Contemporary Healthcare Issues

Identify a contemporary health care issue and write a paper (1,000-1,200 words) that
describes how it impacts the organization from a business perspective. Apply the following
questions to generate your conclusions about how you would proceed:
1.Will there be differences between how for-profit organizations (versus nonprofit
organizations) are impacted?
2.What are the perspectives and responsibilities of the financial management staff?
3.What rules, standards, and regulations related to the issue must the financial
management of the organization address?

Contemporary Healthcare Issues

In the modern world, health care has embraced various changes compelled by various
emerging issues that are mushrooming every other day. These are contemporary issues ranging
from social issues to health issues. Social issues include financial crisis, climate change,
imbalanced income, terrorism, racism among others. Business sector considers upcoming
technologies and globalization as contemporary issues faced by the modern business (Bruce et
al., 2012). Health sector considers obesity, malignant diseases such as cancer, among others as
contemporary health care issues (WHO, 2013).
Heath business entrepreneurs and the government face a significant challenge in
addressing these modern health issues. The growth in population and the mushrooming of the
chronic illnesses are some of the major challenges the parties have to come to terms with (WHO,
2013). Assessment of emerging new technology exhaustively with transparency and efficiency
leads to increased cost in medical advancing which poses a big challenge (Bruce et al., 2012).
Also, there is no clear way of putting in balance public health care providers and government

CONTEMPORARY HEALTHCARE ISSUES

2
health care providers. There is also uncertainty in pointing out the health workers to administer
quality health services.
It is also of importance to note that it is far much difficult in balancing the indigenous and
modern health care. The government therefore should seek for ways to come up with lasting
solutions in addressing these challenges. It should lay down efficient measures in crafting a
health system that prioritizes on addressing these problems (Bruce et al., 2012).
With governments facing low infant mortality rate and high life expectancy, it goes
without saying that their population is increasing in leaps and bounds. Furthermore, ageing
population seems to take a toll. This spells out high dependency ratio whose burden lies on the
government of the day. In addition, aging predisposes development of chronic illnesses and
therefore, it strains the government resources which makes it difficult to fund the health sector
adequately. This is sad bearing it in mind that chronic illnesses are still at large (Bruce et al.,
2012).Though there seems like there is no potential of reforming the health system, the stake
holders ought to explore various avenues to find amicable solutions in order to reform the system
comprehensively. In order to achieve this, it calls for collective efforts from all stake holders.
In addition, if the universal agreement is anything to go by, all heath care settings should
see to it that they prioritize on management and prevention of chronic illnesses. However, this is
met with serious challenges as there are no adequate funds. Such illnesses are like diabetes,
hypertension and cancer (Bruce et al., 2012). The universal agreement aims at reaching the
neediest population by providing appropriate links among affected parties and health care
providers. This is a challenge in an environment stricken by shortage of quality health workers
and poor patients.

CONTEMPORARY HEALTHCARE ISSUES

3
The demographic nature of the nation poses a serious challenge in as far as maintaining
a stable health care is concerned. Providing support for those with disability and those that are
weak is more challenging than ever. This may be attributed to the changing of occurrence of
diseases pattern and the demographic nature. Prior preventive measures can be taken earlier to
curb this menace though it adds on health costs (Bruce et al., 2012).
Embracing new health technology has also been on the rise. Use of advanced health
devices such radio scanners among other new technologies has seen the cost of health rising to
the community. These require subsidy from the government. Assessment of new surgical and
pharmaceutical products should be done comprehensively paying special attention to cost
effectiveness. Private health facilities should come up with a criterion of embracing these new
technologies for the benefit of the whole community (Bruce et al., 2012).
In the recent years it has been realized that the financial management team plays a big
role in the overall management of healthcare organization. The core responsibility of these teams
involves planning, acquisition and utilization of funds to maximize the efficiency and value of
the health organization (Shanks, 2016). Some of the routine operations carried out by the
financial institution involves availing cash for payment of employees as well as maintain cash to
meet unexpected costs. In addition to providing funds, the financial organization provides the
leadership members with the necessary information to make plans (Shanks, 2016). For example,
a hospital may decide to buy new life support machine, in this case the financial management
will help the hospital management to make the best decision as well as establishment of how the
payment will be done for the machine.

CONTEMPORARY HEALTHCARE ISSUES

4
Through maintenance of good health status, the financial institutions help in prevention
of medical conditions that would incur huge expenses. This is usually achieved though screening
tests for conditions such as cancer and heart disease and to encourage early management of these
conditions before occurrence of complications. Finally, they are responsible for managing
treatment costs incurred by the clients. Therefore, it is crystal clear that the financial
management staff has a role to play in handling the challenges which are posed by some trends
in the health care sector (Shanks, 2016).
In handling the new trends in health care, the financial institutions should formulate
policies outlining the requirement for all individuals to attend screening services to enhance
reduction of costs which would instead be used in management of the diseases in the event they
occur (Shanks, 2016). Application of rules, law and regulations will go a long way in enhancing
integrity, accountability and transparency and in the long run ensure proper managements are
effected.

CONTEMPORARY HEALTHCARE ISSUES

5

References

Bruce K.A, James A, G., Stephen R., George L. & Lesley M.R.(2012). Major challanges in
health care ,Johnson’s publishers
Shanks, N. H. (2016). Introduction to health care management. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
World Health Organization. Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment. Geneva: WHO,
2012