Health Care Delivery System Issues

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There are different types of healthcare delivery systems available to meet the need of each patient. The United States is very unique when it comes to the system of healthcare delivery. Most countries that are developed have national insurance programs that are controlled by the government and financed through general taxes. Americans in the U.S. however are not automatically covered by health insurance. There are however various health care services in the United States designed to ensure that quality healthcare be given based on the patients’ illness and financial background. Though there are many healthcare agencies, two of these delivery systems will be addressed. Walk-in clinics are usually located in retail stores or pharmacies, designed to provide medical care to individuals who have non-life threatening and uncomplicated ailments. Most of the time, no appointment is needed allowing patients to come on a first come first serve basis, but the waiting may be long. At the same time walk-in clinics can be cost effective and affordable. The target population is a consumer that wants fast, cheap but accessible primary care. Individuals who are uninsured, or working but living from paycheck to paycheck are able to budget this form of medical care because walk-in clinics generally work on a pay scale. The clinics are set up to take care of minor medical problems such a colds, sore throats and respiratory-type illnesses. Most clinics do not provide lab work or X-rays, so if the patient comes in with a serious condition they would most likely be turned away and referred to a physician. Health Affairs Authors Margaret Laws and Kate Scott described the evolution of walk-in clinics in their article titled “The Emergence of Retail-Based Clinics In the United States: Early Observations. “Clinic operators have

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