Category: Healthcare

Article #1

Irigoyen, M., Glassman, M. E., Chen, S. & Findley, S. E. (2008). Early onset of overweight and obesity among blow-income 1- to 5-year olds in New York City. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 85(4): 545-554.

Brief summary

The author hypothesized that there is an alarming trend in the rate of obesity in the early-childhood. The worst affected people are the poor, minority and children living in urban towns. The research was significant because it could help the government in developing public health policies to stop the epidemic by creating appropriate strategies. The research was conducted to determine the occurrence of obesity in children aged 1-5 years. In addition, the risk of obesity was estimated according to age and gender.

The sample used in the survey was 1713 children in New York. The findings of the survey showed that boys had a higher likelihood of being overweight compared to girls. In addition, the prevalence of obesity increases with age. Urban children had a high likelihood of being obese. It was concluded that there is an increasing trend in childhood obesity, and the government should intervene (Irigoyen, Glassman, Chen & Findley, 2008).

The types of graphical descriptive statistics used to describe the sample or population

The data collected was stratified according to the age groups of the children studied. In addition, gender was used to stratify the data. Chi-square tests were conducted on the data. In addition, multivariate analysis was conducted. Stacked bar charts were generated to explain the relationship between the variables.

The level of measurement applied, and distribution of the data influenced the use of stacked bar charts because the data was collected in the same period. The age groups of the children sampled could easily be presented in bar graphs because there was a similarity in the various groups.

Article #2

Monteiro, C. A. et al. (2010). Narrowing socioeconomic inequality in child stunting: the Brazilian experience, 19742007. Bull World Health Organ, 88:305311.

Brief summary

Stunted growth in children is determined by the income of the parents and the distribution of basic services in a country. The author conducted a survey on Brazilian children aged 5 years and below. The data used was collected during the national census exercise in 1975, 1989 and 1996. The findings of the research indicated that there was a decline on the rate of stunted growth over the years. In addition, the prevalence of stunted growth declined tremendously.

However, there is a sizeable gap in child stunting between the wealthy and poor. It was concluded that the public policies and development on socio-economic systems have caused the improvement and reduction in child stunting. In addition, a reduction in the gap in the nutritional status was experienced between the rich and poor. It was established that there is a need for future studies to identify whether the trend will be maintained, especially when the world is experiencing an economic crisis (Monteiro et al 2010).

The types of graphical descriptive statistics used to describe the sample or population

Data was collected from census reports. Multi-stage stratification was applied in developing the sample. In addition, cluster sampling was used. Normal distribution curves were used to present the results of the findings using graphs.

The level of measurement applied, and distribution of the data influenced the use of normal distribution graphs because there were different clusters of respondents. The data had to be grouped in separate clusters according to the years. This had been indicated by the graphs developed for the different years when the data was collected.

References

Irigoyen, M., Glassman, M. E., Chen, S. & Findley, S. E. (2008). Early onset of overweight and obesity among blow-income 1- to 5-year olds in New York City. Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 85(4), 545-554.

Monteiro, C. A. et al. (2010). Narrowing socioeconomic inequality in child stunting: the Brazilian experience, 19742007. Bull World Health Organ, 88, 305311.

Introduction

Modern technologies are transforming the nature of care delivery. Informatics will allow clinicians, physicians, and practitioners to acquire, access, and share information that can guide them to provide personalized services. Properly integrated information technology (IT) systems will guide all partners to use modern technologies to offer timely medical services. This paper describes how the government supports the integration, use, and safety of health IT networks

Government Roles

Healthcare IT systems have become integral components in modern nursing and medical practice. The government is one of the primary stakeholders whose role is critical to ensure that positive results are realized. For instance, different government agencies establish policies to dictate the implementation, use, and security of modern technology. The established regulations will compel other stakeholders to perform their duties effectively and focus on the issue of confidentiality (Camillo, 2016). The government will also offer additional funds to support different hospitals and healthcare departments. The relevant leaders will consider new ways of maximizing safety, thereby improving the outcomes of all patients.

