SOCIAL STRATIFICATION
Literature review
Article 1: the effect of social status on healthcare delivery perceptions
The study topic entails the impact of social status on patient perception on healthcare delivery. The study purposes of exemplifying how individuals having low socioeconomic status perceptions affect healthcare service delivery ( Arpey, Gaglioti & Rosenbaum, 2017). The research indicates that people of low social status in the US are likely to poor health conditions, thus directly impacting their life expectancy. As such, the study postulates that the delivery in healthcare services is hampered by social status with the low class receiving few diagnostic medications on chronic diseases. The research utilized public insurance as the proxy to exemplify the impact of social status on the delivery of healthcare services. Consequently, patients of diverse social classes participated in in-depth interviews for a period of 3 months at the University of Lowa Hospital and clinics ( Arpey, Gaglioti & Rosenbaum, 2017). The method developed an insight into whether Medicare and Medicaid services were essential to all societal groups in American society.
The results indicate that individual social status has a direct impact on healthcare services. As such, a major of the respondents indicated that their social status affected the delivery of healthcare services. For instance, the results show scheduling of diagnostic tests is performed based on an individual social status, thus alienating some individuals. However, a small percentage of the respondents indicated that low social status does not affect the healthcare services they receive relative to the high social status persons in society. Moreover, the study relates to the research since it develops an insight into how social status affects the delivery of healthcare services in the US ( Arpey, Gaglioti & Rosenbaum, 2017). Through the study, I have learned the importance of patient-provider interactions, which would be vital for my research. Besides, I learned how to in-depth research methods to obtain critical information from the respondents, which is vital for my research on the topic.
Article 2: compassionate care for all
The study topic revolves around social status factors relative to their impact on the delivery of healthcare services. As such, the article topic seeks to address how social status influences the delivery of healthcare services by clinical personnel (Jordan, 2018). So, the study purposes of developing a strong framework to assist healthcare personnel in providing assistance with alienation based on individual social status. Hence, the author exemplifies how an individual social and economic status leads to one making an implicit bias towards personal health condition. Moreover, the study utilized qualitative research methods such as case studies to exemplify how social statuses characterized by poverty leads to inequality in a while delivering healthcare services in the US (Jordan, 2018) as such Jordan used information from the US census bureau to illustrate the impact of an individual social status towards the delivery of healthcare services. Consequently, the information is vital in ensuring the US citizens receive equitable healthcare services despite differences in their societal classes.
The results from the article show that social status has a direct impact on the delivery of healthcare services in the US. Individuals having low income are perceived as the lowest societal class, which later reciprocates to the delivery of healthcare services to such vulnerable societal groups. So, the results show that people living below the poverty line are at risk of being provided with low-quality healthcare services (Jordan, 2018). However, the author shows that the Healthcare Coverage and Affordable Care Act provides insurance to Americans, thus reducing the risk posed by the diverse social classes. The study relates to the research since it exemplifies how social status in contemporary society impact the delivery of healthcare services in the US. The literature provided an analysis of how medical practitioners should practice their professionalism to avoid alienating patients based on social status, thus promoting equity. Hence, I would utilize professionalism by medical practitioners to show the impact of social status on the delivery of healthcare services in the US (Jordan, 2018). However, the study does not illustrate how social gaps ought to be closed to promote equity in healthcare delivery.
Article 3: the healthcare delivery system
The study topic develops an insight into the development of a high-quality healthcare system, which is well coordinated. However, the study shows that social status, such as acceptability plays a critical role in providing equitable access to healthcare in the US. As such, the article purposes of addressing the urgency to reduce the healthcare burden caused by injuries and disabilities without aligning to an individual social status (Institute of Medicine, 2013). So, social status would not be a crucial factor of consideration in improving the functionality of healthcare in the US. Thus, the researcher postulates to address healthcare access issues while managing chronic diseases to ensure the low social classes are not alienated. The study utilized a conceptual methodology by observing and analyzing to present information on the impact of social stratification on the delivery of healthcare services in the US. The study shows that healthcare providers would be required to provide competent services based on their level of expertise.
The results show that social status poses a great implication in the provision of primary care services in the healthcare sector. As such, the study postulates the need to utilize cost-effective measures in addressing healthcare needs without discriminating persons based on social statuses. Also, the article shows that adults having low social status tend to have no insurance coverage, thus affecting their ability to access quality healthcare services. Moreover, the study relates to my research since it identifies how social stratification affects the delivery of healthcare services in the US (Institute of Medicine, 2013). For instance, the impact of social status towards the acquirement of healthcare coverage has been exemplified, thus illustrating its significance. For my research, I would include the conceptual methodology since it would help analyze information presented by the US healthcare coverages to depict the implication of social status.
