Answer to Question 1
ANS: A
Performance improvement activities are typically clinical projects conceived in response to identified clinical problems and designed to use research findings to improve clinical practice. Larger health care systems have integrated delivery networks (IDNs) that include a network of facilities, providers, and services organized to deliver a continuum of care to a population of patients at a capitated cost in a particular setting. Nursing-sensitive outcomes are patient outcomes and nursing workforce characteristics that are directly related to nursing care such as changes in patients' symptom experiences, functional status, safety, psychological distress, registered nurse (RN) job satisfaction, total nursing hours per patient day, and costs. Medicare-qualified hospitals had physician-supervised utilization review (UR) committees to review the admissions and to identify and eliminate overuse of diagnostic and treatment services ordered by physicians caring for patients on Medicare.
Answer to Question 2
ANS: A
Although globalization of trade, travel, and culture has improved the availability of health care services, the spread of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has become more common. In an effort to improve the quality of care, health care institutions are recruiting nurses from around the world to work in the United States, forcing hospitals to better understand and work with nurses from different cultures. Poverty is still deadlier than any disease and is the most frequent reason for death in the world today. The growth of urbanization also is currently affecting the world's health. Improved communication, easier air travel, and easing of trade restrictions are making it easier for people to engage in health tourism.