Bha 3801 Critical Issues In Health Care 1course Learning Outcomes For ✓ Solved

BHA 3801, Critical Issues in Health Care 1 Course Learning Outcomes for Unit II Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 1. Critique arguments related to the impact of social factors that influence the U.S. healthcare system. 3. Analyze the factors necessary to create a more equitable healthcare system. Reading Assignment Chapter 13: Healthcare Institutional Ethics: Broader Than Clinical Ethics, pp.

Chapter 14: Hospital Ethics Committees: Roles, Memberships, Structure, and Difficulties, pp. Unit Lesson Healthcare ethical issues occur at all levels of healthcare organizations. Healthcare administrators have a responsibility to always conduct business with ethical integrity (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). A vast majority of ethical issues within the healthcare delivery system occur at the clinical level. The clinical level is where healthcare products and services are provided to individuals who are in need.

Areas of ethical concern that result at the clinical level include treatment termination, patient autonomy, informed consent, confidentiality, and advance consent (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). There are guidelines for treatment termination that exist and are based on case law. Such guidelines are derived from clinical and legal practices and other ethical decision-making principles. Patient autonomy is the rejection of recommended medical treatment. Patients have the right to choose other alternatives that are medically appropriate but may be against medical advice.

However, issues arise when inappropriate treatment is demanded by patients and/or their representatives. Healthcare providers are responsible for obtaining informed consent prior to providing patients with healthcare services. In essence, informed consent is the treatment permission that providers must obtain from their patients before they can treat them. There have been several cases where providers have neglected to obtain the necessary treatment consent, which raises ethical concerns. Adherence to patient confidentially is a major ethical concern in clinical practice.

Although patient health information should remain private at all times, inappropriate disclosure of private health information has been released without patients’ consent. As a result, in 1996, the federal government implemented the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), a law designed to restrict access to patients’ health records. Advance directives, also known as living wills, can create ethical concerns when they are not adhered to by providers or patient representatives. They are considered legal documents that contain information regarding patients’ medical treatment when they are unable to communicate their desires due to a medical condition. The rapid changes in the U.S. healthcare delivery system between the late 1980s through the 1990s broaden the bioethics scope (Morrison & Furlong, 2014).

Bioethics inquiries were raised to address concerns related to the instructional structure of healthcare organizations. Bioethics inquiry is also known as organizational ethics, an approach designed to enhance ethics within a given organization (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). An example of such an enhancement is when organizations attempt to change their climate and culture in an effort to UNIT II STUDY GUIDE The Impact of Ethical Constructs and Healthcare Systems BHA 3801, Critical Issues in Health Care 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title minimize negative ethical issues. Although organizational ethics exist, there will continue to be a need to address current and future ethical issues. Hospitals provide a number of healthcare products and services and are one of the largest segments of our healthcare delivery system.

Hospital administrators and clinicians are challenged with making difficult healthcare decisions daily, which increases the demand for ethical oversight. Considering the role that they play in healthcare, hospitals must hire and maintain staff who are well-versed in ethical practices and principles. Hospitals respond to changes in patient care guidelines and healthcare policies through their ethics committees (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). Ethics committees for patient care came into play around the 1970s. However, it was not until 1992 that the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) was established out of a need for hospitals to have a standard means of addressing ethical conflict (Morrison & Furlong, 2014).

The three main functions of hospital ethics committees (HECs) are listed below: 1. developing policies and procedures; 2. training and educating staff; and 3. conducting clinical consultations. Ethics committees are comprised of individuals with a broad range of backgrounds and expertise. Ethics committee members typically include clinicians, administrators, social workers, bioethicists, and hospital board members. Some ethics committees may include patient representatives as well. Also, in order to address patient-centered ethical issues, it is important for the ethics committee to be diverse, especially in cases of cultural or religious issues (Morrison & Furlong, 2014).

Diversity is known to be an extremely effective component of decision-making. The continued growth of the U.S. population and advances in technology perpetuates the need for a standard approach to addressing complex healthcare matters beyond hospital settings. In addition, as individuals from an array of ethnic backgrounds continue to migrate to the United States, the need for more diverse ethics committees will increase. Members of such committees must also be well-versed in ethical principles and complex decision-making (Morrison & Furlong, 2014). Patients and their families play a vital role in addressing healthcare matters and should have ethics committee representation.

Reference Morrison, E. E., & Furlong, B. (Eds.). (2014). Health care ethics: Critical issues for the 21st century (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Learning Activities (Nongraded) Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study.

You do not have to submit them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information. Research and review an article on a hospital’s patient care policies and their staffing model. If you need help locating an article to review, click the following link to access a video that is available in the CSU Online Library: Feel free to discuss your findings with your classmates in the Student Breakroom forum.

Paper for above instructions

Assignment Solution: Critique and Analysis of Social Factors Influencing the U.S. Healthcare System and Equity Creation

Introduction

The healthcare system in the United States is characterized by complex interactions between various social, economic, and political factors that influence the delivery and quality of care. Understanding these factors is crucial for healthcare administrators seeking to implement ethical practices and address inequities. This analysis critiques the arguments surrounding the influence of social factors in healthcare and discusses the necessary components to foster a more equitable healthcare system.