Article 4: how do social disadvantages affect health
The study topic highlights the disadvantages posed by social status relative to its impact on the delivery of healthcare services. So, social determinants such as ethnicity, class, and gender in the provision of healthcare services have been outlined (Swain, 2016). As a result, Swain has outlined mechanisms through which social status factors influence health outcomes in today’s contemporary society. So, the study purposes of outlining how social status disadvantages affect the provision of healthcare services based on its outcomes on a country’s citizens. The study’s intentions have been fulfilled by developing initiatives to improve health outcomes regardless of an individual’s social status. Moreover, the research utilizes direct mechanism methods to show how social situations limit or enhance an individual to receive healthcare services in the US. The research method has helped develop policy approaches to outline the different social determinants influencing the provision of healthcare services (Swain, 2016). The author thus outlines key social determinants such as education, and income levels are vital in determining the provision of healthcare services.
The results indicate unmitigated social statuses result in inequality in the provision of healthcare services. Also, the author outlines that the probability of being healthy depends on social determinants characterizing the ability to receive different forms of medical treatments (Swain, 2016). Therefore, having a strong social determinant of health, such as being white and financially stable, raises the likelihood of receiving high-quality health treatment measures. On the other hand, an individual having low-level social statuses such as poor educational background and poverty tends to receive minimal healthcare attention from the medical practitioners. Furthermore, the literature has made me comprehend the need to develop a health-improving policy while carrying out my research (Swain, 2016). Hence, my research would articulate the need to promote equality to all social classes, thus articulating the need for stratification.
Article 5: is a social status associated with the utilization of healthcare services?
The study’s topic seeks to develop an analysis of the relationship between social status factors and the utilization of health services in the universal care system (Filc et al., 2014). As such, the authors stipulate to assess the relationship between social status to universal healthcare services from a global perspective. Hence, the study addresses inequalities presented by the diverse social factor, thus exemplifying the causes of healthcare disparities. The authors’ research utilizes a retrospective analysis method to develop an insight into the utilization of healthcare services for a group of 100,000 members older than 21 years (Filc et al., 2014). The method was subjected to the respondents and placed in the Clalit Health Services center. Consequently, the research utilized social and economic statuses of the neighborhoods to exemplify whether the factors played a role in the provision of healthcare services. The method utilized the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) technique to acquire the expected results. So, the methods provide an opportunity to research on social status factors leading to the development of the healthcare system in the US.
The results from the study show that people having low social status often visit primary physicians and consequently hospitalized for long periods (Filc et al., 2014). On the other hand, people having high social status visits specialists, purchase prescription drugs, and utilized medical imaging technologies. The gap between social status levels has widened over the years due to the high number of individuals living below the poverty line. Based on the literature, I would utilize guidelines addressed in utilizing social status to develop a deep analysis of the universal healthcare system without discrimination. Also, I have understood that economic barriers ought to eliminate to improve equity while accessing healthcare services in the US. Besides, for my project, I would utilize the concept of healthcare costs to review the importance of reviewing treatment costs based on societal classes to ensure the healthcare system promotes equality.
Action plan
Issue, problem or need
There have been reported cases of discrimination while providing health care services in the US due to the differences between the societal groups. Individuals having high societal status are provided with high-quality healthcare services compared to those having low societal status (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). As such, it is crucial for the research to establish if valid discrimination is present to ascertain claim. Therefore, there is the need to carry out comprehensive research to develop a common course of action on the issue since it has hampered service delivery in the US healthcare system.
The inequality in the provision of healthcare in the US is characterized by risks such as costs. For instance, low-level social status individuals in the US cannot be in a prime position to cater to high-quality medical services due to monetary problems. Thus, while carrying out the research, it is prudent to advocate for the Affordable Coverage Act (ACA) to realign its guidelines to accommodate low-earning US citizens (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2018). Besides, income inequalities have led to the negative impact of social factors on the US healthcare sector.
Based on the literature, US medical practitioners would be utilized to build on and implement the project. The healthcare providers would be utilized to ensure they provide services without discrimination based on social determinants such as income levels, race, or age. As such, they would be used to compel the government to improve the terms of universal healthcare coverage, thus reducing the social gaps existing in modern society. Besides, the community stands to help implement the project since they articulate the need for equality within the healthcare sector.
