While individuals with pre-existing conditions have a right to access healthcare services, their increased healthcare needs may strain limited resources within the healthcare system. Care coordination efforts must navigate this tension by balancing the needs of individual patients with broader considerations of healthcare resource allocation and sustainability (Lucas, 2024). Ensuring these provisions promote fair and just distribution of resources and services is crucial for upholding ethical principles of justice and beneficence in care coordination efforts within the AHA and broader healthcare systems. Zoning laws regulate the distribution of healthcare facilities within a community.
If specific neighborhoods lack access to essential cardiovascular care services, such as clinics or rehabilitation centers, health disparities and inequities can be exacerbated. This raises ethical questions about distributive justice and fairness in resource allocation. Policymakers must consider the moral implications of zoning decisions and strive to ensure equitable access to cardiovascular care services across all communities (Mohtat & Khirfan, 2022).
The nursing code of ethics plays a crucial role in shaping care coordination and the continuum of care within the American Heart Association (AHA) and its affiliated healthcare settings. Nurses, as frontline caregivers, adhere to ethical principles outlined in the code of ethics, guiding their interactions with patients, families, and interdisciplinary care teams. Within cardiovascular care, nurses prioritize beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice to ensure patients receive compassionate and high-quality care across the care continuum, from prevention to rehabilitation.
Healthy People 2020 highlights socioeconomic determinants of health as major factors influencing health, health inequities, and access to cardiovascular care services (Horwitz et al., 2020). Nurses, guided by ethical standards, recognize the impact of these determinants and advocate for equitable access to resources and services that address social and economic barriers to cardiovascular health. They engage in community outreach programs and policy advocacy initiatives to improve access to affordable healthcare services for underserved populations (Horwitz et al., 2020).
Evidence suggests that nurses’ adherence to ethical principles leads to improved patient outcomes, increased satisfaction, and more efficient care delivery (Aghamohammadi et al., 2021). Initiatives addressing social determinants of health have been linked to reductions in health disparities and improvements in population health outcomes. By aligning their practice with ethical standards and advocating for strategies addressing socioeconomic determinants of health, nurses contribute to the AHA’s mission of promoting cardiovascular health and reducing disparities in care.
Our discussion highlights the intricate relationship between governmental policies, ethical considerations, and nursing practice in cardiovascular care coordination within the American Heart Association (AHA). While policies like HIPAA and the HITECH Act aim to improve care coordination, they also raise ethical questions about privacy and equity. Nurses, guided by ethical principles, play a crucial role in advocating for patient-centered care and addressing social determinants of health. Nurses contribute significantly to improving patient outcomes and advancing cardiovascular health by aligning their practice with ethical standards and policy objectives. Continuing efforts to address ethical dilemmas, promote health equity, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for enhancing care coordination within the AHA and beyond.
References
Aghamohammadi, F., Imani, B., & Koosha, M. M. (2021). Operating room nurses’ lived experiences of ethical codes: A phenomenological study in Iran. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 8(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2021.05.012
Ezell, J. M., Hamdi, S., & Borrero, N. (2021). Approaches to addressing nonmedical services and care coordination needs for older adults. Research on Aging, 016402752110339. https://doi.org/10.1177/01640275211033929
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