Government Support

The government supports Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and personal health records (PHR) initiatives in a number of ways to meet the demands of both users and beneficiaries. First, the federal government offered around 27 US dollars to allow providers and hospitals to embrace the use of EMRs (Kamerer & McDermott, 2020). Second, the relevant state agencies implement various laws that dictate the way stakeholders use EMR to meet patients needs. For instance, PPACA is a policy intended to compel practitioners to acquaint themselves with EMR.

Third, the government continues to provide the relevant resources that support the training of IT workers in the field of healthcare. It is usually involved in the best practices to support the provision of the relevant technical advice to all key stakeholders. Fourth, the government provides timely guidelines to different stakeholders to ensure that they improve the safety and integrity of such IT systems (Health IT, n.d.). Similarly, the government ensures that institutions offer guidelines that ensure that more citizens are aware of the milestones made in the area of health informatics. Consequently, more individuals are becoming involved and capable of recorded positive health outcomes.

How Government Supports Patient Privacy

The issue of privacy is critical when relying on the use of health informatics. The governments have presented a wide range of policies that dictate how medical institutions should use and share patient information. For instance, most of the enacted laws require citizens to provide their consent before physicians can share the information with other people (Kamerer & McDermott, 2020). The established state and federal laws require that individuals are allowed to amend the data in his or her medical files or records.

Institutions need to control the nature of access whereby facilities should integrate powerful mechanisms to maximize privacy. The Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) is a federal initiative that brings together different states to promote patient data safety in the US (Kamerer & McDermott, 2020). The implemented guidelines compel hospitals to use two-tier approaches for data authentication by adding retina or face recognition. The government monitors and promotes such initiatives to maximize patient privacy.

Conclusion

The above discussion has identified the government as a key stakeholder in the adoption and use of advanced health technologies. The relevant agencies and policies are intended to promote the use of such technologies, thereby meeting the demands of more patients. The government also considers evidence-based strategies to maximize the level of patient privacy.

References

Camillo, C. A. (2016). The US healthcare system: Complex and unequal. Global Social Welfare, 3(3), 151-160.

Health IT. (n.d.). Health Informatics Security & Privacy Collaboration (HISPC).

Kamerer, J. L., & McDermott, D. (2020). Cybersecurity: Nurses on the front line of prevention and education. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(4), 48-53.

Introduction

Health technology is a revolutionary innovation that has the potential to transform the medical sector. Medical institutions that embrace modern systems will share information much faster and improve the process of care delivery. This discussion post outlines some of the benefits patients stand to gain when more states join the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) project and implement health information exchange (HIE) systems.

Health Information Exchange

Patients are key stakeholders in the field of healthcare. States and institutions can embrace emerging medical technologies and participate in the Health Information Security & Privacy Collaboration (HISPC). This approach is capable of delivering positive experiences and benefits to the targeted beneficiaries. The integration of health information exchange (HIE) in the care delivery model will allow pharmacists, nurses, and physicians to share information (Health IT, n.d.). This model will allow professionals to reduce the time taken to offer personalized medical support. This approach will minimize chances of failure and improve the experiences of the targeted beneficiaries.

The use of HIE is associated with improved coordination throughout the care delivery process. The systems will allow different health experts to share the collected or personal data and utilize it to make the relevant inferences. They will exchange ideas and introduce new procedures to maximize patients experiences. The strategy is also capable of improving the quality of services available to different individuals (Kim et al., 2017). HIE results in coordinated efforts, thereby reducing possible errors and sentinel events. These gains will improve the nature of medical practice and improve the outcomes of the targeted individuals.

The process of seeking and receiving medical services is quite complex and costly. Fortunately, HIE can change the situation by allowing healthcare professionals to share files electronically and minimize unnecessary duplications for laboratory tests and diagnoses (Health IT, n.d.). Individuals can also receive timely instructions and ideas for managing their conditions remotely. The outcome is that the professionals will share resources, support the delivery of personalized care, and reduce overall medical costs.

Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration

HISPC is a project intended to address the security concerns and security issues arising from the use of HIE systems. Policymakers in states that are part of this framework will identify and implement the outlined guidelines to ensure that the collected patient data is managed securely (Kim et al., 2017). This approach allows individuals to receive timely medical services without their personal data being disclosed to unauthorized users.

The participation in this project can bring together more stakeholders and collaborate to present additional insights for maximizing the experiences of the targeted beneficiaries. For instance, consumer groups can present the demands of the people they represent and compel different institutions to take the issue of privacy seriously. The level of awareness increases, thereby making it possible for emerging and existing clinics to offer timely and personalized medical services (Mello et al., 2018). More professionals will partner with different organizations and eventually ensure that the quality of care available to patients is sustainable, personalized, and supported using the principles of autonomy and confidentiality.

Conclusion

The above discussion has identified some of the unique benefits that more patients stand to gain when states and medical facilities embrace the HISPC and HIE platforms. The use of emerging technologies will streamline the process of care delivery. The federal government can consider these attributes and guide more states to be part of the HISPC project and eventually transform the health outcomes of American citizens.

References

Health IT. (n.d.). Health Information Security & Privacy Collaboration (HISPC).

Kim, M. O., Coiera, E., & Magrabi, F. (2017). Problems with health information technology and their effects on care delivery and patient outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(1), 246-250.

Mello, M. M., Adler-Milstein, J., & Ding, K. L., & Savage, L. (2018). Legal barriers to the growth of health information exchange-Boulders or pebbles? The Milbank Quarterly: A Multidisciplinary Journal of Population Health and Health Policy, 96(1), 110-143.

Introduction

The use of healthcare informatics is evidence-based and capable of improving the quality, speed, and nature of medical care. Experts can rely on emerging technologies to provide personalized and sustainable services. However, some privacy and security concerns will occur when health institutions implement such innovations. This discussion describes the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Toolkit and its effectiveness in delivering the intended objectives.

Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Toolkit

The Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Toolkit is a resource designed to provide timely guidelines for assessing the implemented health information policies, processes, and practices. The framework supports state laws in such a way that they govern the security, use, and privacy of health information exchange (HIE). This specific toolkit has become an integral component of the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration (HISPC) project (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2020). It emerged as the product of the collaboration between the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The resource provides timely tools and ideas that stakeholders need to consider if they are to achieve their aims.

Effectiveness of the Toolkit

The introduction of this toolkit has led to numerous gains in the field of health information exchange. For instance, most of the involved stakeholders are able to learn more about the existing variations and promote practices that are specific to the intended regions. This approach reduces the chances of committing errors or using health data ineffectively (Cohen & Mello, 2018). Such a strategy has led to increased levels of security and confidentially. By adopting this toolkit, states and regions have managed to identify actions that might trigger various challenges. This achievement means that every HIE framework is capable of delivering timely support and improving the quality of care available to more patients.

This resource is essential since it allows medical institutions and agencies to identify practices that can promote support interoperable exchange. A good example is a manner in which systems accept digital signatures (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2020). Some of the technologists and managers involved in handling heath data will utilize this toolkit to identify emerging predicaments and propose superior initiatives to address them. The stakeholders will customize the health information needs in such a way that they focus on the demands of different members at the local level.

Each region can capitalize on this toolkit to learn more about the achievements recorded elsewhere and make the relevant adjustments. The authorities will merge the established HIE with the applicable laws. This approach will result in the formulation of appropriate plans that will improve the level of privacy. From this analysis, it is evident that the selected toolkit is essential for providing timely guidelines to data users (Cohen & Mello, 2018). Consequently, different states have succeeded in implementing secure and confidential HIE that resonates with the changing medical demands of the targeted patients.

Conclusion

The above discussion has identified the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Toolkit as a revolutionary idea that is supporting the implementation and use of HIE. The involvement of key stakeholders will result in superior care delivery models that deliver confidentiality and privacy to the targeted patients. States, communities, and medical facilities should, therefore, consider such guidelines to meet the health demands of more citizens.

