Objectives of the Health Care Delivery System.
Health care is the maintenance or improvement of the human body’s physical and mental wellness by preventing and curing diseases (Jamali,2017). A healthcare delivery system is a combination of institutions, various professionals, and government structures organized to provide health care services to a targeted group of people.
A health care delivery system desires to achieve two main objectives. First, to enable every person to access the services. Involves putting up the adequate infrastructure and enough medical personnel, especially in remote areas that lack healthy living standards. Second, it must be cost-effective. The Government gives subsidies to health service providers so people from all social classes can access it.
Characteristics of the United States’ Health Care System
In the United States, all citizens have the right to access health care services. The country enacted ‘the Affordable Care Act’ to achieve universal health care for all. The health care delivery system features several characteristics.
First, the system lacks a central governing agency. Private entities finance it and the Government, making it complicated and more expensive to run, resulting in increased medical services costs.
The health care system is also technology-driven. Providers are usually in a race to acquire the latest equipment because they believe they offer better results. New technologies with insufficient contribute to rising medical costs. It also puts more emphasis on acute diseases, while primary medical care is less considered.
There is also a lack of perfect market conditions. The prices are determined by private entities that govern most of the health care delivery services.
The health care delivery system in the United States is dominated mostly by the private sector. The Government is sidelined, which encourages exploitation. The Government plays support roles like providing care for marginalized groups.
The health care system involves numerous participants, including medical personnel and insurance companies. These participants are primarily pursuing individual financial interests. Varied interests from these players inhibit reforms for quality health care with minimal costs.
Coordinated health care services in the United States are underdeveloped. Coordination implies a responsibility to the provider and patients in improving health. Providers are to give quality services while patients strive to maintain good health.
The health system fails to offer universal coverage. Most people who benefit from advanced medical services are insured. The rest, who pay cash, are prone to exploitation.
Private medical care providers are privy to rampant lawsuits by recipients; thus, they tend to play safe by adding more diagnostic procedures, thereby increasing costs.
There is social injustice in healthcare delivery as there are no mechanisms to distinguish between citizens who deserve government subsidiaries and those that do not. Some well of citizens takes advantage of these offers.
Unequal access to health care also characterizes the health care system. Insurance holders are given high priorities, while most uninsured people do not usually afford and have to wait for the Government to enact policies.
Major Players and Role of the Government in Health Care Delivery System
The major players in the United States health service system are doctors, healthcare administrators, employers, insurance bodies, and the Government. The Government is mainly involved in regulating private health insurers and hospitals and enacting policies fair to all healthcare prayers.
Why Health Care Managers Should Understand the Health Care Delivery System
According to Jamali (2017), healthcare managers need to understand the health care delivery system’s intricacies for several reasons. The first reason is the need to cope with future changes in the health care environment. The managers also need to observe their organization’s goals and mission in the wake of technological advancement and consumer demands. They are also able to explore new opportunities and consumer needs amidst colossal competition.
In conclusion, a health care delivery system desires to reach as many people as possible with cost-effective mechanisms in place. The United States health delivery system cannot achieve universal coverage due to various characteristics. It is primarily dominated by the private sector, lacks centralized organization, and mostly relies on insurers, thus not favoring the un-insured. The Government is mainly involved in regulating private health insurers and hospitals. Health managers are urged to acquaint with the intricacies of health care systems. It will help them in future demands and changes, explore new markets, and focus on their organization’s set goals.