Doctorate of Nursing Practice admission essay 1
Instructions:-
ESSAY write a statement of 500 to 750 words.
1. What do you see as one of the most significant issues facing the future of healthcare today?
Solution
Doctorate of Nursing Practice admission essay 1
The American healthcare system is shifting from the cottage industry towards being a big business sector. The sector is getting consolidated and regulated, therefore finding itself at crossroads with patients. A patient-centered care requires that healthcare providers adopt a relationship-based model that gives priority to value for the patients for their entire life (Folland, Goodman, & Stano, 2016). The rising cost of healthcare is, however, a top issue that has not been adequately addressed despite continuing to rise over the years. In fact, the rising cost is yet to be reflected in the improved quality. According to Folland, Goodman, & Stano (2016), payments made directly by patient accounted for approximately 35% of the provider revenue in 2015 from just 5% in 2000. This comes third behind Medicare and Medicaid. The shift is the result of complex and varied reasons: higher deductible health care plans, increase in operation costs by providers, and the desire by employers to offer health benefits among others. Considering the shift, more Americans struggle to afford quality care whereas providers suffer financially because of the difficulties of getting payments from financially strained patients.
Principally, healthcare coverage should allow covered individuals to access care being assured that the treatment plans will be within their financial capacity. In reality, consumers of healthcare products tend to delay the needed care, or even abandon treatment because of their inability to pay. Furthermore, communication concerning the cost incurred by patients often comes after the service has been performed. The industry is designed in a manner that the buyer uses the service without prior knowledge of its cost and benefit. The massive rise in the cost of healthcare is majorly due to the changes in government policy as well as lifestyle changes (Folland, Goodman, & Stano, 2016). First, many Americans rely on private health insurance sponsored by the employer. Medicare and Medicaid programs were designed by the government to help the part of the population that lack medical insurance. However, the programs increased the demand for healthcare services. Providers, therefore, took advantage of the rising demand to raise prices. This means that the efforts targeting to cut healthcare costs raised them instead. Next is the rise in cases of chronic illnesses that account for almost 85% of healthcare costs. Furthermore, the chronic illnesses are expensive to treat or manage. This has left the sickest 5% of the population consuming nearly half the total budget allocation for health care.
Besides
healthcare institutions putting in place more efficient billing, Folland, Goodman, & Stano (2016) proposes
that the providers should avoid unnecessary tests and procedures. Furthermore,
providers should be transparent on the appropriate care for patients to avoid
additional costs. It is evident that there will be a rise in more efficient
care models in future. However, these improvements are likely to be followed by
an increased number of patients as well as medical costs. Taking an example of
where the number of patients with chronic illnesses doubles, there would be a
great impact on healthcare costs, currently at 13%. On the other hand, patients
are now keen on the cost of healthcare given that they have to pay for much of
the cost from their pockets. It is upon the industry to change and provide
patients with transparent financial information for them to evaluate and decide
on the costs and benefits of the treatments.
Reference
Folland, S., Goodman, A. C., & Stano, M. (2016). The Economics of Health and Health Care: Pearson International Edition. New York: Routledge.