• Describe a specific gap in the delivery of healthcare. Include the specific population affected by the gap.
• Briefly describe the history of this gap in access to healthcare. Has this been an issue historically, or is it a modern issue?
• Explain the impact that the socioeconomic background of the population has on their access to healthcare.
• Describe how the healthcare delivered to the population is affected by the gap in access.
• Predict any potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed.
3-2 Final Project Milestone One: Topic Selection
Option One: A gap in quality related to care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses
A gap in quality related care coordination for individuals with chronic illness has embellished a heightened concern with healthcare organizations and the contemporary world. I believe a gap in quality related care coordination for individuals with chronic illnesses is empathy. Numerous individuals are unable to acquire genuine care to manage their chronic illnesses and are non-complaint for multiple reasons. This can be due to lack of health insurance/coverage, transportation challenges, educational/language barriers, patient beliefs vs evidence based-fact, lack of physicians and medical facilities within the community/population. This gap in healthcare, being unable to properly manage chronic illnesses, can result in lack of empathy for the patient.
Healthcare is essential for every individual, even though not every individual can access adequate healthcare. Gaps in healthcare organizations call attention to the inconsistency in healthcare access, healthcare necessities and healthcare assistance when differentiating contrasting communities/populations. This includes the uninsured, rural populations, racial minorities, individuals who are economically challenged and the elderly. These individuals in these communities have numerous socioeconomic factors negating against them which promote a higher portion of chronic illnesses. For example, these individuals have lower education levels than their counterparts in other areas of the country which results in lower income, meaning many live below the national poverty level (Oates et al., 2017). Individuals’ lack health insurance coverage because of the financial expense whether it’s offered through their workplace or out of pocket. Insurance companies can establish restrictions (co-pays, in/out of network physicians) on which physicians can be seen according to the different coverage policies that are provided. This allows instigation of individuals with healthcare coverage to ignore routine care and only seek care in a matter of necessity.
The ability to access quality care should include whether it is available, timely and convenient, and affordable. There are consequences due to the gap in healthcare and it affects the quality of care between the chronically ill. There are potential implications if this gap in access is not addressed, as individuals with chronic illnesses increase as this will lead to the rise in death rates. The goal of improving the health of individuals in the most disadvantaged communities/populations improves the health overall. Addressing the inconsistency in healthcare is valuable for an individual which will allow improvement for overall substantial quality care.
Oates, G. R., Jackson, B. E., Partridge, E. E., Singh, K. P., Fouad, M. N., & Bae, S. (2017, January). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5171223/
IHI. (n.d.) Complex needs. Retrieved from http://www.ihi.org/Topics/Complex-Needs/Pages/default.aspx Improving Chronic Illness Care. (2017). Care Coordination. Retrieved from http://www.improvingchroniccare.org/index.php?p=Background&s=350