Healthcare Ethical Dilemmas

Posted on March 22, 2023 | by Simon KN

Healthcare Ethical Dilemmas

Healthcare facilities have, in the recent past and on several occasions, experience massive setbacks that jeopardize their decisions in issues relating to service delivery. Healthcare professionals will experience several times working with patients where they need to include nursing ethics to help them handle difficult situations. According to an everyday health professional in hospitals, departments face numerous ethical issues, and they need to reconcile their values with professional nursing obligations. Several reasons, such as inadequate time and resources, make it hard for nurses to reconcile the conflict amicably. The potential ethical dilemmas range from autonomy, beneficence, and nonmaleficence to ascertaining the credibility of the entire decision-making process.

Response to Question One

Autonomy Ethical Dilemma

Legal Implication: Informed Consent

Independence is a significant factor among the elderly to provide a quality life and helps them live independently in residential places unless their poor health conditions restrict them. According to Dunbar (2018), older adults with different health conditions must make decisions about their health conditions. It plays a vital role in ensuring a quality life in the future. Informed consent is characterized by concerns that neither patients nor their families are fully informed about clinical prognosis or treatment. In Jamila’s scenario, the lack of full information about her condition created more concerns for nurses who were unsure of the best approach to address the issues. In most cases, patients feel exceptionally satisfied if they can make decisions for themselves. The conflict between Bahir and the health professional about the medical applications that Jamila was to be given hindered some of the essential measures that could be put in place to handle her case.

Beneficence Ethical Dilemma

Legal Implication: Treatment Recommendation

According to Sasson (2017), beneficence as an ethical dilemma addresses the idea that actions exhibited by nurses should aim at promoting good. Practicing good deeds is associated with doing all the right things that are best for the patients. In Jamila’s scenario, doing well was challenged with treatment recommendations that were evident between what the family wants and what the nurses think is worth her condition. In most cases, the nurse tries their level best never to hurt patients, and their actions are related to a positive outcome. However, if the same is limited due to the variations that might be realized between family members, the patient, and the nurse, it is always hard to attain the recommended result.

Nonmaleficence Ethical Dilemma

Legal Implication: Obligations to no Harm

Nonmaleficence in nursing refers to avoiding injuries or harm to the patients. Due to different degrees of damage that are common in most treatments, nonmaleficence implies that the implicated harm should not be disproportionate to the treatment benefits. Similarly, the nonmaleficence principle holds that there exists an obligation not to cause damage to patients regardless of the decisions made or the treatment to be administered.

In most cases, harm significantly impacts the decision-making process and renders patients incompetent in handling issues related to their social life and wellbeing. Due to her age and the contrasting views that were being evident from family members regarding the type of medication she is supposed to be subjected to it is worth noting that proper measures need to be put in place to limit any form of harm that she might be exposed to during treatment. Categorically all steps must be followed and supported based on the doctor’s prescriptions.

Legal Implications Associated with the Potential Ethical Dilemmas

With the correlational setting, all patients are at the core of the needed professional practices. The fact that Jamila was incarcerated is the only circumstance in her situation that requires proper attention. Based on informed consent, that made it hard for retrieval of the necessary information that can be used to handle Jamila’s case amicably and amiably. The legal insinuations associated with the above mentioned possible ethical dilemmas are tied to the federal and state laws as well as the scope of purpose and practice expectation based on the available professional standard. The nurse’s license, education, as well as the nursing standards, provide the necessary framework which is needed among nurses (Ballou, 2018).

Additionally, based on the obligations of not to cause harm, which in most cases associated with negligence, nurses who fail to exercise a reasonable level of care to Jamila may face the law based on the implications related to their practices. Overall, in terms of treatment recommendation, documentation of health needs, the process through which the health need occurred, and the actions to be taken based on the patient’s outcome must be coherent. Categorically, a nurse is appraised based on the health needs of the patients.

Response to Question Two

“Questions Derived from the University of Washington Paradigm.”

The course of Action: Follow Bashir’s Wishes

The history of the patient about adult-onset diabetes mellitus and obstructive pulmonary disease shows that she collapsed while at the protracted care facility, leading to the emergent of a heart attack. The treatment goals were to follow Bashir’s wishes, which are not associated with resuscitation orders with limited interventions as opposed to comfort care. The action reveals that the purpose of treatment was to extend the lifetime of patients.

Medical treatment is not available if an advance directive shows that most of them are Do Not resuscitate. Besides, based on the age and comorbidities as well as the probabilities of success based on the available treatments levels. The benefits of nursing and medical care will prolong the life of the patients after the heart attack (Rady, Verheijde & McGregor, 2016). Overall, through this action, proper treatment and care will protect Jamila from other attacks. Similarly, based on the Bashir’s wish, there were limited prospects for a possible return to a healthy life as he wishes that the patient have DNR status. Bashir also has a plan to forgo the life-sustaining action that his mother may undergo.

The course of Action 2: Refuse to Follow Bashir’s Wishes

The goal of the treatment was mainly aimed at extending the lifetime of the patient. After the testing was done, it was evident that the patient had had a heart attack. In terms of medical indications, the process is never done if the patient at hand has an advance directive that states that she is Do Not resuscitate (DNR). Similarly, based on her condition, the treatment options can very low. However, in terms of the patient’s preference, Jamila was never informed of the risks and benefits of the time due to the language barrier. There was no consent given by the patient, either. All the decisions were made based on the necessity of the needed medical services. Overall, in terms of quality life, refusing Bashir’s wishes could lead to an increase in the life of the patient. However, without proper treatment, the patient may die after a short while. It is never easy to judge a patient’s condition based on the nature of his or her life.

