Issues in Healthcare law - Essay Example

Issues in Healthcare law Health care is a fundamental right and everyone should have right to gain access it. The good relationship between patient and provider is one foundation of contemporary medical ethics, and is essential for the delivery of quality health care in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. An ethical relationship between patient and provider is based on honesty, trust, confidentiality, privacy, and the shared desire for quality care (“BNET’’). Patient can’t always expect an immediate cure, but expect an opportunity to discuss concerns, clear explanation of his/her health status, quality care, emergency contact whenever needs, cost estimates, and confidentiality from the provider (“Dow Health Services Expertise Center’’).

A recent study highlights the importance of necessity to follow patients more closely after discharge as hospitalized patients have a high risk of adverse outcomes resulting from treatment (“Forster’’). In earlier days, a patient usually had to meet physically with a doctor for treatment. But now technology has made it simpler, and they can easily access the required information on Internet as hundreds of medical sites are readily accessible. At the same even patient can get the information from the doctor through online.

Despite the popularity of publications warning of the potential harm associated with using health information from the Internet, cases of getting information from Internet is increasing (“Crocco AG’’). The most important thing patients can do for their health care is to choose one primary health care provider. They may be a pediatrician for children, a family practitioner, or a geriatrician for an old age person. It is an important because a primary provider can get to know patient and patient’s medical history and helps them feel comfortable discussing personal issues.

Developing a good relationship with provider before a patient can ill or injured is a key factor to a successful partnership, and can expect a quality health care. In case of geriatrics and pediatrics trends in the interaction between provider and provider, provider and patient are important, because child and old age patient are treated by different health workers in diverse settings, complicating communication at all levels. Understanding the changes in clinical communication is critical for their future care (“Jonathan R”).

In the past, patient monitoring is only done in the clinic or in the hospital, but now patients can use devices such as automatic blood pressure cuffs and Holter monitors in their home themselves to check their routine health and through which made obtaining and communicating patient physiologic parameters to providers easily. In the way, computerized physician/provider order entry (CPOE), and electronic health records (EHRs) can reduces errors as the entry of medical orders for the treatment of patients can be made under the licensed provider, and it also decreases delay in order completion, and simplifies invention.

Tracking and storing history of patient procedures, history of immunization could be easily accessible. In case needed, providers can refer patients to another doctor or specialist for examination and possible treatment without much delay (“Greenes RA’’). Methods of accountable care organization (ACO), and patient centered medical home care could enhance patient-provider relationship. ACO can reduce costs through enhanced preventive care and improve quality through coordination of care as they are accountable for the cost and quality of care delivered.

On the other hand, the patient centered medical home can provide comprehensive primary care as it facilitates a continuous relationship between patients, the patient's family when appropriate, and the patient's personal primary care physician. In case of chronic illness such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, managed care and integrated delivery systems have taken a great interest, as they have a multiple conditions (“ Naughton BJ’’). CONCLUSION The good relationship between patient and provider is very essential for the delivery of quality health care, and is a foundation of medical ethics.

Earlier a patient has a limited access for care and had to meet physically with a doctor for treatment. But, advancement in technology such as computerized physician/provider order entry, electronic health records made health care access for them easy and quick but made relationship with provider less accountable. But developing a good relationship with provider before ill or injured is a key factor, especially in case of age old and children, by which provider can get to know patient and patient’s medical history and helps them feel comfortable discussing personal issues.

In the same way, methods of accountable care organization, patient centered medical home care, managed care could enhance the relationship between patient and the provider while ensuring quality healthcare. And in future, advancement in technology could enhance information flows among providers and patients and will help providers make better decisions. Works cited BNET. Health care ethics: models of the provider-patient relationship. 2010. Web. 8 February. 2011. Crocco AG, Villasis-Keever M, Jadad AR.

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21 December 2001. Web. 10 February. 2011. Greenes RA, Peleg M, Boxwala A, Tu S, Patel V, Shortliffe EH. “Sharable computer-based clinical practice guidelines: rationale, ob­stacles, approaches, and prospects. Journal of Gerontology. 22 April, 2003. Web. 10 February. 2011. Jonathan R. Nebeker, John F. Hurdle, Byron D. Bair. “Future History: Medical Informatics in Geriatrics’’. Journal of Gerontology. Vol. 58A, 2003. Web. 10 February. 2011. Naughton BJ, Mylotte JM. “Treatment guideline for nursing home-acquired pneumonia based on community practice’’.

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