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Shared Risk Contracting Concerning the Physician-Hospital Alignment Model

Introduction

Shared Risks agreements in the healthcare system are today considered to be essential elements of financial management forecasting (Fulton, 2014). While these models do not in all cases provide healthcare institutions with the same revenue possibility when equated to payment for services approaches, they are an important section of the fresh healthcare surrounding where all the main actors agree to take more risks as well as responsibility (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2010). It is the 21st century and accountability in healthcare servicing is the goal of every healthcare manager. In order for the healthcare institutions to be successful, it is imperative that managers and physicians maintain a productive and supportive operational collaboration. In that one part in the absence of the other will definitely not avail (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2010). Hospitals that desire to deliver more improved outcomes at reduced expenses are needed to create expressive, equally helpful collaborations and associations with their respective physicians. The developing American healthcare system demands for increased standardization decreased the disparity in the outcomes and suitable costs that require risks sharing agreements among the players (Fulton, 2014). The evolving of the system implies that there are a number of a model that might develop but physicians remain to be the consistent element to any progressing healthcare standard which makes physician alignment and risk sharing agreements authoritative (Fulton, 2014).

Risk-Sharing Contracts In Relation To Physician-Hospital Alignment Model

According to Feldstein (2012), risk sharing has become a common conduct in the healthcare sector in the last few years. There is no a globally agreed definition of risk sharing. However, in healthcare, it can be utilized to describe a non-conventional model of conveying value in connections. The presence of risk sharing agreements implies that economic, and medical consequences are dignified and accepted before agreeing on settling for contracts and all the payments are reliant on the agreed procedures (Feldstein, 2012). When a fresh technology gets into the industry, physicians and healthcare institutions might need to acquire the devices regardless of the involved costs in order to offer quality and dependable services. However, most organizations are likely to become unenthusiastic on becoming the primary adopters of this form of development based on the involved financial threat despite the involved benefits. In this quest under the risk-sharing model, healthcare institutions are required to make investment in any fresh technology after the involved financial and medical outcomes claimed by the supplier have been established (Feldstein, 2012).

In an age that is described by healthcare transformation, a progressing recession, shifting patient’s demographics and the changing regulations, hospitals and clinicians are particularly embracing the attitude of teamwork and establishing the fact that they are likely to acquire higher benefits in collaborative operations (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2010). The growing Hospital-physician alignment is particularly a symbol of economic and clinic change a trend that has managed to acquire the general attention of most administrators within the healthcare industry. Several years back, clinicians and hospitals in most ways acquired benefits from chasing unrelated goals via managed care (Fulton, 2014). However, presently the phenomenon has transformed, with clinicians and hospitals combining their roles and objectives to overcome the transformations that are impacting healthcare operations and the economy. The ultimate results, in most scenarios, is to acquire reduced costs with advanced patient health results as well as augmented accountability. In spite of the low alignment in the industry currently, close to three-quarter of the healthcare organizations in the country are pursuing the approach (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2010).

Physician-Hospital Alignment Need

Several factors are pressing healthcare organizations and physicians in lowering costs while still enhancing quality in general which thus necessitate more cooperative strategy in improving physician-hospital associations (Fulton, 2014). In the recent, it has been established by clinicians that focusing on competition against the hospitals brings fewer benefits when compared to aligning with these organizations (Feldstein, 2012). As the public based reimbursement in the health sector is becoming highly restricted, the likelihood of generating higher potential is reducing rather rapidly. In addition, clinicians and hospitals are inconsistent fights with the increased delivery cost in the sector as well as the increasing and elderly patient populace. In order to maximize the available sources of income and also manage costs, hospitals and clinicians are required to control healthcare delivery collaboratively (Hernandez & O'Connor, 2010).

