Healthcare system in Yonkers, New York City faces multiple challenges which hinder the efficient delivery of healthcare services to the citizens of the region. New York City serves a large population of citizens comprising at least 8 million residents which makes delivery of quality care to patients a challenge. The limited number of healthcare facilities inhibits the rate at which people can efficiently have health care needs addressed, particularly the aging population. Healthcare services in Yonkers are delivered through the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation (HHC), which benefits the various vulnerable group. Currently, HHC, which faces financial difficulties with a recorded deficit of more than $ 1.7 billion ( Lynam & Wyner, 2014 ). The gap in the financial budget of HHC further causes inconveniences in quality healthcare services delivery in New York since many people cannot afford the cost of healthcare. Finances play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive the required care conveniently. 600,000 Yonkers are uninsured, which affects their ability to receive healthcare services (Gottfried, Katz & Rivera, 2018). The inability of New York residents to receive health care services influences the general well-being of society and calls for the need for the development of affordable care to all the citizens. In essence, the financial viability of healthcare services in New York is under threat which affects the overall healthcare system.
The other healthcare challenge that explains the state of the healthcare system in Yonkers is the issue of privacy. Studies show that patients medical confidentiality have been breached, which affects the efficient healthcare system (Gottfried, Katz & Rivera, 2018). The availability of medical records of patients on hospital websites exposed the information to the vulnerability of internet threats such as hacking. The internet of things (IoT) allows access to information by a broad audience affecting its privacy. Patients medical records are confidential information that should be available only to the physicians and not the third parties. The vulnerability of exposure of medical records to the third parties impacts negatively on the ability of patients to trust the medical system with their personal health information.
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Further, shortages of nurses and other healthcare providers affect the healthcare system in New York City. Studies show that the ratio of nurses to patients is estimated to be at one to five patients ( Bach , 2013). The shortage of nurses who are the central caregivers affects the ability of the hospital to provide quality care to the patients. The high number of patients who are given attention by one nurse leads to burn out among nurses as they serve many patients for an extended period. Therefore, the healthcare system in New York is defined by the limited number of healthcare providers which leads to the low quality of care provided to the patients.
Proposed Improved Healthcare Service
The increasing number of aging population among the Yonkers calls for the need for the development of an aging facility in the city equipped with a wound center and vascular lab. The aged population of the person above the age of 60 years is at an increased risk of developing chronic venous insufficiency that leads to deterioration in their health. Currently, the number of aging facilities that are found in Yonkers are outdated and do not hold the required capacity to accommodate a large number of the aged. Thus, there is a need to develop modern aging facilities in the community to treat chronic venous insufficiency. Studies show that more than 50 percent of the adult population has been diagnosed with CVI accounting for more than 500, 000 patients ( So, Khimani & Ngyuen , 2017). The high number of the aging population with CVI presents CVI as a health concern that needs urgent attention which can be solved through the building of healthcare service facility. Many patients are unable to access the required healthcare for the treatment of CVI, which calls for the need of development of a community facility service center. The aged need assistance with several activities of the day, which justifies the need to develop aging facilities in the community. Through the development of the facility, the health of the aged will be improved, and access to quality healthcare by the old will be guaranteed. Also, the facility will contribute to the reduction of congestion in hospitals as the aged will receive treatment form the specialized community service facilities without any difficulty.
Additionally, the proposed aging facility with a wound center and the vascular lab will be working towards giving priority to the treatment of wounds among the aged. There is a need to employ qualified physicians who have experience in handling the aged and with a background in the treatment of injuries as well as other related chronic illnesses to achieve efficient delivery of the service required. Treatment of the aged population plays a central role in the improvement of the general wellbeing of society. The necessary medical providers consist of the doctors, nurses, and the therapist to help the aged in effectively responding to the healthcare services that are being provided. Among the central services that will be provided by the facility include endovascular therapy, surgical services, physiology lab as vascular imaging. Through the facility, the health of the aged will be enhanced, thereby allowing for quality delivery of healthcare services. The facility will serve to solve the problem that is experienced in healthcare, such as shortages of nurses as there will be specialized nurses allocated to the facility. Also, the services provided are affordable, reducing the medical financial burden among the patients.
Design of New Healthcare Facility
The proposed facility is expected to accommodate more than 100,000 patients, and therefore the facility will be situated in at least 10 acres of land. Among the consideration of the floor of the facility is a non-slippery floor due to the fragility of the aged person while working on the floor ( Abderrazzaq, Lacagnina & Snow, 2010) . The critical sections of the facility will include the reception room, the waiting room, treatment rooms (including exams), a vascular lab room, and the resting room. Also, extra space for walking and exercise among the patients will be required. Corridors will separate the different sections and spaces in the facility. The reception area will be used by the clerks and the patients in assisting the patients in receiving directions of where to obtain health services. The waiting room needs to be large and comfortable as the patients are limited to walking. The treatment rooms will be used by the doctors to examine the patients and recommend necessary treatment; seven such places will be ideal, three of which will cater for doctors, two for vascular lab exams, and two for wound clinic.
Further, under the vascular lab room, patients will be treated and the results presented for further treatment. The floor plans of the facility will be a simple design that will appear in squire and rectangular shapes with sufficient spaces. The design of the facility will allow the patients to quickly move around without difficulties and access the required services at their convenience. Also, the facility will be installed with a safety feature, such as fire points and alarms. The completion of the facility will be expected to allow the aged with CVI to access services without difficulty.
References
Abderrazzaq, A. A., Lacagnina, C. M., & Snow, D. W. (2010). Elderly Housing Design in Charlton, Massachusetts.
Bach, J. (2013). Meeting the Challenges of Health Care in New York State - PA TIMES Online . PA TIMES Online . Retrieved 22 September 2019, from https://patimes.org/meeting-challenges-health-care-york-state/
Gottfried, R., Katz, M., & Rivera, C. (2018). Health care officials offer diagnoses for New York's funding challenges . CSNY . Retrieved 22 September 2019, from https://www.cityandstateny.com/articles/policy/health-care/health-care-officials-offer-diagnoses-new-yorks-funding-challenges.html
Lynam, E., & Wyner, E. (2014). Fiscal Challenges Facing the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation . Citizens Budget Commission of New York . Retrieved 22 September 2019, from https://cbcny.org/research/fiscal-challenges-facing-new-york-city-health-and-hospitals-corporation
So, M., Khimani, N., & Ngyuen, M. (2017). Chronic Venous Insufficiency. In Pain Medicine (pp. 497-499). Springer, Cham.