The course of Action 3: Briefly Delay the Decision to Gather Additional Information and Other Perspectives

The medical indication here reveals that after performing the test, it was evident that Jamila had a heart attack. Such a condition is a cure disorder and not associated with chronic conditions. Due to the critical state of heart attack, it requires proper attention, and the delayed decision may hinder the collection of the needed data. Overall, there was no evidence about the patient’s condition in terms of risk and benefits. In terms of preference, the patients were both legally and mentally competent.

Response to Question Three

Describe two Resources That Could Have Made or Could Still Make Jamilah’s Wishes More Clear

Ventilator Use: Using a ventilator in emergency cases helps control one’s breath. The ventilator has a tube that is put through one’s throat into the windpipe for the machine to force air into the patient’s lungs. Using respirators can help the provision of the needed air to keep her safe during other treatments that she might be subject to.

Artificial Hydration and Nutrition: If one is unable to eat, he or she can be fed using tubes that are threaded via the nose to the stomach. In the case of Jamilah, who has been unable to eat for some time, artificial hydration and nutrition can be useful for her recovery from the illness? This resource may be limited to the dying body may fail to use the diet appropriately. Overall, due to being deficient in English, Jamillah did not hear everything her son said, and the agreement could have been due to misinformation (Glendon, Clarke & McKenna, 2016). The family should have never used the healthcare setting as a translator.

Choose and Justify the Correct Course of Action (in Response to Bashir’s Demands for Only Comfort Care).

The course of action 1: Follow Bashir’s wishes

I would refuse Bashir’s requests because of several legal and ethical consequences that are to be followed if the hospital is limited in the provision of comfort care. Similarly, Bashir’s wish had no prospects of returning the patient to a healthy life. The action also raises ethical issues that enhance the patient’s quality of life. In the Bashir’s wish reveals that he is forcing his mother towards suicide status. Overall, Jamillah can access all the available legal rights regardless of the setbacks that in making choices. The action has no conflict of interest with administrations and institutions that would affect patient welfare and clinical decisions.

Response to Question Four

Create three policy recommendations that you could make as an administrator to help your employees, and the facility’s medical staff handles similar situations in the future.

Standard Practices: This involves developing approaches that had already existed with another domain, which can ascertain the credibility of the first ones. Discrepancies that medical staff experiences should be associated with other rationales that aim at ensuring quality services throughout the practice.

Compliance with Statutes, Accreditations, and regulations requirements: All employees are governed by laws and regulations that not only determine their credibility bt also ensure that they are capable of following them. The failure of a nurse or medical staff in adhering to the policy may be regarded as inconsistent with the laws that govern their operations and service delivery.

Resource for staff: According to Vonderembse & Dobrzykowski (2016), this policy maintains that all employees ensure that patients get all the necessary attention for a quality life. Similarly, staff as a resource will ensure that they are active in ensuring that all the measures are appropriately adhered to based on other conditions that might hinder the success and outcome of their services.

References

Ballou, K. A. (2018). A concept analysis of autonomy. Journal of professional nursing, 14(2), 102-110.

Dunbar, T. (2018). Autonomy versus beneficence: An ethical dilemma.

Glendon, A. I., Clarke, S., & McKenna, E. (2016). Human safety and risk management. CRC Press.

Rady, M. Y., Verheijde, J. L., & McGregor, J. L. (2016). In emergency medicine, there are scientific, legal, and ethical challenges of end-of-life organ procurement. Resuscitation, 81(9), 1069-1078.

Sasson, S. (2017). Beneficence versus respect for autonomy: An ethical dilemma in social work practice. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 33(1), 5-16.

Vonderembse, M. A., & Dobrzykowski, D. D. (2016). A Healthcare Solution: A Patient-Centered, Resource Management Perspective. CRC Press.

Ethical Decision Making In Healthcare

Posted on March 22, 2023 | by Simon KN

Ethical Decision Making In Healthcare

While ethical healthcare decisions should be made about the patient’s health, a mutual understanding should be stricken between the healthcare provider and the recipient. This way, healthcare practitioners administer healthcare services to the patient following the ethical codes of conduct governing the healthcare practice; besides, the patient’s decisions, beliefs, and cultural practices should be upheld. The patient’s resolutions should be considered when giving out healthcare guidelines to a patient, especially when the patient’s demands contradict the healthcare practice’s guidelines. As a result of this, ethical doctrines governing the healthcare practice which abides by the patient’s decisions are discussed, the similar cultural beliefs upheld by patients, and how ethical healthcare decisions can be made, which enhances the patient’s health status, and supports their cultural beliefs.

When making health decisions, the principle of beneficence should be upheld. The ethical aspect of beneficence in healthcare requires healthcare practitioners to extend acts of charity, mercy, and show great connotation of doing good to others (McCullough, 2020). As a healthcare practitioner, looking after John, decisions should be made to improve John’s healthy status despite his decision. For instance, the nurse can volunteer to treat John from home and bring him to the healthcare facility only when Renal Dialysis is needed. This way, John’s decision to be home will be considered without violating healthcare administration. Through beneficence, a patient’s satisfaction levels improve, increasing their chances of recovering.

