HCS 120 V8 Wk 3 - Knowing Your Healthcare Facility ✓ Solved

HCS/120 v8 Wk 3 - Knowing Your Health Care Facility HCS/120 v8 Knowing Your Health Care Structures, Functions and Facilities Part 1 – Health Care Structure Complete the table below. · Describe 5 health care structures. Include structures from the Federal, State, and Local level. · Explain the function of each structure. Health Care Structure Describe the health care structure. Explain the function of each health care structure. Private Structure For-Profit Structure Voluntary Structure Part 2 – Health Care Facilities and Services Complete the table below. · Describe 5 health care facilities. · Explain the function of each facility. · Describe services offered at the facilities. Facility Describe the facility. Explain the function of each facility. Describe the services offered at this facility. 1. Hospital 2. Ambulatory care 3. Rehabilitation 4. Retail health clinic 5. Long-term care Part 3 – Lifespan Health care Needs Explain how an individual may need different structures, facilities, or services in their lifetime.

Part 1 – Health Care Structure

Describe 5 health care structures, including structures from the Federal, State, and Local level. Explain the function of each structure.

The U.S. health system is organized across multiple levels and actors, each with distinct responsibilities. At the federal level, nationwide policy making, financing, regulation, and performance measurement influence how care is delivered and paid for (World Health Organization, 2007). State health departments translate federal policy into state standards, license practitioners, and oversee public health initiatives. Local health departments implement community health programs, disease surveillance, and essential public health services at the city or county level. Private for-profit structures operate hospitals and clinics driven by profitability but can contribute to access and competition. Voluntary or nonprofit structures, including community health centers and faith-based organizations, reinvest earnings to expand access and services for underserved populations (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

Federal health care structures exert broad influence through funding and regulation. Agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) establish national standards, financing mechanisms, and research priorities that shape the availability and quality of care (World Bank, 2021; World Health Organization, 2007). State health departments license facilities and professionals, monitor public health indicators, and respond to state-specific health concerns. Local public health departments focus on community-level interventions and collaborations with schools, businesses, and hospitals to support population health. Private for-profit structures include investor-owned hospitals and clinics that operate under market incentives and payer contracts. Voluntary nonprofit structures—such as community health centers and hospital foundations—provide care irrespective of the patient’s ability to pay and often emphasize mission-driven service delivery. These five structures together form a layered system that affects access, cost, quality, and health outcomes (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

Part 2 – Health Care Facilities and Services

Describe 5 health care facilities, their functions, and the services offered at each facility. The facility types include Hospital, Ambulatory care, Rehabilitation, Retail health clinic, and Long-term care.

A hospital typically provides acute inpatient and surgical services, emergency care, diagnostic imaging, and inpatient rehabilitation. Hospitals coordinate complex care across disciplines and serve as hubs for specialized procedures, intensive monitoring, and high-acuity transfers. They operate under strict regulatory and accreditation standards to ensure patient safety and outcomes. Ambulatory care facilities include physician practices, urgent care centers, and outpatient clinics that deliver primary and preventive care without an overnight stay. These facilities focus on accessibility, continuity of care, and timely management of non-emergent conditions, often emphasizing preventive services, chronic disease management, and disease screening. Rehabilitation facilities offer coordinated programs to restore function after injury or illness, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology. They support longer-term functional recovery and often coordinate with home health and outpatient services. Retail health clinics, typically located within pharmacies or supermarkets, provide convenient access for minor illnesses, vaccinations, basic physicals, and preventive services. While they offer limited services compared with hospitals, they improve access and reduce wait times for routine care. Long-term care facilities deliver ongoing, custodial, and skilled nursing care for individuals with chronic health needs, disability, or aging-related requirements. They emphasize daily living support, medication management, rehabilitation services, and coordination with home or community-based services when appropriate. Each facility type has unique staffing, payment, and regulatory considerations that influence utilization patterns and patient experiences (AHRQ, 2022; Sultz & Young, 2017).

Part 3 – Lifespan Health care Needs

Explain how an individual may need different structures, facilities, or services in their lifetime. The care needs of a person change across the lifespan, prompting shifts among facility types and delivery settings. Newborns and young children rely heavily on primary care clinics and pediatric services in ambulatory settings for well-child visits, immunizations, and early intervention when needed. As children grow, school-based health programs and community clinics often complement family care to address acute illnesses and preventive services (Donabedian, 1988). Adults may require a combination of ambulatory primary care, preventive services, and specialty care managed within both public and private sectors, with continuity of care maintained through integrated health systems (Porter & Teisberg, 2006). For older adults and those with chronic or disabling conditions, long-term care facilities, home health services, and palliative or hospice care become central to maintaining quality of life and independence (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023). Throughout the lifespan, individuals may transition between settings due to health status changes, caregiver availability, finances, and insurance coverage. A robust health system supports timely access, safe transitions, and coordinated care across settings to meet evolving needs (World Health Organization, 2007; AHRQ, 2022).

