Assignment
Analyze key factors in the current health care professional workforce shortage. Select at least three of the factors and discuss. What are some effective strategies to address these specific shortages? What do you feel are some solutions?
In fee-for-service, providers' price services to cost. In managed care, providers cost to price. Explain this paradigm. Analyze how managed care and this paradigm has impacted relationships among providers, payers, and patients in the U.S.
What is health care access? Why is it so important to measure access to health care? How may access statistics be used to improve health care services and processes?
What is the significance of a fully integrated delivery system (IDS)? Describe its development in terms of horizontal and vertical integration. Describe its development in terms of the limited health care premium dollar. What is its impact on customer satisfaction? What are the implications for managing risk?
What are the commonalities of mental health services and long-term care? What are the challenges both areas of care continue to face today and in the future?
Explain the importance of the pharmaceutical industry in health care. What is the health care administrator's role as a liaison with the drug company representatives?
Discuss the origins of government involvement in health care delivery in the United States. What were some of the key milestones and their impacts? What are Titles 18, 19, and 21 and describe their relationships to the milestones?
Managed care is a very broad term and means different things in different markets; explain why. Describe your own local market in terms of managed care intensity.
What is a benchmark? How are they used in health care? How may they help us improve the quality of care, access, and allocate funding? Give an example of a:
Clinical benchmark
Financial benchmark
Operational benchmark
Who are the providers of health services? Who are considered the mid-level providers? Where do allied health providers fit in the realm of patient care? Provide at least two examples of each level and type of health provider, i.e., physicians, mid-level, and allied health. Describe their roles, credentials, training, authority, and limitations in regard to patient care. HINT: The MD and DO are in the driver's seat.
What trends are we seeing in the most common forms of physician medical practices (clinics) and other ambulatory care at this time? Describe the changing forms of physician practice and ambulatory care in the U.S. as a result of managed care. Support your answer.
Cite and briefly describe the roles of the three primary sources of power in modern U.S. hospitals. Which do you feel has the greatest amount of power? Support your decision with examples and primary sources.