References

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2020). Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration Toolkit.

Cohen, G., & Mello, M. M. (2018). HIPAA and protecting health information in the 21st century. JAMA, 320(3), 231-232.

Aboriginal health is one of the pivotal aspects of the Canadian healthcare system due to the vulnerability of this population under the social determinants of health. One such determinant is access to healthcare which is thought to be insufficient for the community. According to Mikkonen and Raphael (2010), the aboriginal status of the Attawapiskat community is determined by the history of their colonization and isolated residence, marking their insufficient access to healthcare services. In particular, although this population constitutes approximately 3.8% of Canadian citizens, they lack proper health services due to rural residency and poverty (Mikkonen & Raphael, 2010). Talaga (2016) states that this community is situated in a remote area where conventional healthcare services are not provided regularly. People are exposed to reservations under the historical impact of 140 years of residential schools existence, which segregated the native people from the rest of the population. Thus, general healthcare services are underprovided to Attawapiskat residents.

In addition, mental healthcare is in crisis in the community due to the under-addressed concerns of increased levels of mental health issues. Indeed, as stated by Payne (2016), people living ins a small and isolated community where mental issues lead to a series of suicide attempts reaching 11 attempts in one day, are especially vulnerable. Indeed, teenagers commit suicide under the pressure of social and economic factors, which leads to an increased number of people whose relatives or friends attempted suicide (CBC News, 2016). However, mental healthcare remains underdeveloped here, with specialists traveling to the community very seldom without being able to provide necessary services on a regular basis (Payne, 2016). Therefore, it is essential to improve the Attawapiskat communitys access to healthcare to ensure that this determinant of health does not threaten their well-being and longevity.

References

CBC News: The National. (2016). Inside Attawapiskat [Video]. YouTube. Web.

Mikkonen, J., & Raphael, D. (2010). Social determinants of health: Canadian facts. Web.

Payne, E. (2016). Attawapiskat: This community needs help right now. Web.

Talaga, T. (2016). Aboriginal health care woes trouble author. Web.

Type of Data

The research will demand the gathering of both primary and secondary data for the thorough investigation of the research questions. Primary information will be represented by the online interviews held on Zoom. Based on this procedure, it is expected to obtain the necessary indicators, including race, gender, nationality, and others (Taherdoost, 2020). Later, this data will be processed and used in the identification of specific patterns. Secondary data will also be incorporated: peer-reviewed articles and other credible academic sources could provide solid theoretical underpinnings.

Data Collection Process

Necessary data will be gathered in the form of an online interview via Zoom. The participants are expected to answer a series of research-related questions. In my project, I will gather, analyze, and interpret data. In addition, the project participants are 10 nurse practitioners (NP) and 10 primary care providers (PCP). These people will be responsible for responding to posed questions. Finally, the project sponsors will oversee the entire process of investigation.

Data Collection Issues

There is a possibility of encountering systematic errors which arise as a result of an imperfect concept or logic of research. They also occur due to incorrect interpretation of answers as well as mistakes made at the stage of processing, data analysis, and presentation of information (Brown et al., 2018). The results will be double-checked to avoid further inconsistencies. The error of not receiving data is the second type of non-observation fault that can be present in this investigation. It occurs if researchers are unable to collect data from the elements that make up the sample. This happens for two reasons: absence and refusal of an interview. Even though Zoom interviews are easy to conduct, some respondents may feel reluctant to answer some questions. In this case, the interview will be prepared in accordance with the ethical standards. Additionally, all respondents will be informed on the necessity of responding to every question.

References

Brown, A. W., Kaiser, K. A., & Allison, D. B. (2018). Issues with data and analyses: Errors, underlying themes, and potential solutions. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 115(11), 2563-2570.

Taherdoost, H. (2020). Different types of data analysis; Data analysis methods and techniques in research projects. International Journal of Academic Research in Management (IJARM), Helvetic Editions, 9 (1), 1-9. Web.