Health maximization is a vital aspect of Ethical decision making in healthcare. The health maximization principle of ethical healthcare decision making entails upholding such health practices, which prioritizes the patient’s health status (Meeker et al., 2019). John decides to go home despite his critical health condition, which demands a stay in the hospital for effective healthcare administration and closer surveillance. The interdisciplinary healthcare team should, therefore, formulate measures aiming to prioritise and maximise patients’ health benefits despite their decisions. This can include formulating an outpatient department for Renal Dialysis for patients uncomfortable when put under inpatient care. This way, John will continue with his medication and stay at home as well, thus maximizing his health benefit, and considering his decision as well.

The interdisciplinary team should embark on developing cultural competence among patients. Some cultural practices and beliefs perceived by patients hinder effective healthcare administration. Therefore, the healthcare disciplinary team should develop programs aimed at instilling cultural competence among patients (Pinho et al., 2017). The latter therefore aims at addressing the divergent worldviews perceived by patients, which hinder effective healthcare delivery. Through this, John will change his mentality of leaving the hospital and will continue with his medication. However, cultural competence does not entail changing patient’s worldviews but harmonizing their cultural beliefs with healthcare doctrines, to ensure that patients see the essence of their health condition, over their cultural beliefs.

Respect for autonomy is a vital aspect of ethical decision making in healthcare practice. In healthcare practice, the principle of respect for freedom entails acknowledging patient’s decisions on the mode of healthcare delivery they are comfortable with (Scott, 2017). Through this, healthcare practitioners should not go against the patient’s choice. If the recommended mode of healthcare delivery is not appropriate for the patient, like John’s case, the interdisciplinary team should formulate other healthcare interventions that are suitable for the patient.

The interdisciplinary team should uphold cultural diversity in healthcare practice. Cultural differences between nurses and patients hinder the effective delivery of healthcare services. For instance, nurses could have undermined John’s inferior culture. Cultural relativism entails that a person is judged from their home culture, and not based on the dominant culture. If John’s cultural beliefs like denial of blood transfusion and injections are accepted and respected by nurses, John might have agreed to stay in the hospital until he recovers. The hospital’s interdisciplinary team, therefore, should train its staff on embracing cultural diversity and acknowledging a patient’s cultural beliefs, practices, and differences, hence facilitating effective healthcare delivery, despite the differences.

Harmonizing cultural differences help enhance the relationship between nurses and patients, hence improving healthcare delivery. To harmonize the cultural differences between the two parties, which hinder the effective delivery of healthcare services, the interdisciplinary team should adopt a communication department within the healthcare facility. Through this, the underlying cultural differences between nurses and patients will be resolved, making patient’s change their perception on the patient’s beliefs and world views, which in turn transforms to patients making more sound health decisions, with help from the nurses who understand them well (Purnell & Fenkl, 2019). For instance, if the nurses understood John’s cultural beliefs, they would have helped him make a sound decision, like staying in the hospital and not to terminate his medication. Ethical decision making in healthcare is dependent on understanding between nurses and patients.

Ethical decision making is vital in addressing conflicting uncertainties in the healthcare practice regarding overlapping cultural values, methods, and worldviews between patients and healthcare providers. Respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice are vital aspects of ethical decision making governing healthcare practice.

References

McCullough, L. B. (2020). Beneficence and wellbeing: A critical appraisal. The American Journal of Bioethics, 20(3), 65-68.

Meeker, M. A., McGinly, J. M., Jezewski, M. A. (2019). Metasysnthesis. Dying adults’ transition process from cure-focused to comfort-focused care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75: 2059-20171.

Pinho, M., Borges, A. P., & Zahariev, B. (2017). Bedsides healthcare rationing dilemmas: A survey from Bulgaria and comparison with Portugal. Social Theory & Health, 15(3), 285-301.

Purnell, L. D., & Fenkl, E. A. (2019). Transcultural diversity and health care. In Handbook for Culturally Competent Care (pp. 1-6). Springer, Cham.

Scott, P. A. (2017). Ethical Principles in Healthcare Research. In Key Concepts and Issues in Nursing Ethics (pp. 191-205). Springer, Cham.

Learning, Knowledge Management and Knowledge Sharing in Healthcare Settings

Posted on March 16, 2023 | by Simon KN

Learning, Knowledge Management and Knowledge Sharing in Healthcare Settings

The primary source of wealth for most organizations is not capital assets, and rather it is the level of knowledge that the human resources within the organization possess. The same applies to individuals; the wealth of an individual is measures by their knowledge base. Despite the existence of new ways of valuing and measuring knowledge capital, only few organizations have been able to study them and in the same sense, store, use, and create this new form of capital. With the ever changing dynamics and processes in the business world as brought about by advances, there is also a need to reinforce their knowledge base as hinged on their human resource capital. In a similar manner, individual employees need to equip themselves with an increased knowledge and understand their way around their area of operation. Similarly, in advance of teamwork and cohesiveness within a workplace, employees need to collaborate by filling gaps in knowledge bases amongst themselves with a view of emancipating others with a view of keeping themselves adept in their line of duty.

