2. Home Health Care Less expensive than hospital or outpatient services Includes services such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy,

Transcription

1 Health Care Trends

2 1. Cost Containment Trying to control the rising cost of healthcare and achieve the maximum benefit for every dollar spent Three ways to do this A. Diagnostic Related Groups (DRG s) - how Congress is trying to control costs for Medicare and Medicaid - People with certain diagnoses are put in a payment group and the agency providing care gets a set amount of money B. Outpatient Services - less expensive than a hospital stay C. Energy Conservation

3 2. Home Health Care Less expensive than hospital or outpatient services Includes services such as nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, social services, nutritional services, etc

4 3. Geriatric Care Caused by increased life spans due to advances in health care Adult day care centers, retirement communities, assisted/independent living facilities, long-term care facilities OBRA - Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of has led to the development of regulations regarding long-term care and home health care It requires nursing assistants and geriatric assistant to be trained and evaluated for competency. They must enter a mandatory state approved training program and have to pass a written competency exam

5 4. Telemedicine A. The use of video, audio, and computer systems to provide medical and health care services Ex. - EMT s can send EKG results to ER docs remotely so physicians can monitor and direct care before the patient even gets to the ER B. Electronic health records or electronic medical records Allows for easy access to lab results, etc., among different physicians treating a patient

6 C. Satellite and video technology - surgeons can use a computer & guide a remote controlled robotic arm to perform surgery on a patient in a remote location Ex. - This allows patients to receive care in their own home, which decreases trips to medical centers, thereby decreasing cost Blood sugar testing, oxygen level, blood pressure, vitals, monitor pacemaker - can all be done remotely Especially helpful in rural areas so a patient can get access to specialists

7 5. Wellness State of being in optimum health with a balanced relationship between physical, mental and social health A. Recognizes the importance of exercise, good nutrition, weight control and healthy living habits Has led to the establishment of wellness centers, weight control facilities, health food stores, nutrition services, stress reduction counseling, habit cessation management, etc.

8 B. Looks at physical, emotional, social, mental, intellectual and spiritual wellness Has led to holistic health care, which promotes physical, emotional, social, intellectual, and spiritual well-being by treating the whole mind, body and spirit.

9 6. Complementary & Alternative Methods of Healthcare (CAM) Complementary therapies - used in conjunction with conventional medical therapies Alternative therapies - treatments used in place of biomedical therapies

10 Many healthcare facilities offer integrative health care, which combines mainstream (conventional) treatment with CAM Ex. Chronic pain - treated with medication (conventional) and stress reduction (alternative) Integrative health care is usually individualized to meet the patient s own needs and circumstances

11 Examples of CAM Practitioners 1. Ayurvedic- diet, herbal treatment, exercise, yoga, massage, minerals and living practices to restore & maintain harmony 2. Chinese medicine - acupuncture, acupressure, tai chi, herbal remedies to maintain proper flow of energy and promote health

12 3. Chiropractors - use spinal manipulation, massage, and exercise to adjust position of vertebrae and restore flow of energy 4. Homeopaths - believe in the ability of the body to heal itself through actions of the immune system

13 5. Hypnotist - used for behavioral changes 6. Naturopaths - use natural therapies along with lifestyle changes, special diets, etc. 7. Pet therapy - use pets to lower stress levels and blood pressure

14 7. Pandemic Preparation Pandemic - when an outbreak of a disease occurs over a wide geographic area and affects a high proportion of the population Due to our global society, worldwide pandemics will become more frequent

15 World Health Organization (WHO) - concerned about influenza pandemics 1918 Spanish flu killed 40 million people. It was recently identified as H5N1, bird flu H1N1 - swine flu 2014 Ebola - 23,000 people infected...70% died Others being watched...hantavirus, SARS, monkeypox, Marburg virus Pandemic influenza plans are being developed to protect populations, including education, vaccine production, antiviral drugs, protective public health measures, international cooperation

16 8. Biotechnology Any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives to make or modify products or processes for specific use A. Genomics - the study of all the genes in the human genome Useful in gene therapy...when defective genes are identified, scientists can insert new genes into cells to treat diseases caused by the mutated genes Genomic testing - the use of specific tests to check for the presence of inherited genes known to cause disease

17 B. Pharmacogenomics- uses a person s genetic makeup to choose the drug or drug dose that is likely to work best for that individual C. Proteomics - studies the structure and function of proteins...allows for the development of drugs to correct defective or missing proteins D. Stem cell research - stem cells give rise to all other cells in the body (skin, muscle, nerve cells, etc). Research implications for cancer, diabetes, heart disease,etc. E. Nanotechnology- using small particles to deliver drugs in precise amounts to targeted body cells (ex. Cancer drugs to a brain tumor). Results in decreased side effects.