge the gap of accessibility in the society (ACS, 2025). Slide 9 Policy advocacy by ACS Slide Points * ACS Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)- An advocacy policy that helps the organization to modifying and improving the laws for accessing cancer care. It works for Medicaid expansion where lower income people are provided timely treatment through this. * Tobacco control polices- ACS helps in supporting Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (2009) aimed to regulate the sales and marketing of tobacco (FDA, 2024). * Funding to Cancer research- ACS also aids in providing proper funding for developing major landmark treatments for preventing cancer under National Cancer Act (1971) (National Institute of Health, 2022). Slide Notes Despite ACS plays major role in policy advocacy, the issues to implement the rules persists. For instance, in case of ACS CAN Medicaid expands in different parts but there are certain states where it cannot get expanded thus lowering the accessibility to low-income communities (Kim et al., 2020). Additionally, with policies that limits smoking and provides funding issues linked with enforcement and resources allocation persist which impact minority groups. Slide 10 Recommendations for future success * To enhance the reach of ACS for developing more comprehensive cancer care, Medicaid must be expanded equally in the nation like Canada’s Universal health model to overcome disparities (Government of Canada, 2021). * To improve the care comprehensively, the organization must also get indulge into universal insurance coverage for all the patients suffering from cancer like UK’s NHS Cancer Plan thus lowering the issues linked with financial barriers (Tikkanen et al., 2020). Slide Points These recommendations will help in lowering the inequalities that are present in accessibility of cancer care which eventually improves the timely treatment measure for all people. Additionally, adaptation of universal insurance model, monetary barriers will get limited, subsequently raise the affordability to the measures, early diagnosis and also encourage patients to align with the treatment process. Slide 10 Conclusion American Cancer society plays a crucial orle in advocacy, support to the patients and research aspects in medical fields. This organizations is effective for leveraging care coordination which enhance timely treatment for cancer, lowering potential inequalities and thus advancing the patient centered care. Moreover, if certain recommendations are integrated in the Medicaid like implementing universal insurance coverage and expanding it nationwide then it will help improve health outcomes positively and minimize the mortality rates as well. References ACS (2022). The Costs of Cancer in the Hispanic/Latino Community. [online] American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. Available at: https://www.fightcancer.org/policy-resources/costs-cancer-hispaniclatino-community-0 [Accessed 19 Mar. 2025]. ACS (2025). American Cancer Society Hope Lodge . [online] www.cancer.org. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/support-programs-and-services/patient-lodging/hope-lodge.html ...