The Healthcare industry comprises of institutions that offer health services to the citizens. Such institutions include nursing homes, hospitals and healthcare facilities found in homes among other institutions. The operation of the institutions is either facilitated by the government or by the private sector.
They are served by individuals who specialize in various areas of health. This enhances good health among the citizens of any given country. The healthcare industry is a social institution due to the fact that it is in the institutions where many people with various health complications meet. A social institution is basically defined by interactions among different people.
In hospitals and other health institutions, there are different workers like nurses and their assistants who spend reasonable time attending to patients. Nurses socialize with the patients as they try to find out their problems. Socialization is vital for them since it serves as an effective way through which they get accurate health information from the patients.
This information is used to administer the necessary treatment procedures. Socialization that occurs in healthcare facilities plays a significant role in helping patients with mental problems to recover. Other patients visit healthcare institutions with serious problems like stroke and other problems based on family matters. Doctors possess specialized training that helps them to talk with such patients until they recover.
As social institutions, healthcare facilities function a bit differently from other private and public institutions. For instance, there is a remarkable difference when their operation is compared with that of public schools. Schools are governed by strict rules that must be followed by students. However, this is not the case with healthcare facilities. Their operations basically focus on building relationships with the societal members through the healthcare services they offer them.
In addition to the importance of socialization in healthcare institutions, the healthcare industry applies an individual social philosophy that guides workers as they execute their duties. The focus of the industry is to gather information from healthcare institutions in totality and make comparisons that facilitate decision making. The industry’s commitment is provision of the best healthcare services to improve the lives of people. Therefore, the fact that the healthcare industry is a social institution cannot be denied.
Working in the healthcare industry is usually a demanding and challenging experience. This is because healthcare workers are expected to be compassionate individuals who can handle patients with love and care until they recover. As a result, many demands are placed on them with regard to certification and their education.
Concerning education, they have to undergo intensive training to ensure that they are fully qualified. The required qualifications for an individual to be accepted in institutions that offer healthcare training are usually higher than those required in other fields. During the training period, healthcare workers are exposed to a lot of practical experiences that fully equip them with the necessary skills before they begin practicing.
After they achieve the desired qualifications, healthcare workers are required to obtain certification from relevant government departments.
This is usually done to ensure that unqualified healthcare workers do not pose as competent health workers. Health issues are sensitive matters that should not be compromised, thus the importance of having certified healthcare providers. In some instances, people with intentions of making money in the wrong way open clinics although they lack the expertise required to provide the right healthcare services.
The need to have all healthcare providers certified prevents the society from dangers that arise from unqualified personnel who pose as qualified healthcare workers. This is because healthcare industry is social in nature and its main aim is to provide the best healthcare services for the societal members.
Since the healthcare industry is such an important industry in the society, numerous improvements should be made to ensure that the society is well supported in terms of healthcare. The first improvement that should be made in healthcare institutions is to equip them with the latest technology.
Healthcare institutions require sophisticated equipment in order to facilitate diagnosis of patient’s problems and offer support to those who require it. This is an important improvement in healthcare institutions since doctors and nurses are able to save lives and provide the best services to patients.
The second improvement that should be made in healthcare institutions is to employ enough healthcare workers. Healthcare institutions are meant to serve the members of the society. Sometimes, the number of patients who require medical attention outnumbers the number of healthcare workers available. In such situations, patients who require urgent attention go through a lot of suffering while others die. With adequate healthcare workers, the capacity of healthcare institutions to provide satisfactory services is increased.
The third improvement that should be done in healthcare institutions is to provide enough funding. This is the obligation of the government since it is mandated to provide healthcare facilities for the citizens. With enough funding, healthcare facilities are able to purchase medicine and other necessities required to provide the best healthcare to patients.