The Definition of Healthcare - Report Example

DEFINITION OF HEALTHCARE Student’s name Code & Course Professor’s name University City Date Question 1 Numerous definitions of quality of care have been presented, but none captures the well attributes of many definitions as that defined by Institute of Medicine (IOM). It defines quality of care as the level to which the health services for populations and individuals augment the likelihood of preferred health result and are attuned to the present professional knowledge. This has resulted in definitions that seem to outline quality indicators; that are reviewed to represent standards. Evidently, these standards are attuned to possibilities or inputs of these indicators. These clusters consisted of 5D’s disability, death, dissatisfaction, discomfort, and disease, as opposed to the positive components of quality. This sections, therefore, seeks to present arguments in support of this aspect; drawing from different definitions and theoretical underpinning. The provisioning of quality of care should be attuned to divergent quality indicators of high-quality services subject to the nursing input. Arguably, as the most accepted definition of quality of care the notion behind the concept is valid given the various attributes of quality healthcare. IOM’s definition of quality of health was based on the basic tenets of quality provision. Six aspects are highlighted in which each aspect plays an imperative role in quality care; timelessness, efficiency, equity, safety, patient-centered approach, and effectiveness. The validity of these aspects is linked to quality indicators in the profession. According to IOM principles, there are six aspects of healthcare that are imperative for any quality care system. To begin with, the system has to be safe for patients in the entire process and at all times. Simply put, this feature suggests that there should be no variations in the standards of safety at any given time. For instance, there should be no fluctuation of service where practitioners should not overlook information provided by the patient. Secondly, effective care should be characterized by a high quality of health care, in which, whenever possible it should systematically obtain evidence in deriving facts whether a diagnostics test or preventive services. Thirdly, a patient-centered approach should thrive in a high-quality health care; maintaining the following approach preferences; communication; integration of care; physical comfort; respect for patient values and the involvement of emotional support. In addition, a high-quality health care necessitates for efficient timing, where healthcare is delivered in a timely manner. Tentatively, delivering such services necessitates for efficiency, wherein, resources are used in offering the best value for patients. Lastly, a quality healthcare is on that is equitable. Evidently, care should be dispensed with respect to the individual’s need, and not personal characteristics such as race, insurance or gender. In this respect, health care consumers are presently anticipated to play an imperative role in provisioning care; therefore it is important to offer more weight to the definition of quality care. More often than not, healthcare offers unprecedented quality that signifies the definition offered by expert definition as that offer by industry leaders (Hibbard et al., 2010). For an individual, provisioning of quality health care is subjective to judgments that are based on individual, beliefs, values and the culture (Piligrimiene & Buciuniene, 2008). Whereas OMI’s definitions and objectives measures are significant, it is apparent that consumer understanding is idealized on an individual’s responsiveness. Literature, suggests that in defining quality of care, the consumers priorities various aspects; i. Effective communication between skilled and competent providers (knowledge) ii. Access to care iii. Provisioning of appropriate treatment in well-placed environment iv. Respect for patients when receiving care (Sofaer et al., 2005 & Piligrimiene & Buciuniene, 2008) In defining quality care, the Donabedian model conceptualizes the processing aspects (patient involvement and effective patient –provider communication) and structural aspects as prevalent features of attaining quality care (Rademakers, Delnoij, & de Boer, 2011). Contrariwise, healthcare providers insist on appropriate services, patient outcomes and the provider’s competence in defining quality (Rademakers, Delnoij, & de Boer, 2011; Piligrimiene & Buciuniene, 2008). In line with IOM’s definition of quality of care, Donabedian (1988) conceptualizes an approach that is described on the basis of the outcome, process, and structure. Simply put, structure represents the environment in which care is offered to patients by providers. Process is a descriptive term of how care is provided. Once a care has been provided; outcome presents the consequence of the care on the population’s health status. In this respect, this argument presupposes that a good health care system is one that augments its likelihood of good process, in which, such effective processes increases the propensity to present a good outcome (Donabedian, 1988). While this approach is attuned to the traditional IOM definition, the author presents a framework that magnifies quality in seven attributes namely legitimacy, acceptability, optimality, equity, acceptability, effectiveness, efficacy, and legitimacy. These perspectives are likened to aspects of IOM’s definition of quality care in which quality of service is emphasized to various degrees. In this way, effectiveness, optimality, and efficacy are conceptualized as common factors that supplement the attainment of quality care. Present studies emphasize that patients are not engrossed on features of care since the quality preference of a single aspect tends to change over time (Hibbard et al., 2010). Piligrimiene & Buciuniene (2008) believe quality is attributed to the fact that patients do not comprehensively understand their health need; hence the patient’s understanding of quality is low and does not showcase what is essential for their interest. In this way, most researchers articulate for a plain language of care system that assists patients in developing an understanding of quality care pointers. Such attributes are confined to the six aspects of the quality care. Raven (2012) highlights those vulnerable populations that may be relatively unstable and have varied preferences. Additionally, he asserts that the vulnerable population asses’ quality with regards