Achieving balance in cost, access and quality in healthcare provision influences positive outcomes. Access to quality healthcare services in a timely manner improves the mental, physical and social health status of an individual thus improving their quality of life. On the other hand, the cost of care is determined by its quality and the technological development in place. Therefore, cost, access, quality and technology play a vital role in healthcare provision.
Healthcare expenditure has been on the rise over the past few decades and it is projected that these costs will keep escalating. High population growth is a factor that has led to this increase. This is due to the rise in service costs incurred by the government to cater for the diverse needs of its population. Government policies for example Medicaid and Medicare are also contributing to this rise since their inception. Other health insurance premiums are costly which causes individuals to experience the high costs of treatment. This is due to their importance in medical provision thus providers inflate their prices. These factors have also contributed to the rising costs experienced in the healthcare sector. Additionally, cancer and diabetes are prevalent in the country necessitating the acquisition of appropriate equipment for their treatment. Moreover, the aging population is on the rise contributing to the huge costs of service provision as they are vulnerable to illnesses. In 2009, rising healthcare costs became an issue which led to the establishment of the affordable care act that aimed at reducing the cost of expenditure in healthcare. To address this issue, people should adopt healthy lifestyles thereby reducing their chances of exposure to illnesses. According to national health council (2016), promoting transparency in price and cost sharing and the use of outcome based contracting will also reduce these costs drastically.
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There is a direct relationship between the cost of healthcare and its access. When this cost is high, access is limited as majority of the individuals choose to forego treatment. This affects individuals who lack health insurance policies hence they may not afford the costs imposed on them. The costs also increase chances of disability, morbidity and increased complications that lead to longer periods of hospitalization. Technology on the other hand, increases access to care due to the various developments that have taken place. With advancement in technology, remote consultation and follow up is possible which improves patient outcomes. Better tools for diagnosis and surgical procedures are also available which reduces the time spent in the facilities as well as pain that result from surgery (Jones, 2018). Additionally, retrieval of patient information is faster hence proper diagnosis is made. Access to healthcare has improved over the last few years after the establishment of affordable care act. This is due to the inception of insurance coverage in healthcare sector which reduces the cost of healthcare. As a result, fewer people are un-insured hence access to healthcare has improved as compared to ten years ago.
Quality of care aims at improving patient outcomes by offering timely, effective, safe, equitable and people-centered care. It aims at reducing mortality rates and improving patient experience within healthcare facilities thus strengthening health systems. It is achieved through the use of appropriate equipment, trained personnel and efficient operating systems to facilitate better operations. Cost is a factor that determines the quality of care in two extremes. High costs may improve quality of care due to the presence of high technology equipments to facilitate better treatment options to patients. On the other hand, lower cost may be associated with high quality of care due to efficient operations that reduce complications are reduced and hospital readmissions (Rao, 2002). The future of healthcare in regard to quality seems bright as rapid technological developments will be in place thus improving the quality of care. As a result, lower costs of operation will be possible due to the numerous financial incentives available as well as efficiency of operations. Additionally, technology enhances the provision of quality care since retrieval of patient information is easy due to computerization. It also facilitates the use of appropriate electronic medical records thus accurate patient diagnosis is possible. Better infrastructure is also available for use in surgery, diagnosis and treatment. All these factors facilitate provision of improved patient care which is of high quality thus promoting satisfaction and lower mortality rates.
References
Jones, M. (2018). Healthcare: How technology impacts the healthcare industry. https://healthcareinamerica.us/healthcare-how-technology-impacts-the-healthcare-industry-b2ba6271c4b4
National health council, (2016). Our policy proposals for reducing healthcare costs. https://nationalhealthcouncil.org/policy-proposals-for-reducing-health-care-costs/
Rao, G. (2002). How can we improve patient care? International Centre for Eye Health, 15(41), 1-3.
