Ashford HCA 305 (The U.S. Health Care System) Complete Course Week 1-5

Ashford HCA 305 (The U.S. Health Care System) Complete Course Week 1-5


HCA 305 (The U.S Health Care System)



Week 1

Week 1 DQ 1

With so many different stakeholders in the health care system, many with powerful political lobbies, it is understandable that the government has been unable to effectively address the problems of cost, access, and quality.  With the passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA), the government has taken a step towards reshaping the health care system.  Answer the following question:

How will the PPACA reshape the health care system in terms of access, cost, and quality?

Week 1 DQ 2

In spite of its impressive accomplishments, the U.S. health care system is fraught with problems and dilemmas.  There is a growing concern that health care is a big, complex, unmanageable business.  In this week’s reading, six major stakeholders were identified, they are: the public, employers, providers, hospitals and other health care facilities, the government, and managed care organizations and other insurers.  After reading this week’s text and other references answer the following questions:

In what ways have the stakeholders contributed to make the current health care system in the United States is too complex and unmanageable?
In your opinion, which stakeholder has had the most significant impact? Why?
Who should take the lead in reforming the U.S. health care system? Why?
In what ways have the stakeholders contributed to make the current health care system in the United States is too complex and unmanageable?



Week 2

Week 2 DQ 1

An oversupply of physicians in many urban regions contrasts with continuing problems of access in rural and inner-city areas.  After completing this week’s reading and viewing the video, discuss this topic using the following questions to help guide you:

Why does the mal-distribution of physicians persist in spite of the number of physicians graduated?
Explore how these specialty medical practices affect access to healthcare, quality of care received, and costs associated with health care services.
Do these same conditions exist in Canada or the United Kingdom? Why or why not?
Week 2 DQ 2

According to Sultz & Young (2011), “Communication among providers and between providers and patients [is] problematic as medical technology progresses and time pressures on physicians increase” (p. 179). After completing this week’s reading discuss this topic using the following questions to help guide you:

How might the increase in medical technology have a negative effect on communication among providers? Provide at least two examples.
Are there any positive effects of increased technology on communication among providers? Why or why not?
How does the increase in medical technology impact the provider-patient relationship? Provide at least two examples.
Week 2 Assignment:            

     

    HCA 305 Week2 (Physician Information)





Week 3

Week 3 DQ 1

The chapters assigned this week focused on hospitals and ambulatory (outpatient) healthcare organizations. Each has their own unique administrative and clinical requirements due to shifts in utilization.  Choose one of situations presented below and discuss the implications for healthcare organizations, consumers, and the health care delivery system as a whole.  Fully state and explain your position while providing at least two references (one may be the text).

Situation 1: Overnight hospitalization has significantly declined as services have shifted to ambulatory care (care completed within a 24-hour period).
What are some of the root causes for these shifts?
What are the implications of this shift for hospitals, consumers, and the health care delivery system as a whole?
                                       
Situation 2: More than half of all surgical procedures are now performed in ambulatory surgery facilities with the shift of surgery from the inpatient setting to outpatient. Explain the implications for hospitals, physicians and consumers.
What are some of the root causes for these shifts?
What are the implications of this shift for hospitals, consumers, and the health care delivery system as a whole?
Week 3 DQ 2

According to Sultz and Young (2011), “with the multitude of tasks performed everyday by hundreds of employees in a busy hospital. Misunderstandings and information breakdowns in patient care are inevitable” (p.85).  After completing this week’s reading discuss this concept as it relates to quality patient outcomes. Answer the following questions:

In your opinion, do you agree with Sultz and Young (2011) that errors in the hospital setting are inevitable? Why or why not?
Does the size of a hospital affect the quality that patients receive? Why or why not?
Is there anything patients and/or their families can do to help ensure that they are receiving the best care possible?
Week 3 Assignment:             HCA 305 Week 3 (Quality of HealthCare) (350+ Words)





Week 4

Week 4 DQ 1

There are many factors influencing the increasing demand for long-term care services in the United States. Select two from the following list and discuss ways in which your two selected factors are affecting the market for long-term care services.

Changes in the demographics of the U.S. population
Social and economic changes in families
Increasingly sophisticated medical technology
Greater consumer sophistication and demands
Increasing scrutiny of federal and state government financial involvement in support of long-term health care
Week 4 DQ 2

According to Sultz and Young (2011), “there is no single ‘mental health system’ [in the United States] but a variety of systems that provide services. Those systems vary widely in what services are provided for whom, by whom, and in what setting” (p.329). Answer the following questions:

Why don’t people with mental illnesses receive the same level of care as other illnesses?
What barriers prevent people with mental illnesses from receiving the care they need? Are the barriers different in the U.S. as compared to other countries?
Should the federal government take a more active role in the coordination of care and services to patients with mental illness? Why or why not?
Week 5

Week 5 DQ 1

Critique the ways in which each of the following factors affects healthcare expenditures in the United States.

How do these factors impact the patients, individual providers, healthcare organizations, and insurers?
Advances in medical care technology and diagnostic technology
Changes in U.S. demographics
Emphasis on specialty medicine
Financing of healthcare
Healthcare as a labor-intensive industry
Consumer expectations
How does healthcare spending/financing in the United States compare to other countries?
Fully state and explain your position while providing at least two references.
Week 5 DQ 2

Healthcare reform is underway in the United States.  Given the history of previous attempts to reform the U.S. healthcare system and the current state of the U.S. economy, answer the following questions:

Will the healthcare reforms now in progress resolve or worsen the key issues of access, costs, and quality?
Can we achieve a system in which there is fiscal and clinical accountability for defined populations?
Fully state and explain your position while providing at least two references.
Week 5 Assignment:          



HCA 305 Week 5 (Quality of US Healthcare System)