Introduction
The achievement of continuous quality improvement in the United States healthcare system needs appropriate monitoring processes and well-planned interventions to diminish health inequity. This analysis focuses on the possible implementation of a health equity monitoring process that has proven effective in England as an effort to improve the ongoing quality enhancement aspect of healthcare delivery system performance within America by addressing five significant disparities—racial differences, socioeconomic gaps, geographical variation pieces of eight gender-based inequity, and limited mental health access documented challenges while proposing stakeholder suitable solutions. In pursuit of continuous improvement in the United States healthcare sector, developing comprehensive monitoring mechanisms and specific measures to deal with health disparities is critical.
Potential Adaptation of Monitoring Process
The proposed monitoring process in the article has great potential to improve health equality in the U.S. This strategy can act as a catalyst by focusing on developing awareness among healthcare managers. As such, managers can better bring organizational activities aligned with the ultimate objective of reducing health disparities. An identical process implemented in England showed the compliance or utility of this approach when it was developed for use in a U.S. situation (Cookson et al., 2018). By employing this monitoring approach in the U.S., a systematic revision and reconfiguration of healthcare practices will ensue according to improved accessibility and efficiency of electronic health information. However, this also supports work toward achieving equitable healthcare outcomes for various populations.
Implementing the proposed monitoring procedure follows an established pattern, which implies that technological advancements are used nowadays to provide excellent care. Electronic health records provide a strong background for the collection process, which helps analyze health equity’s impacts effectively. While the U.S. healthcare system evolves, creating new approaches for resolving relevant issues—like a plan of monitoring – becomes indispensable (Cookson et al., 2018). The practice was workable on the example of its realization in England and stressed the necessity to modify international best practices according to current needs. Therefore, this practice is a strategic step that speaks of great promise for health equity improvement and American decision-making excellence.
Inequities in the U.S. Healthcare Market
Racial Disparities
The persistence of racial inequities in healthcare outcomes and access leads to higher minority mortality rates, while lack of high-quality care stems from a shortage. This persistent problem originates from the institutional barriers to impartially providing healthcare services for different racial and ethnic groups (Hallam & Contreras, 2018).
Socioeconomic Gaps
Preventive care and disease management are often hampered by constraints in access to healthcare due to poorer socioeconomic status (Harnett, 2018). Socioeconomic gaps also contribute to exacerbating disparities in health since people within the lower classes have significant problems obtaining primary medical care. These disparities need a systemic solution with solutions that promote addressing the social determinants of health.
Geographic Disparities
The use of healthcare services and their quality differ between residents in rural areas due to severe difficulties with accessing such services. It is also observed in rural areas that therapy interventions are provided either slowly or poorly due to the need for better infrastructure for health care (Cookson et al., 2018). Modern strategies include, for instance, the development of telehealth programs that enable people in urban and rural areas to receive equal services.
Gender-Based Inequities
Gender-based disparities still govern access to reproductive health services, and this gives rise to inequality in treatment and outcome (Harnett, 2018). These differences also show the need for a gender-sensitive healthcare policy, which ensures that the unique needs of different genders are met. Equitable healthcare can be obtained by studying the laws to provide equal access to quality care and gender limits.
Limited Mental Health Access
There are notable gaps in access to mental health care widely among marginal communities, and this presents a challenge for them to get proper treatment (Hallam & Contreras, 2018). In establishing a healthcare system that meets the different needs of its people, according to their characteristics and behavior in each aspect, mental health must be recognized as an essential part of complete wellness.
Resolving Inequities for Stakeholder Satisfaction
Implementing Culturally Competent Care
To eliminate racial and ethnic disparities, healthcare institutions must focus on culturally competent care (Hallam & Contreras, 2018). Culturally qualified care encompasses more than tolerance of diversity; it includes practices to provide environments that encourage inclusion and the understanding of diverse health needs. It is required that healthcare providers are culturally competent, as they should be trained in providing services to patients within their cultural contexts and, therefore, can achieve the quality of health results.
Strengthening Social Determinants Interventions
Socioeconomic gaps in healthcare require targeted efforts addressing health-social determinants, including income and education levels (Harnett, 2018). Indeed, enhancing educational opportunities related to social justice, income equality, and safe housing outcomes can be crucial in improving global health measurements. Healthcare organizations can play promotional functions by promoting the equitable distribution of opportunities and resources that would contribute to a healthy status across all socioeconomic groups.
Telehealth Expansion in Rural Areas
Two strategies are driving telehealth services in rural areas and reducing healthcare costs for people living far away from cities to reduce geographic divides (Harnett, 2018). Healthcare is now not limited by distance due to telehealth, which makes it possible for medical professionals, through technology, to reach patients living in underserved areas and distant places with a swift medical response. Moreover, this makes it easier for rural populations to receive quality healthcare, ensuring health equity.
Gender-Inclusive Healthcare Policies
Gender-related healthcare inequality must be mitigated by policies that provide equitable access to reproductive healthcare (Harnett, 2018). It is also essential to highlight policies that emphasize gender-specific health needs for genders as a sign of strategic inclusiveness where everyone gets appropriate and unbiased care. Healthcare providers actively dismantle barriers associated with gender to make a healthcare system more inclusive and equal.
Integrating Mental Health Services
Among the critical steps in addressing mental health disparities is creating mental health services in primary care settings and actively working to reduce stigma (Hallam & Contreras, 2018). Integration of mental health services makes the idea that physical and emotional well-being would be regarded equally in terms of priority possible. Healthcare organizations create a context in which individuals do not have to be ashamed of seeking support for mental health, thereby promoting access and treatment-seeking behavior, leading to more equitable outcomes in the field of mental healthcare.
Conclusion
The amalgamation of a health equity monitoring process and focused interventions arises as an innovative approach to continuously implement quality improvement in the U.S. healthcare system. Based on inspiration from positive case studies in England, this evaluation has highlighted the adaptability and possible uptake of such processes within an American environment. An opportunity lies in offering a more accountable and adaptive healthcare system by highlighting different health disparities such as racial differences, socioeconomic contrasts, geographical manifestation of gender biases, or insufficiency of mental services. Nevertheless, by acting as a team and engaging all stakeholders, equitable healthcare results can be regularly attained for better health among the population of America.
References
Cookson, R., Asaria, M., Ali, S., Shaw, R., Doran, T., & Goldblatt, P. (2018). Health equity monitoring for healthcare quality assurance. Social Science & Medicine, 198, 148–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.01.004
Hallam, C. R. A., & Contreras, C. (2018). Lean healthcare: scale, scope and sustainability. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 31(7), 684–696. https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-02-2017-0023
Harnett, P. J. (2018). Improvement attributes in healthcare: implications for integrated care. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 31(3), 214–227. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa-07-2016-0097Top of Form
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