Everyone else may have to wait quite a while before being seen. In fact, the average wait for emergency treatment nationwide is about two hours. Demand for ED visits is on the rise and EDs are becoming overcrowded largely due to reduced inpatient capacity and impaired patient flow. The Institute of Medicine reports that American ED visits grew more than twice as fast as population between 1993 and 2003, and that 60% of hospitals operated at or over capacity in 2001. Several factors likely contribute to the rise in ED use, such as the increase in elderly and chronically ill Americans, overworked or lack of primary care
Understanding effective communication and the interpersonal relation skills begins with knowing the contexts of communication, forms of communication, interpersonal interactions, communication and language needs which includes preferences (Mcsherry, 2012, pg 24). These relations constitute the LO1 framework. All health care and social workers need to have effective communication skills in order to work effectively with diverse range of people within the healthcare services (Feldman, 2008 pg
Economists estimate about 2 trillion will be spent on medical care in 2007. That is about $6,830 per person, which amounts to 16 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Clemmitt, Marcia (2006, April 7) Rising health cost (vol.16, Issue 13). Recent reports from (Clemmit,2006) recognize the fact that rising health care costs have made health insurance too expensive for many employers to offer and health care itself too costly for tens of millions of Americans.
Uninsurance in America The number of uninsured Americans is growing at a staggering rate; in fact, the number has reached 43 million, which is the population of everyone living in twenty six different states combined (Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance, 2004). The debate over whether universal coverage should be available to all Americans has been going on for decades. The people opposed to universal coverage believe that insuring all Americans is too costly and that the resulting bureaucracy would undermine patient care. Those who are in favor of universal coverage believe that it is too costly not to insure all Americans. They believe that the lack of preventative care, and the resulting poorer health, places an even higher burden on the taxpayer then universal coverage would.
Introduction The numbers tell the story of the coming nursing shortage. In 2007, there were an estimated 8.5% of unfilled nursing positions and that number is expected to triple to 29% by 2020 as 80 million baby boomers retire and are added to the ranks of Americans needing care (Herbst, 2007). Among nurses in field 28% say they are dissatisfied with their job and 51% say they are somewhat dissatisfied (Buerhaus, 1987). Labor shortages can happen in any field but when there is a shortage of nurses to care for patients the quality of care, safety, and patient satisfaction can be compromised to a dangerous level. Since the late 1980’s the demand for nurses has been escalating as the numbers of nurses in the field have dropped (Buerhaus, 1987).
In the UK, diabetes affects approximately 2.8 million people. More than one million people are thought to have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. Around 90% of all adults in the UK with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases account for more than 150,000 deaths a year in the United Kingdom.
The lack of mobility can have a bad effect on service users’ physical and mental health. The service user may put on weight. This is because they would rely on their mobility aid getting them around everywhere and they wouldn’t be exercising very much at all. As they aren’t very mobile once they have gained the weight it would be very hard for them to lose it again. The service user is likely to develop a low sell-esteem.
It is the only industrialize nation that does not provide health coverage to all of its citizens. There is widespread opposition to providing universal health care because of the substantial cost that will be added to the country’s budget that is already heavily burdened. Indeed, while this is a valid and understandable concern, every citizen in the United States has the right to quality health care coverage. The cost of health care has been on a steady rise for the past several years. According to The Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of family insurance coverage in the United States was $13,000.00 per year in 2009.
Along with the knowledge of healthy lifestyle and effect of financial and social stability; every person must have knowledge about the possible healthcare options and services. People especially from ethnic minority or low socio-economic class must consult specialized help provided by community to get health literacy. Any individual suffering from any non-curable or difficult to treat condition must participate in ongoing clinical trials to achieve latest healthcare (Singer & Manton, 1998). The healthy ageing project must have a holistic approach and must include the activity of society, policy makers, and government along with the individual himself. Various factors which require such integrated efforts are discussed
Ageism and the Elderly The elderly are not commonly seen as a useful asset to today’s society. Jobs are that require experience and skill are easily given to the younger generation even though they hold less experience than the older generation. Elderly patients are stripped away of their medical benefits because due to their health it seems benefits are not necessary. Patients are discharged from hospitals before the end of their treatments and forced to find other care. In America the elderly are seen as a burden and mistreated.