Roles of Nurses in Managed Care

Healthcare is gradually taking shape as the role of nurses continue to expand in the midst of numerous growing health concerns. Fortunately, the growth of managed care is changing the landscape of how care is financed, delivered, and assessed. Managed care not only links care delivery to finance but also monitors costs, utility, and performance ( Parker & Fuller, 2016). Therefore, nurses in managed care have to be excellent in coding as well as management. 

While working closely with patients, their main role is patient advocacy when serving as a liaison between care recipients, doctors, and insurance providers. This means that regardless of other increasing responsibilities, they should focus on meeting the needs of the patients. Apart from analyzing health systems with respect to accessibility to patients’ needs, their other role is to search and recommend cost-effective options for their patients. This means that they carry out research and gather necessary data that would be used as a clinical intervention strategy of health promotion. Outcomes must be the best but achieved with the lowest costs possible ( Parker & Fuller, 2016) . For instance, IVF opts for a patient who wants to get pregnant should be provided in a good clinic under the cheapest cost possible. They are also tasked with the responsibility of designing, managing, and implementing educational programs for targeted populations. They also coordinate care for their patients irrespective of geographic boundaries. Most importantly, they are required to maintain a high level of cultural sensitivity when linking patients’ needs with appropriate financial options ( Parker & Fuller, 2016) . At the same time, they are required to continue with care provision while enhancing their relationships with patients and other providers of healthcare in order to contribute to good patient outcomes. 

References 

Parker, S., & Fuller, J. (2016). Are nurses well placed as care co‐ordinators in primary care and what is needed to develop their role: a rapid review?  Health & social care in the community ,  24 (2), 113-122.