Health Care Management - Research Paper Example

Frequent readmissions occur due to problems related to chronic infections, which are preventable. This article will give a review of a selected hospital related with problems of E.R (emergency room) overcrowding and frequent readmissions. In health care management, there is a minimal number of individuals who utilize hospital emergency department services repeatedly and outstandingly (Hall, 2008). This also includes in-patient services which pose as, their primary source of health care. Some of the most common problems related to frequent hospital readmission include chronic illnesses, mental illness, substance abuse and homelessness (Ken, Young & Spillane, 1998).

Even though, these patients are few, they contribute to a large percentage of medical care costs and exploitation of scant hospital resources for conditions that could have been prevented or treated in common societal settings. These recurrent hospital care users promote congestion in the emergency unit hence leading to higher health care costs for each individual. Demonstration projects and research carried out by hospitals, local governments, non-governmental organizations and community organizations confirm that frequent health care users can be supported in a more efficient way based on case management (Kirby, 2010).

This service can direct them to a suitable primary medical care, housing and other community-based services. Advantageously, the service is cost-effective and enhances exploitation of health care resources for their entire society. The case management services are economical and technologically complicated (Richardson, 2009). Through analysis and research, patients noted to use these services patently reduced their dependence on use of ambulances, emergency departments and hospital in-patient services (Richardson, 2009).

Most frequent users show reductions in the exploitation of these public services among others. The governments in different states have strived in meeting the requirements of frequent users by not overstretching the extension of the state services (Byrne, 2003). Many state officials have come up with the idea of a beneficiary system whereby the frequent patients are placed as beneficiaries of the system. They receive publicly-financed health services which are rather expensive. Identifying and addressing necessities of these frequent users should be a component of achieving broader health policy goals.

Development of healthcare insurance coverage must include appropriate services for these frequent services (Hall, 2008). The needs of the frequent users can be improved further through quality improvement programs. This will help reduce disparities caused by medical reliance on the overburdened emergency rooms (ER), thus creating habitable cities that respond to other exceptional populations like the veterans (Ken, Young & Spillane, 1998). This ensures that the frequent patients get improved healthcare through this improved healthcare system.

Numerous studies conducted in the health field show that the communication factor has contributed largely to frequent patient readmissions in most hospitals. Lack of communication links between patients, hospitals, providers and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is the most common cause related to frequent hospital readmissions (Richardson, 2009). An example is the study carried out of readmission cases of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results