Paper For Above Instructions

Introduction

Health care systems are complex mosaics of structures and facilities that together determine how people access care, how services are financed, and the level of quality and safety they experience. Understanding the roles of federal, state, and local structures alongside private and voluntary organizations helps students analyze how care is organized, regulated, and delivered across a lifetime. The following sections summarize five health care structures, five care facilities, and the implications of lifespan-based needs for service delivery. The discussion draws on established frameworks and contemporary policy perspectives to illustrate how structure and facility choices influence health outcomes (World Health Organization, 2007; Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

Part 1 — Health Care Structure

Federal health care structures exert broad influence through funding, regulation, and national standards. Agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guide national health policy, financing mechanisms like Medicare and Medicaid, and research priorities that shape the entire system (World Bank, 2021). State health departments translate federal policy into state-level licensing, public health actions, and health workforce regulation. Local health departments implement community-level initiatives, disease surveillance, and frontline public health services at the neighborhood or municipal level. Private for-profit structures operate investor-owned hospitals and clinics, bringing market dynamics to care delivery and payer contracting. Voluntary nonprofit structures reinvest earnings to advance community health, often focusing on access for underserved populations and mission-driven service expansion (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

In examining these five structures, it is important to consider how each contributes to access, quality, and cost containment. Federal and state layers provide regulatory guardrails and financing mechanisms, while local entities connect policy with community needs. Private for-profit entities introduce efficiency and innovation but can also affect pricing and access. Voluntary nonprofit organizations typically emphasize community benefit and safety-net roles. Together, these structures create a framework within which care is organized, financed, and evaluated for outcomes (Donabedian, 1988; Porter & Teisberg, 2006).

Part 2 — Health Care Facilities and Services

Five facility types are central to health system delivery: hospitals, ambulatory care facilities, rehabilitation centers, retail health clinics, and long-term care facilities. Hospitals serve as the cornerstone for acute inpatient care, emergencies, complex surgeries, and specialized diagnostics. They coordinate multidisciplinary teams to manage high-acuity cases and act as hubs for subspecialty services and graduate medical education (AHRQ, 2022). Ambulatory care facilities provide outpatient services, including primary care, preventive care, urgent care, and routine follow-up visits, with a focus on accessibility and continuity of care. Rehabilitation facilities support recovery from injuries or illnesses through physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology, often coordinating with home health or outpatient rehabilitation programs (Donabedian, 1988). Retail health clinics, located in convenient settings like pharmacies, offer rapid access for minor illnesses, immunizations, basic physicals, and preventive screenings, helping to reduce pressure on larger acute-care facilities (AHRQ, 2022). Long-term care facilities deliver ongoing custodial and skilled nursing services for individuals with chronic conditions, disabilities, or advanced age, emphasizing daily living support, medication management, and coordination with family and community-based services (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023).

Each facility type operates within a distinct payment and regulatory environment. Hospitals face accreditation and safety standards; ambulatory care emphasizes preventive and chronic disease management; rehabilitation integrates multidisciplinary therapy; retail clinics balance accessibility with scope of services; and long-term care focuses on ongoing assistance and care coordination. Together, these facilities create a continuum of care that supports people from preventive care through acute treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term support (Sultz & Young, 2017; Porter & Teisberg, 2006).

Part 3 — Lifespan Health Care Needs

Health care needs vary across life stages, prompting transitions among different structures and facilities. Infants and young children rely heavily on primary and preventive care delivered via ambulatory settings, including well-child visits and immunizations. As health needs evolve, children and adults interact with a mix of primary care, specialty services, and urgent or emergent care. For older adults and individuals with chronic conditions, long-term care, home health, and palliative care become central components of care planning. The ability to access appropriate structures and facilities at the right time depends on insurance coverage, socioeconomic status, geographic access, and the quality of care coordination across settings (World Health Organization, 2007; Donabedian, 1988).

Across life stages, effective care requires continuity and integration. A well-designed system aligns federal, state, and local policy with private and nonprofit providers to ensure timely access, appropriate levels of care, and smooth transitions between settings. Quality improvement frameworks emphasize patient-centered care, safety, and value, guiding organizations to measure outcomes and reduce waste across the lifespan (Porter & Teisberg, 2006; Donabedian, 1988; AHRQ, 2022).

References

• World Health Organization. (2007). Everybody's business: Strengthening health systems to improve health outcomes and performance. Geneva: World Health Organization.
• World Bank. (2021). Health systems overview. Washington, DC: World Bank.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). The U.S. health care system: An overview. Washington, DC: HHS.
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). CMS at a glance. Baltimore, MD: CMS.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). The U.S. health care system explained. Menlo Park, CA: KFF.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2022). Understanding health system performance. Rockville, MD: AHRQ.
• Donabedian, A. (1988). The quality of care. The Milbank Quarterly, 66(3), 691-729.
• Porter, M. E., & Teisberg, E. O. (2006). Redefining health care: Creating value for patients. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
• Sultz, H. J., & Young, K. M. (2017). Essentials of Health Care Management (9th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
• National Institutes of Health. (2020). Health care delivery and system design. Bethesda, MD: NIH.