Written by Fatima, 3rd Place Future of Health Competition Winner
“We all want our healthcare to be effective, we would like to be seen in a timely fashion, we would like to feel as though our provider is focused on us and our current illness at that particular moment, and we would like for the course of action with regard to our care to be safe.” -Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity, 2012
Introduction
Healthcare has been changing and that process of change will continue in upcoming years. The healthcare system in 50 years will be significantly different from what we have today. Many techniques have been adopted to make the healthcare system better, with some leading to downfall, while the rest of them gave healthcare a new shape for success. If healthcare professionals think strategically, significant changes can occur in the healthcare system. In the future, healthcare will involve more emphasis on technology, quality, and the overall structure of healthcare systems.
Technology
In the future, healthcare providers will emphasize technology more than they have in past. For instance, the vulnerable population, such as those living in rural areas, may not be able to afford the cost of reaching urban areas for healthcare services. The culture of this population and the cost related to distance and time causes difficulty for these patients to see the provider. Thus, healthcare can put more focus on telemedicine so that all individuals receive basic health services before having to travel. Finally, it is important that the health system administration prioritizes telemedicine and directs the appropriate support to the infrastructure necessary for a successful program. By using telemedicine technology, patients in rural areas can receive the same healthcare as those in urban areas. Eventually, this will lead to the overall success of patient health.
Quality
The other main factor in the future of healthcare is the focus on quality. Providers can supply a variety of services to patients, but the significant question is if these health services offer quality care to patients. There is no point in providing expensive health services if the quality or value to the patient is limited. Quality of care is not only related to specific treatment of patients’ diseases, but also to the overall satisfaction of the patient. If the patient is not satisfied with the customer service of the provider or the effectiveness of the treatment, then the quality will decrease. In the healthcare industry, the customers are patients. Therefore, healthcare professionals must place the needs of the patient as their first priority. When providers incorporate patients into their culture, we will have better and more effective outcomes in patients’ health. With an increase in quality, the patient can stay out of the hospital.
Structure
Healthcare systems will eventually change in upcoming years. Now, we see Minute Clinics, Assisted Living Homes for elderly, Urgent Care Centers, and so on. In the future, I believe there will be different centers for specific populations with specific diseases. This will give providers an opportunity to focus on specific populations in one center, resulting in better outcomes. In addition to different centers, the insurance system in the healthcare system will change. Even after the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many Americans are still uninsured because they cannot afford the insurance premiums and deductibles. The insurance system should require providers to offer basic healthcare needs with less premiums and deductibles for those who cannot afford it.
Moreover, the biggest change in healthcare will be fee-for-service clinics. Many acute diseases become chronic when patients do not see the provider. If there are fee-for-service clinics where insurances are not required, then people could seek more health services. Patients could go to the clinic on a regular basis and get blood tests done to see if there are any health concerns. This will allow patients to take care of their health first and foremost.
Vision of the Future
All in all, the future of healthcare is going to be markedly different in 50 years. We will still use technology, put forth efforts to achieve quality care, and strive to change or adapt different techniques to have the best healthcare systems possible. Nothing is impossible if there is an urge to put the right things together. As technology progresses, we can have new machines which will treat the patients with little or no harm. Developers can enhance applications to support secure communication between patients and providers. Furthermore, the quality of the overall healthcare system needs to improve in order to provide effective treatment to patients. I believe all these factors will lead to better outcomes in the healthcare system.
There are some golden gems in this article! If these are used we will have a much better health care system in 40-50 years. We need people with a vision over longer periods of time, who can think up these things, anticipate needs and find solutions that benefit everyone not just the insurance companies or hospitals. Everyone wins or no one wins at all!
I totally agree with the article and with what you said, Jeannette! We need to put more pressure on the people who should look out for all of us not just for people with money. Once they understand we are not to be messed with, they will do the right thing every time. There are so many people whose voices are not heard yet and we need to fight for their rights as well so that things like fee-for-service clinics and basic health insurance become a reality and not just a dream for 50 years in the future. They can be done starting now!
We definitely don’t need 50 years to implement what is talked about in this article. We should be able to implement much of this in the next 10 years but we need to put pressure on the right people so things start moving at a greater pace.
Finding the right people and getting things moving is probably the largest conflict regarding this issue. Once the correct people are pinned down, I agree implementations and improvements will move at a greater pace. I believe that 50 years is adding buffer time but in reality this is a serious and complex issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Healthcare has become an expensive “business” and needs to become a system that benefits the healthcare providers, insurance companies, and the patients/customers. Most of the patients/customers have little to no input in what they want out of their healthcare system. Even if patients/customers do provide input, companies or current systems do not shy away from their policies in order to benefit them. The truth of this matter is that we need to acknowledge improvements that need to be made in order to have a successful and effective system that corresponds to each side. Moreover, healthcare needs to convert from a “business” into a successful system that benefits EVERYONE.
“Everyone wins or no one wins” is undeniably true when it comes to our healthcare. Both the systems and the patient/customers are directly related and cannot function properly unless both are satisfied. I believe the visions need to come from both sides (insurance/healthcare systems and patients/customers) in order to improve healthcare as a whole.
If telemedicine improves everyone (in theory) should have access to high quality medical advice and treatment options. This should be an area that receives a lot of attention in the following years.
The idea about reducing the premiums and deductibles should be applied immediately and when it does we will see much less suffering and sick people around. Of course insurance companies want to make money but they must also look for ways to help people in need and the more they help the more money they will make in the long run.
It is a sad reality that we see so much suffering and ill people around in our current society. We have the tools and power to do something about it but do not have enough concentrated support.
You are so right! If hospitals put a strong emphasis on treating patients the best they can and also try to educate them, these people will not need to come back. They will be more careful knowing what they need to do to avoid getting sick again.
Good solution. Patients care about the satisfaction and quality of their treatment based on the customer service and effective outcomes. With an increase in the quality of healthcare patients can stay out of hospitals.
Fee-for-service clinics would solve so many problems. People from all walks of life would be actually able to afford health services and only pay when they need it. I would not even want health insurance if this was available; I already think I am paying way too much for the kind of health care I receive yearly.
For the patient that needs treatment, insurance systems and fees couldn’t be any worse. Fee-for-service clinics are an excellent way of targeting the general population.