Advocating for Improved Community Healthcare Policy

Assignment Brief

Purpose

In this course, the students will have the opportunity to identify a healthcare policy concern and community healthcare concern which can be improved with a change in policy, ordinance or the language in existing law. The outcome would be the potential for improved health for a population group.  Students will present a proposed solution or change to an elected official, and provide an analysis of the project.  While students are not responsible for ensuring the implementation of their identified solution to the healthcare policy concern, the student is required to meet with an elected official to present the concern and proposed resolution.  The purpose of this current assignment is to identify the community-based healthcare policy concern and provide an extensive evidenced-based foundation for proposing a policy change to an elected official. 

Course Outcomes

This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes: 

• CO 1. Employ strategies to impact the development, implementation, and consequences of holistic focused healthcare policies at the institutional, local, national, and international levels using evidence-based practice principles.  (PO 1) 
• CO 3. Demonstrate professional and personal growth regarding the advocacy role of the advance practice nurse in healthcare policy for diverse healthcare settings.   (PO 3)
• CO 5.  Advocate for institutional, local, national, and international policies that influence person-centered healthcare, consumers, and nursing practice.  (PO 5)

Sample Answer

Advocating for Improved Community Healthcare Policy: Addressing Access to Mental Health Services

Introduction

Healthcare policies significantly shape the well-being of communities. Nurses, particularly those in advanced practice roles, play a critical part in identifying gaps in healthcare provision and advocating for policy improvements that benefit population health. This essay identifies a pressing community healthcare concern, the limited access to mental health services, and proposes a policy change to improve access and outcomes. Evidence-based practice underpins the analysis, aligning with the professional responsibilities of healthcare advocates.

Community Healthcare Concern

Mental health disorders affect a substantial portion of the population, yet access to timely and adequate mental health services remains limited in many communities. Barriers include insufficient local resources, long waiting times, and inadequate insurance coverage for mental health treatment. These issues contribute to worsening outcomes, including increased emergency hospital admissions, higher suicide rates, and poorer quality of life for affected individuals and their families.

Policy Implications

Current policies at local and national levels often fail to prioritise mental health equivalently to physical health. Existing legislation may be vague or underfunded, leaving communities without sufficient services. This policy gap presents an opportunity for advocacy to ensure that mental health receives the attention and resources it requires.

Proposed Policy Change

To address these challenges, I propose a policy that mandates increased funding and resource allocation for community mental health services. Key elements include:

• Expanding access to community-based mental health clinics.

• Implementing telehealth options to reach underserved populations.

• Ensuring insurance parity for mental and physical health treatments.

• Integrating mental health education and early screening in schools and workplaces.

These changes aim to improve access, reduce health inequities, and promote early intervention, ultimately leading to better population health outcomes.

Evidence-Based Justification

Research demonstrates that increased access to mental health services reduces hospitalisations, improves treatment adherence, and enhances overall quality of life. Studies have shown that telehealth services can effectively extend care to remote or underserved populations. Moreover, policy interventions that prioritise mental health funding correlate with lower societal costs due to reduced emergency care utilisation and improved workforce productivity. These findings provide a strong evidence-based foundation for advocating policy reform.

Continued...