Risk-Sharing Contracts Benefits

Since risk-sharing agreements offer benefits to the institutions by ensuring that financial and performance threats and benefits are evaluated prior to acquiring tools these contracts are additionally beneficial to physicians (Jeroen, Canfyn, Lieven & Paul, 2016). In that, when an institution is cautious to make huge investment in new clinical technology prior to the outcomes being proven, financial threats are alleviated to the supplier rather than the institutions. In this context, the institutions can operate collaboratively with the suppliers in creating outcomes quantification which in turn generate financial relief if the technology fails to perform based on the set expectations and stipulations (Jeroen, Canfyn, Lieven & Paul, 2016). In addition, in the scenarios where an institution is fighting to meet the set results, the technology provider can collaborate with the trader in growing clearness in data allotment. These then imply that both parties can work collaboratively with the utilization of the allocated data towards achieving the anticipated medical and economic results. In other words, risk-sharing agreements work to ensure that the likelihood of an institution to leading their followers in the acceptance of fresh clinical technology while guarding their financial situations and possibly enhancing the general results is achieved (Jeroen, Canfyn, Lieven & Paul, 2016).

The application of transformation normally necessitate risks but neither the hospital, providers, physicians or suppliers can be eliminated in the progressing fresh world that is mainly focused on the generation of value (Kast, & Lapied, 2006). The value that is mainly prioritized in the healthcare sector is quality, affordability, and accessibility of care services for all individuals. The successful application of risk sharing is mainly dependent on the capability by the institutions to create a balance amid long-run objectives, collaboration as well as relationships. The objective is mainly to focus on the production of the fair as well as reasonable approaches that operate for the benefits of all players (Kast, & Lapied, 2006). In that physician alignment is mainly useful in attempting to lower the expenses involved in care, acquiring better premiums rates, quality superiority and more enhanced relationships that attract patients to the healthcare providers (Kast, & Lapied, 2006).

The healthcare model is transforming rather radically, which is impacting healthcare business and productivity has significantly given that the industry is shifting towards a more lean production attitude (Kast, & Lapied, 2006). With the changes in regard to care delivery, the industry is mainly settling on a more physician-centric approach. Payment, for services model, is mainly grounded on revenue maximization and quality rather than affordability, quality as well as satisfaction a trend that has created intense buyers authority because they have the capability to change their medical providers (Kuhlmann, et al., 2015). With the existence of too many barriers in the sector which incorporates the liberty to accessing individual clinical information and data regarding the caregivers, the healthcare industry is gradually transforming towards consumerism which is to be achieved through physician alignment (Jeroen, Canfyn, Lieven & Paul, 2016). The institutions that have recognized the necessity have acquired the approach of risk management which is mainly targeting to create cost efficiency, thin and better relationships in care provision. Despite the fact that the model is mainly grounded on hospital-physician alignment, it is actually a consumer-centric strategy in the industry which is characterized by competitiveness.

Healthcare Landscape

Kuhlmann, et al., (2015) notes that cost efficiency in the healthcare sector has been a considerable success force for decades. After decades of worrying over the increasing cost that is fueled by technology development, need for quality services and expensive drugs, healthcare institutions and physicians are becoming more self-assured regarding the acquisition of drugs and technology whose expenses cannot be ignored given that to determines performance an occurrence that does not seem to diminish in the contemporary healthcare surrounding (Kuhlmann, et al., 2015). It is without a doubt that the American healthcare sector is in the process of important changes. In reacting too many years of severe insurance payments and augmented staffs contributions, customers are vigorously seeking for strategies to deal with the increasing expenses of the system. The strategies that are currently being utilized include changing payments to the servicing institutions, restraining market entree, and compensation for treatments and medicines where the acquired benefits cannot be shown adequately (Liang, 2010). Simultaneously, patients who are partaking increased monetary responsibility for their healthcare are now equally involved in individualized care, with more anticipations regarding healthcare products and services that they acquire.

Risk-Sharing Adoption and Considerations

Based on Liang (2010) the growing prices pressure from the consumers, the implementation of monetary consequences in relation to medical quality and regulations development, healthcare institutions and physicians are now concentrating more on results and costs rather than revenue. The trend, is significant, driving undeniable transformations in the care sector via enhanced alliance, the application of consistent, evidence-treatment and the modification of decision, making regarding products acquisition and supply from clinicians to the institution's managers and supervisors (Kuhlmann, et al., 2015). Based on the penetrating focus across the healthcare sector in regard to delivering more enhanced results at reduced expenses it is not astonishing that the density to utilize cost suppression quantification for medicines and treatment that incorporates Risk-Sharing agreements (RSAs) is still on the rise (Liang, 2010). Actually, Risk-Sharing contracts are particularly being utilized in the global market specifically in the United Kingdom and Germany as an approach to controlling health expenses. In addition, RSA can be utilized as a ground for compensation decisions, permitting the financers to react to the physician and consumer force for fresh and more expensive medicines while trying to mitigate the fears around the merchandise (Liang, 2010).

