Significant Health Care Event Paper Essay Example for Free

Significant Health Care Event Paper Essay Abstract This paper will attempt to discuss events that has changed or affected health care of today. Over the years health care has been influenced by numerous events throughout the United States history. Some events have contributed to the shaping and improvement of the American people’s health care needs. This influence includes society, culture, finance, religion, politics, technology, health trends, the environment, and population (Shi Singh, 2012, p. 9). These influences has contribute to the United States health care evolution that has and continues to impact and access the health care of the American people long with his or her personal values and beliefs. Significant Event’s In the recent years there has been more and more litigation over health care. In today’s society advertisements a springing up all over the place for litigations against health care professionals, health care facilities and pharmacuetal companies. These advertisements are being placed on the television, on the radio, over the internet, on billboards and public transportation. Lawyers are now specializing in significant health care conditions or diseases. This in itself has placed a huge burden on the health care profession and facilities. Some health care facilities have ended up shutting its doors because of the financial burdens of payments, malpractice premiums, and other financial burdens associated with additional procedures to avoid litigation (Satiani, 2004). Health care facilities and  professionals are spending billions of dollars on defensive medicine (Satiani, 2004). These health care dollars are needed elsewhere to improve health care practices such as implementing preventative care, research, and insuring the uninsured. Another effect on the health care is the Patient Protected and Affordable Care Act. The protection and affordable Care act was established to ensure that all Americans have access the quality and affordable health care. The Patient Protected and Affordable Act will help create a healthier health system by contain cost. President Obama has placed a limit of $900 billion to cover the cost of the Patient Protected and Affordable Care Act. This $900 billion will cover 94 percent of Americans according to The Congressional Budget Office making the Patient Protection and Affordable Act completely funded. During the next ten years and beyond the Patient Protection and Affordable act will help to curve the high cost of health care and reduce our state deficit (Responsible Reform for the Middle Class, n.d). Impact on the Historical of Health Care These two events have both a negative and positive impact on health care. The litigations can distract the ability of the American people to receive the adequate health care when needed. Financial facilities and professional are unable to give his or her consumers the consistent level of quality and be cost-effective (Shi Singh, 2012, p. 5). The Patient Protection and Affordable Act give the patient guarantee passage way to quality affordable health care, Improving the quality and efficiency of health care, prevention of chronic disease and improving public health, and improving access to innovative medical therapies (Responsible Reform for the Middle Class, n.d). Excessive litigations lead to the limitation of services that are provided by the health care facilities and professionals. Litigations increase the cost of services, it reduces accessible to facilities, and decreases trained staff. Out of fear health care providers and facilities either increases or decreases unnecessary and necessary procedures because of the high risk for litigation which takes the primary focus off the patient (Catino, 2009). The result of excessive litigation may be stagnation; the system is unable to grow because of the high costs for provision on care and the inability of everyone to receive consistent care. The positive effect of health care litigation occurs because it places a value or consequence on the effect of malpractice. Health care facilities and professional work to develop policies and practices that reduce the harm done to the patient partially because of the cost associated with neglecting to do so. Health care litigation can be a source of help for families who are affected by malpractice, especially if needed to provide further care for those affected. The problem with health care litigation lies, not with those with genuine cases, but with those who attempt to use the system to file false claims for profit. People do not realize that the cost of legal fees is offset by passing the cost to the patient. Unfortunately, most of the money gained during the litigation process does not always go toward the patient/s filing the litigation; according to Satiani (2004), an estimated 57% goes to the attorney and 43% to the patient. Personal Belief on Event’s Significance I believe that excessive litigation is a significant event in health care. It affects many aspects of care and reduces the ability of patients to access the care needed. If people continue to abuse the legal system by filing false claims we will continue to see a rise in the cost of health care. The United States health care system and the citizens must create a culture of honesty. The health care system must provide adequate, timely care to citizens, and citizens avoid false prosecution for personal gain. Conclusion Excessive litigation is an emerging trend in health care. Litigation was intended as a route for citizens to receive compensation for injuries related to malpractice, but is becoming a way of life for the legal system. Lawyers and law offices specialize in health care litigation and most Americans see or hear at least one advertisement for litigation per day. The cost of litigation on the health care system is high and unfortunately the people who pay the cost are the citizens because health care facilities, private practitioners, and insurance companies offset the cost by redirecting it on the patients. The cost of excessive litigation may be too high for citizens to pay. References Catino, M. (2009). Blame culture and defensive medicine. Cognition, Technology, Work, 11(4), 245-253. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10111-009-0130-y Catino, M. (2009). Blame Culture and Defensive Medicine. Cognition, Technology, Work, 11(4). 245-253. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10111-009-0130-y Satiani, B. (2004). The economics of health care litigation. Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.38(3).287-90. doi: 15385744 Shi, L., Singh, D.A. (2012). Delivering Health Care in America: A systems approach (5th ed.).Boston, MA: Jones Barlet. Responsible Reform for the Middle Class. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill04.pdf