ACOs are health care providers who team up to provide coordinated care through Medicare, Medicaid, and contracts with other insurance partners. As part of the Medicare and Medicaid program, the main goal of coordinated care is to optimize services by reducing duplication of services and improving care timeliness. If the savings are successful, ACOs can be reimbursed by Medicare, which keeps the ACO interested in optimizing the healthcare system. Patients who have Medicare can receive ACO services if their doctor is involved in the ACO and has sent them a written invitation. In such a case, ACO is responsible for the quality of patient care and medical costs. Consequently, ACO bears equal responsibility with other service providers and is a motivated party, which creates good prospects for further functioning in the US.

Kaufman et al. (2019) note that more than 900 ACOs have entered into payment contracts with public and private insurers since 2010. According to the study, the most common positive outcomes of public and private ACOs were reduced inpatient services, fewer emergency department visits, and improved prevention and management of chronic diseases (Kaufman et al., 2019). On the one hand, this indicates the successful functioning of the ACO. But there are also alarming indicators that have led scientists to believe that attention should be paid to the impact of ACO on patient care and healthcare outcomes.

In 2018, Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) worked hard to link at least 50% of reimbursement to alternative payment models (Nathan et al., 2019). One of the payment experiments main objectives was to invite providers to accept responsibility for the total cost of treatment, including hospitalization and other expenses. In this way, the CMS set out to create closer relationships with the ACO system participants, but it is not known how successful their intentions were. ACOs have spread rapidly, reaching over 32 million Americans and achieved some success in reducing overall health care costs (Nathan et al., 2019). Initially, ACOs were selected based on their ability to ensure more doctors participation and the duration of the ACOs existence.

Currently, the ACO model is incorporated into national health care reform legislation as a demonstration program run by Medicare and Medicaid. There are several types of Medicare ACO programs, including Medicares General Savings Program, which aims to improve public health and reduce spending, and the ACO Investment Model, which tests prepayment approaches to support the ACOs MSSP. There is also the Next Generation ACO Model, allowing providers to take more financial risk, the Vermont ACO All-Payer model, and the Medicare-Medicaid ACO model. Some academics have criticized the ACO for its lower levels of coordination and management and the lower quality of Medicare delivery (Lewis et al., 2017). Scholars also noted that motives for partnerships typically included complementarity of resources, risk mitigation, and legal requirements.

Thus, ACO is a widely recognized and well-functioning health care delivery system. However, due to the uneven distribution of responsibility for the quality of care, cost levels, and health outcomes between ACO and Medicare or other partners, ACO may lack external oversight. It can have serious consequences, including a decrease in the quality of treatment and a lack of optimization of the level of costs, from which the final consumers of the service  patients  will suffer. Therefore, despite the sensible and forward-looking idea behind creating the ACO, this initiative requires further supervision and monitoring by the government, Medicare, and Medicaid.

References

Kaufman, B. G., Spivack, B. S., Stearns, S. C., Song, P. H., & OBrien, E. C. (2019). Impact of accountable care organizations on utilization, care, and outcomes: a systematic review. Medical Care Research and Review, 76(3), 255-290.

Lewis, V. A., Tierney, K. I., Colla, C. H., & Shortell, S. M. (2017). The new frontier of strategic alliances in health care: New partnerships under accountable care organizations. Social Science & Medicine, 190, 1-10.

Nathan, H., Thumma, J. R., Ryan, A. M., & Dimick, J. B. (2019). Early impact of Medicare accountable care organizations on inpatient surgical spending. Annals of Surgery, 269(2), 191.

Every business must be managed carefully, and every detail must receive a fair amount of attention. When it comes to healthcare, such facilities must require even more attention because they focus on peoples well-being. Performing such duties might be strenuous and expensive, and mentally demanding. As a Chief Nursing Officer, one will be faced with principles that include integrity maintenance, cash flow management, and employee motivation in the given circumstances.