Conventionally, Risk-Sharing Contracts have copied several strategies which can be largely be alienated into performance and economic-based contracts. Economic-based contracts in often cases incorporate setting restrictions on the value of the specified medicine or the general amount that can be acquired (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011). On the other hand, contracts founded on performance normally associate payment to outcomes negotiations. Although, this is not usually collective in America, in the past there have been a number of prominent Risk-Sharing Arrangements. However, the recent move by the main pharmaceutical companies to set prices for chronic illnesses such as cancer on the ground of their performance in the industry has triggered the necessity for physician alignment to ensure that the consumer-centric strategy that is mainly centered on generating quality and affordability is not affected (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011).

It is important to comprehend that RSAs normally serves as an operative strategy in delivering quality, building relationships and reducing costs which demonstrate that the model is diverse but it is not applicable for all situations (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011). Based on research the application and the development of the contracts models have in the past been associated with severe barriers as well as intrinsic threats that are not within the control of therapeutic corporations which might include healthcare provision and deprived consumer’s acquiescence (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011). Under the risk-sharing contracts, healthcare financiers and the drug manufacturers approve to connect reimbursement and coverage standards to clinical effectiveness. This association is associated with several benefits to all the parties involved given that the manufacturers can utilize the models to distinguish and show the capability of their merchandise over those of the competitors which can assist them in making strategic decisions (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011). In addition, the healthcare physicians can utilize the models in gaining increased experience with the merchandise, lowering uncertainty in regard to medical value, operations as well as economic outcomes. This results in improved care since physicians have the opportunity to assess the use and the progress of the patients while examining the performance of the product (Lovrien & Peterson, 2011).

In developing leading healthcare organizations physician-hospital alignment, as well as several aspects, are needed that helps in long-run sustainability. In the past decade most of the aspect that conventionally aligned physicians and hospitals have been separated thus creating a competitive and distrustful culture (MacNulty & Kennedy, 2008). This trend is accompanied by the rising demands for coordination, efficiency, and quality which has thus forced most institutions to begin establishing more enhanced physician-hospital alignment that is necessitated for prospect victory. Based on the occurrence, presently, physicians and hospitals across the globe are engaged in reforming the association amid the two parties. Today, physicians and hospital administrators are more focused on developing successful as well as supportive operational relationships in order to acquire success in the period of responsible healthcare delivery. In other cases, past of mistrust and uneven motivations can make it rather challenging but the fact that the administrators desire to acquire sustainability via providing quality as well as affordability is helping in establishing fresh strategies to overcoming the barriers (MacNulty & Kennedy, 2008).

According to May (2011), for an efficient quantifiable integration to take place, Hospital-physician alignment is necessary particularly as the healthcare sector changes to a surrounding where costs will be linked to healthcare results that regards access, efficiency as well as quality (May 2011). When the ground goals of performance are achieved, Hospitals and physicians are abounded to acquire profits from shared investments and in achieving such levels the operations of the institutions must be united. In that, the Shared-Risk agreements seek to ensure that both party’s benefits while still enhancing quality and services deliver (MacNulty & Kennedy, 2008). This implies that if the set performance levels are not achieved, physicians and the respected hospitals are at a threat for lowered payments, zero profits or even eradication from the sector. In short, physical alignment refers to the collaboration and uniting both organizational and physician goals in order to create quality and reduce the operational expenses. This is the operative harmonization amid hospitals and physicians (May 2011). This creates the necessity for adopting fresh delivery and payment approaches offer superiority of patient care as well as augment physician contentment. There are three major organizational options for the healthcare institutes that invest in operative physician alignment which is employed physicians, independent physician and clinically unified systems (May, 2011).

