Health and Medicine (Essay Sample)

Health Organization Case Study
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Introduction
Organizations in the health industry are aware that, in order to improve care and minimize health disparities changes are inevitable. Today many healthcare organizations have implemented new systems that are effective in delivering health care needs of citizens. Technology has played a significant role when it comes to telehealth systems. However, the ability to embrace and manage the change is most vital in order to succeed implementation of these systems. Government leadership and healthcare industry have played a role improving efficiency of health care services in response to the growing need across the globe.
Readiness of health care organization
Innovation in the health care industry is fast growing in this decade than ever before. There are national mechanisms already put in place in order to facilitate health-care systems’ innovation. In Schacknow & Samples (2010), Information technologies are used to avail critical patient information to all members of the care team through the electronic health record systems (EHRs). It is evident that this has significantly improved quality as well as efficiency of care. Research shows that coordination of care has improved notably as a result of implementing health information technologies. EHRs help safeguards confidential information about patients, which is a good health practice.
Training for staff and physicians has helped to effect use of these developed systems. The government of United States has moved to address crisis of infrastructure for the exchange on health information by providing about $560 million to governments to help in development of the exchange capabilities. There is continuous research to try and analyze the impact of these systems in providing health care services.
There is an attempt to ensure that patients access primary and high-quality care. This is essential for an effective well-functioning health care system because of improved quality and efficiency. Quality primary care has improved the relationship between patients and their doctors since they earn trust if the system works efficiently. Creation of clinicians’ teams that include specialists to support physicians has further improved most organizations efforts to actualize provision of primary care.
Day in day out, medical science is becoming more and more sub-specialized. Chronic illnesses are also significantly increasing and there is increasing need for properly coordinated care. In Kralik, Paterson & Coates (2010), Commonwealth statistics show that patients with at least four chronic diseases need to see averagely fourteen physicians in one year. This leads to high medical costs therefore health care organizations have embarked on proper coordination, improved communication and increased integration among providers to curb contradictory treatment. In medical schools in United States, physicians are trained how to work effectively in teams and care coordination.
The health care system is practicing culture transformation needed to implement better quality care. This involves clinical integration that basically refers to the ability of an organization to provide most needed services to patients especially those with chronic illnesses. Patient care has been coordinated and integrated among providers in attempt to offer cost-effective services.
Initiatives are continually being evaluated. Center for Medicaid Innovation was established to assess methods of payment for homes that offer patient-centered care, Vincent (2010). Recommendations were developed to reform and restructure systems in order to provide incentives for effective and efficient patient-centered care. Variations were also reduced in cost and quality of care. A new model to moderate rising health care cost was developed. The same model provides incentives and support for hospitals and physicians to provide very high-quality care.
The United State government has made efforts toward reducing Medicare cost though laws. There are reforms targeted to generate funds for Medicare. The law also protects beneficially equally. In the law, there is provision to improve the quality of care, promote innovations, develop new models and modernize health systems. The services have already been implemented, and the costs saving provisions are projected to add not less than $575 billion by the end of this decade.
Nurse staffing
The health care resource management has a challenge to come up with strategies through collaborative efforts and develop solutions to ensure healthy working environment for registered nurses, as well as a safe environment for patients. Most health organizations have ensured that health care staffs are equipped with relevant technical skills and knowledge on how to operate technologically advanced equipment. Hospitals have enhanced patient safety and high reliability on new equipment on the market to offer services fast, effective and accurately. This helps serve more patients in a short period of time thus saving lives.
The need for adequate nurse-to-patient ratio has been championed by registered nurses. Coming up with an ideal ratio of nurse-to-patient has been a real challenge. According to Hall (2005),...