The Impact of the Medical Industry The medical industry is comprised of hospitals and other institutions that provide goods and services to treat patients with curative, preventive, rehabilitative, and palliative care (Boxall, 2004). It is an industry that for decades has provided us humans with beneficial services when it comes to our health. But, although it is of great value to us, it negatively impacts the environment. Due to the fact, that it uses a vast amount of natural resources (like fossil fuel and water), and produces huge loads of waste. Consequently contributing to the damage of the environment. As it has become more noticeable, that the healthcare industry plays a huge role in negatively impacting the environment, actions …show more content…
Which is used to sterilize containers, medical instruments, trays, etc., making hospitals place amongst the top 10 water users nationwide (American Hospitals Association). For example a report by the CBECS that was conducted for the very first time in 30 yrs., stated that hospitals in the U.S consumed about 133billion gallons of water in 2007 alone (U.S Energy Information Administration, 2012). While on the other hand, they also produce huge amounts of waste per year, which equates to 2.3 million tons (University of Pennsylvania, 2015). Which includes paper, cardboard, infectious material, and medical waste much of which is not properly disposed of and makes its way into the environment (Savage, N/A). By using extensive amounts of natural resources, the medical industry has contributed to the damage of the environment. Due to the fact, that they are the 2nd largest emitter of greenhouse gases, contributing to the eight percent of the nations GHG emissions produced by the sector alone (Eckelman and Sherman, 2016). Most of which is produced by direct activities like the incineration of medical waste, that releases toxic chemicals like mercury, and the use of ambulances which emits carbon dioxide as they are driven daily (Brown, Buettner, and Canyon, 2012). As well as by indirect activities, that can be seen as the amount of carbon dioxide or pollution emitted by companies that produce and transport medical supplies for
I currently work in the U.S. healthcare industry. The U.S. healthcare industry, defined in its broader sense for the purposes of this discussion, includes several other industries (Riggs ed., 2015). Industries that compose the larger U.S. healthcare industry as a whole would include the U.S. hospital system, the pharmaceutical industry, and various other suppliers of medical goods and services. Many of these separately defined industries within the U.S. healthcare industry would be described as being at different stages within the industry life cycle model. However, this discussion will focus on the U.S. healthcare industry as a whole. Utilizing an industry life cycle model as described by Parnell (2014), I would consider the U.S. healthcare industry in the maturity stage of the industry life cycle. This conclusion was reached by examining key characteristics within the U.S healthcare system and its history. Up until the early 20th century, the U.S. healthcare system was composed primarily of home care rendered by providers without high levels of scientific or technical knowledge compared to today’s standards. This early stage of the U.S healthcare industry would be considered the introduction stage of the industry life cycle. Parnell (2014) reports that the introduction stage of the life cycle is typically fairly short. However, in the case of the U.S. healthcare industry, this introduction stage appears to be prolonged comparative to the progression through the later
1. Explain how the environment is prepared, maintained and cleaned to ensure it is ready for the healthcare activity
Hospital waste is one of the world’s growing problems. Hospitals on average produce 29 pounds of waste per staffed bed in just one day (2016). One of the reasons for medical waste is that a large amount disposable products used for sanitary reasons such as drapes, basins, and sponges (Conrardy J et al, 2009). However, new methods using reusable products in operating rooms have provided a means to decrease the regulated medical waste generated by an average of 65% (Conrardy J et al, 2009). Even if the hospital bureaucracy is unconcerned with the environment. These changes reduce the cost of waste disposal (Conrardy J et al, 2009). On the social side of progress, nonprofits like Practice Greenhealth provide sources for environmental solutions for the health care sector. At the hospital’s request, they can send information packets to help inform hospital staff on more environmental purchases such as the “Less Waste member-only toolkit”
Health is increasingly becoming a key consideration for sustainability as it becomes more integrated into the concept. A sustainable lifestyle can enhance your physical and mental well-being through a range of different activities. The NHS supports this link between sustainability and health, which is why they hold an annual NHS Sustainability Day of Action, to engage staff, patients and the public on sustainable living. This day of action was supported in our region by The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Over recent years, people are faced with different health related issues regardless of the advancement in the medical field (Kronenfeld, 2008). In this scenario, Molly is an 82 years old lady, who has developed health problems which make her feel isolated and lonely. The following essay highlights Molly’s leg ulcer, primary health care, wellness, health professionals and how these have been used to create a learning program for Molly. It also describes the pathophysiology of diabetes, Type II Diabetes and resources/ support services for the client’s spouse who is experiencing grief after the client died.
