HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES

HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES

Introduction

The Healthcare system in the United States has been an issue that has drawn the attention of many people across the world. Many leaders have used the Healthcare System as a tool to ascend to power by giving the American citizens a promise and a hope to improve the system once they get into the highly coveted offices of power. For instance, President Obama gave the people of America hopes of revamping the Healthcare System by initiating the Universal Health Care (UHC). However, the dream of achieving an equal quality of healthcare for all has not been achieved because of several underlying factors, as addressed in this study on the Healthcare System in the United States.

Literature Review

This study examines both the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the United States Healthcare System.

Quantitative Approach Analysis

The approach looks at the relationship between the Healthcare system and the socioeconomic status of individuals in the United States. Research has shown that physician perceptions of a patient with low socioeconomic status have affected the decision made by the health workers in the delivery of their services. The practice has, in turn, affected the large Healthcare System. The low Socioeconomic Status patients have expressed bias from the clinicians in the way they are treated or handled when they are sick concerning other patients who are socio-economically endowed (Singal et al.,2018).). An intensive interview where 120 people were enrolled in a state Medicaid Program was analyzed to identify the prevailing themes in their perception about the care that they receive.  Most people perceived that their Socioeconomic Statuses affected their health care. Most recorded issues about the kind of treatment that they receive, poor access to health care, and weak patient-provider interaction.

There is evidence that socioeconomic status has a significant impact on the outcomes of the health of an individual and the healthcare they receive. People with low socioeconomic status are more likely to have worse self-reported health. They have a lower life expectancy, and they suffer from more chronic diseases than the other does, who have a higher economic status in the same society. The individuals also receive lower diagnostic tests and medications for many illnesses from the health facilities. They also have limited access to healthcare due to the high cost involved in the treatment of diseases that they suffer. When the low socioeconomic status patient are compared with those of a higher status, the study has shown that health workers are likely to perceive them as people who are less intelligent, irresponsible, or are less rational. The physicians also believe that such people are less likely to follow and comply with medical advice and return for follow-ups on their illness in the hospitals.

The physicians’ perceptions have been shown to have a negative impact on decision making concerning patients with low socioeconomic status. Physicians delay diagnostic testing on the diseases; they prescribe more generic medications and avoid referring the patients to specialty care as opposed to other economically endowed patients(Singal et al.,2018).). The physicians tend to have a notion that tailoring care options to the socioeconomic circumstances of a patient can improve their compliance and have a positive outcome in their health. The research has also shown that some physicians are more reluctant to attend to patients of low socioeconomic status with insurance covers financed by the public due to low reimbursement rates. The discrimination has left most of the individuals to suffer at the expense of others with whom they are supposed to share the services equitably.

While many studies have improved the understanding of the impacts of socioeconomic status on physician’s perception and other practices in the course of discharging their professional duties, there has been little examination into the knowledge of the low socioeconomic status patients regarding how their status affect the care and the services they receive from the providers. The individual tends to be less satisfied with their care and varied encounter barriers such as lack of insurance coverage and unaffordable costs. Few studies have investigated whether the low socioeconomic patients are aware of the practices and the perceived attitudes that the physicians have towards them and how such perceptions affect the way they interact with the healthcare system and the service providers.

Qualitative Approach Analysis

This study focusses on the role that interpersonal sensitivity plays in affecting health-related quality of life. Preliminary studies have revealed that there is a close relationship between the cultural competence of the healthcare provider and an improvement in the quality of healthcare services. The interpersonal sensitivity also contributes to the increase in patient satisfaction and increases the effectiveness of the services provided by the physicians (Tumialán,2019). The study investigated 2104 adult respondents from a diverse race who positively responded to a national telephone survey. The result was that many people who reported better health were more likely to make frequent visits to their healthcare providers since they perceive them as showing higher levels of sensitivity. The study also revealed that patients felt more comfortable getting the medical services from people of the same race since they have a better understanding of them.

For instance, in a study that was conducted in an ethnic and racially diverse group of adults aged 45 and older, the service provider’s interpersonal sensitivity was positively connected with the healthcare satisfaction from the patients. A study of the perceptions of the patients association of communication by the provider of healthcare with the native language of the patient and ethnicity revealed that Spanish speaking and Latino patients were less satisfied when compared to English speaking. They were dissatisfied with how the medical staff has them the attention, responded to their questions, clarified medical and test procedures to them.

The healthcare providers are expected to convey characteristics, behavior, and attitude that is based on the views of culturally diverse patients rather than paying much attention to the opinions of the health care professionals. Studies also reveal that when patients are empowered to share their views concerning culturally sensitive health care, it is seen as putting the interest of the patient first. This will, in turn, allow the patients to express themselves in a free manner. Healthcare providers can engage in better responsive measures to such views of cultural sensitivity through engaging in behavior and attitudes that on the equity in the provisio