Question

Quality, cost, and access are three pillars of the U.S. health system. What are 3 other attributes of our system and how do they relate to these 3 pillars?

Answer 1

U.S. healthcare system has always emphasised on quality care. It has made marked efforts to make the healthcare system efficient so that it can benefit the patients and improve overall health of the country. It has tried to keep the healthcare costs under control so that every citizen can afford it. The U.S. healthcare has also tried to make the healthcare services accessible to all.

The three other attributes of healthcare system that have helped the U.S. healthcare system to maintain its quality, cost and access are as follows:

1. Safety - The healthcare organisations have made patient safety one of the major goal. The patient centred care has improved patient safety. Proper flow of information, patient education, better disease preventive management, chronic disease prevention and no tolerance policy for negligence has resulted in increased patient safety.

2. Efficient and effective : Making the patient treatment effective and efficient has also improved the quality of care and curbed down the high costs. Increased health awareness and health promotions, timely diagnosis and early interventions have helped the healthcare system to provide medical services that are effective as well as efficient. The use of new advanced technology and better skilled professionals has made the healthcare efficient.

3. Equitable : various efforts are made to make the healthcare delivery system equitable. Making the healthcare delivery system free from gender, caste and colour, cultural and socio economic discrimination has allowed better access to patient.