To start with, a healthcare business must always maintain its integrity. It can be evident that any business field should be focused on communication, which makes integrity a vital part (Fisher, 2008). In the given facility, the integrity maintenance principle is heavily adhered to. First of all, every doctor follows an ethical code, meaning that they know of doctor-patient confidentiality. Moreover, doctors and nurses focus on honest communication with patients. For example, in my situation, I tell patients about their actual conditions and honestly answer their questions.

Another important business principle is proper cash flow management. Healthcare facility requires renovations and innovations, meaning that there will constantly be situations when new equipment or repairs will be needed (Mason et al., 2020). In this situation, it is highly necessary to implement the needed changes to not jeopardize patients health and well-being. For example, as a CNO, it was my obligation to manage the replacement of power generators. As a result, generators enabled the personnel to carry out their duty without problems during a storm and power outage.

The last principle is the management of employees and providing them with motivation. In the case of a healthcare facility, it is essential that the employees are rewarded and their hard work is appreciated. The employees are offered extra days off and gift cards in the given facility. This can make the workers feel heard and supported. Without these steps, the nurses and doctors will have burnout and lose the desire to provide high-quality results.

Thus, the given principles were chosen due to the impact they can bring on employees and patients. The mentioned principles are being used, providing good results and leading to the satisfaction of all parties. These principles are important to me since I believe that healthcare should be based on these values. Otherwise, no facility will be able to treat their patients, and there will be no trust and respect between healthcare personnel and patients.

References

Fisher, G. (2008). The art of business: The top ten basic business principles. Web.

Mason, D. J., Perez, A., McLemore, M. R., & Dickson, E. (2020). Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health. Elsevier Health Sciences.

There are always multiple obstacles that can significantly diminish the overall efficiency of any project plan. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze all the factors that may stay behind potential barriers to its successful implementation. Given the complexity of the project plan and the holistic approach expected to prevail in all stages of its fulfillment, there are numerous spheres that may be exposed to certain risks. Significant changes that affect the organizational structure of an institution always lead to various issues ranging from increased expenditures to employees diminished motivation and resistance to changes. A dedicated analysis is needed in order to find the most appropriate solutions to problems that may arise.

One of the essential issues that should be addressed while implementing the plan is centered around the employees perception of the efficiency and urgent nature of the changes that the project plan implies. Therefore, it is of significant importance to provide all employees that may be affected with a substantial body of evidence proving the benefits to a hospital in general. It is crucial to underpin the strong correlation between a hospitals performance and employees salaries.

Given the importance of measures listed in the project plan, the only issue that might make employees anxious is their pay. Factors such as lack of cooperation among the medical team, lack of motivation in nurses, lack of a holistic approach, and lack of support organizations could be barriers to holistic care (Babaei & Taleghani, 2019). Therefore, employees that are most likely to be exposed to increased amounts of stress should be comforted with the available data on the ultimately positive outcomes of the changes.

The next barrier that can significantly undermine the way the desired changes are implemented is related to deadlines. Although the project plan contains estimates of the time that is necessary for each step, it is clear that numerous unforeseen factors may result in delays. Therefore, it is crucial to provide extra guidelines that will explain to employees all the details of combining old and new methods. Sipes (2020) claims that nursing education did not have informatics competencies; thus, current managers, administrators, or NEs may not be fully prepared to lead or use change in the use of health information technology. Therefore, encouraging employees to actively participate in the implementation of different stages of the plan and teaching them basic IT skills should also be considered instrumental for the eventual success.

Different new strategies and approaches should be used while implementing the project plan. White et al. (2021) name careful planning, execution, evaluation, and broad dissemination among the measures that are instrumental for a successful outcome. Dang et al. (2021) pinpoint the increased importance of dissemination plans, audience-specific recommendations for internal and external dissemination venues, pros and cons of different types of dissemination. Thus, collecting data and evidence continue to play a crucial role in mitigating potential barriers.

There are multiple barriers that may undermine the rapid and efficient implementation of the project plan. Nevertheless, solutions provided in this work allow for an enhanced understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of the plan and may eventually contribute to future changes. Therefore, it is vital to stick to the original plan that includes stipulations on the required actions if specific difficulties arise. Nevertheless, additional efforts are needed to secure the payments, keep employees engaged and motivated, and provide precise guidelines for cases when deadlines cannot be met.

