Examining quality and efficiency of the US healthcare system

被引:36
作者
Kumar, Sameer [1 ,2 ,5 ]
Ghildayal, Neha S. [3 ]
Shah, Ronak N. [4 ]
机构
[1] Univ St Thomas, Opus Coll Business, Decis Sci, Minneapolis, MN 55105 USA
[2] Univ St Thomas, Opus Coll Business, Global Commun & Technol Management, Minneapolis, MN 55105 USA
[3] Univ Minnesota, Sch Publ Hlth, Div Hlth Serv Res Policy & Adm, Hlth Serv Res Policy & Adm, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
[4] Univ St Thomas, Opus Coll Business, Minneapolis, MN USA
[5] Univ St Thomas, Opus Coll Business, Global Commun & Technol Management, Minneapolis, MN USA
关键词
Primary care physicians; Doctors; Gross domestic product; Health care; Quality; Information technology; United States of America;
D O I
10.1108/09526861111139197
中图分类号
R19 [保健组织与事业(卫生事业管理)];
学科分类号
摘要
Purpose - The fundamental concern of this research study is to learn the quality and efficiency of US healthcare services. It seeks to examine the impact of quality and efficiency on various stakeholders to achieve the best value for each dollar spent for healthcare. The study aims to offer insights on quality reformation efforts, contemporary healthcare policy and a forthcoming change shaped by the Federal healthcare fiscal policy and to recommend the improvement objective by comparing the US healthcare system with those of other developed nations. Design/methodology/approach - The US healthcare system is examined utilizing various data on recent trends in: spending, budgetary implications, economic indicators, i.e. GDP, inflation, wage and population growth. Process maps, cause and effect diagrams and descriptive data statistics are utilized to understand the various drivers that influence the rising healthcare cost. A proposed cause and effect diagram is presented to offer potential solutions, for significant improvement in US healthcare. Findings - At present, the US healthcare system is of vital interest to the nation's economy and government policy (spending). The US healthcare system is characterized as the world's most expensive yet least effective compared with other nations. Growing healthcare costs have made millions of citizens vulnerable. Major drivers of the healthcare costs are institutionalized medical practices and reimbursement policies, technology-induced costs and consumer behavior. Practical implications - Reviewing many articles, congressional reports, internet websites and related material, a simplified process map of the US healthcare system is presented. The financial process map is also created to further understand the overall process that connects the stakeholders in the healthcare system. Factors impacting healthcare are presented by a cause and effect diagram to further simplify the complexities of healthcare. This tool can also be used as a guide to improve efficiency by removing the "waste" from the system. Trend analyses are presented that display the crucial relationship between economic growth and healthcare spending. Originality/value - There are many articles and reports published on the US healthcare system. However, very few articles have explored, in a comprehensive manner, the links between the economic indicators and measures of the healthcare system and how to reform this system. As a result of the US healthcare system's complex structure, process map and cause-effect diagrams are utilized to simplify, address and understand. This study linked top-level factors, i.e. the societal, government policies, healthcare system comparison, potential reformation solutions and the enormity of the recent trends by presenting serious issues associated with US healthcare.
引用
收藏
页码:366 / +
页数:24
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