Transportation of HIV Patients - Case Study Example

Case Analysis Transportation of HIV Patients Summary of Case Study This case study analyses the plight of HIVinfected individuals living in some of the marginalized counties. Friends and relatives of most of these patients have neglected them hence; they have no one to assist them in meeting some of their needs. The infected patients ought to visit medical centre for examinations as well as more medication. Failure to do this end up risking own health, hence their respective better conditions deteriorate. In addition, they have to access other necessities such as food and shopping (Sherman, 2011). Accessing all these services has been a problem for the patients since they are minimal forms of transport available. This case study also analyses the trouble a nonprofit organization goes through to ensure that they cater for the transport needs of the patients. It uses the example of Jeanne a patient who has to access the pharmacy store, which is two miles away (Sherman, 2011). Mary, who is the coordinator of the nonprofit organization in the region normally, represents other co coordinators. The case study brings out the efforts she puts in into ensuring that Jeanne accesses the pharmacy store. Towards the end, a committee composed of social workers and health providers is formed (Sherman, 2011). This committee is responsible for looking into the transportation plight in order to find a solution and despite mentioning possible solution; they all come to an agreement that the only solution is to purchase a number of vehicles to enable all the patients run errands effectively (Sherman, 2011). They also agree that this will need huge amounts funds for both the purchasing and maintenance procedures. Major Problems Presented and Their Relevance The major problem presented in the case is the issue of transportation. If patients decide to use local public transport, they are very limited in their region of seventeen counties (Sherman, 2011). Therefore, the 900 HIV patients cannot all use the local public transport system. Volunteer transport opportunities are also present in the region but they are not readily available, hence unreliable. The patients can be either lucky or unlucky to get whereby they end up relying on probability. This therefore cannot be the solution in case of an emergency medical situation. The other available means of transport was the private transport. As much as this was available, the patients can hardly afford its high cost considering the fact that they have no family or friends to help with their finances and they barely earn a living. This problem is an imperative one since these patients need to access medical attention as well as basic needs. Considering the case of Jeanne, these patients are not in a position to drive them to the hospital as advised by their doctor (Sherman, 2011). In addition, some do not have cars and do not have money to meet the same. Lack of medical examinations and medication for the patients will mean that their health will deteriorate. This could eventually lead to early death of some of the patients (Cichocki, 2009). Other factors contributing to the problems evident in the case study include Medicaid, medicine providers as well as the government. These three parties are involved in the plight endured by the patients. Medicaid meets most of the needs of the HIV patients in the region. The transportation costs are however not part of their aids as evident in the case of Jeanne (Sherman, 2011). The government also does not offer enough funds to the organization helping this people. There are therefore not able to meet the needs of the patients effectively. Finally, the medicine providers are not easily accessible. This heightens the need for transport facilities by the patients so that they can acquire their medicines. It is important to address this problem because solving it will ensure collaborative effort between them. This will make them arrange their schedules and meet the demands of the patients more effectively. The Health System Agency is also facing problems as seen in the case study. As much as they may want to provide services to the patients and make their living standards better, they lack enough facilities to do so. This begins from the fact that they do not have enough funds to meet the needs of the patients. They do not have the money to organize faster and reliable means of transport to the patients. To add on, patients are approximately 900 (Sherman, 2011). This is a large number, which makes the work even harder for the officials of the nonprofit organization. Since most of these patients have been abandoned, the officials lack people whom they can work with to meet the needs of the HIV patients. This problem needs attention since the Health System Agency is doing a lot to help the patients. All they need is a little more support to make their work more effective. Lack of a solution by the transport committee is also a problem as seen in the case. The transport committee its formation was to find a solution to this plight. Unfortunately, they ended up agreeing that the only way out was to acquire a fleet of vehicles and that could cost millions (Sherman, 2011). This is important because the solution they arrived at seems improbable. It is not something that can be easily dealt with but need time as well as resources. It definitely brings out the fact that indeed there is a critical plight amongst the HIV patients when it comes to accessing transport facilities. Case Analysis SWOT Analysis Strengths A health System Agency is a regional organization that for some duration has been set to look into the matters concerning HIV patients (Sherman, 2011). Coordinator of this agency together with other social service workers provides social and emotional support to patients like Jeanne (Sherman, 2011). Weaknesses Medicine dispensing unit is far from those it ought to serve, which is approximately two miles. This is quite a task for the ailing are unable to commute. Taxicabs are extremely pricey whereby a trip to the pharmacy is not covered by the Medicaid policy. The state of the ailing cannot allow them drive even if they have their own vehicles. Their family and friends have abandoned patients like Jeanne (Sherman, 2011). Opportunities Mary promises to find out whether there is a mail order pharmacy, which accepts Medicaid. This will be effective since the patient will not have to go there to get the medication. Though unpromising, there are already known direct ways of transportation from volunteer programs, public transportation services, government agencies as well social service reimbursement program (Sherman, 2011). Institution of transportation committee intends to have adequate monitoring of this matter. Threats Accessing medication and medical attention is a necessity for the patients. Other than the pharmacy problem, Jeanne could nevertheless