My Learning Journey

In my learning journey at the organization I have been working for, I have had the opportunity to learn a lot. The organization has ensured this by sponsoring me to attend various benchmarking forums that relate to the healthcare setting, a factor that has come in handy, citing that I have learned a lot from trend setters within the health sector. Also, my organization has equally organized forums and called upon speakers who come in and offer advice on the way forward with respect to healthcare today. My organization has also brought in new technologies cognizant to the healthcare sector and hired specialists who have taught us into detail on their application. My organization has also supported learning by allowing me and motivating me to advance towards higher learning in the light of pursuing my dreams and goals. I have also had the opportunity to interact with resourceful people who have equally increased my knowledge base by teaching me on new advances that I had no prior experience with as advanced by the organization I work for. My workplace has also provided us with insightful learning materials in written, audio, and video contexts that have come in handy in increasing our knowledge base. Correspondingly, my organization has given me room to have access to information and knowledge sharing within the company, alongside other co-workers.

Supporting Others in their Learning Journey

Borne out of the fact that my organization has equally supported me, similarly, there is a need for me to propagate the same knowledge that I have gathered in support of other in their learning journey. Towards this light, I have been able to share information on new learning curves that I have too experiences. Also, I have supported new comers and acquainted them with processes within the organization that I am working for. Additionally, I have pointed out mistakes to others in a kind manner, and in this manner helped them out to rectify their mistake by guiding them on apt mechanisms of going about certain procedures. I have also happily offered a lending hand and stood in for those who do not have prior experience in a certain procedure while letting them learn practically as I assist. In the same sense, I have advocated and supported those who are realizing the need to advance their knowledge base. In addition, I have availed learning materials that I have gathered on advances within my line of operation to others as learned in forums and workshops. Furthermore, I have advocated and pushed for more internal forums and knowledge seminars within my workplace with a view of pushing the management to allow for more people to participate. Moreover, I have pointed out to others on upcoming seminars and workshops and denoted on the need for them to attend.

Reflection

Borne out of the chance that I have had on new learning curves I have had the opportunity of employing them. One of the most memorable ones, one that I learned a bit earlier while still new to the practice is how to resuscitate someone. This was during summer, and I had gone out to the beach when one young girl drowned into the ocean. After efforts by divers of saving her from the water, and while waiting for the ambulance, everyone was clueless about the next cause of action. Despite efforts to resuscitate her, I realized that they were not getting it right. That is when I remembered a learning material that one of my professors had sent us in our emails. I realized that the divers were missing a crucial step of opening the airways after giving chest compressions; also they were not giving time for the little girl’s chest to fall. Upon realizing this, I jumped into action, and by the time the medics were arriving at the scene, the girl was breathing again, despite the need for further check-up.

Innovation in Relation to Healthcare

Posted on March 14, 2023 | by Simon KN

Innovation in Relation to Healthcare

Underrepresented Population in the Rural and Medically Underserved Areas

The world is continually developing a feat that has contributed to continuous urbanization. Many major cities enjoy profound resources and incentives, such as easy access to medical care. However, sustained growth has left the rural areas lagging. The project aims to work with the medically underserved and underrepresented population in rural areas. Notably, The middle class and wealthy people can manage to cater to their medical needs while the poor lack proper living conditions to keep them safe. Therefore, it is imperative to help them gain access to health care, thereby improving their quality of life.

Consequently, a lot of the socially disadvantaged populations are born into the lower social strata of the community and often find it hard to go up the ladder (Hooker, 2013). These populations struggle with learning difficulties and reduced quality of life, eventually impacting their health status. Therefore, the incentive should be able to give these people an equal chance in having a normal life and helping these people combat diseases without being limited by their social status.

Qualifications for the Project

The project outlines a chance to help the less fortunate and offer care to a group of people who have often been left out. Importantly, the project outlines a charitable act that aims to improve the quality of life and represent the underrepresented and mentally underserved. Therefore, the group views this project as a service to society that entails providing what the people are lacking. Importantly, the group can imperatively carry out the project because it understands the plights of these individuals and only wants to give them a chance to live longer and healthier life.

There are many stakeholders such as donors, well-wishers, and policymakers who will be willing to participate in the implementation of the project. Notably, the move aims to uplift diverse communities and offer equal representation. Developing complex and real-world medical decisions necessitates relying on comparative effectiveness research by patients, policy-makers, and providers (Fischer, Allen-Coleman, Farrell, and Schneeweiss, 2015). Numerous initiatives such as Medicaid and Medicare try to help the less fortunate. However, they still fail to alter the uncertain situation comprehensively. Therefore, the group can work hand in hand with policymakers, identify these groups, and take healthcare initiatives to them.

Definition of Success

Its reach will measure the project’s success and how many people it will impact. Notably, the ability to provide these kiosks in a few locations and offer healthcare services in these areas will be gauged as a success. Importantly, the underrepresented and medically underserved find it hard to get proper healthcare services. However, if they can be able to go for check-ups consistently and get medical treatments, then the project will have served its purpose. The project’s primary aim is to improve the quality of life among the medically underserved and allow them to acquire the resources they have lacked for most of their lives. Therefore, the project’s success will depend on whether it achieves these goals.

It is vital to develop rural health networks and offer coordinated care. The project’s success will insinuate providing innovation in frontier communities aimed to improve patient results and lower the cost of healthcare (Conway et al., 2016). Therefore, the project’s success will depend on the ability to offer care at reduced costs to the outlined populations.

