health care system

PLEASE RESPOND TO EACH 6 DISCUSSIONS SEPERATELLY Peer Response must be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Each Peer Response must have a minimum of ONE reference with citations (the best is a peer-reviewed article). Word count is greater than 75 words or at least 5 sentences in length. Participation #1

Outpatient services are services that can be provided without an overnight stay. Over the years hospitals have been making changes to switch services to outpatient. Surgeries are one method that has been switched to outpatient more recently which is tribute to the advancement in technology. Many ER visits also become outpatient visits. The other methods involved are diagnosis, some treatments, tests, general surgeries, and counseling (Shi & Singh, 2018). This is beneficial to the patient because it requires less time at the hospital which will allow them to get back to their routine faster and it will also significantly lower the cost of care.

Participation #2Outpatient care settings allow patients to get medical services without staying overnight in the hospital (Shi & Singh,2019). Medical services in outpatient care include diagnosis, treatment, various tests, general surgery, endoscopy, mental health counseling, and other medical procedures. Outpatient care covers a wide range of settings, with private doctor offices being the most convenient and fastest for patients to receive medical care. Most patients with physical problems first step into the threshold of a personal family doctor. Urgent care clinics are also becoming more popular in some states, improving the convenience of patient visits.

Participation #3In the current pandemic, emergency room facilities are crowded and the number of cases is rapidly increasing; telemedicine is the most beneficial outpatient care setting for patients and providers to stay safe and healthy. Telehealth has become even more important during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Fears of spreading and catching the virus during in-person medical visits have led to a greater interest in, and use of, technology to provide and receive health care. Telemedicine is the option to have a virtual visit with a provider via webcam or over the phone. Providers can talk with patients about any symptoms, ailments, send in prescriiptions, and order blood work if needed.

Using technology to deliver health care has several advantages, including cost savings, convenience, and the ability to provide care to people with mobility limitations, or those in rural areas who don’t have access to a local doctor or clinic. For these reasons, the use of telehealth has grown significantly over the past decade. Currently, 76 percent of hospitals in the U.S. connect doctors and patients remotely via telehealth, up from 35 percent a decade ago. Telemedicine can give some specialty practitioners an advantage because they can see you in your home environment. For example, an allergist may be able to identify allergy-causing cues in the surrounding environment. Neurologists and physical and occupational therapists can observe you and assess your ability to navigate and take care of yourself in your home. Telemedicine is also a good way to get mental health assessments and counseling.
Participation #4Primary care mainly provides basic and routine medical services for people with prevention, diagnostic and therapeutic services, health education and counseling, and minor surgery. It is both the conceptual foundation for outpatient services and a health care approach (Shi & Singh, 2018). Primary care is the health care system’s first line of defense, preventing patients from receiving excessive medical care. Help patients access safe and effective medical care by coordinating the needs of patients and health providers.
Participation #5Primary health care refers to basic health care that individuals in the community receive at a cost they can afford. The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the concept of primary health care, with an increased focus on the importance of community engagement by identifying several social, economic, and environmental determinants. It includes the basic services required for meeting one’s everyday health care needs like conducting a regular checkup with the family doctor or visiting low-income health clinics. The primary role of primary health care is to provide continuous and comprehensive care to patients. It also helps to provide patients with access to various social welfare and public health services sponsored by governing bodies and other organizations. The other major role of a primary health care center is to offer quality health and social services to the underprivileged sections of society.

Primary care is important to the larger health care system because primary care helps prevent illness and death, regardless of whether the care is characterized by a supply of primary care physicians, a relationship with a source of primary care, or the receipt of important features of primary care. Evidence also suggests that primary care (compared to specialty care) is associated with a more equitable distribution of health in the population, a finding that holds in both cross-country and national studies. Approaches to improving health in primary care have been identified, thereby suggesting ways to improve overall health and reduce health disparities among major population subgroups. Participation #6Primary care is often referred to as the first line of defense. A primary care physician should have general knowledge of several aspects of medical care.

Routine screenings, medical care, procedures, tests, and even prescriiptions are generally handled by primary care physicians. It is essential that patients establish a relationship with a physician who will be taking care of their medical needs as part of their primary care. People who do not have access to a regular primary care provider are more likely to visit the emergency room, and they are admitted to hospitals more frequently (Freundlich, 2013). A primary care provider can also reduce the need for unnecessary emergency room visits.