require haulage to access other service such as banking, food, shopping together with accessing of social support groups (Sherman, 2011) It is hard for the coordinator to construct a transportation programs for each of the many HIV patients in the region. Local public transportation is limited in the region of seventeen counties, volunteer transportation varied greatly in availability whereas the private transportation was available but very costly (Sherman, 2011) The committee lacked a possible immediate solution to the crisis other that acquiring millions in order to run a fleet of vehicles. Cause and Effect Analysis The problem Transportation crisis for HIV patients Transportation crisis ____________________________ Factors involved HIV patients Health System Agency personnel Medicaid Transport providers Medicine providers Transportation Crisis Possible problems Transportation Crisis Analysis of Diagram Finding a long-term solution to this crisis is hard but also very essential. The quality of health as well as living standards of the patients will continue to deteriorate if a solution is not found (Adler, 2012). The most likely remedy to the crisis is collaborative efforts by all the factors involved. This will ensure proper planning to find a solution. The medical providers may arrange the schedule of the patients to be in line with the transportation program. In addition, Medicaid should also cover some transportation needs of the patients and the government should work together with the health System agency personnel. Ethical Issue analysis Ethical dilemma involved in this case encompasses how the agency would ensure it operates within its policies without seeming to intrude into the ailing people’s lives. This is especially in the case of seeming to intrude into the victims’ families by compelling relatives to be accountable in caring the ailing. Hence, the responsible and unwilling relatives may end up seeing this action as being intrusion to their homes, which infringes their privileges. Approach for resolving problems previously identified To solve the problem of difficulties in accessing medical attention, it is critical that follow up care be arranged for the HIV patients. This is necessary, as it will help revolutionize the treatment procedures of the HIV infected individuals. The medical providers should ensure that they develop referral processes as well as tracking procedures in order to ensure that the patients get the medical care they need (AAHIVM, 2009). In case where the patients do not make to the appointments, the tracking program will enable them identify this and they can therefore reach the patients and offer them medical services. Electronic tracking systems are usually effective but in the localized regions, the health providers should ensure that they keep copies of the referral forms (AAHIVM, 2009). A scheduled procedure ought to be in place to avail transportation of the HIV patients or means of providing the necessities to them. Looking into a program done in Minnesota, a HIV project strives to meet the transportation needs of the patients (Minnesota AIDS Project, 2014). The AIDS project in Minnesota ensures transportation services by taxi for the patients as they access medical or pharmaceutical needs. They have put a schedule where the patients have to request for the transportation two days prior so that necessary arrangements are done (Minnesota AIDS Project, 2014). The HIV patients are able to make their errands between 8-5 on Mondays all the Fridays. The patients who do not have buss passes enjoy provisions so far ensured by such a project. Those living in distant locations can also receive mileage reimbursement for medical and pharmacy visits; hence their living standards have improved. Whenever they need to access food and other necessities, the volunteer drivers provide the shelf pickups as well as deliveries (Minnesota AIDS Project, 2014). Such a scheduled plan is important and effective since the patients strain less. Such a transportation program is friendly to the patients hence should be implemented. Lack of funding is one of the major problems highlighted. The Health System Agency needs enough funding in order to implement a number of things thus solve the problems faced by the HIV patients. The agency can consider seeking aids from the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program that provides funding to health care providers and other institutions that seek to provide health (HRSA, 2012). This program aims at serving individuals living in marginalized areas as it provides hope for a better future. It also fights stigma and seeks to improve the living standards of the infected individuals (Institute of Medicine (U.S.), 2011). This is one possible solution to the crisis since it is the largest federally funded HIV/AIDS program (HRSA, 2012). If funding is obtained from this program, the medical providers will be able to reach the patients and take the medicine to them as they carry out examinations. This will make the work of the Health System Agency easier, as they will be able to concentrate on other important matters concerning the well-being of the patients. Considering the fact that the transportation committee did not arrive at any possible immediate remedy to the crisis, they should advocate for collaborative efforts. Medicaid, the agency, government as well as transport providers should combine efforts to ensure they serve interests of the infected individuals. This demands proper planning to find a solution. The medical providers may arrange the schedule of the patients to be in line with the transportation program. To add on, since Medicaid does not cover the transportation needs of the patients, a project that provides transport reimbursements should be develop to meet that need for patients. Finally, despite the fact that the Health System Agency is a nongovernmental organization, the personnel in charge should work closely with the local government to ensure that they succeed in their mission to support the HIV infected people in the region. This is important since if they wait for millions of funding in order to purchase a fleet of vehicles, the health of the patients will continue to deteriorate (Adler, 2012). References Adler, M.W. (2012). ABC of HIV and AIDS. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM). (2009). Connecting HIV infected patients to health Care: A review of Best Practices. Routine HIV Testing Implementation. Retrieved on November 1, 2014 from Cichocki, M. (2009). Living with HIV: A patients guide. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co. Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2011). HIV screening and access to care: Exploring the impact of policies on access to and provision of HIV Care. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press. Minnesota AIDS Project. (2014). Transportation. Retrieved on November 1, 2014 from Read More