The Veterans Health Administration (VHA), established in 1996, with the major purpose to look into the improvement of care provided to veterans within its own system. It has been observed, however, that despite efforts to focus within the VHA system, many veteran patients, most enrolled in Medicare, also receive care in the private sector, including surgical care among others (p. 2186).
The authors admit that influencing these private-sector care to improve their services could decrease the possibility of veterans’ deaths, but the focus supports that the shift from private sector surgical care to high-performance hospitals. Quantifying VHA patients 65 years and older on their use of the private sector to obtain 14 surgical procedures, the authors “assessed the potential impact of directing that care to high-performance hospitals (p. 2187).
The authors used both the nationwide electronic medical record and the Medicare inpatient database for years 2001 and 2002 to determine where, whether private sector, high-performance or low-performance hospitals, did older VHA enrolees obtain cardiovascular surgeries and cancer resections (p. 2187).
From this. the authors patterned the mortality and as well as the effects of travel time for directing private-sector care to high-performance hospitals.
As a result, it was found that 376 to 584 deaths could have been avoided by directing private-sector care to high-performance hospitals, mostly through improved cardiovascular care outcomes (p. 2188).
The Review on COMPARISON OF SERVICE QUALITY BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCES FROM PAKISTAN
... private hospitals are higher than the public hospitals. This shows that majority of the respondent availing facilities from private hospitals perceive that private hospitals ... expectation means service provider performance during deliverance of services ... private sector organizations. Results of this study shows that private hospitals ... of the doctors, hospital environment, caring staff, cleanliness but ...
With this outcome, the authors call for policy directing care for older VHA patients from private-sector care to high-performance hospitals (p. 2191).
Analysis
The article is well-researched and makes use of data from all sectors to support evidences and the authors’ own recommendations. From the start, the paper makes clear its objective about redirecting patients’ care from the private sector, singling out only high-performance hospital as the only option for VHA patients, a petition that the authors have been able to justify well with their factual and direct-to-the-point presentation.
At the same time, the authors are candid in that they do not try to present at completely finished product, rather, they maintain that further research could indeed satisfy the results of the study as imparted in the article.
Review of Article 2: HIV/AIDS Among The Housed and the Homeless
There is an apparent discrepancy in the health care and medication use, as well as health status, among the housed and homeless, with the latter being more susceptible to infectious diseases. An article published in the American Journal of Public Health focuses on these disparities among HIV/AIDS patients.
Using data obtained from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Supplement to HIV/AIDS Surveillance (SHAS) project, the article observes how the health status, health care use, HIV anti-retroviral medication use, and HIV medication adherence compare between the housed and homeless patients (Kidder, et al, 2238).
The respondents who were homeless showed poor ratings of mental, physical, and overall health status. It was also revealed that most of them uninsured. Some have visited an emergency department and admitted to a hospital. Compared to the housed, they are less like likely to have taken HIV antri-retroviral medications and were less adherent to their medication regiment (p. 2239).
The Research paper on Health Care and Incentives
The review defines the nature of economic incentives and of non-financial incentives. Particular attention is paid to the need for developing countries to understand the impacts of health reform measures on incentives. A review of current literature found that the response of physicians to economic incentives inherent in payment mechanisms appears to follow directions expected in theory. Incentive ...
The housed patients, on the other hand, had more access to health care and, thus, have more incidences of positive health and medication outcomes (p. 2239).
The article points out that as a result of the study, homeless respondents are at increased risk of negative health outcomes, and thus are in need more HIV social and medical services. The authors maintain that “housing is a potentially important mechanism for improving the health of this vulnerable group” (p. 2238).
The authors turned in an interesting research, the subject of which is not given much attention by most researchers. Their conduct of their own search for data is commendable and their use of common language, considering it is a medical journal, only makes the whole report more accessible to most.
Review of Article 3: The Chinese Connection: Inequality in Health Care System
China saw huge developments during the past three decades as reforms and open-door policy were implemented. However, as its GDP and per capita income grew to unprecedented heights, the gap between rich and poor has widened, with more than 50 million poor and underprivileged citizens residing in remote counties (JAMA, 2007).
While health care reforms have been made since 1985, and reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) show more and more Chinese to be living longer and healthier lives, with disease profiles resembling that of developed countries, economic inequality is still largely observed, most importantly in the access to health care (Wang, et al, 1928).
The high cost of health care is the culprit to this inequality, and the reason why people from the lesser income group could not afford medical attention (JAMA,1928).
The authors enumerate multiple factors to this problem, listing down the uneven allocation of health care resources between urban and rural China as first (JAMA, 1929). A second major factor is the underfunding of government investment in the health care sector. Along with this is the government’s weak supervision and administration of the health care sector, as factor number three. Number four is the lack of any form of health care insurance system (JAMA, 1929).
Taking a view of these factors, the authors focuses its concern on China’s increasing aged population, pointing out that improving health care system by addressing said factors enumerated above will decrease the vulnerability of this group from age-related diseases.
The Essay on The injustice in health care
Question: “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane” (Martin Luther King, Jr.). Do you agree with this statement? Write an essay persuading readers of your point of view. Support your argument with evidence from appropriate sources. Nick Vujicic, the founder of Life Without Limbs Organization of Australia, said in his speech,” Attitude is Altitude. ...
Ending the article with high hopes for China’s improved medical resources, the authors show their positive attitude that the Chinese government would accept their study and adopt their recommendations. Further research, however, may be necessary to convince the Chinese government will soon act on it.
