Question

Select a specific issue under each of the following trendslchallenges that are covered in this chapter. State the issue, then rainstorm and list ideas for changes or improvements that can be done individually or within a community. 1. The Changing Focus in Health Care Issue: f' Ideas for changes/improvements: 4L 2. An Aging Population Ideas for changes/improvements 3. Rising Health Care Costs Issue: deas for changes/improvements 4. Diversity Issue:

Answer 1

1. Changing focus in health care

Issue: attitudinal change of consumers and health care providers from treatment to prevention of illness

Preventive screening for many of the communicable and non communicable diseases were recommended and emerged in recent times. Though screening helps in early detection and prompt treatment it keeps the consumer at risk of exposing to irradiation and mental illnesses. On the other hand it keeps the individual run out of expences for unnecessary fear towards their health. This leads to turning health system into business.

Recommended changes/ suggestion:

Health care consumers can maintain their health through proper diet, exercise and underwent limited and needed screening tests as per recommendations by the concerned authority. Health care agencies can play an active role in educating health care consumers in the aspects of early identification of clinical and subclinical symptoms of disease and also in the aspects of preventive nutrition.

2. An ageing population:

Issue: malnourishment in elderly

The elderly are less healthy than the other population, hence there is an increased life expectancy and disproportionate male to female ratio, physical and social changes combined together to keep elderly at many debilitating and chronic illnesses. On the other hand poor dietary habits, dental problems, digestion issues expected to be a major cause for malnourishment in elderly.

Recommended changes/ suggestions:

Health maintenance in early life via healthy lifestyle, avoidance of smoking and alcohol, healthy dietary habits, and regular exercise can help elderly to prevent malnourishment. Special dietary menu with recommended dietary allowances and nutritional education helps to maintain their nutritional status.

3. Rising health care costs:

Issue: financial burden on health care consumers

Rise in population and emergency of new diseases, empowerment of health consumers keep the health care costs at an unexpected heights. As the health care focusses on preventive strategies it keep changes in clinical thresholds for treatment that results in more patients being treated for asymptomatic conditions. As a result there is an increased use of clinical diagnostics and medical therapy which keeps the financial burden on consumers and health care providers.

Recommended changes:

Most important strategy for reducing the growth in health care spending without reducing benefits is to focus on slowing or reversing the growth of disease prevalences.this require interventions designed to change behaviour with respect to diet, exercise and lifestyle modification. Another key recommendation is to get people participate in behaviour modification therapy and related programs. Establishing policies to identify and provide strong incentives for employees to adopt qnd particiapte in behaviour modification therapies and programs. These initiatives could prove helpful in slowing the growth in future health care spending.