Essay on "Health Care"

Essay 4 pages (1344 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

The result has been severe shortages in the availability of primary care physicians that are crucial to the efficient delivery of health care. Collaterally, the primary care physicians that are available are not necessarily conveniently available in a way that conforms with the American life-style. America is no longer a society where 9-5 hours accommodate its needs. America is now a society that operates on a 24 hours schedule and the medical field has not adjusted accordingly. Health care professionals, particularly doctors, have been slow to move toward providing early morning, evening and weekend availability and, as a result, the level of health care has fallen. Quite simply, a large segment of American society is highly inconvenienced by the historical 9-5 schedule maintained by most health professionals and so this segment goes without seeking treatment until their conditions worsen and, too often, are beyond treatment.

Related coincidently to restrictions on the delivery of health care is America's present fascination with tort reform. Behind this movement is the generalized opinion that medical malpractice claims are having a chilling effect on the way that physicians practice their trade. The underlying theory espoused by tort reform proponents is that physicians over treat in certain situations in order to avoid malpractice claims and leave the practice in other cases due to high malpractice insurance rates. Statistical support for these arguments, pro and con, are abundant, however, the reality of the situation is that there are a high number of malpractice claims in the United States not because we live in a litigious society but because Americans are subject to a high rate of medical error. For whatever reasons, the delivery of health care in the United States invites a high level of medical, medication, and lab errors and these errors result in a corresponding increase in costs in a system that is already world's most expensive. It is popular to blame the lawyers but eliminate the mistakes and there will be no basis for the lawsuits (Boehm, 2005).

The Affordable Care Act is intended to address the health care restrictions that have existed in the United States for decades. Unfortunately, the passage and enactment of the Act has not quieted the debate nor has it addressed the issues. The Courts are full of challenges to the Act and the debate relative to the merits of the Act continues in the media and the halls of Congress. On the pragmatic level, because of political compromises, the major provisions of the Act do not take effect until 2013 and, in the meantime, millions of Americans continue to be uncovered by health insurance and are, therefore, going without health care (Anderson, 2001).

The United States remains the world's greatest economic and military power but its health care system is full of restrictions that have endangered the overall health of American society. America has developed, because of these restrictions, into a nation where infant mortality rates are one of the worst in the world; where life expectancy is far down the chart of developed nations; and where health care is, by far, the most expensive in the world. What effect the Affordable Care Act will have on these restrictions is still debatable and may never be known but the restrictions that make health care unavailable for a large percentage of Americans must be lessened. A nation as powerful and wealthy as the United States must find a way to provide a better and more equitable method for providing health care. The present system is broken and the restrictions too numerous. The only way to remedy the situation is with a major overhaul.

References

Anderson, R.M. (2001). Improving Access to Care in America. Los Angeles: University of California.

Boehm, G. (2005). Debunking Medical Malpractice Myths: Unraveling the False Premises behind Tort Reform. Yale Journal of Health Policy Law & Ethics, 357-369.

Lepore, J. (2009, December 7). Preexisting Condition. The New Yorker .

Shi, L.… READ MORE

How to Reference "Health Care" Essay in a Bibliography

Related Essays:

Health Care System Essay

Health Care System

There are many factors that have affected the development of the health care system in the U.S. These include a larger number of baby boomers needing services,… read more

Essay 3 pages (1117 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Health Care Reform Has Been a Hot Research Paper

health care reform has been a hot button issue across the United States in the form of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) but in the State of Minnesota it has… read more

Research Paper 4 pages (1375 words) Sources: 4 Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Healthcare Reform History of Socialized Medicine American Term Paper

Healthcare Reform

History of Socialized Medicine

American Health care history

Allopathic vs. Homeopathic Approaches to Healing

The medical industrial complex

The Affordable Care Act in Detail

Impact of the Affordable… read more

Term Paper 8 pages (2697 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Healthcare Right or Privilege Research Paper

Health Care: Right or Privilege?

There are those who will argue that healthcare is neither a right nor a privilege, but I do not agree with them. People argue that… read more

Research Paper 5 pages (1450 words) Sources: 5 Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>