There are substantial gaps in access to medical and surgical care across the world. Even regions and groups of people within large countries, such as South Africa, have an array of inequalities that can often translate into vast disparities in patient outcomes. Considering these differences when evaluating ways to decrease morbidity and mortality is imperative to bettering patient care. Surgical outcomes, in particular, are examined to ensure quality practice and identify areas for improvement. For instance, acute high-risk abdominal surgeries, such as emergency open laparotomies, have a diverse underlying pathology and thus varied results for the patient (Saunders et al., 2012). This combination of progressive disease processes and …show more content…
This increased risk can be attributed to many factors for which a detailed outcome measurement should be performed, tailored specifically to the population and region of urban South Africa. This will allow the hospital in question to understand what needs improvement and how to implement these changes.
Identifying causes and ultimately recommending specific ways to improve care can influence patient outcomes greatly. Preoperative optimization, such as antibiotics and goal-directed fluid therapy, can result in a significant enhancement in patient hemodynamics and welfare (Huddart et al., 2015). Appropriate postoperative care and effective management of complications could also be an important modifiable factor in emergency open laparotomy surgery. Allocating resources suitably like intensive care support and apt image diagnostics can also better patient health (Huddart et al., 2015). For example, a pre-operative calculation of mortality would change the way a patient’s case is handled if it is known from the beginning that additional resources and increased communication between specialties will be required to deliver proper care. Implementing quality improvement bundles encompassing these types of components, along with ensuring quick preoperative identification of the pathology and
Rising health care costs became an issue after the Medicare and Medicaid programs were formed in 1965 and have continued to be a factor in the United States economy since then. “By1970, U.S. government expenditures for health care services and supplies had grown by 140%, from $7.9 billion to $18.9 billion.”() By the 1990s the annual increase in the government health care expenditures was finally brought under control and has fluctuated between a 5% and 8% increase each year since then. This essay will discuss the different factors contributing to the rising costs of health care in the United States, as well as how the cost of health care affects the accessibility and quality of medical care throughout American history.
A healthcare disparity is a limitation of healthcare availability, usually among a certain racial or socioeconomic demographic (Black, 2013). However, there are disparities that don’t have a specific demographic and affect the entirety of the United States, which are potentially most detrimental to the overall health of our country. One of those disparities is health literacy, or the exchange of complex information from the healthcare provider to the patient or client (Black, 2013). The lack of health literacy in America poses as a problem, especially with the chronically ill. Without proper knowledge of how to treat their illness and what to do when the disease process worsens or ameliorates can potentially cause millions of unnecessary hospitalizations,
Barriers to healthcare include factors that restrict or hinder people from receiving adequate and quality health care service. Health care disparities are those differences that negatively affects less advantaged group (Mehta, 2014). Health care barriers play a significant role in comprehending causes of disparities. This paper will discuss the obstacles and disparities that exist and affects healthcare.
Healthcare disparities within racial minority groups are an ongoing issue in the United States. Factors that affect these disparities are overall quality of care, access to healthcare, and access to insurance. Numerous efforts have been made to decrease the access and quality of care for minorities. The current intervention being used is the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This act was initiated by President Obama in 2010 and has had much controversy in the past years. The main arguments are the ACA increasing the taxes for Americans and the fact that all Americans must obtain insurance if proper funds are available. In 2014 the ACA Medicaid expanded and each state had the opportunity to expand if the state believed it appropriate. Out of the 50
In today’s society, there is still a great struggle with health care disparities and many lives are affected by the lack of this fundamental program in our society. There are millions of people who die each year because they are unable to afford quality healthcare. The debate still continues about healthcare inequalities, what causes this disparity and who are affected by it. Health care is more of a necessity rather than a luxury and even though skeptics may argue to the latter, it only underlines the importance of the need for the wellbeing and care of individuals. There are several factors that could contribute to the lack of health care in the United States which ranges from but not limited to race, gender, socio- economic status, and lack of insurance coverage. The truth is there is a great disproportion between who can really afford quality healthcare as appose to individuals who have it. One would imagine that an employed individual would easily afford quality healthcare but we could be no further from the truth, since one’s economic status is an essential determinant to its affordability.
