Health Care Essay Cost Acess Quality PDF

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Shakira Odom HLT-205 09/20/2020 Joanne Vance Healthcare: Cost, Access, Quality and the Role Technology Plays In today’s world, quality healthcare comes at a high price. Healthcare cost has been an ongoing issue in the United States for generations. Americans want the absolute best in healthcare for the cheapest amount possible. Physicians are being held at a accountability to provide high quality care to patients with high expectations, but because of certain guidelines there are certain resources that may or may not be used because of cost. The effectiveness of healthcare delivery is highly dependent on cost, as well as the access, quality of care and how technology affects them all. The need for effective healthcare treatment begins with the initial factor: cost. The amount of spending on health care, combined with the country’s fiscal challenges, makes the need to contain health care costs a national priority requiring a sense of urgency (Alliance for Health Reform 2012). Due to high health care spending, it is causing more problems to the government’s financial situation all while hurting the citizens of America, which is why we can’t have the high quality care we need and want without the pretty penny to give. As far as cost, there are other many key factors that play a contribution to the high and rising. To name a few, factors such as the growth of medical technologies, third-party payments or insurance, growing population, increase of the aging population, intensity of care and rising price, rise in disease prevalence or incidence, and the ineffectiveness of treatment options. The rising of healthcare care did not become an issue until 1960-1965 after insurance became a

necessity. Medicare and Medicaid were put in place to help those who could not afford coverage, thus expanding care and increasing the costs by an average of 8.95% (Amadeo 2020). These two programs allowed individuals to use more health care services cost of care is continuing to rise because prices and quantity of needs and services. The insurers being the third-party payers draws the consumers’ attention away from the cost of services. The more elderly people that become qualified for Medicare the more money it is costing the government. There are their factors that come in to play such as level of care, exposure of diseases, and unhealthy behaviors. The way to better control the cost and lessen the reasons behind it can be done by government, providers, and individuals. For example, more coordinated care, better understanding of patient preferences, prevention and wellness, payment reform, and better management of costly patients with chronic diseases differently can be a head start to lower its cost. These are all play a certain portion to raising the cost of health care. Technology in health care has been on the rise and is continuing to be a necessity to healthcare services. The creation of medical technology has enhanced the access of care to individuals with the adoption of the electronic health record which has not only improved access to health care but also played a role in containing cost to health care. When thinking about how access to health care today was compared to 10 years ago, we can focus on the way health care is delivered. For example, when a chronically ill patient switches to a new provider, the patient’s history is vital in order to properly and efficiently treat the patient. Quick access to patents’ record is important because it saves necessary time for the patient and the clinician. Electronic health records also eliminates creating multiple - possibly different - medical records, repetitive test and procedures, and gives prodder options on how a patient may receive different services from multiple providers since each provider now has access to the patient’s chart and can analyze

what was completed at previous visits. The outcome of affective healthcare also depends on quality. The issue of providing quality care comes down to whether the quality needed can be afforded. Quality of healthcare given is crucial to the satisfaction of the patient and their health. When going to the doctors, the consumer wants to feel cared for, given the best options, and feel like a priority. Cost has become the main element when the conversation of quality care is discussed, though there are many conditions that must be met before one can say the quality of care received was exceptional. These conditions may include minimized side effects, a more complete cure, and increased life Technology has made a way to help providers with quality care. Test results can be received faster for quicker treatment solution and administration. Physicians have created a method for their patients to access them outside of the office by messaging them on an internet domain. They can ask questions and get a response in short timing. Telemedicine has paved a new way to gain access to health care. Telemedicine, which is the remote diagnosis and treatment of patients by telecommunications technology, allows patients to connect with clinicians from the comforts of their own home. In the long run this method of care advancement improves the quality of care because it saves patient’s unnecessary office visits which also reduces the use of medical resources. In conclusion, focusing on a world of quality instead of service can help improve the healthcare system. As we continue finding ways to improve the cost of healthcare, the quality and access to it, it is important that we continue to discuss ways to maintain cost while providing quality health care. Though healthcare is always reforming, the current system we know is not perfect, but accept that some changes have been made and better changes are to come. Cost of healthcare has caused much concern for people and not being able to afford services decreases

the access and quality. Technology has become a great advancement in healthcare by increasing the convenience and quality of care to patients. However, it does come at a price which increases the cost of care. If the focus remains eliminating costly health care expenses and feeding the growing need for technology in the healthcare division, an affordable health care system that does not compromise quality of care will happen soon.

References Alliance for Health Reform (2012). High and Rising Costs of Health Care in the U.S. The Challenge: Changing the Trajectory. Retrieved September 19, 2020, from http://www.allhealthpolicy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/03/Alliance_for_Health_Reform_12 1.pdf Amadeo, K. (2020, May 28). The Rising Cost of Health Care by Year and Its Causes. Retrieved September 18, 2020, from https://www.thebalance.com/causes-of-rising-healthcare-costs4064878...