Research Paper on Social and Organizational Issues in Healthcare

The Basic Characteristics that Differentiate the U.S. Health Care Delivery System from that of other Countries

The U.S's healthcare system has specific aspects that differentiate it from other countries. The characteristics are based on budgetary allocations, healthcare governing system, market conditions, insurance, technology, government contribution and quality among others (Shi & Singh, 2010). These features present a complex U.S healthcare system that is different from others countries.

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Firstly, there is no central governing agency that is obligated to control the U.S. health care system (Shi & Singh, 2010). Instead, the federal government is aimed at formulating standards through health regulations and policies. Consequently, there is less integration between payment, delivery and insurance organizations. Concerning technology, the U.S healthcare delivery system is focused on a curative and technology-driven approach. Notably, the U.S has invested in medical technology, research, and the adoption of innovation to ensure that healthcare provision is enhanced based on the changing economic and technological trends. Other countries rely on research and studies from the U.S due to their level of technological advancement.

Concerning costs and budgetary allocations, the U.S spends more funds in healthcare than any other country (Shi & Singh, 2010). The increased costs are based on its healthcare complexity levels and the enhanced costs of creating affordable care programs to the American society. In other countries, there are lower subsidy rates compared to the U.S where there is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Such policies lead to increased healthcare budgets in the U.S more than any other country.

Regarding the market conditions, the U.S healthcare system is part of an imperfect market (Shi & Singh, 2010). The delivery and consumption of services do not pass in a free market test. Ina free market like in other countries, the patients have more powers in choosing services and making decisions. However, the U.S's system oversees that patients are enrolled in government-sponsored and private health plans rather than embracing patients' freedom. Moreover, agencies that are external to the market determine the prices.

Four Determinants of Health and Ways the Government is Promoting them

Social Factors

These determinants entail factors that reflect the environment or communities where individuals are born live and work (Commers & Weisstub, 2010). The social factors could be associated with the availability of resources to meet daily basic needs. For instance, access to education, healthful foods and employment will directly determine the health levels of a society. Other factors may include social norms and beliefs that could affect the accessibility and response to healthcare services. A community's security and poverty levels could also affect the state of health in a society due to social disorders and exposure to crime.

The U.S. government has supported its improvement by emphasizing on security amongst communities. Increasing the number of law enforcement officers and community policies will enhance security and reduce crime. Additionally, developing policies associated with dietary approaches has reduced obesity cases and improved health among Americans. Currently, the government is creating employment opportunities for Americans to ensure self-sustainability.

Policymaking

The American population health status is also determined by state, local and federal policies that are affiliated with healthcare (Commers & Weisstub, 2010). For example, policies aimed at the controlled sale of drugs and ban on illegal drugs will create a healthier society. The drugs could have led to violence and crime or even suicide. Additionally, the development of affordable healthcare policies will also determine the accessibility of healthcare services.

The government has invested in new healthcare policies to make healthcare affordable and enhance the accessibility of healthcare. There has been an increase in the number of rural doctors; hence, improving healthcare in country areas.

Biology and Genetics

These determinants relate to an individual biological aspect such as age, and sex. Notably, sex, genes, and age could influence the health of an individual regarding resistance and vulnerability (Commers & Weisstub, 2010). Inherited conditions could affect a community depending on the available treatment approaches.

The U.S government has improved this determinant by investing in research to comprehend the vulnerability of a population based on age and sex. Genetic research by medical facilities has been funded to provide knowledge on ways to prevent fatal conditions from being inherited by new generations.

Health Services

The quality services and access to health facilities are also determinants of health. Barriers to accessing health services such limited language access, high costs and lack of insurance coverage will lead to unhealthy societies (Commers & Weisstub, 2010). In the medical facilities, the quality of service, patient care, response time and patient satisfaction affect the level of healthcare provisions.

Consequently, the American government is engaging in policies that emphasize on insurance coverage and reducing the hospitalization costs through insurance. Concerning language barrier, practitioners are being trained to understand most of the common languages and cultures in the U.S. to promote healthcare provision.

