Expanding Access to Telehealth Services
A position paper is a document you could present to a legislator to seek support for an issue you endorse. Present your position on a current health-care issue in a one-page paper, following the assignment guidelines below. You can select your issue topic from newspapers, national news magazine articles, professional journals, or professional association literature.
Your position paper should:
• Be quickly and easily understood.
• Be succinct and clear.
• Appear very professional with the legislator’s name and title on top and your name and your credentials at the bottom.
• Condense essential information in one, single-spaced page, excluding the title and reference list pages.
• Be written using correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and APA format.
• Clearly describe the issue that you are addressing in the opening paragraph.
• Include 3–4 bullet points regarding why you are seeking the legislator’s vote, support, or opposition. Bullet points should be clear and concise but not repetitive and should reflect current literature that substantiates your position.
• Summarize the implications for the nursing profession and/or patients.
• Conclude with two recommendations that you wish to see happen related to your issue, such as a vote for or against, a change in policy, or the introduction of new legislation.
• Use current APA Style, correct grammar, and references as appropriate.
The literature you cite must be from peer-reviewed journals and primary source information.
—>
[Name of Legislator]
[Title of Legislator]
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials]
[Date]
Position Paper: Expanding Access to Telehealth Services
The issue of expanding access to telehealth services is a critical one for the health care industry, as it has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Telehealth, also known as telemedicine, refers to the use of technology to provide medical consultations and other health-related services remotely.
There are several reasons why legislators should support the expansion of telehealth services:
Telehealth has been shown to improve patient outcomes, particularly for individuals living in rural or underserved areas who may have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare services.
Telehealth can also reduce healthcare costs by reducing the need for patients to travel to see a healthcare provider and by reducing the number of unnecessary hospital visits.
Telehealth can also improve access to care for individuals with mobility or transportation limitations, as well as for individuals with chronic conditions who require frequent follow-up visits.
The implications for the nursing profession and patients are clear, telehealth can improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs, but it also can support the nursing profession by allowing for better communication and coordination between healthcare providers and patients.
In conclusion, legislators should support the expansion of telehealth services by:
Allowing for Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth services.
Encouraging insurance companies to cover telehealth services as a covered benefit.
As a nurse and a healthcare provider, I strongly endorse the expansion of telehealth services as it has the potential to greatly improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
References:
American Medical Association. (2019). Telemedicine and telehealth. American Medical Association. Retrieved from https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/telemedicine-and-telehealth
American Nurses Association. (2019). Telehealth nursing practice. American Nurses Association. Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-it/telehealth-nursing-practice/
[Your Name]
[Your Credentials]
