NRS-493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal – Topic 3

NRS-493 Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal – Topic 3

Healthcare delivery and clinical system refer to system coordination mechanisms, quality control, information flow, communication flow, and decision-making process between practitioners and patients (Young et al., 2009). The health delivery systems have seen a change in ownership and management pattern due to an increase in the concentration of acute care delivery systems, restructuring of acute and long-term care sectors, and blurring of the distinction between profit and not for profit ownership. The United States health care sector is unique because it offers an array of clinicians, hospitals, insurance plans, and purchases of health care services. The various part of the system operates as independent groups, networks, and groups. The sector also has either voluntary or government regulators.

The system offers four levels of care. The first one is primary care where one gets evaluated for symptoms and medical concerns. Primary care coordinates care among specialists, enhances access to healthcare services, improve health outcome, and reduce the use of emergency department visits and hospitalization (Young et al., 2009). The second level is secondary care where specialized care is provided. At this level, one is handled by an expert on the condition at hand. The secondary level handles medical conditions that cannot be managed at the primary care level. In case more care is needed one proceeds to tertiary care where specialized equipment and expertise are offered. The last level is quaternary care which is an extension of tertiary care.

The US healthcare system currently aims at providing people-centered and integrated health services (Mohammed et al., 2016). People-centered care focuses on clinical encounters as well as community health and their roles in shaping health services and health policy.

References

Mohammed, K., Nolan, M. B., Rajjo, T., Shah, N. D., Prokop, L. J., Varkey, P., & Murad, M. H. (2016). Creating a patient-centered health care delivery system: a systematic review of health care quality from the patient perspective. American Journal of Medical Quality, 31(1), 12-21.

Young, G. J., Meterko, M. M., Mohr, D., Shwartz, M., & Lin, H. (2009). Congruence in the assessment of service quality between employees and customers: A study of a public health care delivery system. Journal of Business Research, 62(11), 1127-1135.