The Importance Of Long-Term Care In Hospitals

The key factors to know about each of the three systems discussed is that delivery of care varies from one system to the next. Hospitals The hospital provides the most critical type of care, for the seriously ill. Hospitals originally served the poor and ill, but over time with the progression of technology and medical service specialties, they have grown to become healthcare meccas with many outlets. Long term care facilities and programs are defined as health, mental health, residential or social support provided to a person with functional disabilities on an informal or formal basis over an extended period of time with the goal of maximizing the person’s independence. The goal of long-term care is to help people achieve functional independence,
The growth of private health insurance and government entitlement programs, particularly Medicare, has shifted the burden of paying for hospital care to third parties (Williams & Torrens, 2008). The number of hospitals are decreasing over the years with the growth of facilities that offer specialized services. Horizontal and vertical integration and the affiliation of hospitals with each other and with other sectors of the health care system have been extremely important developments in the organizational structure in governance and in the operational management of the hospital industry (Williams & Torrens, 2008). The traditional organization of hospitals is centered around three sources of power. These are the governing entity, the medical staff, and the administration (Williams & Torrens,
Long term facilities provide a range of assistance for those who need help with everyday living, or even help with maintaining social activities that are needed for everyday living. Nursing homes Hospitals, Adult day services, Home care ,Hospice, Outreach ,Wellness programs, Disease management programs, Durable medical equipment , and Assisted living are all considered long term care facilities. Mental health on the other hand has evolved greatly over time. In colonial times in the United States, people with mental illness were described as “lunatics” and were largely cared for by families (Williams & Torrens, 2008). There was no real effort to treat mental illness until much later. When people understand that mental disorders are not the result of moral failings or limited will power but are legitimate illnesses that are responsive to specific treatments, much of the negative stereotyping may dissipate (Williams & Torrens, 2008). Health policy and systems research aims to produce new knowledge to improve how societies organize themselves to achieve health goals. Its objectives are to promote the coverage, quality, efficiency and/or equity of the health system, with the goal of achieving improved health