Questions
1. What does the environment of Middleboro look like?
According to the case study materials the environment of Middleboro is calm, tranquil and sanguine. As a much smaller town the overall population is very smalls as compared to many of the neighboring cities and jurisdictions. Due to its smaller size the overall town is much more collectivistic and familial in nature
2. What specific problems or issues does the community face?
As a smaller town, the community faces many of the more common issues with other cities which are related to taxation, budgets, and economic considerations. From a tax perspective, raising local taxes to fund promising but risky projects is a highly contentious subject. Household incomes in the areas are at or below the median household income for the nation. As a result, higher taxes would place a disproportionate amount of the burden on hard-working middle-class families. In addition, the community faces problems related to economic activity within the community. As a smaller town, the community relies heavily on just a handful of industries. As the COVID-19 pandemic showed, these industries can come to halt at a moments notices creating severe economic pressures not only for the community but for the businesses within it. Finally, the community must grapple with social issues related to education, waste management, infrastructure, and other important elements (Allison, 2004).
3. What does the community look like? A primary question is whether Middleboro can support two hospitals, Middleboro Community and Webster Hospitals, now or in the future. Consider the questions in the following areas as well and support responses with peer-reviewed sources:
The question is difficult to answer given the case information provided. From outside research we know that Middleboro has a vastly aging population as compared to the average town and city its size. In addition, from outside research, we know that healthcare costs account for roughly 16% of the national GDP. In addition, healthcare costs are rising are expected to become 20% of GDP by the end of the decade or roughly $5 Trillion. Middleboro has a population of roughly 9K people. The population...
The median household income in the city is roughly $65,000 per year. As a result, we can expect total income in the area to be $585,000,000. If 16% is spent on healthcare costs, similar to the nation average, that leaves $93,600,000 in total income that can used on healthcare. Given that the population is aging it is plausible that two hospitals can be supported in the community. However, to be conservative, it would be better to simply have one hospital in the town given its low population and lower incomes relative to other cities (Clark, 1987).
A. Demographically
1. What are key demographic factors and related statistics that are of importance to the business of health care delivery?
The first demographic factor that is important is age. Age has a very high correlation to health-related illness and expenditures. It is also heavily correlated to the amount of healthcare services required to maintain a certain standard of living. As older individuals also have less debt this bodes well for their capacity to pay higher healthcare costs in the future. Another important demographic factor is also race. Although uncomfortable, certain races require certain treatment as they are much more susceptible to certain diseases. African Americans are much more likely to contract sickle cell anemia than their white counterparts. Asians, are also susceptible to different diseases as compared to their African-American counterparts. As a result, race can provide a clue as to what healthcare treatments will be needed in the future.
2. Assess the implications of your findings related to the business of the delivery of health services in the area.
The delivery of healthcare services in the Middleboro community is undergoing fundamental change. Here, aspects such as telemedicine, telehealth, and online distribution channels are beginning to emerge with the community. This is particularly true as COVID-19 contributed many healthcare services due to capacity constraints. As a result, consumers became much more familiar with online distribution networks that ultimately will determine the manner in which health services are delivered in the future. This could potentially lower healthcare costs, improve outcomes, and save lives.
B. Geographically
1. Are…