References

Conway, P., Favet, H., Hall, L., Uhrich, J., Palche, J., Olimb, S., . . . Bianco, J. (2016). Rural Health Networks and Care Coordination: Health Care Innovation in Frontier Communities to Improve Patient Outcomes and Reduce Health Care Costs. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 27(4A), 91-115. doi:10.1353/hpu.2016.0181

Fischer, M. A., Allen-Coleman, C., Farrell, S. F., & Schneeweiss, S. (2015). Stakeholder assessment of comparative effectiveness research needs for Medicaid populations. Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 4(5), 465-471. doi:10.2217/cer.15.26

Hooker, R. S. (2013). Physician assistants working with the medically underserved. Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 26(4), 12. doi:10.1097/01720610-201304000-00001

Response to the Article on Healthcare as a Right

Posted on March 12, 2023 | by Simon KN

Response to the Article on Healthcare as a Right

Gawande looks at one issue that is very hard to group without having opposing factors limiting the argument. A look at healthcare simply outlines the quality of life and access to healthcare services. Conversely, a person would blankly answer that healthcare is a right without paying a lot of attention to some specific conditions. However, Gawande looks at healthcare from a general perspective requiring the readers to have an open mind when deciding whether to group it as a right or not. Importantly, a right fails to distinguish between the deserving and the undeserving, while focusing on healthcare highly insists on looking at people who lack proper healthcare facilities (Gawande). Imperatively, the author offers diverse information on the concept to open people up to extensive ideas.

The author reflects on a visit to Athens, Ohio recalling issues of the Affordable Care Act when the government was still fighting on whether to repeal, replace, or repair it. Ultimately, the author argues that a lot of people still fail to understand whether to define health care as a right or not. Notably, the failure to define it as a right means that it can be withheld while defining it as a right means it will be open to all people and thus there is no special attention paid to the less fortunate or the people who may deserve it more. Notably, the argument by Gawande outlines the essence of health care, making it hard to define it comprehensively. Conclusively, the article recounts diverse thoughts which all point out to the importance of health care whether it is defined as a right or not.

Work Cited

Gawande, Atul, and Atul Gawande. “Is Health Care a Right?” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 31 May 2018, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/02/is-health-care-a-right.

Mechanical Ventilation project

Posted on February 24, 2023 | by Simon KN

This project is designed to give you a personalized reference manual for mechanical ventilation and prepare you to function in a critical care unit. The list below is inconclusive, but it is a good starting point. All information will be based on the NBRC values, which may not match the clinical setting. The chapter assignments will be your homework assignments throughout the semester. The cumulation of all chapters will be combined and turned in as your final Mechanical Ventilation project at the end of the semester.

Chapters

1. Indications for PPV – 4 basic categories, include examples of each

Modes and Strategies VCV and PCV
Control Mode
A/C
IMV
SIMV

Initial settings in VCV and PCV using the NBRC guidelines
Mode
Rate
Vt or IP
PF or Ti
FiO2
Peep

Triggering
Time Triggering (TCT, Ti, Te, I:E ratio)
Pressure Triggering
Flow Triggering

Alarms
Setting them the NBRC way (which is the best way for your patient)
Causes of & correction of

Other Settings
Inspiratory flow waveforms
Optimal Peep – finding it
Autopeep – fixing it

Management of Mechanical Ventilation
Using ABG values to recognize abnormal ventilation and oxygenation
Using calculation to determine how to fix ventilation and oxygenation problems
Desired PCO2
Desired PO2
PAO2
Shunting
A-a
a/A
QS/QT
Deadspace Ventilation
VD/Vt
Changing mechanical deadspace
Recognizing and Treating Compliance and Resistance Changes

Assessing the CXR
Correct CXR
Quality of CXR
Anatomical Landmarks
Tubes & Lines
Specific pathologies

Basic Waveform Graphics
Normal Pressure-Scalar Graphic
Normal Flow-Scalar Graphic
Normal Volume-Scalar Graphic
Normal Pressure-Volume Loop

Policy Sector: Healthcare

Posted on January 23, 2023 | by Simon KN

Policy Sector: Healthcare

Introduction

As the societal and corporate environments become more complex, individuals are being expected to perform optimally to enhance growth and development. In particular, societal expectations have equally become complex and to survive and thrive, populations are increasingly being required to exhibit executive functioning at all times. It can not be disputed that the health of the populations is at the center stage of effective functioning. Essentially, individuals that are robust health wise tend to be more productive than their counterparts. Regardless of this recognition, most of governments have failed dismally to provide for the health needs of their populations. Global reports indicate that poor health conditions are one of the major courses of the stagnation that is currently being experienced in the economic sector. Just like other countries across the globe, America has failed to provide for the holistic health needs of its populations.

Recent researches indicate that the health sector problems adversely impact America’s holistic wellbeing. To a great extent, these also contribute to developmental delays that have been experience din the recent past. The complexity of the health care issues has increased over time. In this regard, it can not be disputed that health care problems have persisted for a significant period of time now. The inherent persistence implies that either the relevant parties are not taking vital steps to address it or the steps being taken are not sustainable. For the preceding reasons, this study deemed it necessary to review the policy issues in the health care. Arguably, relative findings would be instrumental in resolving the intrinsic inconsistencies effectively and promptly. This would improve the performance of the populations and enable the country to attain its national goals and objectives in different other sectors.

