When faced with the task of discussing the challenges and opportunities of the healthcare services in the future, we divided the topic into what we collectively believe to be the four fundamental areas of importance. We propose to investigate the opportunites afforded by advances in (1)research and (2)technology, and question the challenges posed by (3)financial restraints and (4)life style choices. We will examine how these factors will impact healthcare services in the future and suggest some effective changes that healthcare services could possibly implement to create a more integrated healthcare system. Research is the root from which future prospects of the healthcare system blossoms. It is the pivot upon which our ever-growing medical knowledge churns, creating an unforetold abundance of opportunities, and at this very moment, a new generation of researchers are attempting to uncover radically new medical strategies. Looking back over the major medical advances of the last decade provides us with an insight into what might be in store in the future. Genetics has been and remains at the forefront of medical research. Chief scientist of the Human Genome Project ,Craig Venter, thinks that genetics is the precursor for many medical advances, and that the the biggest area of future healthcare will be preventative medicine : “By understanding the genetic causes and links to disease we can spend more and more attention on preventing disease.” Although the fruits of this project are not yet fully ripe, future advances in this field could prove insurmountably beneficial to the healthcare system - doctors are currently on the brink of developing a genetic test for the prevalence of prostate cancer,for example. Furthermore, seque... ... middle of paper ... ...at healthcare services start focusing on preventing disease rather than attempting to cure them.Funding is a chronic issue, and if a financial solution is not unearthed then there is no way that healthcare services will be able to capitalize on the opportunities afforded to us due to advances in both research and technology. With the prospect of Electronic Patient Records looming, healthcare systems worldwide need to ensure that they don’t allow healthcare to become impersonal, whilst simultaneously taking full advantage of these revolutionising technologies.We can finally conclude therefore, that although the opportunites discussed could have unforetold advantages for healthcare services, each comes with a correlating challenge whether it be funding or the will to change. Healthcare services need to face these challenges with fortitude in order to overcome them.
When you take the socialistic perspective towards implementing this system in Canada, you can see the advantages it brings to improving health care. If the government plays a larger role in funding the development of electronic health records for private and smaller organizations the benefits will immediately result in better quality of health care. As shown in a study done by the University of California in San Francisco that focused on expensive costs that make it difficult for smaller practices to incorporate electronic health records, “need policies designed to provide incentives and support services to help practices improve the quality of their care by using EHRs.” (Miller, West, Brown, Sim & Ganchoff, 2005) In this article they explain that electronic health records improve quality of health care, but the costs are too expensive for small practices to incorporate them.
Did you ever think about how much time is spent on computers and the internet? It is estimated that the average adult will spend over five hours per day online or with digital media according to Emarketer.com. This is a significant amount; taking into consideration the internet has not always been this easily accessible. The world that we live in is slowly or quickly however you look at it: becoming technology based and it is shifting the way we live. With each day more and more people use social media, shop online, run businesses, take online classes, play games, the list is endless. The internet serves billions of people daily and it doesn’t stop there. Without technology and the internet, there would be no electronic health record. Therefore, is it important for hospitals and other institutions to adopt the electronic health record (EHR) system? Whichever happens, there are many debates about EHR’s and their purpose, and this paper is going to explain both the benefits and disadvantages of the EHR. Global users of the internet can then decide whether the EHR is beneficial or detrimental to our ever changing healthcare system and technology based living.
Since 1985, the rapid rise of healthcare costs has had a ripple effect on the healthcare industry. Most of the cost increases are associated with medicines rapid advancement. Like most technological advancements, the newest treatments and most advanced diagnostic machinery have a higher cost. Understandably, patients expect the most advanced and effective treatments to be utilized for their care. The effects of rising healthcare costs are illustrated in the diagram below (Intermountain Healthcare [IHC], n.d.).
Advances in technology have influences our society at home, work and in our health care. It all started with online banking, atm cards, and availability of children’s grades online, and buying tickets for social outings. There was nothing electronic about going the doctor’s office. Health care cost has been rising and medical errors resulting in loss of life cried for change. As technologies advanced, the process to reduce medical errors and protect important health care information was evolving. In January 2004, President Bush announced in the State of the Union address the plan to launch an electronic health record (EHR) within the next ten years (American Healthtech, 2012).
There are many challenges when it comes to our health care system that define the future strategic direction. The one chosen for this paper are reform and legislation, information technology advancements such as the electronic medical record (EMR)/ electronic health record (EHR), access to health care including the uninsured and those in the poverty levels, maintaining a skilled workforce and Pay for performance. These challenges pose threats to our health care system planning for the future.
Healthcare is a dynamic, ever-changing environment. The complex circumstances around daily conversations that encompass life-threatening decisions are critical. In order to deliver high quality care, individuals must be able to communicate effectively. In the perfect world of communication, everyone receives the exact same information and is able to respond the exact same way. Unfortunately, communication breakdown is a prevalent issue among hospitals. On any given day of the hospital arena, multiple interactions take place. Some of the dialogue is planned, and some is not. While hospital departments are living in different silos within the same organization, the cultures may vary among the employees. Hospital leadership fosters the importance of collaboration within the organization and depends on the employees to ultimately drive the process. In order to overcome communication barriers in the workplace, conversations must occur. Engaging in daily face-to-face meetings with employees increases positive work culture, morale and overall productivity.
