Revised Final Task 2 C799
pdf
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Western Governors University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
C799
Subject
Health Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
Type
Pages
7
Uploaded by ConstableMaskAntelope186
1
Trends in the Ecosystem
Rachel De Silva
Western Governors University
C799: Healthcare Ecosystems
Instructor Ashley Killingsworth
June 15, 2022
2
Trends in the Ecosystem
Evolution of Medicine
One historical event that has influenced the evolution of medicine is The Code of
Hammurabi. The Code of Hammurabi was discovered during the time of 1792-1750 BC
(Wagner, 2020, p.37). Hammurabi was a king in Babylon and believed in setting forth rules that
would benefit his kingdom. During Hammurabi’s time as king, he created laws that physicians
would need to follow. One of the laws that Hammurabi wrote was “ If a physician makes a large
incision with the operating knife, and kill him, or open a tumor with the operating knife, and cut
out the eye, his hands shall be cut off” (The Avalon Project, n.d). This line may seem harsh,
however, this line was able to influence the evolution of medicine in the world we live in today.
This line allowed us to acknowledge malpractice and how it should be punishable by being
committed.
Roles of Healthcare Professionals
There are major historical events that have influenced the roles of healthcare
professionals today. One historical event would be the establishment of licensure for physicians,
which began in the early 1760s (MedlinePlus, n.d). During this time, professional societies like
The New Jersey Medical Society, would be in charge of regulating medical practice by
examining and licensing practitioners (MedlinePlus, n.d). This influence made licensure
established and then later become required by the state for a physician to be able to practice
medicine.
Technology in Healthcare
A historical event that has influenced technology in healthcare is the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA). HIPPA’s privacy rule states that its primary
3
goal is to protect and ensure an individual’s healthcare information as it is being shared with
covered entities and to also promote high-quality standards of health care (Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention [CDC], 2018). Healthcare providers, which are considered covered
entities, would abide by HIPPA’s security rule to protect and ensure patient confidentiality. The
Security Rule requires appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to ensure
the confidentiality, integrity, and security of electronically protected health information (PHI)
(Health & Human Services [HHS], 2021).
HIPPA’s security rule significantly influences our
world today due to how advanced technology has become over the years.
Components of a Healthcare Delivery System
The components of the healthcare delivery system are organization, funding, and
delivery. In the United States, our healthcare system is still a working process of improving it
today. There is no doubt that there are flaws in healthcare delivery that have made it difficult for
patients and healthcare professionals. Individuals that work in healthcare are striving to utilize
various components to successfully accomplish better costs, quality, and access for patients
(Wagner, 2020, p.135)
.
An organization can choose from one of the two options- to become a non-profit or
profited organization. For example, a non-profit healthcare organization can receive funding
from charity, research, or educational funds. They do not look to obtain financial gains, instead,
their mission is to strive to benefit their patients in their communities and try to benefit their
overall well-being. On the other hand, a profited healthcare organization has a different mission.
For example, profited hospitals strive to operate in order to produce income for partners or
shareholders of a corporation (Wagner, 2020, pg 138). People will have different beliefs about
healthcare organizations being profited or non-profited. According to (Wagner, 2020, pg. 138),
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
there have been studies that the rate of mortality is higher in profited hospitals. However, this is
not conclusive and is most definitely a debatable argument that still needs more evidence to be
supported.
Fundings for health insurance, for example, Medicare, are able to be funded by
Medicare’s Trust Funds (Medicare, n.d). These trust funds accumulate money from sources that
are able to cover the expenses of patients that have Medicare. The money in these trust funds
comes from sources like payroll taxes, income taxes, and interest that is earned on trust fund
expenses (Medicare, n.d). These payroll taxes come from the majority of most employees,
employers, and self-employed individuals. Unfortunately, since we do not have the option of free
healthcare in the United States, many Americans must sacrifice deductions in their paychecks.
Healthcare delivery today has changed dramatically over the past years. For example,
hospitals were able to evolve, from beginning in small houses in the 1700s to then becoming
modern institutions that have high importance in healthcare today (Wagner, 2020, p.136).
