Health Assurance Quality Assurance and Legislation

Question: Discuss about the Health Assurancefor Quality Assurance and Legislation. Answer: Introduction Quality Assurance and Legislation in Aotearoa New Zealand Aotearoa New Zealand is dominantly occupied by the Maori people. Being the indigenous culture in New Zealand, they signed a treaty with the queen Victoria after Britain prevailed in colonizing New Zealand (Kane, et.al, 2005). The treaty was known as the treaty of Waitangi that governs their lives and wellbeing. The government honors this treaty though there is little consensus on its interpretation and its practicality in modern times. The court has to settle matters of recognizing the treaty and its application most of the time. Consequences of inequitable healthy care and significant disparities are the main concerns for the Maori people as any other indigenous culture (Davey, 2004). Their age structure shows characteristics of a third world country structure despite the fact that New Zealand is a first world country. Of the total New Zealand population, in the 1996 census, the Maori people made up only 14.5%. 37.5% of its population were young people aged 15years and below. This w as higher than that of the other cultures. They also had only 3% of its population aged above 65years. Maoris life expectancy was discovered to be lower than that of the other cultures, with men having a life expectancy of eight years lesser than the non-Maori and women nine years lesser (Lewis, 2005). With their decreased fertility rates and increased mortality rates for cerebrovascular disease, cancer and unintentional injury being higher than the rest of the population, it makes their health a priority to the government. This called for creation of quality assurance bodies and legislation to improve their healthy status. The following are some of the quality assurance bodies and legislation. National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Originally created by the managed care industry but it later became a sovereign entity after being given a grant from Robert Wood Johnson foundation. Its major initiatives are: maintenance of Information set and Health plan data (HEDIS), a lay down of performance measures that asses the managed care organizations; a program for managed care organizations certifying their organization process and reviewing auditors. HEIDS measures have evolved over the years and now have specifics that focus on different aspects of Medicare. It incorporates the MAPO strategy, this way its possible to operationalise Waitangi treaty and allow for Maori to participate in health sector externally. The MAPO squad consists of people with clinical, policy analysis, financial and project management expertise that oversee the quality assurance. Health Funding Authority (HFA) Deals with analysis of effects of its disestablishment and the impact it has on the Maori health development. This takes into account changes in the environment, the treaty of Waitangi and the HFA. HFA is anticipated to do the accepted things to a national Maori strategic health plan drafted by Maori health group (Duke, 2005). The entire organization owns it. The plan has contributed to the benchmarking of Maori health and also its development performance. Mari cultures nature has always been holistic. Their cultural, physical, tribal, spiritual and family elements all interrelate and affect each other. In quality assurance, HFA has to take into consideration the four aspects of the Maori health scheme that are considered to make it equally holistic. These cornerstones include: emotional and mental aspects, spiritual aspects, community and family aspects and finally, physical aspects. To achieve quality, the Maori people are encouraged to play a part in the program. Quality Assurance Activities under the Act (QAA) Health practitioners are subject to assessment as a part of QAA. They however can submit an application to have this activities protected in the competence act of health practitioners. Quality Assurance Activities is a term in the act that refers to how the practitioners monitor, review and assess their work as an integral part of assuring quality. It helps improve competence of practitioners and delivery of services as far as health care is concerned. Due to the public concern to see protected QAA the ministry of health publishes annual reports on the same. Healthy Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand This commission works closely with professionals and patients across the health sector. It also deals with infection control and prevention. To honor the definition of health according to Maori, the commission has to recognize inter-sectoral integration of the Maori. Their undertakings must be informed by the want to strengthen Maori community tribal groups and family as a whole. This kind of integration comes with many difficulties though well developed initiatives are in place to make this possible. Clinical Governance In the New Zealand Health Sector This is a concept of governance that is multifaceted in terms of perspectives and constituents; its a process, a behavior and a structure in its appearance. Clinical governance takes into account patients and those representing them; providers and those that represent them too (Bundy, 2004). Clinical governance activities majorly focus on assuring quality. Healthcare consumers have expectations of being offered best quality services as required. Credentialing in New Zealand Health and Disability Services This was established by the ministry of health. Its geared towards achieving clinical excellence. Its focused on credentialing senior officers in the medical field and also health professionals in the disabilities service. However its main focus are where there are risks of harm due to lack of clinical oversight directly. This includes where there is an expanded practice scope. Credentialing is done on basis of qualifications, training education and experience with a primary focus on the patients safety and also practitioners protection, consumer confidence and providers accountability. However the Health Practitioners Competence Act (HAPCA) of 2003 gives clear guidelines for regulatory authorities defines scopes of practice and registration. On the other hand both extended and expanded scopes are taken care of by the New Zealand Nurses Organization (NZNO). Credentialing helps to respond to exacting needs of the Maori culture and recognize the governments role under the treaty of Waitangi so as to work as a unit to improve the health outcomes of the Maori (Larner, et.al. 2005). Its objective is to increase Maori participation in every single level in the health sector so as to benefit from government funded disability and health sectors thus preserving treaty based rights. Through this strategy, its easy to identify and in turn utilize potential contributions of the main tribe (Iwi), sub tribe (Hapu) and family (Whanau) in the health sector. This plays an important role in counterbalancing disparities that have affected access, need based and choice of utilizing of health services. These professional bodies play a very important role I the wellbeing and good health of the Maori people; partnership health promotion, injury and disease prevention by all stakeholders; equitable and timely access to health facilities and disability services in spite of the ability to pay; active consumer involvement and community ; improving health status of the disadvantaged; acknowledge the relationship between the crown and Maori under treaty of Waitangi; achieving a high performance healthcare system that people trust. Consumers should be involved in quality assurance process at local level. For it to be successful, on the other hand, practitioner and their organizational preparedness are mandatory. Experience from the Maori people has revealed that when practitioners are involved actively in quality assurance process, the consumers greatly accept to be involved too. In addition, consumers involvement in other organizations areas increases their readiness to have a say towards quality assurance (Wepa, 2015). However, the special relationship between the crown and Maori must be recognized and that they shall play an important role in the implementation of health approach. They should also be in a position to provide and define their healthcare priorities; and be supported to develop the capability to deliver services to their people. References Bundy, A. (2004). Australian and New Zealand information literacy framework. Principles, standards and practice, 2. Davey, J. A., de Joux, V., Nana, G., Arcus, M. (2004). Accommodation options for older people in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Christchurch: Centre for Housing Research. Duke, K. (2005). A century of CAM in New Zealand: a struggle for recognition. Complementary therapies in clinical practice, 11(1), 11-16. Kane, R. G., Burke, P., Cullen, J., Davey, R., Jordan, B., McCurchy-Pilkington, C., ... Stephens, C. (2005). Initial teacher education policy and practice. Larner, W., Le Heron, R. (2005). Neo-liberalizing spaces and subjectivities: Reinventing New Zealand universities. Organization, 12(6), 843-862. Lewis*, N. (2005). Code of practice for the pastoral care of international students: making a globalising industry in New Zealand. Globalisation, Societies and Education, 3(1), 5-47. Wepa, D. (Ed.). (2015). Cultural safety in Aotearoa New Zealand. Cambridge University Press.