While most people generally categorize war as a deathly arena consisting of gunfire, the stench of rotten corpses, and the cries of trauma of soldiers; war can be seen as a time for prosperity and growth in the medical profession. The lack of resources in battlefield hospitals, cause people to believe that treatment options are limited. However, history has shown that these limited resources provide an outlet for creativity and exploration, the seeds to advances in the medical profession. During the American Revolution, more casualties were due to illness as opposed to gunshot wounds, opening up the eyes of medical professionals that new ways for disease prevention were needed. Additionally, before World War II biomedical research was limited
How could you effect immediate change to decrease this identified waste practice in health care?
Everyone is going green; it is so common in today’s society for every company to advance to smarter ways of doing business. My long term future career goal is to become a Neonatal Physician. I would like to play a huge role in improving both the health care and natural ecosystem. We have to live here on Earth, so why not protect it “One Earth, one experience” -Edward Wilson. Hospitals operate on a 24-hour basis, 365 days a year. In the process of treating patients, they use a lot of water and energy and generate a lot of waste from medical products. Though most hospitals have made the initiatives to reduce some of these issues, I do believe that more can be done. Starting a sustainability program to reduce some of these concerns will not only
The health care industry has been changing dramatically in the United States over the past two decades. Especially in the wake of the Affordable Care Act that was signed into law on March 23, 2010. With the rising costs of health care, prescriptions, increased number of retirees and longer life expectancy, Americans have become increasingly concerned with how they will pay for their health care (“The Shame of American Health Care, 2013, p. 1). Hospital administrators and leaders apply data analytics to better understand and optimize their hospital operations in a number of ways such as their supplies, staffing and daily processes (Stiefel & Greenfield, 2014, p. 64).
This is a challenging time for the United States health care system. Many of the old laws have been replaced with new ones and are even more complex than ever with Congress continuing to change how the industry operates. "More difficult choices are lie ahead."
The constantly changing medical profession causes many administrators of all types of provider levels and facilities great heartaches and headaches for multiple reason. Administrators over the Emergency Medical Services of a specific community is by no means immune to those same heartaches and headaches. These heartaches and headaches are often due to the rapidly changing of standards of care, testing procedures, finances and expectations of insurance providers to make appropriate financial restitution for services rendered by in the field of EMS and the in hospital setting itself.
The overall health care industry has undergone fundamental change over the last decade. Most of the changes have occurred within the underlying business operation of the healthcare industry. Legislation in particular has had a profound impact on the health care industry. First, due to the Affordable Care Act of 2010, the nursing profession is undergoing a fundamental shift in regards to the patient experience. The U.S. health care system is now shifting the focus from acute and specialty care to that of primary care which requires a shift in business operations. Also, due primarily to that aging of the baby boomer generation, the need for primary car overall is shifting and will be needed heavily in the future. The last 10 years in particular has seen an increasing influx of retiring baby boomers that subsequently need care. A positive impact on the ACA legislation is that more individuals are now insured. As such, the need for primary care will also increase over subsequent years, particular within the minority population. This patient centric approach will require more care predicated on specific communities in a seamless manner. Furthermore, primary care physicians will be in high demand over the coming years.
The most current report of healthcare spending is in the year 2015. During the year, spending increased by 5.8% to reach $3.2 trillion, or $9,990 per person. Reports blame the coverage expansion that began in 2014, a result of the Affordable Care Act. (https://www.cms.gov/research-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and -reports/nationalhealthexpanddata/downloads/highlights.pdf.
This is the essential concern of the human services industry as CBO estimates that PPACA incorporates diminishment in Medicare of over $700 billion amid the 2013-2022 period, principally through marginally decreasing the trajectory of using increments anticipated that former will PPACA. Singular recipients are not straightforwardly affected, the vast majority of the expense investment funds originates from diminishing future installments to healing facilities and other administration suppliers in respect to past benchmark gauges. Payroll expense base to 1.35%. Separated from these variables there are different difficulties, for example, diminishing inpatient volume, expanding expense for supplies and staff which can get greater because of insufficient subsidizing. Uninsured Americans are more averse to have general health awareness and use preventive administrations. They are more inclined to postpone looking for consideration, bringing about more restorative emergencies, which are more costly than progressing treatment for such conditions as diabetes and hypertension.
After researching the topic on the negative impacts in healthcare, I came across two articles I would like to discuss Unnecessary Medical Services Driving Up Health Care Costs, and Top 10 issues impacting healthcare industry in 2016. In these articles, it explains the unnecessary medical services that are being rendered such as labs tests and antibiotics. Which are considered low cost, but the high demand or these procedures make them very costly. The revenue for health care in the united states cost us trillions of dollars. Which is a great percentage of the gross healthcare product? The healthcare industry medication prices and health insurance premiums are sowing and which makes it difficult to maintain the medication that is needed daily. Individuals like myself are tired of struggling to pay the