Health Care Industry Overview: Growth, Policy, and Patient Safety

Flashcards covering health care industry growth, workforce, soft skills, demographics, policy (ACA), safety, and health IT.

What percentage of American workers are employed in the health care industry?

About 10%.

How is health care described in terms of growth and future job opportunities?

One of the fastest growing sectors in the US economy with excellent job opportunities now and in the future.

What kinds of employment opportunities does the health care industry offer?

Diverse opportunities, advanced degrees and certifications, transferable skills, and pathways into leadership, teaching, sales, or research.

What are transferable skills and how do they apply in health care?

Skills from one job that can be applied to another, enabling cross-discipline training.

What is the distinction between soft skills and hard skills in health care?

Soft skills relate to personality and interaction; hard skills are technical tasks; employers value soft skills for success.

Who are primary care doctors in relation to gatekeepers?

They monitor patients and control access to additional services.

What cost-control strategies are used in health care?

Preventive services, care in the least expensive setting, avoidance of unnecessary tests, and coordinated services to maintain continuity.

What issue arises from lack of health insurance or a primary care doctor?

Many Americans go without medical care, prescriptions, or prenatal care.

What is the impact of patients' inability to pay on hospital finances?

Providers may write off losses, increasing costs for insured patients.

Why is access to health care limited in rural areas?

There is a shortage of doctors and providers; many prefer urban areas, making recruitment difficult in some regions.

How does the aging population affect health care demand?

Baby boomers are aging; 78 million were born 1946-1964; 65+ population will nearly double; by 2030, 4 out of 10 adult visits will be by baby boomers.

What share of health care spending goes to the final years of life?

More than 25%.

What are the main goals of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

Expand access to affordable quality health insurance and reduce rising costs.

What protections and requirements does the ACA include?

No denial for preexisting conditions; 10 essential benefits; no annual or lifetime limits; dependents on policy until age 26; individual mandate.

What are Medicare and Medicaid?

Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older; Medicaid is a state program for low-income individuals.

What is a patient-centered medical home?

An organization providing comprehensive, coordinated care to its patients.

What is an Accountable Care Organization (ACO)?

A network of providers who work together and share responsibility for a large group of patients.

What does PDSA stand for and what is its purpose?

Plan-Do-Study-Act; a cycle for planning a change, implementing it, studying results, and acting on what was learned to improve processes.

How does staffing affect patient safety and quality of care?

Under-staffing increases the risk of falls, incorrect tests, and other quality issues.

What is Lean Sigma and its prevalence in health care?

A combination of Lean (reduce waste) and Six Sigma (reduce variation/defects) to improve quality and reduce costs; about half of health care organizations have Lean Sigma projects.

What is the focus of patient safety culture?

Encouraging health care workers to speak up about mistakes and empowering staff to prevent harm.

What are the National Patient Safety Goals?

Identify patients correctly; improve staff communication; use medicines safely; use alarms safely; prevent infections; identify patient safety risks; prevent surgical mistakes.

What are the Five Rights of medication administration?

Right patient, right drug, right dose, right route, and right time.

What is the role of health information technology in health care?

Increased IT employment; use of EMRs and EHRs to share patient information; EHRs improve accessibility but interoperability remains a challenge.

What does patient engagement entail?

Patients being directly involved in their health care decisions and care processes.

How does prevention relate to cost containment?

Preventive services and care in less costly settings help prevent expensive interventions later.

What demographic observations about minorities and baby boomers were noted?

Minorities possess 75% of the nation’s disposable income; 70% of baby boomers subscribe to complementary or alternative medicine.

Why is prenatal care emphasized in access conversations?

Pregnant individuals particularly need preventive services; lack of access affects prenatal care.