to their personal experiences subject to the equitable care delivery, patient-centered decision and effective illness prevention (Raven et al., 2012). Evidently, patients perceive quality, as those that respond to their needs in a patient-centered approach, with respect to communication, access, kindness and the humaneness. On the other hand, Campbell (2000) presupposes that two essential domains are imperative in defining quality healthcare; effectiveness and access. Arguably, the proponents of the typical IMO’s definition articulate that quality relies on whether an individual can access care when needed and whether that care has proven effective at both interpersonal and clinical levels. The definition outlined in this approach, conceptualized access as physical accessibility, availability and affordability that is met by an individual consumer as they pass through a health system. Simply put, effectiveness is defined as an approach to evidence-based care that emphasizes the importance of a patient-centered approach. IOM’s definition is put to question given the various definition that offer an in-depth analysis and facts of issues. Its attributes definite uncovers pertinent aspects of a customer-centered approach. Similarly to its theoretical underpinning, a customer-centered approach is imperative in various dimensions given the inclusion of customer-centered aspects that defines the value of service. The patients are first-hand recipients of the services offered, therefore; an inclusion from their perspective consolidates a holistic external attribute for quality determinants. Consolidating such aspects presents a holistic perspective of defining quality of care. It is evident therefore that IOM’s definition of quality of service applies to proffered definition of quality care. The consolidation of these aspects presupposes that it takes considerable efforts in attaining preferred quality of care. As such, given the increasing awareness of quality variations, the consolidation of the six components of quality has proved beneficial and imperative to health providers. Question 2 The following are the six dimensions of a healthcare System; Effectiveness Effectiveness is a key performance dimension. When a health care institution attains progressive improvements in health, then effectiveness evidenced (Raven et al., 2012). Simply put, effectiveness is a degree of achieving preferred outcome to beneficiaries in healthcare services. It presupposes an error free structure (Shane and Wadi, 2014). Among the tools that enhance its realization is training and incentives among the specialists. This enables the practitioners acquire new skills during service delivery. In addition, motivation rewards improve the practitioner’s morale in tasks completion and delivering service more effectively. Tentatively, “a just and trust approach” builds an open relationship between the staff members and their boss. In this way, the staff report errors and emergency systems are put in place to respond to problems whenever they occur. That advocates for staff accountability to errors hence it becomes easy to solve the situation through responsibility, Is effective dimension witnessed in Saudi Arabia? Yes, it is. The Saudi Arabia Government introduced the Central Board of Accreditation for Healthcare Institutions to ensure that all the national hospitals within the country meet effective management teams of specialists. It was a major move to boost service delivery in healthcare departments (Shane and Wadi, 2014). In addition, patients are involved in decision making with the specialist. To ensure effective service delivery, Reyadh Health Directorate (RHD) visits the hospitals and take the assessment in ensuring the services are improving. In this way, the quality of life has improved. Safety Arguably safety systems have shown their reliability in the dispensation of proffered functions. Quality healthcare is defined by safety patients, which are subsequently supported by safe designs systems (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2008). Safety is used to ameliorate negative outcomes from the processes of health care services to something more bearable (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2008). In this system, an improving tool of Telehealth is progressives. Patients can communicate with their specialists using telecommunication technologies over long distances. It has been achievable through video conferencing, the internet, and use of telephone calls. Safety dimension also uses clinical informatics tool to perform the best service delivery in making the right decisions. Technology systems are in place to assist in documentation, system design and system implementation and adoption of problems. Saudi Arabia observed the dimension of safety by setting up systems in health care whereby patients and staff members are relaxed (Shane and Wadi, 2014). It focused on coming up with essential departments at standard level. Both the public and private hospitals are expected to meet the standards during its operation. The government also issues insurance health systems to the hospitals, which already meets these standards. Accessibility Accessibility is a dimension that focuses on making health care services easily reached by clients irrespective of location (Sick & Abraham, 2011). The services can either be psychological, financial, and physical, in which, a common relationship is inferred. Currently, the system advocates rapid response to its patient as one of its tools. The programs are structured into community-based programs, intensive home care, and primary care services with dedicated specialists. The main Agenda is to make health care services easily accessible to patients with acute illness and be more beneficial (Almalki, 2012). Secondly, home care services have been widely adopted. These service facilities are offered to patients at the comfort of their home during the observation period for continual recovery. All this are done to improve a patient’s quality of life from sickness. According to the constitution of Saudi Arabia article 31, the government obliges to provide free medical service delivery to its citizens hence accessibility dimension is explored (Constitution of Saudi Arabia (2005). The policy was the health ministry initiatives that advocate health for all its citizens. Structures from the ministry of health are in place to ensure citizens get access to health services easily (Al-yousuf, 2008). Supplementary agencies from the Saudi government provide this services; making accessibility to