The United States health care structure
The United States of America health care system has different features that make it unique among other industrialized nations. The U.S. health care structure created many controversies from health care stakeholders because it lacked uniformity. Americans lacked universal health care coverage before the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010. Currently, the U.S. health care structure functions under four major categories namely: Illness prevention; health promotion and maintenance; rehabilitation and long-term care; and diagnosis and treatment (Black & Chitty, 2014). All four functions play different roles in improving health and well-being of Americans in all states and from different cultural, social, political, and economic backgrounds.
Comparing health care structures of USA and Canada
The U.S. health care function remains the most expensive in the world despite efforts by the government to reduce the cost of health while marinating quality and safety. The report released by OECD in 2013 revealed that U.S. A spent approximately $8,700 (USD) (16.4%) per person on health care; a value that exceeds OECD averaged value of 8.9% per person (Department for Professional Employees, 2016). Looking at the health care structure of other OECD countries like Canada, America has a long way to go in terms of advancing its health care system.
The payment system
In terms of payment methods, U.S. health care structure lacks a standard payment method making the cost of health care more expensive for Americans. According to Crash Course (2016), Canada’s public insurance system allows the government to fund health care for every citizen through taxation. However, in the America private companies control public insurance systems making it possible for only the rich and economically stable persons to access health. Almost two-thirds of Americans pay their health insurance through private insurers.
The role of nursing
Nurses in both nations have a common role of providing safe and quality care to people. However, the specific role of nurses differs in both nations based on their healthcare legislative policies. The role of nursing in the U.S. is more advanced than in Canada because of the large population and availability of more resources.
The impact of US healthcare structure on health outcome of its citizens
The U.S. health care structure has undergone a significant change, but it has not fulfilled the expectation of citizens. The government introduced laws and policies aimed at making health care universal through the Medicaid and Medicare insurance programs. The mismanagement of Medicaid and Medicare programs inhibits the ability of the U.S.A to cater for the health of all its citizens creating more disparities associated with age, culture, and socioeconomic classes. Information retrieved from Healthcare Triage (2014) shows that Medicare programs only benefit employed individuals who get their medical insurance paid for by employers. The biggest population of the U.S. is unemployed, hence; the lack of universal health care delivery. Non-citizens also suffer similar problems because of difficulties in acquiring identification documents to make them eligible for medical insurance covers.
References
Black, B. P., & Chitty, K. K. (2014). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges (7th Ed.). St.
Louis, Mo: Elsevier.
Crash Course. (2016, April 6). The economics of healthcare: Crash course Econ #29 [Video
Perspective. Fact Sheet. Retrieved Jan. 26 2017, from http://dpeaflcio.org/wp-content/uploads/US-Health-Care-in-Intl-Perspective-2016.pdf
Healthcare Triage. (2014, Feb. 17). The healthcare system of the United States [Video File].
Retrieved January 26, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN-MkRcOJjY