Major Policy Issues

The major policy issues are wide and varied. To begin with, Mahar (2006) indicates that the issue of lack of insurance for a significant percentage of the American population is critical. Although Medicaid currently covers a significant percentage of the poor population, statistical evidence ascertains that others are not. The affected segment of the population in this regard constitutes the low income population that works for employers that do not provide medical insurance. This group is further increasing in number as more job opportunities shift from the manufacturing to the service industry.

Another problem pertains to the issue of the country spending too much money on health care. Economic reports ascertain that health care assumes a significant 16% of the national economy. The implications of this rise are felt by American employers and family that are responsible for shouldering the cost. Relative insurance costs according to Mahar (2006) have doubled in the past decade and are further escalating at a very fast rate. From a global point of view, the country spends the highest amount of financial resources of health care. Regardless of this, the increasing costs have not improved the health of the Americans in any way.

Another health policy issue entails a significant percentage of the employees receiving restricted insurance coverage. In this regard, it is agued that most of he insurance plans tend to be negotiated between insurance providers and employers. In most instances, they are limited to one insurance carrier or HMO. For this reason, most of the employees end up having limited options with respect to health care provider alternatives.

What the Government is doing with Regard to Each

The American government is responsible for ensuring that the preceding issues are addressed and the health of the American population is secured. Currently, it is taking certain distinct measures to address the concerns accordingly. However, these have not yielded significant results to date. With respect to catering for the needs of the uninsured, the government has directed all employers to provide insurance for the employers. Further, Mechanic (2003) indicates that it has taken distinct steps to expand the children’s State-Children Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) to the adults. Basically, this insures children whose parents’ salary is too high to get Medicaid ye to low that they can not afford private insurance using other state programs, or Medicaid expansions. A significant percentage of the democrats’ advocate that parents should also be allowed to participate in this system is order to cater for the uninsured.

With regard to health financing, several proposals have been put forth by the government in the past. To begin with, a proposal has been suggested to advocate for employers providing for the entire insurance costs and paying for 80% of the premium costs. Through time, the government has also made significant effort to guarantee the unemployed as well as those who have lost their employment continue insurance cover. Proposals have also been put forth to regulate the insurance policy. In this regard, individual states were expected to cite either one or multiple regional alliances to purchase insurance on behalf of the insurance industry.

The government has also taken measures o enforce medical saving account. The MSAs in this regard were expected to be a personal property and individuals as well as employers were expected to make deposits in these accordingly. The relative deposits were supposed to be tax free and individuals would be penalized for withdrawing money for other expenses apart from health insurance premiums and medical expenses. The money that they would not spend would slowly earn interest and they would be allowed to use for medical expenses especially after retirement.

With respect to providing restricted health options for the employees, many states have taken practical steps to enact the ‘patients’ bill of rights’. This addresses part of the alleged abuses that have been detailed under this concern. The legislation has been instrumental in guaranteeing specialized medical coverage, emergency treatment and it has also detailed an appeal strategy for individuals that have been denied relevant services.

What Explains Government Action or Inaction

In most instances, the government enforcement of the above mentioned measures has been compounded by increased opposition from major stakeholders in the industry. Concerning the issue of restricting the health options to employees, reports indicate that the government has taken efforts to expand the initiative to the national scale. The policy issue regarding whether the employees should be accorded the right to the health maintenance organization for their malpractice has stalled the process. In the case of medical savings account, the opponents of this have argued that this proposal is ideal for the young generation. However, withdrawing the relative individuals from the insurance pool would have for reaching implications including an increase in the insurance rates.

Other oppositions have been experienced from the insurers as well as provider organizations. In essence, the inherent opposition can be attributed to the complex nature of the health reforms. In this regard, Mahar (2006) indicates that the health sector has various stakeholders who have differing views regarding their position on emergent complex issues. Making them to have a unified approach to most of the concerns can prove unyielding especially in instances where the affected stakeholders have a great influence or comprise a majority of the opponents.

Major Contemporary Challenges

Different emergent challenges are compounding the relative efforts that the government has previously undertaken to improve the healthcare societal facet. The relative challenges need to be addressed from a modern perspective in order to yield beneficial results. Seemingly, most of the problems stem form the process of policy making. In most instances the democrats and republicans have been unable to come to an agreement concerning sensitive policy issue. The multiple parties or stakeholders in the sector have further compounded this. Consulting with all of these during the process of policy formulation has in most instances yielded minimal results. This is because each party and administration has its own individual approach to policy formulation. The characteristic competing and overlapping jurisdictions have culminated in the fragmentation of administration as well as overly specific programming. All the preceding multiple factors have greatly compounded the process of formulation of ideal policies in the sector.

Another contemporary challenge that is being experienced by the sector pertains to inadequate financing. In this respect, it can not be disputed that the cost of healthcare has increased significantly in the recent past. Global trends indicate that this problem is being experienced across the globe. Health services and products have increasingly become very expensive and there affordability is becoming a major challenge. This can be attributed to the diversification of medical problems and the relative complex medical procedures that are required to address the inherent concerns.

