Analyze An Existing Health Care System And Evaluate How That

Analyze an existing health care system and evaluate how that system can be improved to better serve the community

Your project throughout this course will: Analyze an existing health care system and evaluate how that system can be improved to better serve the community. Conceive a new or improved health care service, then design a facility to provide that service. Develop the structure, functions, and processes of the facility. Submit an SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation) proposal. Your proposal should be fiscally, socially, ethically, and politically responsible. The goal is to have a net positive benefit to the health care system and the community it serves. To begin, select an existing health care system in a small U.S. city preferably in the state where you live. The city should have a population of less than 200,000.

Paper For Above instruction

In addressing the assignment, the focus will be on analyzing a specific healthcare system within a small U.S. city, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses, and proposing improvements to better serve the community. For this purpose, the city of Asheville in North Carolina will serve as the case study. Asheville, with a population of approximately 92,000 residents, provides a representative example of rural-urban interplay affecting healthcare delivery. The analysis will scrutinize the current healthcare infrastructure, identify gaps, and recommend strategic enhancements.

Analysis of the Existing Healthcare System

The primary healthcare provider in Asheville is Mission Hospital, part of the HCA Healthcare network, which offers comprehensive services including emergency care, primary care, specialty care, and outpatient services. While Mission Hospital has been instrumental in providing healthcare access, challenges such as service limitations in rural outreach, long wait times, and disparities among vulnerable populations persist. Additionally, the region faces issues with healthcare workforce shortages, especially in primary care and mental health services, which are critical in rural and semi-urban settings.

The healthcare system in Asheville operates within a complex socio-economic environment. Despite the availability of advanced medical facilities, barriers such as transportation, insurance coverage gaps, and socioeconomic disparities hinder equitable healthcare access. The lack of localized mental health services exacerbates the burden on emergency departments, which often serve as de facto mental health facilities.

Evaluation and Identification of Gaps

The evaluation reveals key deficiencies: insufficient primary care providers, limited mental health resources, and a lack of preventive care initiatives tailored to community needs. These gaps contribute to increased healthcare costs, hospital readmissions, and poorer health outcomes. Moreover, the system may not sufficiently leverage telehealth technologies, which could enhance access in rural parts of the county.

Proposed Improvements

An integrated community health model is proposed to address these gaps. This model includes establishing a new outpatient facility dedicated to primary and mental health care, bolstered with telehealth capabilities to expand reach. The facility will operate with a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, mental health specialists, social workers, and community health workers. Emphasis will be placed on culturally competent, patient-centered care aimed at prevention, early intervention, and chronic disease management.

Facility Design and Processes

The envisioned health facility will be designed to promote accessibility, with an intake process that prioritizes underserved populations. The workflow will incorporate electronic health records (EHR) to ensure seamless coordination across specialties. The facility will also partner with local community organizations to coordinate social services, transportation, and health education programs.

SBAR Proposal Summary

- Situation: The current healthcare system in Asheville faces challenges with access, workforce shortages, and disparities, impacting community health outcomes.

- Background: Existing facilities, while advanced, lack sufficient outreach and preventive services tailored to community needs.

- Assessment: Addressing these gaps through an integrated outpatient facility focusing on primary and mental health, with telehealth support, can improve access, reduce costs, and improve outcomes.

- Recommendation: Develop a community-centered health facility with integrated services, leveraging technology and partnerships, ensuring ethical, social, political, and fiscal responsibilities are upheld.

Ethical, Social, Political, and Fiscal Considerations

The proposed facility emphasizes equitable access regardless of socioeconomic status, aligning with ethical principles of justice and beneficence. Socially, it aims to reduce health disparities and promote community engagement. Politically, it advocates for policy support and funding from local government and health agencies. Fiscally, the plan incorporates cost-effective practices, such as telehealth and community partnerships, to ensure sustainability and positive economic impacts.

Conclusion

Revamping Asheville’s healthcare system through targeted infrastructural and service improvements can significantly enhance health outcomes for its residents. A focus on preventive care, mental health, and accessible services integrated into a community-centric model aligns with the broader goals of sustainable, equitable healthcare.

References

1. American Hospital Association. (2022). Hospital Statistics. https://www.aha.org/statistics

2. Institute of Medicine. (2021). The Future of Primary Care. National Academies Press.

3. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2020). Health Disparities in Rural North Carolina. https://www.ncdhhs.gov/rural-health

4. Greenberg, M. & Krause, M. (2021). Telehealth Expansion in Rural Communities. Journal of Rural Health, 37(4), 602-607.

5. World Health Organization. (2020). Framework on integrated, people-centered health services. WHO.

6. Long, P. et al. (2019). Addressing Social Determinants of Health in Rural Settings. American Journal of Public Health, 109(8), 1100-1106.

7. Brown, L. & Smith, K. (2022). The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Healthcare Outcomes. Public Health Reports, 137(1), 57-65.

8. U.S. Census Bureau. (2022). QuickFacts: Asheville city, North Carolina. https://www.census.gov

9. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Rural Health Strategies. https://www.cms.gov

10. Patel, V. et al. (2020). Investment in mental health services in underserved communities. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(8), 664-675.