Strategic plan
The project’s main goal is to exemplify the impact of social status in the delivery of healthcare services in the US relative to the widening public gaps. As such, the projects seek to develop a strong healthcare system that supports vulnerable groups in society from exploitation and discrimination while receiving healthcare services. Therefore, the research seeks to change the fact that individuals having high social levels receive quality healthcare services compared to the poor and vulnerable groups. So, equality is the main issue that the project seeks to address based on the available literature on the topic.
For the project to fulfill set goals, the provision of healthcare services should address social determinants such as poverty levels, racism, and lack of education, thus promoting equality. Also, the US government should empower people with low-level social levels through the provision of comprehensive healthcare coverage to reduce the discrimination experienced in contemporary society (Orszag & Emanuel, 2010). As a result, individuals from all social classes would be accorded similar services, thus reducing the widening gap in social classes.
The activities would be planned to promote affordable healthcare to all US citizens despite disparities in their social statuses. The campaigns to sensitize the public on the existence of social classes in the healthcare system would be carried out within the first two weeks after officially launching the project. The project would target low-income areas in the US due to the high number of individuals living below the poverty line in those areas. The areas would be targeted due to their vulnerability to receive low-quality healthcare services based on their low-level social class compared to other wealthy individuals in the US (Orszag & Emanuel, 2010).
Budget
The project requires human and capital resources to fulfill the projected goals and objectives in achieving equality in the US healthcare system. Human resources include healthcare practitioners and social welfare personnel (East, 2018). The team members would be controlled using a competency framework that outlines specific roles for each participant. Human resources for the project play a critical role in searching for information from various sources such as journals and books relating to social stratification in the delivery of healthcare services in the US. Besides, the project requires capital resources to cater to the project research and facilitating the movement of the personnel.
The total budget totals to approximately $10,000 that will cater for personnel seeking information on the impact of social status on the provision of healthcare services. However, the budget allocation is small compared to the total amount required to facilitate the research. Half of the allocation would be used to cater for the personnel needs and requirements during the research. Also, 20% of the budget would be used to acquire the necessary documentation and authorization from the relevant authorities in the US to ensure a smooth research process.
The project seeks to attract donors for the funds due to the applicability of the topic in promoting equality in the US healthcare system. We project to acquire financial assistance from human rights organizations that seek to develop equity in the US healthcare sector. However, we seek to raise the $10,000 budget before the launch of the project with the additional funds from donors used to carry out further research. The findings would be used by the government and other stakeholders to address concerns raised due to increased inequality in the US healthcare sector (East, 2018).
Conclusion
Social stratification has played a major role in the increased inequalities in the delivery of US healthcare services. As such, the project has sought to address the growing concern based on provided literature, thus providing equal services to all social classes in America without discrimination. Social inequalities in the US need to be articulated to safeguard the interests of vulnerable groups from exploitation by the high-level class. The healthcare system in the US thus needs numerous changes to ensure its services promote equality. The action plan has been developed based on the research’s need to unearth social determinants resulting in inequalities in the US healthcare system. Moreover, the literature provides a strong ground of analysis since it develops an insight into what other researchers have articulated on the dire situation in the US contemporary society. As such, the literature has provided ideas and methods to be used for research through the development of the right strategic approach.
References
Arpey, N. C., Gaglioti, A. H., & Rosenbaum, M. E. (2017). How socioeconomic status affects patient perceptions of health care: a qualitative study. Journal of primary care & community health, 8(3), 169-175.
East, C. (2018). Developing a Budget. Developing a Successful Clinical Research Program (pp. 37-44). Springer, Cham.
Filc, D., Davidovich, N., Novack, L., & Balicer, R. D. (2014). Is socioeconomic status associated with the utilization of health care services in a single-payer universal health care system?. International journal for equity in health, 13(1), 115.
Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. (2013). The Future of the Public’s Health in the 21st Century. National Academy Press.
Jordan, G. (2018). Socioeconomic Status and Health Care. Retrieved 18 April 2020, from https://www.nata.org/blog/jordan-grantham/socioeconomic-status-and-its-impact-health-care
Orszag, P. R., & Emanuel, E. J. (2010). The health care reform and cost control. N Engl J Med, 363(7), 601-603.
Swain, G. R. (2016). How does economic and social disadvantage affect health?. Focus, 33(1), 1-6.
US Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Strategic goal 1: Reform, strengthen, and modernize the nation’s healthcare system.