Objective 4MS II

1:2 Trends in Health CareChanges in health care

Many events lead to changes in health careChanges in health care are inevitable and occur rapidlyHealth care workers must be flexible to face and keep pace with the rapid changes

Cost ContainmentPurpose: control the rising cost of health care and achieve maximum benefit for every dollar spentNecessity: costs increasing with technological advances, improved survival rates, aging population, and health-related lawsuits

Cost Containment Methods

Diagnostic related groups (DRGs)Combination of servicesOutpatient servicesMass or bulk purchasingEarly intervention and preventive servicesEnergy conservation

Cost Containment IssuesImportant not to decrease quality of careWorkers can decrease costs (e.g., look for areas to control costs and avoid waste, keep expenditures down)Consumers can decrease costs (e.g., take responsibility for their own care, follow preventive measures to decrease need for services, use services appropriately)

WellnessState of optimal healthIncrease awareness of maintaining health and preventing diseaseEmphasis on preventative measures rather than waiting for need for curative interventionDifferent facilities will develop to meet needs of wellness emphasis

Promoting WellnessPhysical wellnessEmotional wellnessSocial wellnessMental and intellectual wellnessSpiritual wellness

Holistic HealthTreat the whole body, mind, and spirit

Emphasis on protection and restoration

Promote body’s natural healing processes

Patient responsible for choosing care and worker respects the choice

Complementary and Alternative Methods of Health Care

Increasingly used to replace or supplement traditional medical treatmentHolistic approach: belief that the effect on

one part effects the whole personBased on belief that the person has a life force or energy that can be used in the healing processMay vary by cultural values or beliefs

Types of PractitionersAyurvedic – grounded in the metaphysics of the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, air, space)Chinese medicineChiropractorsHomeopathsHypnotistsNaturopaths

Types of TherapiesRefer to Table 1-8 in text

Most are noninvasive and holistic

Often less expensive than the more traditional treatments

Types of TherapiesHerbs – use substances related to plant products - i.e. lavender and chamomile…typically ingested as oilsHypnosis – artificially-induced sleep or trance stateMassage – effleurage, friction, percussion, tapping (often used in pregnancy and childbirth)

Therapies cont’dNonthermal, nonionizing electromagnetic fields – used for bone repair, nerve stimulation, tissue degeneration and wound healingBioelectromagnetic therapy – uses alternating current or direct current (electrical phenoma are found in all living organisms)