U.s. Healthcare Spending While Improving Quality Of Care

Awareness of what health threats I might be susceptible to, and information I learned in this course about health behavior change has led me to take primary and secondary prevention actions (Straub, 2014, pp. 204). Knowing that I have a predisposition to breast cancer, ovarian cancer, hypertension, and heart problems has motivated me to exercise and improve my physical fitness, and visit the doctor more regularly to stay as healthy as possible and keep myself from getting sick. I don’t do drugs or drink alcohol because such behaviors can cause short-term and especially long-term health consequences. These are examples of primary prevention. At a recent visit to the doctor, I was informed that I have high cholesterol,

This was to be accomplished through education and preventative care, the third goal (Strategic Goals, n.d.). By focusing on this strategy of promoting preventative care, this can help combat medical bills (Adepoju, Preston, & Gonzales, 2017). This cuts down on overall health care spending (Weiner, Marks, & Pauly, 2017). While there are serious health concerns within the upper and middle classes, there are significant issues going on in low-income populations, particularly inner-city and rural areas. The ACA was designed with initiatives to bridge these disparities. To combat these diseases, there is going to have to be better patient education initiatives. In these areas, there are few places to access quality care for these individuals. However, if we educated them on the importance of their health and controlling chronic illnesses such as hypertension, and promote prevention services, the health care system and the patients would both benefit. Preventative health

Many people throughout the United States (US) have some form of chronic disease. Chronic diseases are conditions that are not passed from person to person (noncommunicable), have a long duration, are commonly slow in progression, and generally have no cure (World Health Organization (WHO), n.d.b). Currently, chronic diseases are the leading cause of disability and death in the US and about half of all adults have at least one chronic illness (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2016b). This means that nearly every person in the US will be affected by chronic conditions whether it be personally or through loved ones having these diseases. The most prevalent types of chronic

In order to improve healthcare nationally and cut cost spending, preventative care and wellness should be at the fore front of every healthcare organization. Recommendations to emphasize preventative and wellness services include building a workplace that support healthy lifestyles, expand the roles of advanced providers, and expand preventative services at no cost.

The future of America’s health care system looks bright with new innovations coming about. Advancements in technology, patient care, and access to care are all important factors to create a health care system suitable for American citizens. New health care reforms help shape our health care system to provide better care to all citizens. To implement these new reforms, the plan must be financially viable and be understood by those it effects. To improve the current health care system, new reforms should include ways to insure more citizens in a cost effective manner, offer insurance at an affordable rate, improve efficiency of the health care system, and provide higher transparency to the public.

As millions of Americans suffer from the preventable illness and chronic disease, more than 75% of nation’s health spending is on treating the chronically ill people. The website

In 2012, the Medicaid spending grew over 2% and the total healthcare spending was around $416 billion dollars. By the end of 2014, the healthcare spending for Medicaid is projected to be over 12%. This brings the enrollment total to increase by over eight million dollars. Depending of the individual’s finances dictates the type of insurance that they possess. Some people can afford private health insurance. The private health insurance is

Healthcare spending in America has continued to increase to an extent that it exceeds the growth in national income and the increase in spending in other developed or industrialized countries. Despite of the huge healthcare expenditure that has characterized the nation's annual budget, many Americans are without adequate healthcare. As a result, several measures have been adopted by the government from time to time in attempts to solve the problem of increased national healthcare spending. However, most of these attempts have failed to address the problem even as healthcare expenditures continue to increase. This problem has also contributed to numerous concerns among Americans since the cost of healthcare in the country is increasing rapidly than the incomes of those who pay for these services. Regardless of the failed attempts to deal with the problem, the growth of healthcare spending more than the national income contributes to the need for effective measures to reduce healthcare expenditure. Therefore, it's important for policymakers to take appropriate measures to limit the rising cost of healthcare in methods that will also contribute to improved quality of healthcare.

Chronic diseases are among the most common and costly of all health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Chronic disease prevention, to be most effective, must occur in multiple sectors and across individuals’ entire life spans. Prevention circles around health promotion activities that encourage healthy living and limit the initial onset of chronic diseases. Prevention also embraces early detection efforts, such as screening, as well as strategies for appropriate management of existing diseases and related complications (Whitehead & Dahlgren,

Health care remains a troubling problem that Americans must face day to day. The rising cost of medical care and health insurance is impacting the livelihood of many Americans in one way or another. Even people who have decent insurance coverage, through an employer or government program, are finding that the current healthcare system is making it more difficult to get the care they require at a price they can afford. From lack of access to preventative care and the high cost of medical treatment, many Americans would agree that health care reform needs to happen.

I believe the focus should change into health promotion/disease prevention. Increasing focus on prevention will help improve our health, quality of life and prosperity. The article written by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention reveals, “ seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year are because of undetected chronic disease such as cancer and heart disease” (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) . Approximately one out of every two adults has at least one chronic illness, many of which maybe preventable if a routine health visit was done on regular bases. When people receive preventive care, they have better health and lower health care costs. For example, expanding the linkages between clinical and community prevention efforts,

Healthcare and wellness are important to every American, business and to our federal government’s bottom line. Sharon (2010) stated, “Staying healthy reduces the demand for health care. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, medical care for persons with chronic disease accounts for 75% of the dollars spent as a nation on medical care. Today’s most serious and expensive health problems are caused, in large part, by poor lifestyle choices: tobacco use, diets high in fat and sugar, inadequate physical activity, and drug and alcohol use.”

As a health care provider our first response always set the tone for a return on a consequence. Furthermore, as health care professional analyzing health care issues revolve around understanding the problem, implementing an intervention, and applying a solution. The World Health Organization states “health promotion helps reduce excess mortality, address the leading risk factors and underlying determinants of health, helps strengthen sustainable health systems, and places heath at the center of the broad development agenda.”

In the United States, the population access preventive care services at only half of the recommended rate. [1] Deductibles and co-payments often serve as deterrents to accessing these beneficial services. In the meantime, chronic preventable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease continue to cause 7 out of 10 deaths and generate 75-percent of the nation’s medical expenses. The most trouble aspect of this is that most of these mortal occurrences could have been avoided with preventative treatment. These might have included a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, cancer screenings, vaccinations, and other preventative measures.

Throughout the United States a rapidly increasing burden of chronic preventable illness is threatening the nation’s economy, government and public health (Strange and Woolf, 2008). Spending over 16% of its gross national product on health care, the United States ranks 37th in the world for effectiveness of health care (WHO, 2008). Under this model, care resources are concentrated on treating advanced disease rather than focusing on prevention. Conversely, only 2-3% of health care dollars spent are allocated for prevention (Strange and Woolf, 2008).