References

Babaei, S., & Taleghani, F. (2019). Compassionate care challenges and barriers in clinical nurses: A qualitative study.Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research, 24(3), 213219.

Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021). Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals: Model and guidelines (4^th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International.

Sipes, C. (2020). Project management for the advanced practice nurse (2^nd ed.). Springer Publishing.

White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S., & Terhaar, M. F. (Eds.). (2021). Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare (3^rd ed.). Springer Publishing.

The ongoing pandemic has necessitated growth and development in the healthcare sector of many economies. Technology innovation in therapeutic practices has improved the quality of medication across the globe. Specifically, the East-West Medicine context has developed due to collaborative and cooperative activities by practitioners. This model entails an objective integration of Chinese traditional medicine with modern western healthcare practices (Popic & Schneider, 2018). This discussion presents a reaction to this framework with its potential impacts on the quality of medical services. As will be noted, conventional practices of accessing medical services depict the standard process in western countries, including the U.S., the European Union (E.U.), and the U.K. (Popic & Schneider, 2018). Consequently, several challenges exist to the successful adoption of this approach in modern healthcare practices in many economies. Most fundamentally, East-West Medicine helps improve care quality by ensuring comprehensive integration of relevant factors and vital stakeholders in diagnosing and treating illnesses among patients.

The integrative approach for offering medical services may seem complicated among individuals using conventional processes of accessing healthcare. For instance, some patients may consider family members external involvement upon diagnosis of a chronic illness such as cancer, arthritis, or diabetes. The diseases can result in severe stress cases among relatives and close friends of the patient. Ensuring patients details and preferences is a crucial practice in healthcare practices among western countries. The Chinese traditional medicine framework would require timely and consistent integration of varying factors and stakeholders after diagnosing a long-term illness (East-West consultative care, n.d). In addition, East-West Medicine may seem complex among persons used to seeing medical practitioners in emergency room settings without a healthcare surrounding. It is worth noting that medical procedures are conducted in healthcare settings, including dispensaries, clinics, or hospitals (Popic & Schneider, 2018). This environment contributes positively towards the treatment of patients with varying conditions. Consequently, the integrative approach becomes complicated when medical practitioners consult clients away from the described environment.

Moreover, the East-West Medicine approach may be complex to individuals with frequent healthcare coverage changes or accessing the same provider. Western countries price medical services depending on the level and complexity of a condition. For instance, cancer treatment is different from a diagnosis of diabetes or arthritis, hence, they vary in cost (Popic & Schneider, 2018). The traditional Chinese medicine approach entails accessing the same healthcare provider to treat or heal patients consistently. The expert is consulted whenever a condition reoccurs, and they are trusted with the diagnosis of related illnesses. Frequent interaction with a patient develops a critical understanding and trust between a patient and a medical practitioner. This is to acknowledge that healthcare coverage and access to a common expert for medical needs constitute vital challenges of implementing the East-West Medicine model.

In conclusion, this approach will contribute significantly to the reduction of healthcare costs and improved patient care. Medical expenses primarily determine the conventional procedure of accessing western healthcare services. Individuals with low incomes cannot afford expensive medical procedures due to associated costs. However, traditional Chinese medicine presents a useful framework that can benefit patients when integrated with western healthcare practices. The holistic approach which results from the interaction contributes to improved patient satisfaction levels. Accurate integration of relevant medical practice to the treatment process is vital for prompt recovery among patients. Most importantly, patient satisfaction can improve with implementing the East-West Medicine approach when relevant stakeholders are involved in medical processes. Close friends and relatives are critical for ensuring strategic diagnosis and treatment among patients.

References

East-West consultative care (n.d). UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. Web.

Popic, T., & Schneider, S. M. (2018). An EastWest comparison of healthcare evaluations in Europe: Do institutions matter?. Journal of European Social Policy, 28(5), 517-534. Web.