Significant Health Care Event Paper

Significant Health Care EventAmy DiZio
University of Phoenix
HCS 531
Significant Health Care Event
There are many events that have influenced health care and the way it has been delivered throughout the years. These events have helped shape and change health care with the ever changing needs of the population at large. Some of the influences are society, culture, finance, religion, politics, health trends, environment and population (Shi and Singh, 2012, p.9). For the purpose and focus of this paper, we will discuss a specific significant event and how this event has impacted health care.
Significant Event’s Relation to Health Care
One significant event that has occurred in society today is excessive litigation, and this has greatly
changed the world of health care and how it is delivered and managed. There has been a deluge of advertisement across all outlets of information sources on how to proceed with litigation against a health care provider or facility. Law firms have become specialized in the litigation of health care related cases and conditions. The result is that health care facilities close because of the financial burden of payments resulting from litigations, the amount paid for malpractice insurance rises, insurance premiums rise, and costs of health care increases because of the additional procedures ordered to try to prevent litigation (Satiani, 2004). The practice of defensive medicine is estimated to cost two and a half times average coverage cost and the estimated savings in tort reform is passed in 50 billion dollars (Satiani, 2004). The cost of the settlements paid by a health care facility or provider can be financially devastating. This money that is used to fulfill these settlements could be better used to improve health care practice and delivery by making preventative care more available, prescription drug assistance or better resources for those that are uninsured. Also, fear of litigation can delay the release of a new treatment or product that could greatly benefit a person who has exhausted all other treatments and resources.
Impact on the Historical Evolution of Health Care
These factors negatively impact the delivery of health care because it detracts from its ability to meet the two criteria of a functional health care system; the ability of all citizens to receive adequate health care when needed, and for the care to meet consistent levels of quality and be cost-effective (Shi & Singh, 2012, p. 5). Excessive litigation limits the services that can be provided, increases costs, reduces accessible facilities, and causes a decrease in the amount of people electing to train in a health care profession. It increases unnecessary procedures, or decreases necessary procedures based on risk for litigation and takes the focus of health care away from where it should be; on the patient (Catino, 2009). The excessive litigation also promotes a culture of defensive medicine. This means that practitioners may over order testing or over prescribe just because of the fear of being sued. The fear of litigation also does not allow a health system to grow or provide consistent quality care due to the high cost of premiums that are paid by facilities to protect themselves and providers from being sued.
There are instances when litigation is necessary for the patient or their families when gross negligence has occurred.
Many times poor outcomes that people seek litigation are risks of procedures or illness, not necessarily negligence. Consumers of the health care fail to realize how the settlement of the litigation will be dispersed. These factors negatively impact the delivery of health care because it detracts from its ability to meet the two criteria of a functional health care system; the ability of all citizens to receive adequate health care when needed, and for the care to meet consistent levels of quality and be cost-effective (Shi & Singh, 2012, p. 5). Excessive litigation limits the services that can be provided, increases costs, reduces accessible facilities, and causes a decrease in the amount of people electing to train in a health care profession. It increases unnecessary procedures, or decreases necessary procedures based on risk for litigation and takes the focus of health care away from where it should be; on the patient (Catino,
2009).
Personal Belief on Event’s Significance
I believe that excess litigation negatively impacts the delivery of health care because of the lack of understanding of their condition prior to a procedure or truly understand the procedures or medications that the person agrees to take.
This is especially true when people file false claims or don’t realize that the poor outcome was directly related to the health issue that had already debilitated their health. The consumers need to be held accountable for their decisions and completely understand the risks and benefits of the health care they are receiving. This will come when people realize the importance of becoming their own advocate.
Conclusion
Excessive litigation is a recurring trend in health care. The litigation was intended to protect those who suffer from gross negligence or malpractice. The vicious cycle that occurs or that people fail to realize is that the excess litigation only hurts the consumers in the end by the increased cost or decrease in availability of services in certain areas and regions.
References
Catino, M. (2009). Blame culture and defensive medicine. Cognition, Technology, & Work, 11(4), 245-253. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10111-009-0130-ySatiani, B. (2004). The economics of health care litigation. Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, 38(3), 287-90. doi:
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Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2012). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Jones & Barlet.