Social Factors Influencing the U.S. Healthcare System

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age, and they play a critical role in shaping health outcomes (Berkman et al., 2014). These factors include socioeconomic status, education, physical environment, employment, and social support networks.
1. Socioeconomic Status: A significant determinant affecting healthcare access and outcomes is socioeconomic status. Individuals with lower incomes often face barriers in accessing healthcare services, leading to poorer health outcomes (Lynch et al., 2014).
2. Education: Education level is closely tied to health literacy, which directly influences patients’ ability to navigate the healthcare system and understand medical information (Ratzan & Parker, 2018). Low health literacy often results in ineffective use of healthcare resources, increasing disparities.
3. Physical Environment: The physical environment, including housing quality and neighborhood safety, also impacts health. For instance, individuals living in food deserts or neighborhoods with limited access to recreational facilities are likelier to suffer from chronic health conditions (Walker et al., 2010).
4. Employment: Job-related stress and exposure to occupational hazards can lead to adverse health effects. The nature of employment can determine health insurance access, further exacerbating inequities (Goutam & Rappaport, 2017).
5. Social Support Networks: Individuals with strong social support networks tend to have better health outcomes. Social isolation can lead to increased health risks, particularly in the elderly population (Cohen & Wills, 1985).
The intersectionality of these social factors indicates that to effectively critique the U.S. healthcare system, one must look beyond clinical practice and address the broader ecosystems in which healthcare operates.

Creating a More Equitable Healthcare System

Analyzing the factors necessary to create a more equitable healthcare system necessitates a multi-faceted approach that incorporates policy reform, community engagement, and institutional changes.
1. Policy Reforms: Comprehensive policy reform is essential to enhance healthcare accessibility. Expanding public insurance options and regulating private insurance can help bridge the gap for uninsured populations (Blumberg et al., 2015). In addition, implementing policies that support living wages and education funding can address root causes of health disparities.
2. Community Engagement: Engaging with the communities served by healthcare institutions helps to identify specific health needs and cultural preferences. Programs that involve community health workers can enhance the delivery of services and build trust, which is crucial for improving health literacy and promoting preventive care (Wiggins et al., 2016).
3. Diverse Workforce Development: Enhancing workforce diversity is pivotal to ensuring that healthcare services are culturally competent. Ethnic minorities are underrepresented in healthcare professions, leading to gaps in understanding patients’ cultural and emotional needs (Hafford-Letchfield et al., 2017). Increasing diversity within healthcare teams can enhance communication and foster patient-centered care.
4. Integrated Care Models: Implementing integrated care models that address both physical and mental health can significantly improve health outcomes, particularly for marginalized populations (Gonzalez et al., 2015). Coordinating care across different services ensures that patients receive holistic treatment.
5. Use of Technology: The incorporation of technology in healthcare delivery, such as telemedicine, can drastically reduce access barriers for individuals in underserved areas (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Ensuring equitable technology access is critical to maximizing the benefits of such innovations.
6. Ethics Committees: As mentioned, ethics committees play a crucial role in addressing ethical issues in healthcare settings. These committees must be well-versed in social determinants and ensure policies are equitable. Continuous education and training on social justice issues within these committees can foster an ethical institutional climate (Morrison & Furlong, 2014).
7. Accountability Mechanisms: Monitoring and evaluating healthcare policies through metrics focused on equity will help ensure accountability. Developing indicators that measure health equity will provide insights into the effectiveness of various interventions and guide future efforts (Brach et al., 2012).

Conclusion

The U.S. healthcare system is significantly influenced by a multitude of social factors that necessitate comprehensive critique and analysis. To initiate substantial progress toward health equity, healthcare stakeholders must embrace multi-faceted strategies, including policy reforms, community engagement, and diversification of the healthcare workforce. Ethical practices, underpinned by a robust understanding of social determinants, are vital in shaping a healthcare system that is not only accessible but equitable for all.

References

1. Berkman, L. F., Kawachi, I., & Glymour, M. M. (2014). Social Epidemiology. Oxford University Press.
2. Blumberg, L. J., Holahan, J., & Schaye, L. (2015). The Costs of Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Urban Institute.
3. Brach, C., Keller, D., Hernandez, L. M., & Baur, C. (2012). Ten Attributes of a Health Literate Organization. National Academy of Sciences.
4. Cohen, S., & Wills, T. A. (1985). Stress, social support, and the buffering hypothesis. Psychological Bulletin, 98(2), 310.
5. Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 103-108.
6. Gonzalez, J. S., et al. (2015). Integrated care; reviewing the literature. Health Affairs, 34(3), 455-465.
7. Goutam, A., & Rappaport, M. (2017). Health Disparities: A Problem of Employment. American Journal of Public Health, 107(8), 1180-1187.
8. Hafford-Letchfield, T., et al. (2017). Diversity in healthcare and social work. Social Work in Health Care, 56(3), 249-264.
9. Lynch, J. W., Smith, G. D., RCG, M., & Kaplan, G. A. (2014). Social Capital: A Key to Health. In Social Capital and Health.
10. Ratzan, S. C., & Parker, R. (2018). Health Literacy: Responsibility and Action. Journal of Health Communication, 23(5), 376-377.
This comprehensive overview underscores the complexity of the U.S. healthcare landscape and calls for urgent action to integrate ethical principles and equity-focused strategies into practice.