Emerging Trends in Health Care - Term Paper Example

Emerging trends affecting healthcare Emerging trends affecting healthcare today There are emerging novel developments that are impacting the healthcare sector today adversely. In essence, the healthcare delivery systems are constantly changing in accordance with current innovations and technology. These emerging trends have impacted the delivery of care through affecting management practices. This paper offers a brief description of three emerging trends that are affecting health care today. Additionally, an evaluation of the implication of one of these trends on the delivery of health care from the perspective of doctors, nurses, and patients is outlined in this paper, as well as how this trend might impact the quality of care.

As elucidated by Sena (2012), adoption of technology in health care is one of the emerging trends affecting health care. Just like in any other industry, the use of technology is imperative in healthcare as healthcare organizations strive to align their services with their objectives of providing quality services to their clients. In essence, the use of technology has made the job of doctors and nurses easier and patients are able to access healthcare services more rapidly (Williams, 2011).

A good example of how technology is used today in healthcare is electronic health records which improves efficiency of services. Doctors and physicians are therefore able to access patients medical information in their computers by just a click. Secondly, according to Sena (2012), individuals seeking treatment today are more involved in the provision of care. This can be attributed to the fact that the modern man is more sophisticated in terms of education. Therefore, people today tend to evaluate all available healthcare avenues in order to make an informed decision on the institution offering the best services (Sena, 2012).

This has also been contributed by the fact that people are able to access information particularly through the internet. Consequently, people in the contemporary world can identify differences in terms of services, costs, as well as quality of services in different institutions as relevant information is available on the internet (Sena, 2012). The third emerging trend is closely linked to the current high spending in healthcare that has pushed up health insurance premiums (Sena, 2012). As a consequence, many people have been unable to access quality care as they are unable to afford the high premiums.

Healthcare reforms have also impacted on healthcare economics hence providers are forced to discharge patients earlier hence an increase in the number of outpatients. Current healthcare reforms that have increased spending through high costs of labor have made it impossible for providers to create more jobs (Studer, 2010). To explicate how technology has impacted on healthcare delivery in a doctors perspective, it is worth noting that modern technology has led to innovations in terms of modern machines and medical equipments that have made identification of illnesses easier (Williams, 2011).

To the patients, this translates to a higher chance of recovery in cases of complicated infections and illnesses. However, patients medical information may fall into third parties and this may lead to stigmatization and discrimination on the basis of pre-existing illness (Williams, 2011). Sena (2012) asserts that through the use of technology, nurses are able to able to access patients medical information and subsequently confirm whether they have administered the correct dosage or therapy. Technology has improved the quality of care through improving on efficiency, offering better treatment options, improved access to medical information on the internet, and improving the safety of services.

In conclusion, emerging trends impacting on healthcare today include adoption of technology, patients are more involved in terms of decision making and choice of treatment, and healthcare reforms that have led to an increase in health insurance premiums. The use of technology in healthcare has improved efficiency and safety of health services, better and improved options to treatment, and improved access to medical information. References Sena, J. F. (2012). Emerging Trends in Healthcare: Preparing for Tomorrow Today.

Chicago, IL: American College of Healthcare Executives. Studer, Q. (2010). Do your nurses speak finance? Health care Financial Management, 64(6), 80-84. Williams, B. (2011). Emerging Trends in Healthcare. London, UK: Pwc.