Another contemporary problem compounding the health sector and relative improvement efforts pertains to the lack of awareness of the public regarding their health rights. In this respect, Fox and Fronstin (2000) indicate that the public is not informed about its rights and privileges with regards to healthcare. It neither understands nor appreciates its stake in the health sector. This has increased its vulnerability to exploitation by the health providers as well as the employers. The inherent profit oriented approaches that are assumed by the health providers make it difficult for them to cater for the needs of the patients in a sustainable manner. The government on the other hand has failed dismally to provide the relevant regulation. As aforementioned, this is attributable to various factors that range from the complex process of policy formulation, implementation and enforcement to increased opposition from the major stakeholders in the health sector.

Proposed Solutions

There are various solutions that have been proposed to address the current state of affairs. To begin with, the federal government has been advised to review its priorities with respect to providing healthcare. In this regard, it has been advised to place great emphasis on the respective leading indicators of health. For instance, although continued insurance of the uninsured facet of the society is of paramount importance, it is argued that the Medicare and Medicaid funds can be effectively employed to improve the health of individuals that currently benefit from the respective programs. In this regard, the government needs to work closely with all the stakeholders to simplify the relations between them and ensure that the public is aware of the available services as well as how it can benefit from the respective services.

Prioritization of health concerns according to the health critics would enable the government to reduce the amount of resources that are currently being employed to finance relative initiatives. In addition, the improvement of relations would ease the formulation as well as implementation of important health care policies.

Another solution that has been proposed pertains to implementation of important regulations to govern the operations and decisions of health care providers. In most cases, the American public has suffered in the hands of health care providers. In addition to charging high rates, the respective providers have been implicated for offering very few health care options to the public. The government in this regard has been urged to step in to curb the inefficiencies accordingly. The inherent regulation would go a long way in ensuring that the public has unlimited access to quality healthcare at affordable cost.

The Most Feasible Solutions

At this point, it can not be disputed that the health sector has various inconsistencies that are compounding the general health of the American population. Although the government has taken certain measures to counter the scenario, these have yielded minimal results because of various factors. Besides being opposed by a significant percentage of the stakeholders, the government has not been keen on effective enforcement of the relative measures. The following proposals can go a long way in improving the current state of affairs and ensuring that the American public has access to quality health care.

With regard to providing insurance services to the uninsured, the government should enforce the regulations requiring the employers to provide insurance packages to all employees. These need to be consistent with the mount of income of the employee but should be able to cater for basic healthcare. To enhance optimal output, the insurance providers on the other hand need to regulate their rates and ensure that they are in line with the economic and social dynamics as well as expectations. This can be useful in ensuring that the public is not denied its right to health care. A more non compromising government stance in this respect can go a long way in ensuring that relative concerns are implemented and enforced. At this point, it should be noted that relative efforts have been compounded by increased opposition from various parties (Hwang & Grossman, 2009).

With respect to financing, the government should review its priorities in this regard and ensure that the current provisions provide optimal benefits for the beneficiaries. Arguably, the current system can provide for the entire health need of the American population if important reforms are made. In particular, improving the interrelationships and increasing collaboration as well as coordination between major stakeholders can go a long way in eliminating current inconsistencies. Finally, the employers and health management organizations need to be compelled to provide sufficient health options for their employees. Employees in this regard should be accorded the right to sue them accordingly. If the insurance rates are regulated, this should bear optimal results in the long run.

Models of Typologies that Best Capture the Sector

One of the models that best captures the US health care pertains to the Bismarck model. This was named after the Germany founder Otto Von Bismarck. It essentially employs the insurance system that is in most cases financed by the employees and employers using the payroll deduction system. The American health care is also reflective of the business model. In this the drugs move form the manufacturer to the distributor then to the healthcare providers, patients and employers. The employer and employee play an important role in financing the relative services. The health providers are profit oriented and look forth to maximizing relative profits at the expense of the normal citizens.

How the Sector is Similar to and Different from Three Others

This sector is similar to and different form other sectors in different ways. Compared to the education sector, both have inequalities as a certain segment of the public does not access quality education and healthcare. The differences are that the health sector offers other options for the disadvantaged. Compared to the housing policy, the former has major improvements than the health policy. Statistical evidence indicates that the government provides quality housing for a significant percentage of the population. Likewise, the transport sector is better than the healthcare sector in different ways. In this regard, the government provides affordable and adequate transport system for its population. In addition, the respective transport systems are diverse and maintained accordingly.

References

Fox, D. & Fronstin, P. (2000). Public spending for healthcare approaches 60 percent. Health Affairs, 19 (2), 270-75.

Hwang, C. & Grossman, M. (2009). The innovator’s prescription. USA: McGraw Hill.

Mahar, M. (2006). Money driven medicine: The real reason health care costs so much. New York: HarperCollins.

Mechanic, D. (2003), Policy challenges in improving mental health services: Some lessons form the past. Psychiatric Services, 54 (1): 1227-1232.

