[Verified Answer]: Comment on Peers Post: 1

Comment on Peers Post: 1.) Systems within healthcare are lacking and or completely non-existent. Every specialty, facility, etc. is run differently. Each uses a different record system, rules for staffing, and more. This is fine until patients are transferred between different places. Because of the lack of uniformity, miscommunications are extremely common. This leads to patients not receiving proper care and practitioners missing important information regarding the patient’s health. On another note, the entirety of the population is increasing in age. Medical technology is improving which causes the average life span to increase with it. The text states, “Americans are living longer, in part as a consequence of advances in medical science, technology, and health care delivery. As the population ages, there will be more patients with chronic conditions” (Greiner & Knebel). However (especially after COVID), the amount of healthcare workers has decreased. More patients are requiring care and the professionals that are needed to provide it are not available. Facilities being understaffed also leads to poor communication between providers and patients receiving inadequate care because of the lack of communication. This is leaving patient to be ignored and not cared for. 2.) I loved how the article specifically mentions how COVID-19 redefined healthcare. During the pandemic, patients who suffered from chronic conditions were more susceptible to complications, which is approximately 60% of the population (Harrison, 2021). The pandemic has shown how healthcare professionals need to make efforts in prevention to ensure individuals are as healthy as possible. Prevention could include cancer screenings, annual wellness visits, immunizations up to date, and vision and dental health. Another barrier is access, whether it is due to location or finances. It is nice when a resource bank can be built within communities to help with issues regarding transportation, coverage, finances, and making sure basic needs such as food are met. Intermountain Healthcare in Nevada and Utah piloted a multiyear program to help reduce disparities and was successful by a 12.7% reduction at the end of the third year (Harrison, 2021). Another service that has blossomed nicely, I think for the most part, is telehealth. Telehealth helps keep the sick germs at bay, and yet patients can be seen by providers. However, a big downside is there is no care better than in-person, hands-on with a provider. Telehealth makes specialists available for emergency care along with routine care to rural area hospitals (Harrison, 2021). Again, without the COVID-19 pandemic, we may not have reached the telehealth option of healthcare this soon. Lastly, when you encompass the economic components, healthcare is at risk of further complications due to not having the means, even if fully insured.