Escape Fire Documentary Critique - Essay Example

? Escape Fire Documentary Escape Fire documentary Introduction Escape fire: The fight to rescue American Healthcare is an award winning health documentary that discusses some of the most pressing issues in the healthcare sector in America including addressing the measures that need to be taken to salvage the country’s broken health system (Susan and Mathew, 2012). The documentary is produced by the Sundance institute in 2012 and was directed by Susan Froemke, an Oscar Award nominee, and Mathew Heinemen. The film’s main objective is to introduce low cost methods of disease prevention, and innovative technology in healthcare. The documentary includes various personal stories of individuals who have tried to fight the status quo in a bid to transform the health sector (Susan and Mathew, 2012). Question One: Importance of Preventive Medicine in Family Care Preventive medicine is at the core of the documentary. One of the objectives of the documentary is to encourage prevention rather than curing diseases. The current healthcare system is focused on treating diseases rather than on finding preventive solutions. This has resulted in Americans spending a lot on healthcare yet the condition seems to be worsening in recent years. The documentary reveals that the healthcare costs in America are rapidly increasing ad could reach an annual figure of about 4.2 trillions, which is about 20% of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) in ten years’ time (Susan and Mathew, 2012). The film further reveals that the nation spends up to the tune of 300 billion dollars on pharmaceutical drugs and about 75% of the total healthcare costs are spent on preventable diseases (Susan and Mathew, 2012). These preventable diseases can also be attributed to the rising cases of disability among Americans. The greatest importance of preventive medicine in family care according to the documentary would be a reduction in healthcare costs (Susan and Mathew, 2012). Americans would have to spend less on treatment and their lifestyles would be improved a great deal. The country will be able to save a lot of money to invest in other sectors of the economy. This will also promote healthy living among people hence avoiding preventable diseases. Question Two: Main Issues the Film Raises with Current Healthcare System The documentary brings many of the problems affecting healthcare sector to the forefront. It raises issues affecting service providers in all sectors including primary care and family care among others. The documentary describes the current healthcare sector as broken in the sense that it is profit driven as opposed to patient driven, and focused on quick fixes rather than promoting prevention (Susan and Mathew, 2012). The current healthcare system is portrayed as being hugely extravagant with many unnecessary expenses going in to health problems that can be prevented. The film also states that the current health system has failed to realize any tangible results since the health issues have persistently been affecting Americans with more people being disabled and more other suffering from weight problems due to preventable causes. Question Three: Ways in Which an Existing Practice May Undermine Patient Outcomes Patient outcomes may be undermined in many ways in the current health system. Most of the service providers are profit centered as opposed to being patient centered. They would rather offer patients short-term solutions so that the patients spend more on treatment at the service provider’s benefit. Question Four: New Approaches for Improving Patient Outcomes The documentary puts forward two main approaches that can effectively reform the entire health system and improve patient outcomes. These are putting more focus on high-touch and preventative strategies. An approach relying more on high touch will ensure a lot of attention is given to the patient and the service they receive through a more face to face approach that ensures there is an understanding between the patients and the service providers. This includes using the latest technology to ensure the patients are well diagnosed, treated and taken care of. The preventive approach on the other hand will ensure people avoid certain diseases by living health lifestyles and following doctors’ advice on nutrition and other predisposal factors. Through this preventive strategy, patients will be advised on how to prevent occurrence of diseases through vaccination and other medicines. This will help improve patient outcomes in cases of disabilities. Question Five: Strategies for Incorporating Integrative Medicine Into An Existing Practice Integrative medicine or new medicine can be incorporated in to current practice through a variety of strategies. The documentary indicates that incorporating integrative medicine in to current practice will go a long way in helping improve the healthcare system. The strategies that can be used to incorporate integrative medicine include education and training, where current service providers are trained on how to use the medicine and how it can improve patient outcomes. Patients also need to be given substantial information regarding these medicines. New technology can also play a role in incorporating integrative medicine. Question Six: Pros and Cons of the Solutions to the Healthcare Crisis As Presented In The Film The advantages of the solutions suggested in the film include the fact that it patient outcomes will be greatly improved, the costs involved in healthcare will drastically reduced, people will be more aware of healthy living through prevention strategies. The new solutions will also lead to the reformation of the healthcare sector to focus on patients as opposed to profits. The new solutions also present a lot of challenges and disadvantages that may make it hard to be implemented. The new solutions are costly in the short term as more costs will be involved in training service providers, research and educative campaigns to create awareness among patients and other citizens. Question Seven: New Ways to Approach Integrative Patient Care Based On the Solutions Presented In The Film Integrative patient care can be approached in the healthcare system based on the solutions discussed in the documentary. There is need for service providers to incorporate high touch techniques in treatment of patients, adopt the latest technology, encourage disease prevention and investing in research to constantly be up to date with challenges I the healthcare sector. Question Eight: Ways to Work Collaboratively With Colleagues across Specialties The healthcare sector is very large with many different areas of specialty. In order to improve the whole sector, there is need for collaboration and corporation from among the different people in the industry. Collaboration can be strengthened through sharing of ideas and knowledge regarding various diseases, participating in research, healthcare legislation and mentorship and training of health practitioners in various fields. Question Nine: Alternatives To, Invasive and Costly Tests, Medications and Procedures Costly tests and medication procedures are necessary in cases of terminal diseases such as cancer. Treatment involved in these diseases is very expensive due to the technology and medicine involved. The alternative for these medications, costly tests and procedures is prevention. Most ailments can be prevented through healthy living and adhering to recommended nutritional diets. Question 10: Ways to Engage Patients in Promoting, Supporting and Monitoring Healthier Lifestyle Choices Patients are the people who ultimately suffer from a broken health system. They have to be protected from the system by being involved in any promotions aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles. The patients can be engaged in these promotions through community health campaigns promoting health living, being encouraged to go for regular hospital checkups, and participating in meaningful research aimed at encouraging healthy lifestyles. Reference Susan Froemke and Mathew Heinemen (Directors). 2012. Escape fire: The fight to rescue American Healthcare [documentary]. United States of America: Sundance institute. Read More