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Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
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Ethical and Policy Factors in Care Coordination
The ACS is a well-known cancer-fighting association with a vision to end cancer as we know it.
Through patient support, advocacy, and research, the association is dedicated to reinforcing the lives of
those who are dealing with cancer and their families. A single Board of Directors, made up solely of
devoted volunteers from the therapeutic and lay communities, manages the operations of the ACS as a
501(c)(3) nonprofit company. Let's examine the main contributions created by the ACS to the field of
coordinating cancer care.
A. Advocacy:
The ACS is powerfully involved in promoting regulations that improve access to healthcare and cancer
medication. This covers initiatives at the municipal, state, and federal levels to widen access to cancer
screening. The ACS likewise works to create healthcare more reasonably priced so that people can get
the care they demand without having to pay excessive prices.
B. Research:
The ACS plays a critical part in advancing cancer research. It invests meaningful resources,
accompanying over $5 billion contributed over 75 years, to launch creative and high-impact research
(American Cancer Society, n.d.). This exploration targets to find better treatments, reveal factors that
may cause cancer, and develop the quality of existence for people facing cancer.
C. Patient Support:
Patient support ranges from offering new evidence-based cancer data to equipping people with the
education to make healthy alternatives that can reduce cancer risk. The ACS further supplies
counseling on screening directions to detect cancer early and presents free transportation and lodging
for persons who need treatment far from home.
II. Governmental Policies and Their Impact on Cancer Care Coordination:
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Governmental policies play an important role in forming the coordination of cancer care, and the ACS
actively joins with these policies.
A. The Affordable Care Act (ACA):
The ACA, also known as Obamacare, has had a deep effect on the coordination of cancer care. It
extended insurance coverage and supported important interests, including cancer-related services. This
has managed to provide greater access to cancer screening and treatment for millions of Americans.
B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA):
HIPAA, a federal law, is essential for safeguarding patient privacy and the secrecy of their medical
information. While necessary, it may be difficult to coordinate cancer care cause it prohibits sharing
patient dossiers without that person's express permission. In order to preserve patients' rights while
coordinating their situation, the ACS must traverse different laws.
III. Ethical Dilemmas in Cancer Care Coordination:
Cancer care coordination is not without its ethical objections. The ACS, as a leading advocate and
supporter of cancer patients, discusses these dilemmas while upholding the ethical principles of the
nursing profession.
A. Confidentiality vs. Information Sharing:
One of the primary ethical dilemmas in cancer care coordination is the balance between protecting
patient confidentiality and sharing information with other healthcare providers. HIPAA mandates
confidentiality, but sharing information is sometimes necessary for ensuring the best care for patients.
B. Informed Consent:
Obtaining informed consent from cancer patients may be complex, particularly when they are handling
a life-threatening ailment. This dilemma raises doubts about patients' competency to make resolutions
and the significance of guaranteeing that they are fully cognizant and capable of providing consent.
C. Autonomy vs. Beneficence:
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Cancer care coordinators frequently grapple with the pressure between respecting patients' autonomy
and advancing their well-being. This balance turns intricate when patients' health is in danger and
complicated decisions need to be made. Cancer sufferers may occasionally make decisions that are not
in their best interest due to a lack of information, sentimental distress, or other determinants.
IV. The Impact of the Code of Ethics for Nurses on Cancer Care Coordination:
The Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements serves as a directing document for nursing
specialists, shaping their practice and decision-making. The ACS, as an organization devoted to patient
support and advancement, complies to these ethical principles in the coordination of cancer care.
A. Respect for Human Dignity:
In order to guarantee that cancer patients are doctored with respect and compassion throughout their
cancer journey, the American Cancer Society (ACS) emphasizes the inherent value and dignity of every
individual. According to research, compassionate care is linked to better patient results, such as
increased cognitive well-being and treatment adherence.
B. Duty to Promote Health and Well-Being:
The ACS's cancer care coordinators are enthusiastic to supporting and advancing the fitness and wellbeing of cancer patients. Supporting healthful lifestyle choices and offering advice on cancer
prevention are two illustrations of this. For instance, cancer preventive drives that advance quitting
smoking, a good diet, and exercise have helped to lower the occurrence of cancer.
C. The Duty to Advocate:
The ACS, through its advocacy efforts, powerfully fights at all levels of government to demand change
from elected officials. This advocacy focuses on building healthier communities, more reliable
workplaces, and a more equitable approach to quality medical care for cancer victims.
V. Addressing Social Determinants of Health:
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The ACS acknowledges the importance of forwarding social determinants of health in the coordination
of cancer care. These motives include factors like socioeconomic rank, access to healthcare, and style
of living choices.
A. Access to Services:
The ACS is devoted to reducing disparities in access to cancer aid, particularly between underserved
populations. The organization advocates for procedures that improve access to cancer care and upholds
programs that embellish access for all individuals. By addressing social determinants of health and
justifying policies that enhance access, the ACS assists in reducing differences and promoting equitable
care coordination.
B. Stigma Reduction:
The stigma around cancer is still a bigger obstacle to care. The ACS actively inquires to lessen stigma
and foster a society that is more approachable and encouraging of cancer sufferers. Patients who are
stigmatized because of their cancer may postpone acquiring medical attention and comply less closely
to their remedy. The ACS encourages a more patient-focused and sympathetic approach to care
coordination by addressing and decreasing cancer stigma.
VI. Conclusion:
In conclusion, the coordination of cancer care is affected by a myriad of ethical and procedural issues,
and the ACS is at the forefront of addressing these challenges. As an organization committed to ending
cancer, the ACS resolutely advocates for policies that improve the approach to care, conducts research
to advance cancer treatment, and supports unchanging support to cancer patients and their families. By
adhering to the moral principles defined in the Code of Ethics for Nurses, the ACS ensures that every
individual, regardless of their cancer diagnosis, receives the care and support they deserve.
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