Improving Quality of Health Care While Cutting On Costs
Improving Health Care Service while Cutting on Costs
Spending in the healthcare sector has grown substantially fast in the past few years (McClellan & Rivlin, 2014). Most countries have experienced a substantial growth in health care expenditure, but the expenditure in our country seems to be too high. Currently, the healthcare industry accounts for more than 17 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (“Centers for Disease Control,” 2013). Medical practitioners among other stakeholders have strived for the best in ensuring quality patient care. However, such efforts have had little impact on the ground as many care-seekers lack quality services as they come in and out of our healthcare facilities (Lehmann, Ammenwerth & Nohr, 2013).
The general business problem is that expenditure in the healthcare sector is ballooning, the rate of increase should be monitored and controlled. As a basic want, it is ideal that patient care served with quality standards as per the expectation of the human race of this century. The specific business problem is that collaborative strategies involving all stakeholders need to be adopted to reduce the high costs of expenditure while at the same time improving the quality of services offered (Shi & Singh, 2014).
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this case study is to determine ways through which the community hospitals in Pennsylvania can provide quality acute care to ICU patients while reducing costs. It has anticipated that a better understanding of the patient needs and cost considerations is necessary for determining the issues and challenges faced by hospitals and the caregivers (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2012).
Consequently, the case study will consider the use of mixed methods of data collection. The finding will make it possible to determine the effects of patient factors such as diagnosis, age, and acuity levels, on the costs required and the quality of care. Conversely, the study will make it possible to determine whether organizational structures or processes related to the aspect of staffing influence patient outcomes (Hinshaw & Grady, 2011).
Containing costs while providing quality acute care depends on the staff-patient ratios in place, as well as the coordinating process. These considerations are vital for the provision of high-quality critical care to the community while reducing costs. Finances saved can be used to fund other development projects in the community such as sponsoring people to pursue higher education (Gabow & Goodman, 2014). Concerns about the adequacy of quality acute care provision emanate from some of the cost-cutting strategies adopted by managed care (Huston, 2014).
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Health Expenditures [FastStats]. Retrieved 10th June 2015 from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/health-expenditures.htm.
Gabow, A. P. & Goodman, L. P. (2014). The Lean Prescription: Powerful Medicine for Our Ailing Healthcare System. New York: Productivity Press.
Hinshaw, A. S., & Grady, P. A. (2011). Shaping Health Policy Through Nursing Research. New York: Springer.
Huston, C. J. (2014). Professional Issues in Nursing: Challenges & Opportunities. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lehmann, C. U., Ammenwerth, E. & Nøhr, C. (2013). Proceedings of the 14th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics. Amsterdam: IOS Press.
McClellan, M. & Rivlin, A. (2014). Improving Health While Reducing Cost Growth: What Is Possible? Retrieved 10th June 2015 from http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2014/04/11-improving-health-reducing-cost-mcclellan-rivlin.
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2012). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Shi, L. & Singh, D. (2014). Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
