Final Vision of US Health System, Coursework Example

Introduction

The United States healthcare system continues to evolve and transform into a system that envisions those of nations with universal healthcare coverage, yet it remains unique and distinct on its own level. This transformation has gradually evolved in recent years into a unique framework that has enabled millions of people who did not have access to health insurance to be able to obtain insurance to meet their specific needs. Furthermore, this process has been instrumental in shaping how healthcare providers administer care to their patients.

Analysis

A patient-centered approach to care is a critical priority that requires a high level understanding of shared-decision making and how this enables patients to have a voice with their physicians that they have never had in the past (Barry & Edgman-Levitan, 2012). Furthermore, patient-centered care is also emphasized in the electronic health record and supports the development of new ideas to improve these records to enhance quality of care for children and adults (Krist & Woolf, 2011). Public policy efforts must coincide with the efforts made by healthcare systems in order to accomplish specific objectives to improve patient care quality and aim to support patient needs as best as possible (Milstead, 2013). Patient-centered care provides significant value to patients and enables them to have a voice in their care that must serve as a key priority at all times (Epstein & Street, 2011).

Conclusion

The U.S. healthcare system must continue to expand its level of support and guidance in making patients the focus of their care and treatment above all other priorities. Patients are not always the focus of care; therefore, these priorities must be realigned in an effort to produce effective outcomes and to provide patients with a greater sense of support and comfort as they experience care for a variety of conditions. These factors must be able to provide an opportunity to examine new ideas to improve the patient-centered focus on care and treatment for all patients.

References

Barry, M. J., & Edgman-Levitan, S. (2012). Shared decision making—the pinnacle of patient-centered care. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(9), 780-781.

Epstein, R. M., & Street, R. L. (2011). The values and value of patient-centered care. The Annals of Family Medicine, 9(2), 100-103.

Krist, A. H., & Woolf, S. H. (2011). A vision for patient-centered health information systems. Jama, 305(3), 300-301.

Milstead, J.A. (2013). Health Policy and Politics: A Nurse’s Guide, Fourth Edition. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.