Hospitals today must be compliant with the rules and regulations of the federal government,
state, and The Joint Commission (Wagner, 2020, p.136). Since hospitals today are required to
follow the rules and regulations, this allows them to meet set standards that have been
established. The evolution of healthcare delivery has been able to improve the quality of how
healthcare is being delivered to patients.
Patient Care Access
An operation of a healthcare delivery system that influences patient care access would be
urgent care centers. Urgent care centers are available to patients that are needing immediate
medical attention that is not life-threatening (Wagner, 2020, p.151). Urgent care centers are
outpatient facilities that patients can have access to if they cannot make an immediate
5
appointment with their primary care provider. These facilities provide care that is accessible to
patients when they are in emergent need and allows patients to seek care that is not necessarily a
need for a 911 call but requires immediate attention at an urgent care center.
Patient Care Cost
A healthcare delivery system that influences patient care costs would be outpatient public
health services. Public health services can provide patients with preventative care, that is usually
provided at no charge (Wagner, 2020, p.153). These services are typically being operated by the
local government with funds provided by tax dollars and charitable contributions (Wagner, 2020,
p.153). Public health care services can also be provided by hospitals and healthcare
organizations. Some examples of preventative care that patients can have done are
immunizations, health screenings, blood pressure checks, and prenatal care (Wagner, 2020,
p.153). Many charitable donations to either hospitals, healthcare organizations, or public health
services, make it possible for patients in need to receive care that is preventative at little to no
cost.
Quality of Patient Care
A healthcare delivery system that influences the quality of patient care would be hospices
and palliative care. Hospice care and palliative care both have different definitions however, they
both are aimed at enhancing the quality of a patient’s life. Palliative care, for example, can make
a patient feel better from the beginning when the patient first discovers their diagnosis. A patient
can be in palliative care for many years. However, with hospice care, patients receive care after
the treatment of the diagnosis has been discontinued (Wagner, 2020, p.158). Hospice care is
staffed with caregivers that support patients by attending to their physical, emotional, social, and
6
spiritual needs (Wagner, 2020, p.158). These services strive to help patients be able to live their
lives to the fullest, even at the end stage of life.
Federal Government Initiative
A federal government initiative related to health informatics would be the Health
Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. HITECH was
developed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (HIT)
(Oachs & Watters, 2020, p. 356). Health informatics relates to HITECH since it involves
managing health data and information through the use of computers and technology. The
HITECH Act is not only responsible for providing computers and technology for healthcare
facilities, but also improve the quality of care safely and efficiently. For example, patients can
engage in their healthcare by using patient portals. They can utilize these patient portals to reach
out and connect with their care teams confidentially. The use of HIT has been able to enhance the
quality of care in healthcare delivery systems.
Emerging Technology
An emerging technology that affects the practice of medicine would be telemedicine
visits. Due to the recent pandemic of Covid-19, many patients were forced it stay in their homes
and not report to any medical facilities. Many patients had to meet with their healthcare
providers through telemedicine visits or phone calls. Telemedicine became a vital tool during
Covid-19 since patients could not be seen in person at all at the beginning of the pandemic. The
development of telemedicine did not only benefits those who were stuck at home due to
Covid-19 but many other patients who thought of telemedicine as being convenient and less
time-consuming.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
7
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018, September 14).
Health Insurance Portability
and accountability act of 1996 (HIPAA)
. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/publications/topic/hipaa.html
Health & Human Services. (2021, June 28).
The Security Rule
.
https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html
Medicare.
How is Medicare Funded?
(n.d.).
https://www.medicare.gov/about-us/how-is-medicare-funded
Oachs, P., & Watters, A. (2020).
Health information management: Concepts, principles, and
practice
(6th ed.). American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
The Avalon Project: Code of Hammurabi. (n.d.).
The Code of Hammurabi
.
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/ancient/hamframe.asp
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.).
Doctor of Medicine Profession (MD): MedlinePlus
Medical Encyclopedia
. MedlinePlus.
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001936.htm
Wagner, S. L. (2020).
The United States healthcare system: Overview, driving forces, and
outlook for the future
. Health Administration Press.