The notion of Hospital-physicians alignment in the healthcare sector is not a fresh concept since it has been in existence since the 20th century (May 2011). The existing trends such as economic variations, fresh reimbursement approaches and the demands and increased health regulating policies are some of the forces that suggest the necessity for increased alliance amid physicians and hospitals for all players to acquire success (MacNulty & Kennedy, 2008). For the healthcare administrators, physical alignment remains to be an utmost priority despite the involved the fact that the uneven objectives amid the parties present challenges. The alignment is more of uniting mutual goals and trust rather than revenue generation. Incorporating Risk Sharing Contracts within the physician alignment helps in generating accountability and transparency via consistent communication as well as collaborations (May, 2011).

Physician-Hospital Alignment Improvement Strategies

In the contemporary healthcare sector, the necessity for physician alignment cannot be underrated. However, the success of the model is mainly determined by the manner it is implemented and whether the strategy utilized suits with the needs of the organization (McCarthy, Schafermeyer & Plake, 2012). However, given that Physician alignment mainly deals with personalized desires and inspirations it is therefore, essential for the hospital leaders to account for the suitable approaches. The alignment approaches are contracts, business servicing, pay and systematized communication (McCarthy, Schafermeyer & Plake, 2012). Business serving is a strategy that mainly incorporates incentives that are focused towards enhancing the existing relationships in regard to the business components amid the physician and the hospital performance. In that, the strategy mainly seeks to align the parties on the basis of their economic connection. On the other and contracts refers to the approaches that are designed on agreement relationships for specified physician solid, investment services and usually concentrating on the mixture of enhancing medical quality, operational efficiency as well as programmatic growth. In this context, these strategies mainly impact medical activity configuration (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007).

Shared risk agreement fits within the contractual strategies that seeks to improve operational strategies while reducing the involved risks for efficiency, quality and lower operative expenses to be acquired (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007). Organized communication as an additional strategy is necessary within the model. Organized communications can best be described as the approaches that are designed on structured communication procedures amid hospital administrators and physicians (McCarthy, Schafermeyer & Plake, 2012). The intention of the unification is the most affected given that the strategy seems to provide directions and common operating grounds. The employment strategy incorporates economic, clinical operation as well objective of alignment. Physician alignment need in different healthcare situations and settings imply that every strategy has its benefits and drawbacks. It is therefore upon an organization to adopt appropriate strategies for achieving the necessary arrangement based on the existing needs (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007).

McGowan & MacNulty (2007) asserts that the current situation in the healthcare system is as a result of uneven goals, mistrust, and competition amid hospitals and physicians. This creates two contrasting cultures because, despite the fact that both are in search of quality services delivery, physicians want their needs to be accounted as well which leads to satisfaction (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007). The identity of every physician is linked amid their expertise and the institution that they work for. For them, quality comes before cost the extensive financial budget of the hospital cannot be ignored. Physicians perceive compensation as a personal matter but for the hospital managers, it is an organizational issue. For hospitals and physicians to acquire success in the current environment accountable, affordable and quality care should be included which will, in turn, improve the relationships between physicians and hospitals (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007).

According to Salas-Lopez, et al., (2014) contrary to the hospital administrators, physician are performers given that they are involved in direct operations that determine the efficiency of the organizations. They mainly center on direct connections and value independence as the patient's supporters (Salas-Lopez, et al., 2014). On the other hand, the administrators are involved in planning and development of guidelines and strategies for enhancing quality. Their interactions are direct but targeting different groups such as investors, stakeholders, physicians, staff, and regulators. Administrators value teamwork while physicians are focused on individual efficiency. Administrators are supporters of the organization in general which makes them participative and their identification comes directly from the institution (McCarthy, Schafermeyer & Plake, 2012). Conventionally, effectiveness was not accounted as a vital to organizational efficiency but today it is a necessary measure. The current healthcare system is mainly focused on offering value-based services which demand safety, superiority as well as competence. Physicians usually play a critical role towards successfully enhancing superiority and health institutions performance. Given that hospital administrators are involved in planning and development affluence for the health institutions can best be acquired by cooperative operation between the hospital and clinicians. This implies that the value of each party is to be acknowledged and appreciated which will, in turn, play part in engaging in Shared-Risk settlements for shared victory (McGowan & MacNulty, 2007).