The researchers show the significant clinical problems of morbidity and mortality as a worthy argument for this study. Cost and financial burdens to the healthcare system are mentioned, prevalence of pressure ulcers at 12.7% necessitate the need for improvements in critical care settings. This study measures the effectiveness of the tool by using specific and sensitive PPV & NPV (negative predictive Vales) to define the myriad of variables. These variables and predictive outcomes and are an integral part of the validity and reliability of the studies outcome. (Sacket et al, 2000).
The researchers remained objective by basing their research on a template of sub elements that have high and low indicators that would lead to a successful implementation of evidence into practice. The study targets specific patients who have been exposed to risk factors, as well as addresses health equity, staff resources, and diagnostic services. The researchers used great discretion in the collection of data. The topics presented were referred to with code names in order to prevent the incitation of any biased reactions.
Social locations and societal makeup of neighborhoods and communities undoubtedly influences local incidence and perception of health and illness. The many ramifications of “social location” such as education level, poverty, and targeted institutional and social prejudice construct the fabric of the morbidity and mortality that we see in minority populations (the heterogeneous amalgam of race/ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, political, and economic minorities). Factors such as access to healthcare, health education, community cleanliness and pollution, willingness to seek care, and fear of discrimination can partially explain health care disparities as they relate to such populations. I think a good way to approach the topic of vulnerability
This task will analyze a given patient scenario with a poor outcome and a root cause analysis will determine the causative factors that led to the event, a plan for improvement will de proposed, and analysis of the likelihood the improvements will be successful will be recommended.
The purpose of this paper is to inform you of a proposal that the Governor of Texas has proposed to the state, on how he feel about the health care reform. I will be talking about how the governor thinks by” issuing top-down mandates on a break-neck timetable is a surefire way to make things worse”. The health care reform legislation currently being considered not only poses a serious threat to patients and providers, but will also cost Texas taxpayers tens of billions of dollars. I will be explaining how the governor feels that President Obama’s plan will cause harm to the health care system,” by increasing
All of the quality indicators are important for hospital quality but the in-patient quality indicators for mortality rates are essential for better care. Research has shown that mortality indicators varying across different hospitals and suggests there could be deficiencies in quality of care that is causing this wide range. Therefore the mortality rates as quality indicators are important to provide better quality of care across our
Changes in access to health care across different populations are the chief reason for current disparities in health care provision. These changes occur for several reasons, and some of the main factors that contribute to the problem in the United States are: Lack of health insurance – Several racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and other minority groups lack adequate health insurance coverage in comparison with people who can afford healthcare insurance. The majority of these individuals are likely to put off health care or go without the necessary healthcare and medication that is needed. Lack of financial resources – Lack of accessibility to funding is a barrier to health care for a lot of people living in the United States
Mortality rates and morbidity rates have shown significant improvements in countries around the world over a lengthy period. Trends have varied by country and by age, despite common improvements. An analysis of changes in causes of death provides a better understanding of the underlying changes in mortality rates and provides information about potential future improvements. Mortality rates for publicly reported conditions were improving slightly during the period when only processes of care were being reported, but that these improvements slowed or reversed once public reporting of mortality rates began. These findings suggest that public reporting may be necessary, but is clearly not sufficient, to improve patient
The Severity of Illness Index is a widely used four level index (from level 1-4) that determine seven values of a patient’s illness. These values start with the stage of the principal diagnosis, followed by complications of the principal condition, and concurrent interacting conditions that affect the hospital course. These three relate to the burden of the illness of the patient entering a hospital. The next two values are dependency on hospital staff and extent of non-operating life support procedures. These are for internal monitoring purposes only and are minimally affected by hospital staff and practice standards in the organization. They are the least likely to influence predicting the Severity of Illness. The last two values are the
The diagnosis, comorbidity and complication data are coded according to the Interna¬tional Classification of Diseases and Injuries 10th Revi¬sion (ICD-10) and Japanese text [17]. The DPC database also con¬tains interventional, surgical, anesthesia, other procedures, and postoperative adverse outcomes [18], as well as drugs and devices that have been indexed with the Japanese original K codes which are assigned by the MHLW of Japan and comparable with the ICD, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes [19], for instance, laparoscopic cholecystectomy is defined as K672-2. This administrative database collects comprehensive medical costs, including total and itemized charges for each completed procedure. These costs information are obtained using a standardized fee-for-service payment system and are recorded in the nationally uniform fee table. The date and the quantity of care delivered on a daily basis, and the hospital information like location,