Literature Review In our current healthcare system, the delivery of health related services involves the “movement” of patients from one care setting to another. Also recognized as transitions of care these actions often occur between acute-care hospitals and post-acute care settings such as rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. Transitions of care, however, do not only occur between in-patient settings. Patients discharged from the hospital to their home or shuffled between a primary care clinic and specialty clinic also experience transitions of care. In any instance, transitions of care place patients at increased risk for errors due to ineffective communication between doctors, nurses, patients, and other service providers. …show more content…
Marcotte, Kirtane, Lynn, and Mckethan explored how health information technology (HIT) integration could allow for more seamless transitions of care (2015). Based on data acquired from the Beacon Communities and the National Quality Forum Safe Practices Report they identified four areas in which HIT could be used to improve transitions between the acute-care hospital and post-acute setting. The areas identified were the discharge process, information flow and feedback, medication and adherence, and patient and caregiver engagement (Marcotte, et al., 2014). While some HIT innovations have been successfully implemented they found that the incorporation of HIT in transitions of care was still significantly underdeveloped (Marcotte et al., 2015). This was greatly attributed to the sluggish adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) as well as a lack of EHR interoperability to allow for nationwide information exchange (Marcotte et. al., 2015). Despite these barriers, there have been some practical HIT developments such as electronic risk stratification tools and clinical decision support tools. These instruments identify patients at increased risk for post-acute complications by scoring clinical prognosis, functional status, social, and economic factors. Electronic tools such as these allow discharge planners, case managers, and other members of the care team to identify at risk patients earlier and
Roemer’s model of a health care delivery system shows the different necessary elements for a system to be successful. As health needs are the input; the system needs resources, organization of programs, economic support mechanisms, and delivery of services to provide the health needs output (Roemer, p 33). Able 2 is an organization that provides services to people with disabilities. They have many resources, but perhaps not enough to meet the health needs of every consumer. They have well organized programs, have economic support, and can deliver services completely and holistically to produce health as the output of the client. The most important implication that was found in analyzing Able 2 was the need for increased resources as they are not able to meet the needs for every client in need of its services. Ultimately though, Able 2 is an excellent organization that provides an array of services for those people with disabilities.
The entities Comprising the Public Health Infrastructure include: County and city health departments and local boards of health - State, territorial, and island nation health departments - Various U.S. Public Health Service agencies in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Tribal health agencies coordinated at HHS by the Indian Health Service - Public and private laboratories - Hospitals and other private-sector healthcare providers - Volunteer organizations, such as the American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 identified three main components of meaningful use: the use of a certified EHR in a meaningful manner, electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of care, and the use of technology to submit clinical outcomes and quality measures (Heath Resources and Service Administration, n.d.). ARRA includes many measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, with the “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act” being an example. The HITECH Act is an effort led by Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) in support of electronic health records and meaningful use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC 2016). According to Galbraith (2013), the HITECH Act aims to promote the use of EHRs by providing over $27 billion in monetary incentives for health care providers that become “meaningful users”. CMS uses these core objectives to determine if a health care provider has satisfied meaningful use and is eligible to receive financial incentives (Galbraith, 2013).
Assessing the county population for a 4.31% growth in the over 65 age group (which is a low estimate, due to the large 45-64 group within the county), and including an additional facility for the Carter Village’s 110 new assisted living program, the number of available beds in 5 years appears to be 686, compared to a demand of 814. Although this facility appears to assist this problem, there still is a need for 128 additional beds for long term care.
In the past, managed care in the United States took the form of voluntary programs. Such programs date from about 1850, when managed care was provided chiefly by cooperative mutual benefit and fraternal beneficiary associations. Limited coverage by commercial companies was also introduced during that period, and subsequently many plans were established by industries and labor unions.
Background: The Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identified five goals for adopting health information technology (HIT) into the current health care systems that would significantly improve healthcare in America. (Abdelhak, Grostick, & Hanken, 2012, p. 82) These goals will help improve the quality of care within the federal health system by reducing medical errors, cost, and duplication of workload.