In controlling costs, increasing quality and creating affordability in healthcare physician alignment utilizes contractual Risk-sharing approach. Physician alignment is essential in achieving this goal and sustaining them in the long run (Salas-Lopez, et al., 2014). Hospitals should provide clinicians with an alignment of communal interests like shared visions, standards and public. Hospitals are obligated to offer knowledge and resources needed for operations such as technology and funds. Influence in the healthcare organizations is normally acquired in effective control which creates prioritizes and strategic guidance that aids the physicians (Salas-Lopez, et al., 2014). Hospitals can additionally provide independence for clinicians in general while still preserving restrictions on individuals conduct and operation. On the other hand, the alignment can be utilized to ensure that clinicians guard the present markets for the healthcare organizations and healthcare delivery harmonization. In that physicians can be incorporated in order to help in the organization and assimilation of healthcare delivery. In that they can improve controlled care, agreement with the utilization of shared-risk and recompenses (Salas-Lopez, et al., 2014). This is because they hold a higher potential in promoting multi-disciplinary alliance.

Physician-Hospital alignment is necessary because the society today is not tolerant of inefficiency and inattention in regard to protection and quality (Baker, Bloom, Davis, 2016). The capability to improve patient safety and superiority is impossible without the pledge amid physicians and hospitals. In this context, shared risk and Physician-Hospital unification are required given that the act as an approach that preserves physicians most suitable approaches and independence and yet maintain personal accountability (Baker, Bloom, Davis, 2016). Having a mutual vision is the central point when attempting to develop unified care approaches. The primary obligation of physician engagement is to improve and reserve physician expertise. In that independence, obligations and liberty must be aligned in creating trust and mutual goals rather than focusing on competitiveness. Physician alignment is the most essential issue that is being faced by healthcare organizations comparative to transformation an aspect that is absent today (Baker, Bloom, Davis, 2016).

The relationship amid clinicians and hospitals are perceived as the fundamental to the proposition of offering utmost healthcare quality at maintainable cost. In the last decade, major transformations have been experienced in regard to extensiveness, scope as well as difficulties of the existing associations (Sowers, Newman & Langdon, 2013). Despite the raising comprehension of the benefits and needs for physician-hospital association the process remains to be a challenging one which revolves around the establishment of suitable approaches and application. The developing healthcare reimbursement and provision development encourage increased collaboration amid hospitals and physicians (Sowers, Newman & Langdon, 2013). While economic demands, as well as the rising regulatory needs, offer the most authoritative facilitators, cultural transformations that incorporates physician management and the transforming anticipations of the operations should be accounted for when opting for authoritative alignment approaches (Baker, Bloom, Davis, 2016). This is because the alignment encourages both parties to perceive each other as vital aspects in achieving healthcare quality under reduced expenses.

More so, clinicians are highly establishing teamwork with hospitals alluring as they are facing the fresh economic challenges in the transforming competitive platform (Sowers, Newman & Langdon, 2013). A technology in the healthcare sector improves and electronic-based records are becoming standardized, clinicians are normally faced with requirements for investment that are too extensive to be practicable economically for one physician or for few individuals (Tollen & Crosson, 2013). The healthcare sector is currently experiencing an increasing consolidation spread with the perception that authoritative institutions are a requirement for endurance. Hospitals are currently searching to create relationships with clinicians groups in order to assist in the generation of financial basis, professionalism as well as an extensive recommendation base especially in regard to outpatient services. The primary benefit of such partnership lies on increased financial steadiness. In a survey that was conducted recently, more than fifty percent of clinicians expressed high interest in unifying closely with their respective hospitals in the quest of improving performance as well as boosting income gain (Tollen & Crosson, 2013).