healthcare easily. Such agencies include the ministry of defense and aviation, Saudi Arabia National Guard, and the Red Crescent Society. There are also private sectors in Saudi Arabia which offers the services at a fee. Wealthy people and individuals that can afford such services, frequently use private entities (Shane and Wadi, 2014). Efficiency Efficiency is dimension in a system that uses available resource to achieve greater results at its maximum level (Sick & Abraham, 2011). The system uses fewer resources to achieve its expectable results without shortcomings. In order to achieve this, two quality tools are in place namely research and dispensation of information technology. The resources used to conduct research on chronic diseases are expected to have maximum benefit or outcomes, which are regionally and globally applicable. With this achieved, service delivery from the medics will have achieved the preferred level. Tentatively, a preferred information technology system is structured as a tool for various reasons. Such systems offers a clear infrastructure on how clients get access to their personal health information, self-management supports of patients by observing prescriptions from medics, protocols to be followed when issuing referrals and decisions support between specialist while assisting clients. Efficiency is tracked in Saudi Arabia when a research was conducted on quality of care and quality of life (Almalki et al., 2012). The main agenda of this approach was to trace the impact of quality of care to hospitalize patients and home care patients (Shane and Wadi, 2014). Different techniques were used during the period such as statistical analysis, data collection, and ethics. Though this has been done, the hospital accreditation does not always produce improve outcomes. This is because patient’s needs are not satisfied. Patient-Centered Care (PCC) Patient center care has been an imperative dimension of the increased concept of high-quality health care. Accordingly, Frampton and Charmel (2008) assert that the reinforcement of patient-centered approach is instrumental not only in creating a more profound experience, but also an essential practice for high-quality care globally. Evidently, its inclusion is witnessed in the UK as a dimension of high-quality care over some time now. The creation of such policies was aimed at achieving quality agenda through patient led services that oversaw patient treatment with dignity, respect, and compassion. Tentatively, through King’s fund it evidenced the significance of the approach in promoting the effectiveness (King’s Fund, 2010). This framework of modern patient-centered care is based on the research by Picker Institute in which it based upon eight dimensions namely; i. Emotional Support ii. Respects for the patient’s values and preferences iii. Communication, information and education iv. Access to care v. Involvement of friends and family vi. Coordination of care vii. Transition and continuity This approach is centered on staff, where in order to be successful a patient-centered approach should consolidate various aspect of the staff experience, because the staff experience is affected in cases when patient’s care is compromised at various levels (Frampton and Charmel, 2008). Responsiveness is used with respect to patient-centered approach, where, it presents how healthcare systems should meet the patient’s expectation in various platforms. WHO advocates that the recognition of responsiveness is an imperative goal for health system reinforcing the aspect of health systems needed to serve people (International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, 2007). The most highlighted element when defining patient-centered care is its approach to addressing the patient’s wants, preferences, needs and the values (International Alliance of Patients' Organizations, 2007). PCC has been effectively incorporated in a number of rehabilitation centers in Saudi Arabia. Tentatively, the Saudi Aramco is dedicated to offering effective training in PCC to effects its practices. Equity The term equity is presented as a moral and ethical dimension in healthcare. This simply refers to the provision of healthcare that does not vary in quality with regard to attributes such as geographic location, ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status. Equity is a concept that is closely linked to access; however it is used as an aspect of assessing health systems financing and health outcomes. Simply put, it refers to the span to which systems addresses to the patient’s needs fairly in all concerned aspects. Its inclusion in any healthcare systems sustains the need to distribute healthcare to benefit all pertinent groups. In order to comprehensively appreciate the significance of equity, it is imperative to understand the increased differential in health outcomes in most parts of the world. In different locations of the worlds, as well as any social and political systems, differences in health are noted in various aspects with respect to population and geographical areas. Healthcare systems should be able to dispense its functions effectively in all its services. Equitable health care guarantees that different individuals can get value for the healthcare without subsequent discrimination. Various tools have been incorporated in this respect. A strict code of conduct has been implemented among the staff to guide them when dispensing services. Tentatively, the management attempts to employ staff from all races, gender, to name a few. Although women in Saudi have continually faced discrimination, equitable approaches have been put into place. Affordable insurance policies have been put into place where all citizens can access the service. These can be used in King Fahad Medical City, for example. Reference List Almalki, M., FitzGerald, G., Clark, M. (2012) The relationship between quality of work life and turnover intention of primary health care nurses in Saudi Arabia. BMC Health Services Research 2012, 12:314   Campbell, S. M., Roland, M. O., & Buetow, S. A. (2000) Defining quality of care. Social Science & Medicine, 51, 1611-1625. Charmel, P., Frampton, S. (2008) Building the business case for patient-centered care. Healthcare Financial Management (62 (3):80-5. Constitution of Saudi Arabia. (1992, rev. 2005) Donabedian, A. (1988) The quality of care: How can it be assessed? Journal of the American Medical Association, 260(12), 1743-1748. Hibbard, J. H., Greene, J., & Daniel, D. (2010) What is quality anyway? 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