Technology Integration Poses New Ethical Dilemmas for Healthcare

Technology Integration Poses New Ethical Dilemmas for Healthcare

Imagine studying the effects of globalization on healthcare. What would one find from his or her research? Is there a possibility that policies need changed? How does this affect one's licensure? One will study in depth this trend and find ways to solve the issues that arise before it is too late.

Within the United States, "globalization of healthcare encompasses both exporting patients (medical tourism) and importing medical services (outsourcing)" (Herrick, 2007). This makes competition increase, which means that what happens in the U.S. could rival that of Japan; consequently, healthcare would have to improve their quality and provide patients with more choices (Herrick, 2007). Whatever the case, many tasks are getting outsourced to those in foreign countries (Herrick, 2007). This includes "long-distance collaboration-incorporating the services of foreign medical staff into the practice of American medical provides" (Herrick, 2007). One has to note that those that are competing globally can have facilities close to the U.S. And choose to contract specific health insurers (Herrick, 2007).

Since medical services are outsourced, this does change how everything is done. "Information technology makes it possible to provide medical services remotely, including outsourcing them to other countries" (Herrick, 2007). Furthermore, telemedicine is done through using a telephone or any other means is a growing trend, and not many physicians are aware of this (Herrick, 2007). "It gives rural residents access to specialists and will probably become the preferred way to monitor patients with chronic conditions" (Herrick, 2007).

Through outsourcing, this lowers costs, and provides high quality as well as convenience. One area that is already outsourced is that of medical transcription (Herrick, 2007). "American hospitals increasingly use radiologists in India and other countries to read X-rays" (Herrick, 2007). Regardless, this does allow for health care providers that are both American and foreign to collaborate. The outcomes can improve if they choose to work together to improve healthcare by means of the treatment and management of it (Johnson, 2010). "A potential solution is for American health care providers to collaborate with low-cost providers in developing countries by having them perform these labor-intensive tasks" (Herrick, 2007).

Many health care plans do not help with medical travel or cover it for the individual (Hogenbirk, Brockwayw, Finleyz, & Jennetty, 2006). "Currently, most insurers do not include foreign providers in their networks, but they may in the future" (Herrick, 2007). For example, a Calfornia-based health insurance company, Blue Shield, they have it set up where people can get healthcare in Mexico and to live at least 50 miles from the border. This resulted in at least 40,000 pepole to sign up for this healthcare plan. Not only that, but their physican speaks Spanish as well as understands one culture (Herrick, 2007).

Here are some more options as medical tourism grows (Smith, 2010). "Over the next few years, at least 40 company-sponsored health plans will offer overseas options through United Group Programs" (Herrick, 2007). As of 2006, the legislature of West Virginia had hearings on including hospitals that are foreign for employees health plans (Smith, 2010). "IndusHealth and PlanetHospital are in the process of creating health insurance products that combine American-based primary care with foregin travel for expensive procedures" (Herrick, 2007).

One needs to note how competition affects the markets of health care in the U.S. When global competition is prominent, medical procedures could become cost-effective; however, labor costs could increase. A shortage of workers could occur for specialties' in medicine in the U.S.; consequently, the wages could possibly rise. This becomes the case when it is difficult to outsource medicine. However, through the use of outsourcing, not much would take place on the effect of it with those who work in emergency medicine (Johnson, 2010).

By having global competition, this could make the shortage of physicians become worse (Smith, 2010). "Today nearly one-quarter of practicing physicians in the U.S. attended a foreign medical school" (Herrick, 2007). At least one-third of those in medical residency programs have foreigners in them. Furthermore, many could return home after the completion of their studies. Not only that, but medical graduates would possibly work in rural areas that are hit the hardest (Hogenbirk, et al., 2006). This is also similar to that of nurses due to a shortage. They are having to recruit those from foreign countries in order to fill the current vacancies. "A small suppply of foreign physicians and nurses willing to work in the U.S. could strain the U.S. health care system by rasising labor costs" (Herrick, 2007).

Because of state licensing laws, one is prevented from perfoming the necessary tasks that are provided from those in other countries as well as states. "State regulations prevent out-of-state doctors from treating patients" (Johnson, 2010). This is because state boards want a person to practice in the state where he or she received their license. Not only that, but physicians lack authority when it comes to ordering specific tests, which also includes therapies and prescription drugs that pharmacies in America dispense legally on a regular basis (Johnson, 2010).

States license and regulate physicians with the ostensible goal of maintaining the quality of medical care. However, state medical boards are dominated by physicians and, like the boards governing other regulated professions, they tend to benefit the practitioners.

Besides stringent licensing requirements, these organizations suppress competition among physicians by declaring certain practices to be unethical. Medical societies have long opposed innovations that pose a threat to their autonomy or income. And threats to hospital revenue or the ability of hospital systems to cross-subsidize uncompensated care generate considerable opposition (Herrick, 2007).