Achieving Healthcare Goals: The Role of Stakeholders in the US - Essay Sample

Introduction

Health care is one of the most vital sectors in any country; because of the wellness role it helps achieve. In the industry, there are various stakeholders that play different tasks so that the healthcare objectives are met. There are numerous objectives that exist in healthcare, which the stakeholders strive to achieve through their roles. The goals in the United States' healthcare sector include making sure there are affordable healthcare services, improving the population's healthcare quality, fairness in service delivery, and improving the responsiveness of the stakeholders to healthcare needs (Nanji et al.,2013). The objectives are achieved with the enhanced collaboration of all the parties that exist in the healthcare sector. The stakeholders in the healthcare sector include the government, patients, insurance companies, Pharmaceutical Companies, and physicians. Through their dedicated roles, the stakeholders can interact to make sure that the healthcare system achieves the objectives it was meant to serve. Although the interactions are complex, the stakeholders plan their activities in a way that there is a much-desired degree of convenience.

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Government

The first significant stakeholder in the healthcare sector is the government, whose role is to make sure that there is maximum social benefit from the delivery of the healthcare services. One of the tasks that is played by the government is also resource allocation. That is whereby it makes sure the healthcare institutions have adequate supply of supplies and qualified personnel (Kirchner et al., 2012). Furthermore, there is the role of regulation, whereby the health practice is limited to individuals that have adequate expertise in taking care of people. Moreover, making sure there is equity in the delivery of healthcare services is the role of the government. The tasks are implemented through the licensing of medical professionals and pharmaceutical companies.

Insurance companies

The insurance companies are the other major stakeholder in the delivery of healthcare services. That is through the various roles that they play in the sector. First, it is through offering health insurance services. The patients contribute premiums; then, when they need healthcare services, they can conveniently access it. Furthermore, the insurance companies play the role of striking a balance between the other stakeholders and the patients. For example, they offer expert advice on which services the patients need, and where they can get them. That helps the patients get healthcare services, as well as making sure the healthcare institutions get clients to serve. The government also regulates the insurance companies to avoid any cases of exploiting other stakeholders.

Pharmaceutical Companies

These are the other essential stakeholders in the healthcare field, which is because of their contributions. Product development is their significant role, which makes sure the patients and healthcare institutions have a stable supply of the medicines they require. Research and development is the other role played by pharmaceutical companies. That is because of the new diseases and conditions that the healthcare sector has to face in most situations. Maintaining a supply of commodities to healthcare institutions is the other significant role they play. That is because they are in charge of the healthcare supply chain. Advising the government on the areas in which to invest to benefit the healthcare system is the other role that the pharmaceutical companies play. That is because they might not be in a position to sustain some projects, which are of benefit to the people.

Physicians

These are the human resource component of the healthcare system. They are charged with the responsibility of taking care of patients' welfare. They make sure the patients receive adequate care through offering primary services for the patients. They play the gatekeeper role on behalf of the insurance companies; to keep the costs of healthcare low. Furthermore, they serve the government by offering healthcare services on its behalf (Hearld et al., 2012). Furthermore, they furnish the pharmaceutical companies with information about the drugs that are in demand, so that they can be produced and delivered. Giving advice to patients through consultancy services is the other role that the physicians play, which helps in defining the complexity of stakeholder relationships in healthcare.

Patients

The patients are the nerve center of the healthcare system. That is because all activities are centered on their interests. They are the center of the events by the government, pharmaceutical companies, physicians, and insurance companies. The major role of the patients is financing the entire healthcare sector. That is through the fees they pay as they receive healthcare services. Furthermore, they have an ethical responsibility for their health and making sure they keep the cost of medication low. That serves to save the government, the insurance companies, and themselves from much expenditure, which can be avoided.

The primary area of discussion in the complexity of the stakeholder relationship is the efficiency of communication. The major obstacle to the healthcare sector achieving its objectives is inefficient communication. For example, the government should make it known the targets it has for each stakeholder. The goals to be delivered should be clear and communicated in time. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms, and physicians, too, should make it clear about the needs they would like to be taken care of. The other issue is innovation and creativity to enhance the faster development of cures and vaccines, as well as improving the satisfaction of all the stakeholders. With the achievement of the goals, all the stakeholders will be in a great position to make the healthcare sector better.

References

Hearld, L. R., Alexander, J. A., Beich, J., Mittler, J. N., & O'Hora, J. L. (2012). Barriers and strategies to align stakeholders in healthcare alliances. American Journal of Managed Care, 18(6), S148. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jessica_Mittler/publication/268516864_Barriers_and_Strategies_to_Align_Stakeholders_in_Healthcare_Alliances/links/546ec2a00cf2b5fc17607c31/Barriers-and-Strategies-to-Align-Stakeholders-in-Healthcare-Alliances.pdf

Kirchner, J. E., Parker, L. E., Bonner, L. M., Fickel, J. J., Yano, E. M., & Ritchie, M. J. (2012). Roles of managers, frontline staff and local champions, in implementing quality improvement: stakeholders' perspectives. Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 18(1), 63-69. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2753.2010.01518.x

Nanji, K. C., Ferris, T. G., Torchiana, D. F., & Meyer, G. S. (2013). Overarching goals: a strategy for improving healthcare quality and safety?. BMJ Qual Saf, 22(3), 187-193. https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/22/3/187.short