Healthcare over the Last 10 Years

Health care over the Last Ten Years

Healthcare in America has undergone dramatic changes over the last ten years. These changes have affected both suppliers of healthcare products such as insurance and drugs and receivers of healthcare. Every person in America has been affected by the change; some in a good way and others, not so good. The most dramatic change is in patient mix and advancement in technology which has changed the landscape of product delivery and service.

Every facet of healthcare has seen some migration because of technology; changes in the organization such as hospitals, ownership structure such as insurance, and regulation of health care providers and in the delivery of services. According to Pindus, "Cost concerns, increasing competition, influence of investor priorities, technological advances, changing social attitudes, and an aging and increasingly diverse population are factors that will sustain the constant changes in healthcare",(Pindus, 2008).

Technology and the use of telemedicine which is an area of vast growth over the last ten years have broken down barriers to integrated delivery systems. Now Electronic Health Records (EHR) and incorporated software have made it possible for a person's medical records to be available at the touch of a button, making it easier and more effective to treat patients and bill insurance companies. The most significant change in health care came in 2010, when President Obama signed healthcare reform legislation into law which represented the most significant health care overhaul since Medicare and Medicaid of 1965, (Medicare.gov, 2012). This reform aims to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, reduce the cost of healthcare and lower the rate of individuals who are uninsured.

The Biggest Change in Health Care within the Next Ten Years

Even with the reform Act, Americans are still paying more for insurance and healthcare not than they did over the last ten years. These increases are caused from raised premium because of the cost or raised medical services. This increase in cost and other socioeconomic factors have caused over 45 million Americans to be without insurance with nine million of these being children. According to Penn,

More than a third of families who live below the poverty line are not covered. Uninsured people receive fewer preventative care services, and they are therefore more likely to end up in the hospital for health issues that could have been avoided. In addition, people without health care insurance may not get the treatments or the prescriptions they require because of the expense, (Penn, 2012).

This being said, improvements will be necessary in the coming years to reduce the uninsured and provide more coverage and preventative care services. Over the next ten years, it is the hope that the Medicaid program which supports the poor and indigent, which is currently a budgetary drain for most state will be phased out and replaced with a new system of healthcare tax credit. This credit could then be applied to deductibles and well as insurance premiums. According to Bill Bradley, Senator of New Jersey, "millions of Americans would be better off if they did not have to depend on a poorly performing welfare program", (Bradley, 2010). Aside from reform acts to assist with the poor and elderly, healthcare will continue to grow over the next ten years; especially in technology which will play a key role is medicine which will better coordinate treatment in a more cost effective way.

How I plan to serve within the Industry

My role in the healthcare industry is the provide quality service and delivery. I perceived that the shift in technology will create opportunities for more focus to be places on disease prevention, healthier lifestyle promotion and with an ageing population- geriatric care. My role could be that of educating the public through local health centers, schools and public fairs on disease preventions, step that can be taken, and safe practices. This too can include teaching seminars on healthier lifestyles, how to eat right, and the benefits on being healthy, not just for today but for the long run.

Geriatric care is fast growing and this can be seen in our aging population. More nursing homes and hospice will be needed to full the demand for care of the elderly. I see myself playing a significant role in delivering hospice care to the elderly through continual care, attention to their needs and providing a place or medical and emotional fulfillment.

How I will use my Skills to Evolve along with the Industry's Needs

With the innate ability to care and provide people with a sense of belonging and usefulness, my skills have evolved with experience and education. Education in healthcare has set the stage for a career that can evolve and change with the industry because the foundation for growth has already been created because of the knowledge gain through higher learning. My understanding of the healthcare systems and the various regulatory bodies and legislative process through education