HJAR May/Jun 2024

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  MAY / JUN 2024 43 ring role, the nurse leader can educate the front line on concepts such as value-based purchasing, adherence to quality bundles, and the like. The nurse leader is respon- sible for ensuring the best and most rele- vant clinical decision-making tools, and resources are readily available to all front- line clinicians. Transparency and technology have driven the reporting of quality metrics to the consumer. Patients can now review quality scores of facilities in a region and make informed decisions as to which fa- cility to choose for care based on these metrics. The one challenge to this is that the information on sites such as Hospi- tal Compare is at times greater than 12 months old and may not reflect facility improvements made in the current year. 5 To address this, facilities are now posting their quality metrics on their hospital web- sites as quickly as they are abstracted and reported to CMS. Conclusion Healthcare emerging trends are a con- stant reminder that healthcare provision is not a static activity or body of knowledge, but a living and dynamic state of profes- sional inquiry and learning. Ensuring the nurse leader maintains currency is para- mount to furthering the practice of nurses and promoting innovation in the beautiful art and science of nursing. Quality of care and patient consumerism are just a few of these emerging trends the nurse leader should keep front-of-mind as they further their knowledge and skills for the promo- tion of health in the populations locally, nationally, and globally. n or community comparison for consumers to evaluate the high and lower performing organizations in their area. 1 As we visit the international and glob- al implications on population health, it is essential to compare overall healthcare performance on the international level. Data derived from a number of sources to include vital statistics, finance-driven sta- tistics, and population health determinant statistics provides a unique view of in- ternational comparisons. Information on costs relative to the gross domestic prod- uct (GDP) percentage was derived from the Peterson-KRR health system tracker and reports that as of 2017, 17.7% of the GDP was spent on healthcare. However, the U.S., despite the tremendous health- care expenditures, does not have the best quality outcomes when comparing neona- tal outcomes and other disease processes. 2 A recent impact of the pandemic is that the life expectancy in the U.S. has actually de- creased from 78.8 to 77.8 years in a matter of one year with COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention. 3 Relevance A 2015 Institute of Medicine report clearly recognized the importance of data collaboration as well as collection. 4 Key to the need for robust data sets is the integ- rity of said data and the need to enhance the data collection process. These data sets and comparative benchmark data allow organizations to benchmark performance relative to local organization in a particu- lar geographic region, statewide, and na- tionally. By assuming an educational andmento- Candi Constantine-Castillo, DNP, MSN Adjunct Nursing Faculty University of Arkansas Little Rock REFERENCES 1 Heath, S. “Breaking down the basics of health- care consumerism.” PatientEngagementHIT, Nov. 18, 2023. https://patientengagementhit. com/news/breaking-down-the-basics-of-health- care-consumerism 2 Ayanian, J. “Crucial questions for US health pol- icy in the next decade.” JAMA 325, no. 14 (April 13, 2021): 1397-1399. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.1470 3 Arias, E.; Tejada-Vera, B.; Ahmad, F. “Provisional Life Expectancy Estimates for January through June, 2020.” National Vital Statistics System, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, Vital Statistics Rapid Release, report no. 10 (February 2021). (2021). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ vsrr/VSRR10-508.pdf astonguay, A.; Farthing, P.; Davies, S.; et al. “Revol 4 The National Academies of Sciences, Engineer- ing, and Medicine. “Report in brief: Assessing progress on the Institute of Medicine Report: ‘The future of nursing.’” December 2015. https://nap. nationalacademies.org/resource/21838/Nursing- Report-in-brief.pdf 5 Medicare. “Find and Compare Hospital Near You.” Accessed March 2024. https://www. medicare.gov/hospitalcompare/compare. html#cmprTab=2&cmprID=050137%2C050278% 2C050704&cmprDist=1.1%2C4.8%2C1.1&dist=25&l oc=91402&lat=34.2252697&lng=-118.442596 ADDITIONAL REFERENCES Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “HCAHPS: Patients Perspectives of Care Survey.” Last modified Sept. 6, 2023. https://www.cms. gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assess- ment-Instruments/HospitalQualityInits/Hospital- HCAHPS.html Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” National Academies Press, 2011. doi: 10.17226/12956 Candi Constantine-Castillo, DNP, MSN, is a native of Tennessee and has lived in the RioGrandeValley since 1998. Candi is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where she obtained an associate degree in nursing and later a bachelor’s in nursing. She has amaster’s in nursing administration,and aMaster of Business Administration. Doctoral degrees include a Doctor of Health Administration and a Doctor of Nursing Practice.She has held numerous healthcare leadership positions, including chief nursing officer, system chief nursing officer, chief operating officer, and chief executive officer. She currently serves as the CEO for Harlingen Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas, and is an adjunct faculty member of the Uni- versity of Arkansas at Little Rock undergraduate nursing program.