Significant Health Care Events Research Paper

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Significant Health Care Events Suzanne Davis HCS/531 May 5, 2014 Angela Lee Significant Health Care Events Many significant events have occurred throughout history that have influenced how modern healthcare is delivered to the community. Social, economic, legal, and political events, to name a few, all have a significant role in shaping and defining goals of the American healthcare system. One significant event that has molded how practitioners deliver care is litigation. This paper will explore litigation as it relates to the healthcare system, how the process of litigation has influenced the delivery of care, and the author will evaluate and discuss healthcare litigation through personal values and beliefs. According to Shi and…show more content…
The fear of malpractice lawsuits and costly awards for inaccurate diagnosis increases the costs for health insurance, malpractice insurance and tax payers (Woodward, 2010). As cited by Achar and Wu (2012), “an estimated 75 percent of physicians in lower-risk specialties will face a malpractice claim by age 65,” (p. 21). To protect ones’ self from being named in the litigation process, health care practitioners have initiated the practice of defensive medicine. Defense medicine is the prescribing of further diagnostic testing, maintaining copious documentation, second opinions, and scheduling of follow up appointments to monitor progress and disease progression (Shi & Singh, 2012). These additional tests are not only invasive and expensive, but also of questionable benefit; however, additional diagnostic test are ordered out of fear of misdiagnosis ad failure to treat (Woodward,…show more content…
(2012). How to reduce your malpractice risk. Family Practice Management, 19(4), 21-26. Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=3d574a36-964f-414c-8e19-fd4f9b125aac%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=103 Davis, K., Schoen, C., & Stremikis, K. (2010). MIrror, mirror on the wall: how the performance of U.S. health care systems compares internationally, 2010 update. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Publications/Fund-Reports/2010/June/Mirror-Mirror-Update.aspx?page=all Noland, C., & Carl, W. (2006). It's not our ass: medical resident sense-making regarding lawsuits. Health Communication, 20(1), 81-89. Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2012). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Woodward, C. (2010). Defensive medicine starts at the top in the United States. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 182(8), E335-E336.

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