Agency Synopsis

Sample Answer

Health care agencies, whether federal or state, are critical to the delivery of quality care to patients and populations. These agencies play critical roles in policymaking and implementation and nursing practice regulations across all cadres and care continuum. The agencies work with all stakeholders to meet set healthcare goals and initiatives as well as policies like the Affordable Care Act 2010 and EMTALA law among others (Klobucista et al., 2021). The purpose of this discussion is to identify regulatory agencies in health and health care based on their roles in health care regulations and relevance to advanced practice nurses and specialty areas.

• Agency Name
• Regulatory Level
• Scope of the Regulatory Authority
• Role Within US Healthcare System
• Organization Relevance to APRN/DNP graduate
• Relevance to the specialty area

1 Department of Health and Human Services

• Federal

Health regulation, policy implementation, and wellbeing of U.S. citizens

The agency works with all stakeholders to protect and promote the health of all U.S. citizens and residents. The department offers over 300 federal government initiatives and programs for citizens and legal residents in the country

The agency is relevant to APRN/DNP graduates as it develops and influences the implementation of federal policies and programs which affect all nurses irrespective of their level of expertise and practice

Ensures the development of emergency medicine for different conditions for nurses.

2 Food and Drug Administration

• Federal

The agency is tasked with overseeing effective regulations and licensing of all types of foods and drugs manufactured or imported into the country.

FDA’s main role is protecting and fostering public health by regulating and carrying out food safety, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements.

It ensures that all products meet quality standards and do not cause harm to consumers based on effective labeling and application.

The agency provides essential information concerning medication safety and regulations in using foods and helps in the formulation of safe and appropriate interventions. For instance, all medicines must be approved by the FDA before they are manufactured.

The agency affects emergency medicine specialty as it requires even emergency medications to be approved and certified as effective and not harmful to patients.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Federal

The agency covers different aspects of health and health care, from research to developing health information and resources for all populations and demographics. The agency creates awareness of the epidemiology of diseases and effective measures to protect populations from infections in the country and abroad.

Collaborates with other agencies and partners in generating expertise, information, and ways for diverse populations to protect their health through health promotion, prevention, and preparedness for any threat to health like natural disasters and even diseases such as pandemics and epidemics.

CDC offers guidelines and develops medical screening procedures and protocols to enhance population promotion and health. It promotes safety from diseases like COVID-19 by developing appropriate guidelines.

Affects emergency medicines as it gives guidance on the use of such medications based on their efficacy concerning the disease in point.

4 Drug Enforcement Agency

• Federal

Deals with controlled substances and narcotics

The agency enforces laws and regulations concerning controlled substances and illicit drugs. It also gives prescriptive authority to healthcare providers on controlled drugs based on their schedules.

APRNs/DNP ensure that they only prescribe medications based on their license and prescriptive authority.

Ensures that only approved medications can be offered in emergency settings by emergency medicine nurses.

5 Florida Department of Health State

• Floridians and residents

The department’s role is to promote, protect, and enhance the health of all people in Florida through different approaches and programs, especially ensuring access to affordable and quality care services

Regulates and oversees licensure of all practitioners, including APRNs/DNP nurses or graduates practicing within the state

Ensures that emergency nurses in the state have sufficient skills to serve diverse patient populations, optimally.

Conclusion

Health and healthcare agencies are critical to the provision of quality care and health promotion among diverse populations and individuals. These agencies implement, develop, oversight, and regulate different aspects of health and health care, from practice authority to manufacturing of medications. They are also fundamental in promoting health and quality of care for all populations across the care and life continuum.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2022). About CDC CDC Organization.
  https //www.cdc.gov/about/organization/cio.htm
• Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) (2023). What We Do. https //www.dea.gov/what-we-do
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (2018). What We Do.
  https //www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do#mission
• Klobucista, C. (2021). What Is the FDA’s Role in Public Health?
  https //www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-fdas-role-public-health