It is the role of the United States government to provide quality, affordable and reliable health care facilities and services. A healthy nation is a productive nation; realizing the above phrase the government through, the ministry of health and other health related bodies has embarked on policies to improve the quality of health care in the country, despite the efforts, the success of the policies are slightly lower that the standards set by World Health Organization (Manchester & Schwabish, 2010). This paper how United States government’s role in responding to historical trends that impact the delivery of hospital care and how this has added to the expansion of hospitals in the United States.
Government’s role in responding to historical trends that impact the delivery of hospital care and how this has added to the expansion of hospitals in the United States
Before we discuss the role of the government, it is of importance to define the issues of health that the United States health care industry has been facing:
- Lack of adequate health care staffs with the highest affected areas as nurses
- Lack of adequate and accessible health care facilities
- Expensive health care which is unaffordable by some parts of the population
- Presence of fake and counterfeits drugs
To address the above problems among others the government’s role are as follows:
Making national health policies
The senate has made numerous decisions regarding health provision in the country; the most recent health bill of 2010, signed by President Obama was an indication of the dedication that the government has to ensure that health care services are affordable. The bill was aimed at creating affordability in health provision and had special clauses to address the vulnerable in the communities.
Expansion of facilities
To reach those areas that are not adequately addressed, the government has embarked on massive facility developments. On the other hand, it is empowering private developers in the sector to develop their facilities in these regions through incentives like tax holidays. In existing facilities, the government has embarked on automating of its equipments for better services.
Empowering national bodies to regulate health care industry
The government through the ministry of health has developed some institutions with the aim of controlling operators in the industry and putting on sanity in the industry. Such organizations include the United States of America Food & Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA), is mandated with the role of protecting and promoting public health. It fulfills its task through delegated powers from United States Department of Health and Human Services to regulate and supervise the provision of food and medical service/products. Another strong body is the registration of nurses and doctor’s board, the health care facilities licensing authority among others (Manchester & Schwabish, 2010).
Educating the masses
In the efforts to ensure that the population get ill less often, the government has initiated a program that address education of its population on various issues; this is in the effort of creating awareness that can improve the health of a people. For example, the government is keen on healthy eating programs as well as disease prevention approaches. One disease approached by this is diabetes and obesity.
Creating an environment that improves scholar’s perception on health care industry
One reason why there has been reduced number of professionals in the industry is that people are not willing to get into the profession; it has been accused of low wage rate and wanting working conditions. To address this government is on the forefront improving sanity in the industry.
Explain the difference between inpatient and outpatient care
Inpatients are sick people who are given custody at health care facilities, and taken-care by nurses at close range, when in the hospital, the facility is responsible for their welfare and when need be the assistance of family members or other third parties is called for. There are numerous reasons why inpatients are kept in the hospital they include:
- Incase their condition need much attention that cannot be offered at home
- In critical conditions where support of health care facilities like ICU and HDU facilities are wanted
- In case they are suffering from a disease which is a threat to the community around the patients
- At the recommendation of fully trained and experienced health care practitioner
Outpatients are people seeking for medical care services but when they are treated, they are allowed to go home, continue with medication and advice given; family members/third parties assume the role of ensuing the patient have completed the therapy as required by the medical officer. In some cases, the services of a home-based nurse may be called for (Manchester & Schwabish, 2010).
Discuss how the growing aging population affects hospital care
The aging population is offering pressure on the United States health care industry; their health is deteriorating and much attention in the facilities is needed; this increases the demand and pressure on health facilities. The increased number of health care services seekers has increased government spending in the sectors and reduced expansion of new facilities.
From a different angle, some of the retirees (aging population) were trained and working in health care industry; their absence in the industry has created personnel shortage (Johnstone, 2010l).
References
Johnstone, M. J. (2010l). Health care justice for the ageing. Australian Nursing Journal, 17(9), 29.
Manchester, J., & Schwabish, J. A. (2010). The long-term budget outlook in the United States and the role of health care entitlement. National Tax Journal, 63(2), 285-306.