The age of genetic technology has arrived. Thanks to genetic technological advancements, medical practitioners, with the help of genetic profiling, will be able to better diagnose patients and design individual tailored treatments; doctors will be able to discern which medications and treatments will be most beneficial and produce the fewest adverse side effects. Rationally designed vaccines have been created to provide optimal protection against infections. Food scientists have hopes of genetically altering crops to increase food production, and therefore mitigate global hunger. Law enforcement officers find that their job is made easier through the advancement of forensics; forensics is yet another contribution of genetic technology. Doctors have the ability to identify “high-risk” babies before they are born, which enables them to be better prepared in the delivery room. Additionally, oncologists are able to improve survival rates of cancer patients by administering genetically engineered changes in malignant tumors; these changes result in an increased immune response by the individual. With more than fifty years of research, and billions of dollars, scientists have uncovered methods to improve and prolong human life and the possibilities offered by gene therapy and genetic technology are increasing daily.
There are new challenges every year in the health care field. Research on the future of the U.S. Healthcare System is of paramount importance to the entire health care industry as well as the citizens of the U.S. To begin with, the research will discuss how challenges for future healthcare services can be enhanced by reducing the costs of medication. By creating a better quality of health care, Information technology advancements, including future funding, lower rising costs, the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The research will also discuss the challenges of market share for different ages of people populating and maintaining a skilled workplace. It will further discuss the tentative solutions to these challenges.
The health care industry is the rapidly growing healthcare expenditures, cost of care, and quality of care, budget cuts, and health insurance. As a country we have to recognize and focus on the troubling issues. The following is a list of future challenges and changes that would have a contributed factor in the health care industry: (Many challenges have already surfaced; it’s a matter of what strategic planning the government can oversee and make positive approaches moving forward)
There are several possible methods of addressing the healthcare concerns of today. I focused on three ways to address this issue. The first would it be to make electronic records universal. Secondly, focus on patient centered care. Lastly, start healthcare groups throughout the practice of medicine.
The American Cancer Society publishes current advances made in cancer research on their website. Many of the exciting discoveries about how best to treat the disease focus on the genetic aspects associated with certain types of cancer. In addition, treatments aimed at genetic solutions to cancer may be more effective and may cause fewer adverse side effects than traditional cancer treatments (American Can...
In the current state of health care delivery, the three issues that challenge health care are rising health care costs, existing health care disparities and insufficient services for the growing number of elderly people. There is a contradiction between the mission of health care and its delivery system. The mission of health care is to help people, but it is delivered to society as a business. This creates a disadvantage for patients of low socioeconomic status. I have been a witness to those patients that lack access to primary care in their community, and I have helped navigate their care and lower their medical bills. I am also currently involved in implementing long term services and supports for the growing elderly population. Of the
The system is constantly revolving to keep up with the demands of care. Health care has always been politicized and will be impacted by the presidents in the future. Every president has different views and stands on health care and the delivery of health care. The fear of rising costs could potentially also affect the future of care and what cuts there may be. Due to the efforts of measuring outcomes and comparing factors, health care is becoming more as a market. Providers are forced to find the best way to offer quality care with value. The major factor that has been and will be changing the future of health care is technology. There will be major breakthroughs in medicine and health information technology. Research would lead to better care and better understanding of the risks one may
The United States leads the world in healthcare industry. The world leader in healthcare services and innovator in cutting edge, diagnostics and treatments. US hospitals to create a platform for biomedical innovation and different academic and medical centers provide sophisticated advanced care. Highly skilled workforce that includes physicians, nurses and technician who leads the world in production of medical technologies and is one of the world’s largest consumers support the US healthcare industry. The US healthcare industry is further subdivided into different subsections like academic medical centers, nursing and residential care facilities, In-patient care, and Ambulatory care. The medical device companies of the United States are highly regarded globally for their innovation and expertise for high technology product. They are more focused into research and development, which in result have been able to hold a competitive advantage in several industries that medical technology relies. The US health care system accounts for more than 2.5 trillion in annual expenditure. Despite such a large investment in healthcare industry the burden created by escalating cost is not sustainable. The health care landscape is shifting to address issues that require a tighter budget in an increasing uncertain healthcare environment. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are evolving to establish clinically integrated models with a more coordinated view of the patient across the system.
By altering their environments to extend their longevity, they may neglect the quality of their lives. To avoid such disproportionate reactions, I advocate neither full-scale genetic screening nor general screening of common medical conditions. Instead, genetic screening should be used to compliment family histories and/or medical examinations. Individuals from families in which adult-onset diabetes is common could be screened for this disease to determine their likelihood of getting the illness. Likewise, women with fibercystic breasts could screen for breast cancer genes to determine their probability for developing malignant tumors (Hubbard 86-92). Genetic screens should be specific to diseases or conditions, and should be used only when historical or medical examinations reveal a high probability of an individuals' acquiring the diseases. If people were found to have genetic predispositions, counseling could help them establish a lifestyle to prevent or deter onset of the diseases. Genetic screening is a powerful medical tool that, if unregulated, has the potential of negatively affecting individuals and societies. However, implementation of screening guidelines could eliminate many of these destructive effects. Pre-natal screening should only test for 'abortion-worthy' diseases determined by a national or international bioethics committee. Children and adults should be screened for particular diseases or conditions when/if family medical histories or physical examinations find reason to do so. With such policies, I believe that genetic screening will beneficially revolutionize obstetric and preventative