Top 3 Trends in Healthcare

Top 3 Trends in HealthcareBy Shontel Gilbert

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Introduction

The healthcare industry consist of a very complex system. The future of the healthcare system greatly depends on certain trends. The top three trends in healthcare include:Cost and spendingIndustry regulationsDiversity in the workplace

Cost and SpendingCost and spending is important because it is influenced by economic growth (Wilensky, 2014, p.427 ). As of today, healthcare is mainly dependent upon high healthcare premium payments. Although working Americans pay Medicaid taxes, some still are not fully covered. Healthcare cost and spending is high in the industry for three reasons: it is constantly being underused, misused, and overused. Healthcare is being underused because some people simply do not trust the healthcare system. It is being overused by physicians to focus on reimbursement. Misuse or medical errors are caused by lack of sleep, poor judgement, and lack of resources or training.

Industry RegulationsRegulations are rules in healthcare used to help implement public policy. Examples of regulations would be The Affordable Care Act and the Health Insurance Probability Accountability Act (HIPAA). Regulations are important because they must be followed closely while giving patients the best quality care. They often cause most healthcare organizations to be scrutinized (Reagan, Herzig, Pogorzelska-Maziarz, Dick, Stone, Divya Srinath, 2015, p.351). Industry regulations affect the current state of healthcare because they could seem overwhelming to healthcare workers and managers due to how complex they are. Also regulations often take the focus off of delivering quality health services to patients. Although regulations can benefit the healthcare industry as a whole, it can also enable it in some areas.

Diversity in the WorkplaceDiversity in the healthcare industry is essential to the functioning of the organization. Our nation as well as the healthcare industry is becoming more and more diverse everyday due to the increase in efforts to be so. Diversity allows healthcare workers and leaders to share ideas and experiences to better benefit the organization. Diversity contributes to finding solutions that may be more difficult to come about with people who share the same views of the world. Diversity in the healthcare industry is something that can not be looked over for it shapes the perspectives and beliefs of all individuals (Betancourt, Beiter, Landry, 2013, p.905).

Conclusion These trends currently have the biggest impact on the healthcare industry. Shifts in the healthcare industry impact everyone from the healthcare leader to the patient. With the healthcare industry being so dynamic, new trends often come up unexpectedly. Most trends can not be controlled and are very unpredictable. A company should respond to these trends by working to ensure that these are not challenges that they have to face. Minimizing conflict among health care organizations is what will take pressure off of the big issues. Identifying and acting on these trends are what helps an organization succeed.

References Betancourt, J. R., Beiter, S., & Landry, A. (2013). Improving Quality, Achieving Equity, and Increasing Diversity in Healthcare: The Future is Now. Journal Of Best Practices In Health Professions Diversity: Education, Research & Policy, 6(1), 903-917 15p.Reagan, J., Herzig, C. T., Pogorzelska-Maziarz, M., Dick, A. W., Stone, P. W., & Divya Srinath, J. (2015). State Law Mandates for Reporting of Healthcare-Associated Clostridium difficile Infections in Hospitals. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 36(3), 350-352 3p. doi:10.1017/ice.2014.61Wilensky, G. R. (2014). Is Slower Health Care Spending a Part of Our Future? Milbank Quarterly, 92(3), 426-429.