The appropriate and stable functioning of the healthcare sector is one of the major factors impacting the development of the nation and its future. Today there are multiple attempts to improve the functioning of the healthcare sector and ensure that all people have equal access to services vital for their well-being. Unfortunately, there are still disparities and the absence of equity in the U.S. healthcare system. The inability to acquire the demanded care is one of the most common problems for low-income communities. It means there is a need for intervention that will help to alter the situation and create a fair and equal system providing similar opportunities for all citizens.
The need for intervention and improvement is justified by the current state of the healthcare sector and the problems it faces. First of all, there is a shortage in the size of the physician workforce, meaning that in the future, the whole system might experience multiple problems because of the insufficient supply of trained specialists and the inability to provide demanded services (Cooper, 2016). Another significant problem is the absence of equity in the distribution of medical services and treatment. People representing low-income communities face multiple problems when trying to get certain care (Cooper, 2016). Under these conditions, the two major problems that should be resolved are the need for trained specialists and the improvement of access to care.
The problem of future shortages can be resolved by altering the attitude of young people to the healthcare sector and jobs in it. In the past, being a doctor was a privileged position associated with stable income and specific status in society (Cooper, 2016). Today, there is a radical change in the youth’s representations of health workers. The sphere is not viewed as an attractive one because of the complexity of learning, high responsibility, high tuition costs, and low salaries (Cooper, 2016). For this reason, to avoid shortages in the number of physicians, it is vital to accept the policies aimed at promoting the health worker’s image, its improvement, and young people’s encouragement to enroll in colleges preparing would-be specialists in this sphere. The income of new specialists will also help to improve the accessibility and affordability of care.
Another problem demanding immediate resolution is the existence of multiple healthcare challenges among minorities. The recent research shows that healthcare spending is linked not only to individual income but also to communal wealth (Cooper, 2016). The demand for healthcare services is the greatest among the poorest states, meaning that they cannot devote a sufficient amount of resources to this aspect and suffer from the gradual deterioration of outcomes (Cooper, 2016). In such a way, there is a direct correlation between the quality of provided care and the state of communities, their demands, income, and problems affecting the status of their members (Cooper, 2016). For this reason, the solution should also be designed at the social and group level, instead of trying to resolve the situation working isolated cases.
Furthermore, the problem of the lack of equity is also linked to the fact that poor communities and the most problematic minorities are silenced. In other words, they cannot outline the real status of their group and attract attention to the insufficient supply or limited access to specific services or treatment (Cooper, 2016). Under these conditions, the combination of poverty, lack of attention from the authorities and media, and the inability to speak for problems creates the basis for the aggravation of the situation. It means that equity in health can be established by addressing these two problems and reconsidering the attitude to vulnerable groups.
As stated previously, the lack of access to healthcare services and unequal distribution are systemic issues and demand change at the appropriate level. For this reason, the first possible solution is the promotion of improved well-being among risk groups (Cooper, 2016). Currently, the insurance program and the constant investment in the healthcare sector are not effective and cannot guarantee the appropriate development of the sphere. For this reason, it is better to create new job opportunities for members of poor communities as an attempt to alter the communal demands and ensure that there will be a positive change in the individuals’ status and they will be able to acquire the care they need.
Furthermore, the unfair distribution of healthcare services and the problematic access to care can be resolved using available community resources. Speaking about poor societies and groups, there are always people with specific demands and who remain underserved for multiple reasons. These include the cost of care, its accessibility, and unique transportation needs (Cooper, 2016). The resolution of these cases can be improved by using local community resources accumulated by using special funds created to support the most vulnerable groups or individuals. Such funds can also be sponsored by the government or by local authorities as an effective way to struggle against existing disparities. It will help to improve the use of available funds and help to reduce overspending or poor use of the budget.
It is also possible to discuss the 30% concept as the possible solution to the discussed problems. It presupposes that about 30% of all health care resources are wasted, and the reconsideration of the current approach might help to redirect these funds to improve some other issues (Cooper, 2016). In other words, the current level of effectiveness is low, and there is substantial overspending and waste that should be eliminated to ensure multiple positive effects. For my own practice, it means that there is a need to focus on the effective use of resources to avoid their inappropriate use. It is critical to ensure that patients are provided with treatments, services, and investigations they really need, as it would help to save costs required for other groups and improve their states. Furthermore, the application of this solution can help to resolve some problems with the accessibility of care and support poor communities, which is vital for achieving positive outcomes today.
Altogether, the healthcare sector today experiences multiple problems related to the accessibility of are and its affordability. People representing low-income communities suffer from the lack of services and attention from care providers. For this reason, it is vital to introduce a practical solution presupposing using community resources to help the most underserved individuals and struggle with poverty as the way to alter the demand patterns. There are no such problems for middle and high-income groups, meaning that the change in status will help to resolve the issue. For this reason, a systemic approach to struggling with the outlined aspects is demanded as the key to achieving better outcomes.
Reference
Cooper, R. (2016). Poverty and the myths of health care reform. Johns Hopkins University Press.