Healthcare systems overview and organization

Health Care Systems

Over the last several years, the health care system and the quality of services that it is delivering have been continually brought to the forefront. Part of the reason for this, is because of the increasing costs that have been occurring. A good example of this can be seen with information that was compiled by the Kaiser Foundation, which found that health care costs increased from $714 billion (in 1990) to $2.3 trillion (in 2008). ("U.S. Health Care Costs," 2010) This is significant, because it shows how the system is having various issues that are causing the underlying challenges to be the source of heated debate. As a result, there have been calls for implementing a number of different changes, to address the underlying challenges facing health care. To fully understand the scope of these changes requires, examining how the system and its concepts relate to health care. This will be accomplished through conducting a literature review, as to how these different concepts are relevant to a health care environment. Once this takes place, it will provide the greatest insights, as to how the different concepts identified are applicable to a health care system.

Literature Review

In this piece of literature, Williams (2008) discusses the impact that electronic medical records (EMRs) can have on a developing country's health care systems. Where, researchers would conduct a survey of 50 respondents at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. The results were: that the implementation of this technology would help to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. However, most developed countries are not providing any kind of assistance, in helping third world health care systems to utilize this technology. According to Williams if developed nations can begin providing funding and assistance, this would help to increase the chances that Millennium Development Goal Number 8 will be achieved by 2015. As it states, "Developed nations must assist poor countries to develop their human capital, funds and work with the local community to design and implement system friendly with their environment to transform and improve care delivery development." This is significant, because it shows how using EMRs can be helpful in improving the quality of treatment that is being provided. The information from this source is useful, because it establishes a foundation as to how select technology can help improve the efficiency of health care systems. This is important, because understanding how this technology could be utilized is useful, in addressing the various challenges facing numerous health systems around the globe.

Moreover, McGlynn (2003) examines the underlying amounts of care that are being provided to adults in the United States. Where, there are conflicting facts, about the overall amounts and quality that is being offered. This is because many of the different studies were focused, on select aspects of the health care system such as: insurance coverage or a specific region. To conduct their study, researchers would use random telephone interviewing, as a way to sample the general public. As they would contact select cities in specific geographic locations to include: Boston, MA; Cleveland, OH; Greenville, SC; Indianapolis, In; Lansing, MI; Little Rock, AR; Miami, FL; Newark, NJ; Orange County, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Seattle, WA; and Syracuse, NY. The results were that out of the 17,937 adults surveyed: women were more likely to utilize health care services in comparison to men, whites were more inclined to seek treatment in comparison with blacks and 43% of the population sample was highly educated. The overall levels of satisfaction are: 54.9% of the sample would recommend the health care services that they were receiving to others. However, there were problems reported with underutilizing various health care services, with 46.3% of respondents reporting not receiving the services they require. At the same time, 11.3% of participants would report receiving services that were not recommended or were considered to be excessive. This is important, because this information can be used to highlight how the underlying amounts of care, can different between the various health care systems. As each country will embrace a model that mirrors the economic and political philosophy of the nation. In this case, the information from this source can be used to highlight how health care systems can be vastly different.