The Impact of External Factors on the US Healthcare System, Essay Example

The impact of external factors on the U.S. healthcare system are substantial and require a high level understanding of the different risks associated with access to services and treatments. It is not surprising that there are significant issues that remain with the continued rollout and utilization of the Affordable Care Act, given the massive undertaking that was required to accomplish its objectives and to retrain the minds of Americans to evaluate healthcare in a different context. This is an ongoing process that continues to expand in scope, particularly as reality has set in and many Americans now recognize the issues related to healthcare access and their own insurance challenges. At the same time, many people do not necessarily recognize the scope and breadth of knowledge of APNs and their contributions to healthcare practice, and this must be expanded to demonstrate an acceptance of the different options that are available to take advantage of their knowledge and expertise in different areas.

There will continue to be significant challenges associated with the healthcare system in the United States until there is a broader discussion of the elements that comprise healthcare beyond the norm, such as APN offerings and the development of programs to prevent disease and provide primary care to patients across many different age groups. These factors will encourage patients to be proactive in meeting their own healthcare needs and in determining how to best move forward to encourage patient care outcomes that are not only effective, but also appropriate to facilitate greater quality of life. Patients must be provided with the tools and resources that are required to achieve these goals in a cost effective manner, and APNs play a significant role in this practice. They must continue to expand their service offerings and promote an environment that embraces change and progress in order to achieve the intended outcomes for patients.