Explanation on How the U.S. has Both Market and Social Justice Aspects of Health Care

The U.S's healthcare system consists of a complex structure where different departments have to work to ensure efficiency and competence (Sunstein, 2009). It consists of a market-based and social justice based system. In the free market system, private healthcare systems enjoy the forces of demand and supply. In this situation, patients can seek healthcare services from private medical facilities where they will pay directly without the need of insurance covers. Additionally, patients can also seek medical insurance coverage plans according to their personal preferences (Sunstein, 2009). In the social justice approach, there is a need-based aspect where the government decides on the basic and necessary services that need to be covered. In this situation, the government, through insurance companies, stipulates the services that will be paid for through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (DeNisco & Barker, 2016).

The two aspects of healthcare (market and social justice) work in the U.S due to the differences in personal preferences, economic status, and social status among others (Sunstein, 2009). The American society has a higher and wealthier class that prefers medical insurance coverage from private or personal insurance firms. In this case, the market system works where one can choose his/her medical plan. Some individuals prefer paying medical facilities in cash rather than choosing an insurance plan. The social justice aspects work in the lower economic status levels. Patients in these levels have fixed budgets and the government assists in providing affordable healthcare for specific services through third-party insurance firms. Consequently, the two aspects work together to serve the preferences of each American.

Reasons why National Health Insurance has not Developed in the United States

The main reasons leading to the underdevelopment of the national health insurance are based on economic, cultural and political factors. Regarding political cause, the presence of interest groups within different presidential administrations reduces the need for universal health insurance. For instance, interest groups during the launch of the Affordable Care Act generated over $1 billion in lobbying (Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee, 2014). The political culture has been known to have major contributions to the healthcare industry through policies from different presidents. The Obama administration developed Obamacare or the ACA while the Trump's administration is aimed at dismantling and changing Obamacare policies.

Concerning the economy, the private insurers have a major contribution in facilitating the healthcare policies. Private companies offer diversified services compared to a universal health insurance system. The competition and involvement in the provision of healthcare services through CMS approval leads to better healthcare services despite geographical locations. Importantly, the private companies can easily access rural areas to provide insurance services. Concerning policies, the division of the U.S into different states with various cultural and social backgrounds makes it hard for the nation to have universal insurance system (Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee, 2014). The private insurance system can comprehend the cultural and social values of a particular state; therefore, providing competent healthcare services.

Ways Interest Groups Affect Health Care Policymaking in the United States

The public policies have significant influences on the determinants of healthcare. Consequently, interest groups are fighting for both positive and negative opinions to be included in the policy-making process for personal or public interests. These interests groups are categorized depending on their motive whereby some are economic, political, social and professional. The motive will determine the effects of an interest group in the policy-making process. Lobbying by interests groups has helped shape some of the healthcare policies. For example, during the making of Obamacare policy, there was lobbying by interest groups that had economic motives of providing affordable healthcare for Americans (Mason, Leavitt & Chaffee, 2014). The interests groups entail individuals from different social and cultural backgrounds that have a common motive.

Polarization in the healthcare policy-making processes is common in the U.S. In this case, the interests groups have negative impacts on healthcare policies whereby they are politically and personally driven (Shi & Singh, 2012). Politicians may take advantage of interest groups to pass policies associated with personal interests such as profit maximization in while providing healthcare services. Healthcare policies have also been used as campaign avenues where lobbyists support specific policies.

Ways Technology can Reduce Health Costs

New trends in technological advancements have been adopted in hospitals to cut the patient treatment time (Srinivasan, 2013). Improved and efficient surgical outcomes with reduced time will assist the patient in reducing the treatment costs. In the past, patients would take longer in medical facilities due to the lack of efficient equipment leading to higher hospital bills.

Internet accessibility through technological devices has helped in the development of platforms where patients can contact their clinicians without having to travel to the facility (Srinivasan, 2013). Social media groups between doctors and their patients have helped reduce the health costs involved in transportation to hospitals during minor conditions.

Technology has improved diagnosis procedures; hence, reducing the need for multiple appointments to the doctor's office. New technology can scan and diagnose medical conditions within a short time with perfect results (Shi & Singh, 2012).

Technology has also enabled remote patient monitoring by medical practitioners. E-health enables doctors to monitor patients from their homes; therefore, reducing the need for office visits until there is a severe condition (Srinivasan, 2013).

Finally, technology has led to advanced diseas...