The case of Katy Adams is extremely complex as it entails a range of life complications that do not only include health issues. As a single mother who has to provide for her children and ensure their well-being, the first non-medical issue is linked to her inability to do that due to her illness. The three problems identified in the case of Katy Adams include her inability to provide care for her children, the financial struggle of affording expensive care and not being able to work, as well as the absence of emotional support for the patient to ensure the smooth processing of the treatment.
Ms. Adams’s children may be eligible for foster care in the future because she does not have the health or resources to provide for them. In addition, the assistance of parents and friends can only be a short-term solution as they inevitably have to be returned to their mother. The past relationship with Katy’s ex-husband can also come into play when it comes to the issue with children as he may be given custody due to their mother’s health condition. The issue with keeping Katy’s family together after the complex divorce is especially relevant in the current situation as there is a history of unstable relationships.
The children’s father, John, was reported to have explosive behavior, to which they were subjected. Being with their mother is the only way for children to maintain their emotional well-being and develop a positive outlook on life. To help Katy with this problem, it is recommended to consider kinship care as one of the methods of ensuring that Katy’s children are in the care of someone they know and whom they can trust. As the number of children entering the care industry is rising, the value of kinship care is increasing, with the percentage of children in foster care with kin reaching 29% in 2014 (Epstein, 2017). Child welfare prioritizes placing children with “grandparents, relatives, or close family members” in cases when they meet the established demands (Epstein, 2017, para. 3). While such a system does not address all challenges of placing children into the care of their parents’ relatives or friends, this solution may be the most helpful in Katy’s situation.
The financial aspect of Ms. Adams’s situation is especially relevant to the current discussion. Since Katy is without work at the current moment, she cannot afford to sustain her treatment while also ensuring that other responsibilities, such as the utility bill, are covered. The problem of patients being unable to afford their medications or treatment is greatly widespread. When people are diagnosed with a serious illness or a chronic condition, most of their financial resources go toward covering treatment expenses. Also, health issues prevent patients from working, while not many employers are willing to pay salaries to struggle employees. Katy’s case is especially complicated because she was refused disability coverage because of a doctor’s mistake and now has to deal with this problem despite it not being her fault. In addition, the shut-off notice from LIPA regarding the due payments on electricity contributes to the large list of financial problems.
Patients who cannot afford their treatment are subjected to higher risks of not succeeding as a large majority of procedures and interventions require financial support. To deal with this issue, it is recommended that Katy does not stop filing requests to insurance companies and seek the assistance of non-profit organizations that provide support for patients with cancer diagnoses. For example, the Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition (CFAC) can aid patients like Katy because it offers help for transportation, co-pays, child care, and home care. The searchable databases that CFAC provides patients with assistance on the most pressing issues that patients with cancer experience regularly. Besides, Katy is advised to contact her friends and relatives to determine whether they could provide any financial support to cover the necessities of treatment. The lack of financial support can be addressed through the combination of multiple players’ efforts to find different sources of monetary coverage to ensure the success of ongoing interventions. Temporary support is necessary before Katy is enrolled in a scholarship trial for addressing her diagnosis and will still be necessary for the future to sustain her family during recovery.
Noting the financial issues experienced by cancer patients is highly relevant to the current discussion as the average cost of cancer medications is around $100,000 per treatment, with up to 20% of patients stopping their treatments because of the costs (Dart, 2016). The scholarship clinical trial is greatly important to address Katy’s situation because it will offer the necessary treatment without the patient having to worry about the high costs of the intervention. It is essential to understand that Katy is the perfect contender for the program as her condition is deteriorating while the financial situation remains to be addressed.
Lastly, it is essential to discuss the lack of support for Katy as a patient and as an individual. Her case
includes examples of the absence of clear communication from her healthcare providers and the absence of support on their part. For example, the situation with a doctor’s mistake preventing Katy from getting financial support for disability shows an unsatisfactory degree of care and attention. Had the doctor provided correct information, the patient would have been eligible for disability support. At the emergency department, she did not receive the necessary degree of attention either and was rushed to do surgery without any additional explanation.
Fostering positive relationships between patients and their doctors is essential for boosting treatment adherence and patient engagement. According to the study by Chipidza, Wallwork, and Stern (2015), trust, knowledge, and loyalty are components that form strong relationships between patients and doctors, and the quality of their interactions influences patient outcomes. Therefore, without Katy being able to communicate with her healthcare providers effectively, the success of the treatment will be subjected to possible disruptions, mistakes, and limited effectiveness.
References
Chipidza, F. E., Wallwork, R. S., & Stern, T. A. (2015). Impact of the doctor-patient relationship. The Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 17(5), 1-10.
Dart, J. (2016). Serious health consequences for people who cannot afford their cancer medications. Web.
Epstein, H. (2017). Kinship care is better for children and families.Web.