People living with HIV and AIDS have always had a difficult time obtaining access to health coverage (Sorian, 2010). Medicaid, Medicare, and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program have provided a critical safety net (Sorian, 2010). But today, nearly 30% of people living with HIV do not have any health insurance coverage, and many others have limited coverage (Sorian, 2010). In addition, people living with HIV and AIDS have faced hurdles to getting quality care from qualified providers (Sorian, 2010).
1. What are the basic characteristics that differentiate the U.S. health care delivery system from that of other countries?
The whole world has issues with healthcare and how to provide care for all their citizens. The United States is currently in the process of making changes to its healthcare system. There are currently multiple types of health insurance in the United States. Today, I will address the health care insurance I have, its products, source of my insurance, my out-of-pocket expenses, the level of coverage I receive with my plan, the major limitations to my coverage, and the process of receiving needed care, needed care in my plan including exams, how to get to a specialist if needed and the process for non-emergency care.
The ARRA includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which pursues to improve American Healthcare and patient care through an extraordinary investment in Healthcare IT (HIT). The requirements of the HITECH Act are precisely designed to work jointly to provide the necessary assistance and technical operation to providers, enable grammatical relation and organization within and among states, establish connectivity in case of emergencies, and see to it the workforce is properly trained and equipped to be meaningful users of certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). These computer software products are designed collaboratively to intensify the footing for every American to profit from an electronic health record (EHR) as part of a modernized, interrelated, and vastly improved grouping of care delivery.
It has only been within the last five years that health information management (HIM) has experienced exponential changes, due to the healthcare reform. The electronic health record (EHR) is connected to health information exchanges and other systems of interoperability. The timely completion of charts, coding and release of information (ROI) has become much more efficient with the electronic record. Traditional HIM functions will just be transformed and will always be an integral part of successful patient care. Professionals must be flexible and willing to adapt and even generate change. As Health Information Technology continues to evolve, so will the roles
Health information technology (HIT) involves trading of health information in an electronic format to advance health care, reduce health expenditures, improve work efficiency, decrease medication errors, and make health care more accessible. Maintaining privacy and security of health information is crucial when technology is involved. Health information exchange plays an important role in improving the quality and delivery of health care and cost-effectiveness. “There is very little electronic information sharing among clinicians, hospitals, and other providers, despite considerable investments in health information technology (IT) over the past five years” (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014, p. 1).
The health care system of the United States is different. This term means an act of offering patients health care services. In spite of the role of the federal government as the sole main player for the health care, no set of policies or national identity to guide the health care system. The majority of developed nations, unlike the United States, have nationwide health insurance programs which are financed through universal taxes and run by the government. This implies that in such nations, nearly all citizens are allowed to get health care services including basic and routine health care meaning that
The purpose of this paper is to identify and describe two health information and communication technologies (HICTs) and how they aid nurses in supporting safe, quality care, facilitating continuity of care and care coordination, and partnering with patients and families to increase participation in health care. HICT involves electronic creation, storage, exchange, and analysis of health information to advance delivery of health care. Widespread use of HICT within the healthcare industry can achieve the following goals: improve healthcare quality and safety, reduce costs and health disparities, enhance clinical research, and ensure security of patient health information (McGonigle & Mastrian, 2015). Several examples of HICTs include: electronic medical record systems, electronic prescribing, consumer health applications, and telehealth (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], 2015). Integration of HICTs in healthcare settings is valuable for all clinicians, but most importantly nurses as they are primary caregivers.
Alliance Health + was established in August 2010. It is wellbeing and administration association. As the main Pacific-Led Primary Health Organization in New Zealand, AH+ has an enlisted Population of 93,000 crosswise over 26 General Practices in the Counties Manukau and Auckland DHB regions. (alliancehealth, about-us, 2015). AH+ (Alliance Health +) is a new organisation with all the available services. They also supports pacific provider network. It will be beneficial to New Zealand in the near future. The association additionally gives wellbeing and group administrations - especially in the territories of wellbeing administration combination, and of intersectional joining where that will impact the social determinants of wellbeing. We trust that accomplishing this will advantage all Population aggregates and will likewise enhance the working existences of clinicians and their capacity to better address the issues of the populations they serve. (alliancehealth, about-us, 2015)