The Healthcare system in the U.S. is evolving. In the first instance, there is a change from an analogue to a digital system. Like other industries, healthcare is revolving, incorporating technology in its operations to deliver quality patient care. Besides, the rise of non-communicable chronic illnesses such as cancer has shifted the U.S. healthcare system from curing diseases to offering holistic care to improving individuals’ wellness (Model et al., 2021). Subsequently, the healthcare system has evolved to patient-centred care, where providers focus on engaging patients while providing care. This has been facilitated by the technology leading to personalized care, which makes patients play a significant role in managing their health (Williams et al.,2018). The other way the U.S. healthcare system has evolved is shifting from cost-based to value-based care to ensure affordable costs for people seeking medical services.
The long-term forecasted effect of revolving HealthCare is that hospitals can provide home-based care. Home-based care brings more satisfaction and is less costly. Subsequently, home-based care might provide affordable care with improved outcomes. Besides, personalized care is expected to enhance chronic illness surveillance and prevent complications and hospitalization (Williams et al.,2018). The long term of this evolution is to avoid congestion in hospitals and improve outcomes for chronic illnesses.
The first driver of change in healthcare is increased consumerism. The U.S. population composition is changing specifically, with the rising elderly population projected to rise (Williams et al.,2018). Older adults are a vulnerable health population and frequently need access to medical services. The increased population will lead to increased demand for geriatric care. Similarly, there is the inclusion of women in healthcare dealing with diverse areas. The other driving change that will take place in the healthcare system in the next ten years is technology. There has been advancement in HealthCare technology in many industries, and healthcare is also expected to catch up with new technology. Technology might also come with an increased cost of care (Harrill & Melon, 2021). Further, the workforce is a significant driver of change in the healthcare system. There is a shortage of healthcare workers, and the vacuum needs to be filled by highly equipped professionals to meet the current needs of the patients.
The first idea to improve healthcare quality is to encourage healthcare providers to attain high education to enhance evidence-based practices. Besides, more medical students from diverse backgrounds should be enrolled in medical schools to ensure an adequate workforce to cater to the rising healthcare demand in a culturally sensitive manner (Harrill & Melon, 2021). Similarly, hospitals should avoid unnecessary testing of patients with a low impact on the quality of care and maximize the tests that have a high impact on the quality of care. This will lead to value-based care. There should be a policy e encouraging early medical tests for chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases to allow early treatment before progression to fatal stages. Early diagnosis can lead to earlier treatment that could improve outcomes (Harrill & Melon, 2021). The idea can assist in preventing non-communicable diseases by creating awareness in the population on preventative measures. On the other hand, the government should introduce a policy to lower health costs, for instance, by reducing taxes on medical equipment and supplies. Stakeholders in healthcare, such as insurers and suppliers, should also demand to maintain high levels of accountability. This can prevent inflation and wastage, leading to high care costs.
References
Harrill, W. C., & Melon, D. E. (2021). A field guide to U.S. healthcare reform: The evolution to value‐based healthcare. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 6(3), 590-599. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.575
Modell, S. M., Allen, C. G., Ponte, A., & Marcus, G. (2021). Cancer genetic testing in marginalized groups during an era of evolving healthcare reform. Journal of cancer policy, 28, 100275
Williams, J. S., Walker, R. J., & Egede, L. E. (2018). Achieving Equity in an Evolving Healthcare System: Opportunities and Challenges. The American journal of the medical sciences, 351(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjms.2015.10.012
write