Question

Answer the following questions: a. In comparing a health care system to a cost center, Neel says, “The way to protect our margins is to figure out where the waste is — and get rid of it.” b. What role do patients play in determining cost and quality in health care? c. What public policies can reduce overuse? d. How might you identify waste where you work? Describe a time when you witnessed medical care that you thought was unnecessary. What was done to mitigate it?

Answer 1

Role of patients in determining cost and quality in health care

Most people approve a health care setting after the disease has ptogressed leading to increase in the cost of care, if regular checkups and follow up are done cost of health care can be reduced drastically.

Prevention is better than cure, also prevention doesnt require and health care cost, but even after knowing the risk factors most of the patients neglect it, eventually increasing the cost of care

public policies to reduce overuse

-some policies like compulsory health checkup every year, or at a fixed interval can lead to prevention at an early stage.

waste

Most of the health care cost is used for the luxury of the patient.

The basic treatment which can be given at a much lower cost is increased due to the modern luxurious hospitals, which focus more on the comfort rather than treatment to attract more patients

Also instead of using the generic medicines, many health care workers chose the brand who sponsor them, eventually leading to a drastic increase in health care cost.

Unstability of staff can also increase the cost, due to the training, uniform etc

unnecessary medical care Witnessed, and how was it mitigated.

- Patients with minor injury was admitted to the hospital, that patient needed a dressing change once every day, which was possible on day care bases, but such patients who can be treated on OPD bases are admitted increasing the cost

This was mitigated by making a policy for inpatient admission