Health Isurance and Quality - Research Paper Example

Health Insurance and Quality The Director of Department of Health Care Services, Toby Douglas argues that the highcost of health services can only be addressed by providing quality services to all patients. According to him, improving health care services through quality improvement has a direct effect in minimizing the cost of treatment (2012). Moreover, Donald Berwick a former Managing Director of Centres for Medicaid and Medicare Services argued that improving the quality of health care checks on the cost of health care (Douglas, 2012).

Douglas says that improving patient safety is essential in achieving quality of health. Erris in his report on Safer Health System recons that medical errors cause’s high death rate, disability and terminal ailment. The DHCS has since introduced policies that help in reducing health care acquired problems. It also emphasis on monitoring and tracking of health care progress to ensure better health care services. DHCS has established measures such as the realization of section 2702, ACA. According to this section, the Department of Health aims at reducing preventable health conditions such as a foreign object after a surgery, a falls, trauma and surgical infections (Douglas, 2012).

Moreover, implementation of ‘Delivery System Reform Incentive Pool’ (DSRIP) helps in improving the quality of health care(Douglas, 2012). DSRIP is financed through the Medicaid program. The program aims at improving early detection and management of serious blood infections. Douglas outline more preventable measure including reducing harm in hospitals, preventable events and improving on maternal health care and obstetrical outcome.Provision of effective, efficient and affordable health care is a measure that improves on the quality of health care.

In order for an effective health system, the department of health has simultaneously considered the need for proper health care in relation to population health, per capita cost of health care and quality given that there are limited resources. These challenges require development of health care models such as organizations, medical homes and, ensuring none of abuses and fraud in care givers. DHCS has provision that enhances care of Seniors and People with Disabilities. To this effect, the DHCS utilizes the 11 15 Waiver that allows it to coordinate, manage and improve care to Seniors members and Persons with Disabilities (Douglas, 2012).

The DHCS is in the process of developing an innovative program where people eligible for Medi-Cal and Medicare will find assistance. The program will aid in coordinating Medi-Cal and Medicare benefits, maximize dually eligibility of individuals in homes and communities with health services while obliging to institutional care. Lastly, the quality of health care can be improved through engaging individuals and families in their own health care. Individual and family engagement are noteworthy because adults has right to make decisions on aspects of their health care.

Moreover, parents have to make decisions when patients are minors. Therefore, people have to engage in health issues because it is their concern and it affects their well being as well as their resources.People engagement in health care is achieved through social media platform such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogs and in text messaging (Douglas, 2012). The social media have enabled direct communication between care providers and members of society. DHCS acknowledges the principal of active participation and is encouraging the use of social media and community outreach to enhance transparency, encourage members to provide suggestions, and give feedback.

In addition, DHCS provide promoting resources through established channel in social media to foster health care. These measures have been established in the Comprehensive Health Care Act to minimize the cost of health care to far reaching patients away from towns (Abrams et al, 2011). ReferencesAbrams, M., Nuzum, R., Mika, S., Lawlor, G. (2011). Realizing Health Reform’s Potential. How the Affordable Care Act Will Strengthen Primary Care and Benefit Patients, Providers, and Payers. Retrieved from Douglas, T. (2012). Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care.

Retrieved from < www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Documents/DHCSQualityStrategy81312.pdf>