The areas of provision and reimbursement of health care services have each undergone considerate changes in the past several years, with the following current trends identified as being the most significant contributors to change:
1. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
2. Bundled payment structure versus fee-for-service payment structure.
3. Accountable Care Organization (ACOs).
4. Technology and Telemedicine.
5. Medicare Advantage Plans.
6. Population health management strategies.
Using appropriate websites as your informational foundations, research these trends and others you may find relevant, and write a 1250-1500 word essay in which you examine the following:
1. Which of the currently identified health care trends overall are already impacting your employer/organization, or an organization in your city/region in your health care field?
2. Which of the currently identified health care trends are specifically impacting your sector of allied health, and why?
3. What emerging health care trends on the horizon may impact your employer/organization and/or your specific allied health sector?
4. Which of the current or emerging trends do you see as most likely to positively impact your specific role and sector in allied health? Which trends are most likely to negatively impact it? (Example: wages, job security, educational requirements, etc.)
5. How will the trends you identify impact safety, risk management, and/or quality improvement policies in your organization/and or an organization in your city/region in your health care field?
A minimum of three qualified resources is required, and they are not to be over 5 years old.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: Understanding the current trends in healthcare is essential for medical college students to become informed professionals in their chosen field. In this assignment, students will examine the significant contributors to changes in the provision and reimbursement of healthcare services. They will research the impact of these trends on different healthcare organizations and sectors of allied health. They will also analyze emerging healthcare trends and their potential impact on safety, risk management, and quality improvement policies.
1. Which of the currently identified health care trends overall are already impacting your employer/organization, or an organization in your city/region in your health care field?
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 have impacted healthcare organizations by changing the provision and reimbursement of healthcare services. The shift from fee-for-service payment structure to bundled payment structure has started to impact many healthcare organizations, including ours, by incentivizing us to focus on quality rather than quantity of services. Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have also gained popularity and are becoming increasingly significant contributors to the management and delivery of healthcare services. These trends have resulted in the need for more interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare professionals.
2. Which of the currently identified health care trends are specifically impacting your sector of allied health, and why?
The bundled payment structure is significant to the sector of allied health because it incentivizes healthcare organizations to focus on quality over quantity. In this payment structure, allied health professionals are essential in providing high-quality care to patients. They are also vital in ACOs because they can provide preventive care and manage chronic diseases. Technology and telemedicine have also had a significant impact by allowing allied health professionals to reach remote patients and provide real-time care.
3. What emerging health care trends on the horizon may impact your employer/organization and/or your specific allied health sector?
Emerging healthcare trends such as personalized medicine, population health management, and precision medicine are expected to impact our organization and the sector of allied health significantly. Personalized medicine involves tailoring medical treatment to a patient’s unique genetic profile, while population health management focuses on managing the health of a particular population. Precision medicine involves using genomic and other data to develop personalized treatment regimens. All these emerging trends will require allied health professionals to have more specialized training and skills.
4. Which of the current or emerging trends do you see as most likely to positively impact your specific role and sector in allied health? Which trends are most likely to negatively impact it?
The bundle payment structure and the use of technology and telemedicine are the most likely to positively impact my role and sector in allied health. These trends will result in the need for more specialized and skilled healthcare professionals, improving job security and wages. On the other hand, emerging healthcare trends such as personalized medicine may negatively impact allied health professionals, as it may require them to have more specialized training and education, potentially making it harder for some individuals to meet the educational requirements.
5. How will the trends you identify impact safety, risk management, and/or quality improvement policies in your organization/and or an organization in your city/region in your health care field?
The trends identified will impact safety, risk management, and quality improvement policies positively by forcing healthcare organizations to provide high-quality, patient-centered care and to manage populations efficiently. Allied health professionals will play a significant role in ensuring patient safety and providing high-quality care as part of interdisciplinary care teams. Furthermore, emerging trends such as personalized medicine are expected to improve patient outcomes by providing more targeted and individualized care.
