The US and the UK have different health care systems in their attempt to meet the needs of their societies and deliver quality health care. Both countries are exemplary in their reflection of public and private funding of health care systems using different approaches. In an analysis, two key differences which emerge between the US and the UK health care system are access to care and cost-effectiveness.
In the US, the healthcare system provision of services is overseen by both private and the public sectors, also referred to as the free market system or the hybrid system. American citizens rely heavily on insurance companies which results in waste of resources through high administrative costs. The American healthcare system is often accused of favoring the wealthy as health care insurance is dependent on employment or is directly purchased by the beneficiary. Public services are availed to a few selected groups in society, such as the poor, homeless, and the elderly (Childers, 2016). The US health care system is financed by different sources which include private insurance, general taxation, payroll taxes, and beneficiary premiums.
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The governing structure is complex and a hindrance to access and cost-effectiveness being a multi-payer system. The hybrid system requires citizens to seek health insurance to receive health care services. Approximately, 11.9% Americans are uninsured and therefore, unable to access healthcare services conveniently due to high costs of care without insurance. (Kaiser, 2019). As a result, many have been forced to seek attention in the emergency section, even for non-emergency cases.
The UK health care system also referred to as the National Health Service (NHS) offers comprehensive and high-quality services to all citizens. Access to health care services is based on clinical need as opposed to the patient’s ability to pay (Childers, 2016). The centralized system allows citizens to access health care services efficiently and conveniently. The government funds the UK health care system from taxation; hence, citizens do not require health insurances for treatment. In the UK, and access to health services, treatment, and medication is efficient and cost-effective accessible as the government is directly involved in the provision of healthcare (Childers, 2016).
In addition to the critical differences in the systems, the US has a reduced waiting time to access healthcare and specialist’s consultancy compared to the UK (Kaiser, 2019). The difference arises due to private care in the US as health facilities, and health workers operate privately. In the UK, their facilities and workers are publicly owned, resulting in bureaucracy. Additionally, in the US, there is a low risk of health center infections and also a well-planned discharge system due to the high efficiency of the private sector. On the other hand, the UK health care system has a single-payer, the government, and experiences a shortage of practitioners.
Role of Nurses in Advancing Health Care System
There is room for improvement in the healthcare systems. Advanced practice nurses thus have various opportunities related to advocacy and politics interventions that they can take to improve the current health system. In advocacy, nurses should take leadership with the goal of enhancing the quality of care by seeking membership in councils, committees, and quality improvement teams (Institute of Medicine, 2011). Nurses need to come together and define policies that will help address the challenges of health reforms. Advocacy and political intervention will help improve quality and patient safety, resource allocation, and advancement in technology. As the highest professional group in healthcare, nurses have a more excellent voice to influence healthcare policy, such as the provision of safe practices, working environment, and value addition. For example, nurses should develop opportunities to train, network, educate, and coach the public on better health practices.
Nurses should advance the practice by solving problems, being innovative, effective communicators, and also by influencing each other to participate in decision making for effective patient care and positive work environment (Institute of Medicine, 2011). They should be willing to assess the impact policies and provide solutions by advocating for what is best for patients, clients, and the general population. For example, during government planning, nurses should offer their input on which equipment to be prioritized and necessary supplies. Advance practice nurses should actively participate in policy formulation, especially in areas of workforce development for skills, knowledge, and decision making. Their participation will impact the quality of life and universal access to care.
References
Institute of Medicine (US). Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health . Washington, DC: National Academies Press.
Kaiser, P. (2019, March 28). How does the quality of the U.S. healthcare system compare to other countries? Health System Tracker. Retrieved from https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/quality-u-s-healthcare-system-compare-countries/#item-post-op-clots-better-u-s-comparable-countries
Childers, C. (2016, April 26). US and UK Healthcare System Comparison [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Y0TKiwNgo
