Relevant Health Policy Implications for the Coordination and Continuum of Care

Several healthcare policies influence the coordination and continuum of care for patients with AD. The value-based systems under the Medicare program are an example of healthcare policy with implications on the coordination and continuum of care. The Health Readmission Reduction Program under the Medicare value-based system implores healthcare organizations to improve their communications and care coordinative processes to foster better engagements between patients, patient’s families, and caregivers to lower avoidable hospital readmission (Teisberg et al., 2020). This policy, in this respect, optimizes clinical approaches to patients and ensures that best practices in care coordination are employed.

Priorities that a Care Coordinator would Establish when Discussing the Plan with a Patient and Family Member

When discussing evidence-based therapeutic plans with a patient and their family, priorities include communicating the need for the change and its impact on their well-being. In comprehensive care for AD, the need for changes in therapeutic plans is often to improve patient experiences and their clinical outcomes. This can be attained by revising the therapeutic plans to either add or substitute medications, enhance self-management practices, and educate patients on aspects of their disease. These have an overall impact of lessening symptom severity. The impact of the change is often evident in the improved quality of life of these patients.

Comparison of Learning Session Content with Best Practices

Literature provisions on the management of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are in concert with literature provisions on best practices in AD management. Both reinforce the significance of patient-centered approaches in the comprehensive management of AD as well as the importance of early detection of the disease. Both recommend community screening approaches and enhanced recommendations by caregivers to encourage diagnostics tests on persons suspected of having these diseases. These provisions are also aligned with the provisions of the Healthy People 2030 on dementia. The Healthy People 2030 document outlines the management goals of the disease. It aims to improve the health and quality of life for all patients with dementia by increasing the proportion of adults diagnosed with the disease and reducing preventable hospitalizations. The Healthy People 2030 details specific interventions for specific groups. These provisions can be used to revise the learning session’s contents to include the objective outlined under the Healthy People goals.

Conclusion

AD remains a health concern in the U.S. Its progressive and chronic nature and complex manifestation make it challenging to manage. Coordinative approaches maintain effectiveness in the comprehensive management of the disease. Several issues may, however, become apparent when managing this disease. Optimal pharmacotherapy, early detection, and diagnosis of AD are some healthcare issues that healthcare systems are still dealing with. Leveraging community resources to help manage these illnesses may provide a reprieve in managing these diseases. Ethical and policy concerns also arise when coordinating care for AD patients. Policies such as Medicare apply when managing AD and other forms of dementia.

References

Lindeza, P., Rodrigues, M., Costa, J., Guerreiro, M., & Rosa, M. M. (2020). Impact of dementia on informal care: A systematic review of family caregivers’ perceptions. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002242