Medical oncologists job satisfaction in light of Medicare Dissertation

Medical oncologists job satisfaction in light of Medicare reimbursement cuts, new legislation such as the Sunshine Act and burno - Dissertation Example The levels of job satisfaction have a strong influence in the efficient performance of job related functions. In the case of the physicians and nursing professionals the lower the levels of job satisfaction, the less efficiency in the delivery o patient care, and lower the patient satisfaction in the care received (Burke, 2004). It is for this reason that more than four decades earlier a key factor in health care delivery was the emphasis in attempts to increase the job satisfaction levels among physicians and nursing professionals, with a lot of concentration on financial rewards and improved working conditions. Evidence from studies subsequently has shown that these efforts have not produced the desired results. Over the past decade physician job level satisfaction has declined significantly, and is gauged by the lack of willingness to repeat their studies in medicine, were the option available to them (Burke, 2004). A key dimension that has emerged in the delivery of healthcare cu rrently is the requirement for lowering the costs in the delivery of care, but at the same time maintaining higher levels of quality in the delivery care. In addition there are changes that have occurred in the market place involving increase in competition and legislative financial pressures that are consistent with the requirement for lowering costs and increasing quality in the delivery of healthcare. ... tant exposure to the suffering of their patients, loss of patients, and the grief of the survivors, and are expected to provide relief in all these circumstances. In other words the normal practice of medical oncologists is stressful (Cherny & Catane, 2004). In addition to work pressures, medical oncologists face added financial stress coming from legislative action that will cause cut in Medicare re-imbursement from 2012 onwards (Walsh, 2011). 2. Aim of the Study The aim of the study is to evaluate job satisfaction among medical oncologists in the face of the increased challenges that they face in their practice of health care. 3. Objectives of the Study This study has three objectives, which are: 1. Evaluate the impact of Medicare reimbursement cuts on job satisfaction among medical oncologists. 2. Evaluate the impact of the Sunshine Act on job satisfaction among medical oncologists. 3. Analyse the impact of burnout due to work and family conflict on job satisfaction among medical oncologists. 4. Significance of the Study The elderly population in the United States of America (USA) is growing, which will place increased demands on providing care for their health needs. The incidence of cancer is known to rise with age. In addition, derived from the benefits advances in medical science there is and increase in the survivorship of cancer patients. Hence there will be increasing demand for medical oncologists to meet the health care needs of the general population, as well as the growing elderly segment. In a recent study conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology there is already a shortage of medical oncologists that will only worsen over the next decade. The study forecasts that in 2020 12,547 oncologists will be added to the strength of practicing

Evidence-Based Practices in Oncology Nursing Research Paper

Evidence-Based Practices in Oncology Nursing - Research Paper Example Evidence-based practice is a multi-step, dynamic process that incorporates best external data and best clinical judgment that is according to patient response to nursing interventions. Â  Even one individual nurse may complete this process however a multidisciplinary team approach allows for even bigger perspectives on a clinical problem. With the new ways of health care practice brought about by evidenced-based practice nurses are given the chance to provide the best possible nursing care that can provide desirable outcome based on evidence altogether with the way which Nursing Care Delivery Model is suited for the situation. Â  Nursing care delivery models are mechanisms for organizing and delivering patient care. Â  Nursing care delivery models focus on structure, process and/or outcomes. Â  Along the evolution of nursing and the sprout of nurse educators and scholars, many nursing care delivery models have also been developed that eventually evolved to different types and kin ds from various developments and modifications of use. Â  Some have been developed using task approaches where patient care tasks are listed and categorized under the level of care required providing the task. More recent models have arisen out of a psychological approach, focusing on patient satisfaction with nursing care and job satisfaction among nurses. Â  Some of the most obvious reasons for such variations are cost of nursing care delivery, availability of personnel, patient care needs and individual preference.and organizational preference. Nevertheless regardless of what nursing care delivery model is utilized by nurses, the purpose of any delivery system is to provide high quality care, efficiently and effectively as possible (Neisner & Raymond, 2002, p. 7). Nursing Care Models and the development of Evidence-Based Practice The author of this essay deemed three Nursing Care Delivery Models that would best support evidenced-based practice in oncology nursing-- Patient-Centered Care, Team Nursing and Nursing Case Management. Models of care are important because it is how evidenced-based patient care is delivered to the patient. Evidenced-based practices will be null and void if nursing care delivery is poor in the first place it will not be properly delivered or worst not delivered at all. Patient-Centered Care (Table 1) is a model first utilized during the hospital reengineering era of the 90’s. This method uses multi-skilled workers and a team approach to nursing. By virtue of this method, patients are being grouped together according to similarity of cases. The four principle of this method are: simplifying outcomes, grouping similar patient population together, bringing services closer to patients