Health Policies and the Future of Health Care in the USA - Essay Example

Influence of Health Policies and the Future of Health Care in the U.S The current health care has failed in many ways. According to Miller (2012), most health problems are influenced by the modern lifestyle. These problems can only be solved by treating the cause that is addressing the lifestyles of patients. With the current health care, physicians do not take much time in knowing the cause of the problem but give medication to the patients with little knowledge of their lifestyles. (Miller, 2012) continued to blame the physicians for their less concern with the patients as opposed to earlier or past physicians who could take time to know the background of their patients and treated them as friends. The narrator also added that it was a malpractice and abuse of drugs for physicians to administer drugs to patients for certain pain like headache without tracing the cause. In addition, he blamed the system for being costly and ineffective. Physicians charge patients highly for few minutes which are unfair as opposed to history of medics and patients. (Miller, 2012), went ahead to blame the training institutions where the physicians went through. He argued that the training institutions were putting the medics in training practices that led to the physicians loosing sensitivity hence could not treat the human being (Miller, 2012). The narrator largely is correct. The modern health care is more politically manipulated and a financially controlled career. There has also been decrease in the trust between patients and physicians (Barr, 2011). Due to the modern lifestyles, there has been an increase in obesity related cases which lead to other diseases such as heart diseases (Schimpff, 2012). When patients get to hospitals, they are treated for heart problems rather than addressing the cause which is obesity by changing the lifestyle behavior (Schimpff, 2012). The legal systems have also interfered with the medical system hence increasing the cost of treatment. Due to this the medical systems have become inaccessible therefore loosing meaning. In addition, it has been made a requirement for medical institution in big institutions which have made the profession irrelevant since physicians are taking the practice for money (Schimpff, 2012). Following the United States health care policies has both advantages and disadvantages. The immediate effect will be on the taxpayer as the policy intends to increase the tax on wealthy citizens and reducing the medical expenses (Barr, 2011). In addition, insurance firms are expected to insure all citizens regardless of their conditions. Increase in taxes will lead to development of the medical facilities (Devettere, 2009). This will foster growth of the economy since more money will be generated. Due to the opportunity created in the insurance industry, more insurance firms will emerge which will influence growth of the economy positively. Increase in insurance firms will also mean more taxes from the firms which will help in development of the American economy (Schimpff, 2012). The affordable care act (ACA) has a positive impact on the American economy and its people. The act ensures all citizens are insured that is from the kids to adults (Schimpff, 2012). This will help generate income for the government through taxation of the insurance firms which will enhance economic growth (Schimpff, 2012). The act also fights for the right of its citizens by giving them power to choose and make informed decisions about their health. It also enables the people to make an appeal in case of denial for their rights which are ethically right (Schimpff, 2012). The act also holds the insurance firms responsible for any increments in charges or withdrawal of clients’ compensation (Schimpff, 2012). This will make insurance organizations more careful with the way they handle clients hence improving the workability of organizations. This will make organizations to act ethically hence improving the business field. The act has led to the efficiency of healthcare, insurance firms at the same time putting interest of the people at the forefront (Schimpff, 2012). The United States health care system has proper intensions for the Americans. However, much improvements and changes have to be made to make the health system effective and efficient (Devettere, 2009). The number of uninsured Americans has been on the rise and those insured are underinsured. Therefore the government should put in place policies that ensure all Americans are health insured (Devettere, 2009). By doing this, the living standards of the people will greatly improve as well as improving the economy and the insurance industry. The health insurance costs have also been on the increase without consideration of the living standards of the citizens (Devettere, 2009). For this reason, the government should put restrictions on the increase of charging rates. It should also implement laws or policies that state the standard charging rates of health insurance (Devettere, 2009). This should be the core business of the government to ensure its citizens are safe through provision of adequate health and social measures (Devettere, 2009). Adjusting on the cost charged in hospitals is another area of improvement. The United States government has done much in relation to public health (Barr, 2011). However, sufficient measures have not been put in place to cater for basic health care (Barr, 2011). Failure to provide adequate basic health measures is a social disvalue and this should be rectified to make America a better place. This can also be made possible by improving on the period patients are kept in the hospitals (Barr, 2011). The more patients stay in the medical centers, the more money they pay therefore systems should be improved to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the facilities (Barr, 2011). Thirdly, preventive care systems should be put in place. Most of United States health care systems are focused on diseases and not the health of the citizens (Schimpff, 2012). Americans should be educated on ways of avoiding diseases but not waiting until they are infected with preventable diseases. The physicians should utilize the preventive systems to ensure safety and well-being of the Americans. Heath systems should also train their staff on safety measures so that they can maintain patients’ safety (Schimpff, 2012). The health services should also introduce or improve on the existing drug therapies and self-management services. Patients with chronic diseases should be given special care to enhance their safety and improvement in their conditions (Kovner, Knick man & Jonas, 2011). With these systems in place, follow up on the patient’s condition will be easier to both the physician and the patient themselves. In the process, patients with diabetes and heart diseases can be educated on how to live to improve their condition (Kovner, Knickman & Jonas, 2011). The patients with this knowledge will also be able to change on their lifestyle. The health systems and government should introduce public education on healthy behaviors (Kovner, Knickman & Jonas, 2011). By encouraging the public on healthy behavior, it will lead to decrease in diseases. In addition, the management should ensure healthy food and safe places for physical exercises are easily accessible (Kovner, Knickman & Jonas, 2011). Improving on the training institutions can also help in improvement of the health care systems (Feldstein, 2012). The training systems highly contribute to the actions of the physicians towards the patients. In regard to this, training institutions should encourage physicians on treating the health of the patients and not diseases (Feldstein, 2012). This will enhance improvement in the physicians’ malpractices as well as improving the health of the patients. In addition, this will help improve on the relationship between the physicians and the patients which have decreased over the years (Feldstein, 2012). Lastly, the government should ensure enough doctors and nurses in all the hospitals. In most rural areas, there has been shortage of physicians (Grol, Wensing, Eccles & Davis, 2013). Patients with Medicaid coverage were also ignored by doctors therefore strict laws should be put in place to punish negligence by doctors to help improve on health systems by making them efficient and effective (Grol, Wensing, Eccles & Davis, 2013). References Barr, D. A. (2011). Introduction to U.S. health policy: The organization, financing, and delivery of health care in America. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Devettere, R. J. (2009). Practical Decision Making in Health Care Ethics: Cases and Concepts. Washington: Georgetown University Press. Feldstein, P. J. (2012). Health care economics. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. In Grol, R., In Wensing, M., In Eccles, M., & In Davis, D. (2013). Improving patient care: The implementation of change in health care. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell/BMJ Books. Kovner, A. R., Knickman, J., & Jonas, S. (2011). Jonas & Kovners health care delivery in the United States. New York: Springer Pub. Miller, E. (2012). Health care issues and problems in the U.S.A. YouTube Schimpff, S. C. (2012). The future of health-care delivery: Why it must change and how it will affect you. Washington, D.C: Potomac Books. Read More