¶ … Healthcare Industry Changes in healthcare in the last ten years

In the last two decades, the average cost of healthcare per person was $2,800. This almost doubled in a span of ten years to reach a staggering $4,700. The cost tripled to reach $7,500 per person in 2008. This has happened as the number of Americans without insurance keeps increasing. The number of uninsured Americans has risen from 13.1% in 2001 to 16.3% in 2008 (Chideya, 2012). This implies that approximately 50 million people are uninsured today the reason being the job losses that were witnessed during the world economic meltdown and employer's decision to cut back on coverage (Chideya, 2012). A number of innovations in the healthcare sector were also registered within the last ten years especially the use of iPhone in clinical trials. These phones could be turned into EKG monitors that automatically transmitted data to a cardiologist (Chideya, 2012). This innovation is yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Upon approval heart patients will be in a position to check their symptoms whenever they are (Chideya, 2012). The device is very cost effective as it is expected to cost $100. Besides, it is remarkably simple.

Biggest change in healthcare within the next ten years

The enactment of Affordable Care Act will most likely impact the healthcare sector big time. Its provisions will most likely come online. Some of its provisions will protect against gender bias in insurance; deter insurers from turning away people with pre-existing conditions; and track health disparities due to race (Chideya, 2012).

Advancement in technological innovation...

The wealthy Americans will do everything within their powers to ensure that they live. Cases related to illegal organ transplants will be in the rise. Legal, ethical, and humane debates in the healthcare sector will be in the public discourse. Staff roles and work content is also likely to change as patient-focused care using multi-skilled team is integrated into the process of performing ancillary tasks (Chideya, 2012). The composition of care team will vary depending on the patient population and patient-focused care design.
The restructuring that has taken place in the health industry with regard to delivery of patient services will most likely affect the work environment. This will most likely translate into reduced quality of patient care. The current complex and cumbersome occupational regulation will most likely impact the competition and cost containment measures in the health care sector (Pindus & Greiner, 1997). State regulatory bodies and third party payers will also be caught in the mix. The most significant impediment that they will most likely face is the challenge of collaborating to ensure that economic incentives do not undermine the quality of healthcare or access to qualified providers (Pindus & Greiner, 1997).

Changes in the health industry will encourage prioritization of provision of out-patient-based care as opposed to reliance on hospital-based care. Care will then be provided in non-hospital setting like physician's offices, patients' homes, and freestanding outpatient clinics (Pindus & Greiner, 1997). Work re-structuring models in the healthcare sector like the patient centered care, patient focused care, and operations improvements will lead to restructuring of the Registered Nurse, licensed practical nurse, and nurse's aides jobs. The models will also lead to cost reductions in the healthcare sector. Much attention will be given to the quality of care given to patients. This is because decision making has moved out of individual doctor/patient relationship.

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