Name one (1)  way each of the following has affected the costs of health care in the US?

Answer to Question on Personnel/Workforce in Health Care:

1. Does it fall to the health care provider who enjoys a high salary and social status, an obligation on their part to meet the medical needs of those underserved by the taxpayer?

Health care providers that receive publicly funded education do have a moral obligation to pay back taxpayers through meeting the medically unserved. Federal and state governments pay a substantial portion of the cost for medical education. It is the responsibility of health care professionals who are supported by public funds and enjoy high salaries and social standing to contribute to society. You can help by providing health care to those who are underserved or taking part in local programs.

2. Cross-training: What is the impact on quality, efficiency, and cost?

The positives and negatives of cross-training health care professionals are both present. Cross training can have both positive and negative implications. On one hand it increases efficiency and flexibility of staffing and can reduce costs by reducing the requirement for specialized personnel. It can also compromise quality care as staff may not have been adequately trained to do all of the tasks that they will be expected to complete. In some settings, it may be impossible or undesirable to cross train, since certain tasks demand highly specialized training and skills.

3. What do you think about the reason why there are not more men in nursing?

Nursing is traditionally seen as a profession dominated by females. Stereotypes about gender may prevent men from entering the nursing field. A nursing career may not have a very high status, despite the fact that it provides critical healthcare services. Finaly, a lack of men role models may deter males from choosing nursing as a career.

The answer to the question on health care financing is:

1. How has each one of the following affected the cost of healthcare in the US?

• The Health Insurance Industry: The US health insurance market has had a major impact on the health costs in the US. This is because it influences the pricing of providers as well as the demand for services. In the US, the complex and fragmented health insurance system has caused significant administrative costs.
• A significant increase in health care costs in the US is due to advances in medical technology. The cost of new technologies is often high, and they require special personnel and facilities in order to be administered. These advances, while improving the quality of health care and increasing life expectancy have contributed to increasing costs.
• Changes to U.S. Demographics: Changes to U.S. demography, including the aging of our population and increasing chronic disease rates, has contributed towards rising costs for health care. The elderly and people with chronic diseases require more complex and frequent health services. These can be costly.
• Health care in the US: Support from government for health insurance has increased costs and reduced them. Medicare and Medicaid programs have increased the availability of health services to certain groups, but have also increased costs and demand.
• Customer expectations: Consumer expectations has contributed to the rising costs of healthcare in America by increasing demand for costly and unnecessary health services. Patients expect the most recent and advanced technologies and treatments, regardless if they are cost-effective or not.

2. As a national policy should we allocate a set level of resources and apply them to achieving “the greatest good for the greatest number” OR should we adopt the individualist approach of “those who can pay get, those who can’t pay, don’t?”

As a national policy, we should allocate resources to achieve “the greatest good for the greatest number.” Health care is a basic human right, and access to necessary medical care should not be dependent on an individual’s ability to pay. A personalist approach will lead to major disparities