One driver for high performance healthcare systems is actual access to healthcare. On average, the residents of the southern part of the United States have less access to healthcare (Nguyen & Sommers, 2016). One study in my home state of Arkansas revealed over forty four percent of the population does not have medical insurance (Nguyen & Sommers, 2016). These residents will be less likely to visit a medical professional be less likely to visit a medical professional when they have an issue, or they might not be compliant with the prescribed treatment due to lack of finances. I have seen this issue appear time and time again in my professional practice. We have patients admitted with an infected limb because they did not see a physician when they first noticed symptoms. Because they waited too long, the condition worsened, and severe infection developed.
They might endure multiple surgeries and still end with a limb amputation. A clear majority of these patients are also diabetic and do not monitor their blood sugar or take the prescribed medication; these practices also contribute to their complications. These patients remain in the hospital for weeks and are drowning in medical bills they cannot afford when they are discharged. If affordable healthcare were accessible to these patients, they might be better able to maintain their illnesses at home and prevent the complications that ultimately cost them even more money. The healthcare system is ultimately a business geared to show profit. As healthcare professionals, we must be mindful of our patient’s financial situation when we prescribe treatments. We have to be flexible in our options for patients to help them be the most successful when maintaining their health.
Another driver of the healthcare system is quality. I have heard this term addressed many times by both our supervisor and administration. Quality and patient safety are two concepts that are intertwined (Akram et al., 2017). The reason for quality is to promote patient’s well being while in our care in the hospital (Akram et al., 2017). Quality scores have become an even more prominent concept since patients now have increased access to this information and can choose where to seek medical attention based on these scores (Akram et al., 2017). On my own unit, we have a trauma quality team assessing us. The results that they find will be made known to the individual at home, to insurance companies, and to government agencies that control medical funding. The results of these scores are also reflected in the hospital’s repayment for services. If the reimbursement amount decreases because of our inferior performance, our jobs could be in jeopardy. Therefore, understanding this driver is of utmost importance for nurses. The manner in which we provide care and the quality of care we provide affect more than our one patient. Our performance may determine what equipment and services we have access to and could ultimately impinge on our jobs as well.
References
Akram, G., Tayyebeh, R., Farahnaz, A., Zahra, S., & Iman, D. (2017). Quality of healthcare services and its relationship with patient safety culture and nurse-physician professional communication. Health Promotion Perspectives, Vol 7, Iss 3, Pp 168-174 (2017), (3), 168. doi:10.15171/hpp.2017.30
Nguyen, K. H., & Sommers, B. D. (2016). Access and Quality of Care by Insurance Type for Low-Income Adults Before the Affordable Care Act. American Journal Of Public Health, 106(8), 1409. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2016.303156
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