Achievements in the public healthcare

Posted on November 22, 2022 | by Simon KN

Discussion 1

Subsequent achievements in health status may be less connected to science as opposed to societal policies. I agree with this conviction due to a number of reasons. The notable accomplishments of the 20th century did not totally eliminate the public health dilemmas encountered in the last century. Numerous of this carry on threatening the American citizens’ health and obstructs progress toward understanding the life span protrusions of the American inhabitants. New features for old adversaries have emerged in the outline of tests and obstructions to be conquered in the untimely decades of the 21st century. Communicable ailments, tobacco, motherly and infant deaths, ecological and work-related health, food security, cardiovascular illness, injuries, in addition to, oral health stay are among the principal dangers to public’s health. The extensive and, sometimes, haphazard employment of antibiotics in farming and healthcare surroundings create strains of bacteria, which are defiant to the current medical drugs. Global ecological hazards, the interference of vital environments, international population overload, relentless and broadening societal justice and health disparities, and lack of admission to efficient care are as well the overriding aspects to scientific limitations. Among the restraints influencing the science of civic health is an unwarranted emphasis on reductionist belief that looks for molecular-level clarifications for societal and structural happenings. Recognition of risk aspects has been helpful for public health endeavors, but the stress on individual threat aspects frequently obscures trends that need multilevel reaction. The public health tests of the 20th century require the application of reasonable science in a surrounding that sustains societal justice in health. This continues being the most alarming test facing public health performance in the century (Turnock, 2012).

Discussion 2a

The most significant accomplishment of public health in the 20th century was oral health. It is deemed as being among the mainly unnoticed accomplishments of public health in the preceding century. This is because of the theatrical decrease in dental caries owing to drinking water fluoridation supplies. Paradoxically, these progressions in oral health have added to the insight that dental caries are not again a noteworthy public health predicament. Moreover, they have also increased the insight that fluoridation is no longer desired and wanted. These fights are expected to be battled in political, as opposed to scientific domes, tendering a considerable confrontation and misery to public health in the last century.

Discussion 2b

The most significant accomplishment of civic health in the twenty-first century is workplace safety. This owes to the fact that they are presently as safe as opposed to before. Enhanced observation of work related harms and infirmities and better techniques of carrying out field studies in high-risk professions and industries stay being frightening challenges. Pertaining new techniques of risk judgment to develop assessment of injury experiences and interference outcomes symbolize additional tests for public health performances in the 21st century.

Discussion 2c

External barriers will have the utmost negative consequence on the efficiency of public health. Public values, economic, as well as, resource availability will be the impending aspects towards this course. This is because health dilemmas stick with the public health program that has presently expanded to take in new concerns related to alcohol, cerebral health, aggression, and dangerous sexual behaviors. They are presently classified as significant public health difficulties and have assumed their equitable position on the public health program.

References

Turnock, B. J. (2012). Public Health: What It Is and How It Works. Burlington, MA: Jones &

Bartlett Learning.

Achievements in the public healthcare

Posted on November 18, 2022 | by Simon KN

Achievements in the public healthcare

Discussion 1

Subsequent achievements in health status may be less connected to science as opposed to societal policies. I agree with this conviction due to several reasons. The notable accomplishments of the 20th century did not eliminate the public health dilemmas encountered in the last century. Numerous of these threaten the American citizens’ health and obstruct progress toward understanding the life span protrusions of the American inhabitants. New features for old adversaries have emerged in the outline of tests and obstructions to be conquered in the untimely decades of the 21st century. Communicable ailments, tobacco, motherly and infant deaths, ecological and work-related health, food security, cardiovascular illness, injuries, and oral health stay are among the principal dangers to public health. The extensive and, sometimes, haphazard employment of antibiotics in farming and healthcare surroundings create strains of bacteria, which are defiant to the current medical drugs. Global ecological hazards, the interference of vital environments, international population overload, relentless and broadening societal justice and health disparities, and lack of admission to efficient care are also overriding aspects of scientific limitations. Among the restraints influencing the science of civic health is an unwarranted emphasis on the reductionist belief that looks for molecular-level clarifications for societal and structural happenings. Recognition of risk aspects has been helpful for public health endeavors, but the stress on individual threat aspects frequently obscures trends that need a multilevel reaction. The public health tests of the 20th century require the application of reasonable science in a surrounding that sustains societal justice in health. This continues to be the most alarming test facing public health performance in the century (Turnock, 2012).

Achievements in the public healthcare

Discussion 2a

The most significant public health accomplishment in the 20th century was oral health. It is deemed among the main unnoticed accomplishments of public health in the preceding century. This is because of the theatrical decrease in dental caries owing to drinking water fluoridation supplies. Paradoxically, these progressions in oral health have added to the insight that dental caries is not a noteworthy public health predicament. Moreover, they have also increased the insight that fluoridation is no longer desired and wanted. These fights are expected to be battled in political, as opposed to scientific domes, tendering a considerable confrontation and misery to public health in the last century.

Discussion 2b

Workplace safety is the most significant accomplishment of civic health in the twenty-first century. This owes to the fact that they are presented as safe as opposed to before. Enhanced observation of work-related harms and infirmities and better techniques for carrying out field studies in high-risk professions and industries remain frightening challenges. Pertaining new techniques of risk judgment to develop an assessment of injury experiences and interference outcomes symbolize additional tests for public health performances in the 21st century.

Discussion 2c

External barriers will have the utmost negative consequence on the efficiency of public health. Public values, economics, and resource availability will be the impending aspects of this course. This is because health dilemmas stick with the public health program that has presently expanded to take in new concerns related to alcohol, cerebral health, aggression, and dangerous sexual behaviors. They are presently classified as having significant public health difficulties and have assumed their equitable position on the public health program.

References

Turnock, B. J. (2012). Public Health: What It Is and How It Works. Burlington, MA: Jones &

Bartlett Learning.