Further, physician alignment usually leads to decreased administrative barriers in areas regarding equipment, expertise as well as advertising (Tollen & Crosson, 2013). This might additionally, decrease clinicians disclosure to misconduct complaints through the engagement of sharing risk. Physician alignment approaches are creating togetherness amid physicians and hospitals in innovative modes. If this kind of transformations is managed in an appropriate way with the presence of structured and concise communication, aims, arrangements, and intentions then an operative environment that is characterized by accountability and an increased possibility of arrangement strategic efficiency will be acquired (Sowers, Newman & Langdon, 2013). With proper measures and control, this approach can be beneficial to patients, healthcare institutions as well as clinicians. In the quest of maximizing the alignment and ensuring all the relevant regulations ranging from complied with physicians should be incorporated adequately. Based on the barriers and the benefits of applying Shared risk contractual in physician alignment adequate review and professional expertise is a requirement (Tollen & Crosson, 2013).

Physician Alignment Catalyst and Stimulation

Physician alignment is a form of working activation that seeks to truly change the general delivery of the healthcare sector, hospitals and clinicians are bound to stick together (Totten, 2014). The forthcoming accomplishment for health care systems is mainly dependent on clinicians not just on the efficient adaptation of healthcare practice and regulation given that all parties are supposed how to survive in the fresh setting. In addressing these increasing transformations, physician alignment has grown to be a common phrase that is utilized by administrators, physicians and consumers that is mainly aimed at motivating behavioral transformation (Totten, 2014). The existing need for change shows that transformation should be developed in the quest of achieving clinical transformation. However, that fact that developing change is not an easy concept can never be ignored. The capability to activate physician workforce necessitates shared approach, goals, collaboration as well as inclusive strategies of operating. Through the utilization of a strategy that is based on human behavior it is apparent that clinicians and hospitals hold a more enhanced chance for achieving fresh ventures in changing the system and obtaining competitive market benefits (Totten, 2014).

The change state of competition, the desire to acquire upgraded patient involvement and innovative operations are the primary aspects that allow healthcare facilities to create interactions and unify them with the concerns and motivations of physicians. The effective utilization of these process implies that the healthcare organizations can be able to strengthen its referral association which will be useful in retaining and expanding the market space for both parties. Physicians are in progressing battle for career and skills development, quality servicing as well as revenue stability (Totten, 2014). On the other hand despite the fact that both parties share desires to create quality they differ in regard to control as hospitals hold more control over operations but physicians are more connected to the market because they make direct interaction with the consumers (Totten, 2014).

Aligning the goals of the consumers and those of the hospitals is essential given that it lowers the operating expenses while increasing efficiency via shared risks (Trybou, Gemmel & Annemans, 2011). Shared risks do not only imply that the economic benefits and threats are assessed prior to the venture but it also helps in distributing the operating threats equally. In that physicians are not likely to take responsibility for poor quality and market base reduction gave that they work collaboratively with the organization (Totten, 2014). On the other hand, the organizations integrate their physicians in the designing of alignment strategies in order to ensure that efficiency is acquired while still focusing on enhancing quality. An operative physician-hospital integration approach is a vital element in securing success and competitive positioning. Physicians are, therefore, necessitated to take the chances and apply structured communication in order to ensure that these issues are fixed well (Trybou, Gemmel & Annemans, 2011). This, in turn, works to ensure that physicians are mainly dedicated in healthcare delivering the utmost care quality.

Physician-hospital alignment is not a tool for securing survival rather it is a practice in healthcare that involves incorporating physicians within the set health system (Trybou, Gemmel & Annemans, 2011). This can mainly be acquired via well-structured, well-financed physician and extensive programs that incorporate the general procedure of comprehending the needs and behaviors and establishing the most suitable responses. The final objective of the physician-hospital approach is to augment physician operation and patient recommendation by creating expressive associations while improving physician’s services (Trybou, Gemmel & Annemans, 2011). The primary barrier that hinders the success of the alignment is that hospitals are characterized by more control and this limits their abilities to not restrict the authority, obligations and the independence of the physicians. By creating autonomy physicians are able of selecting the most suitable care for their patients irrespective of the alignment intensity (Totten, 2014). An additional challenge, the general process is usually conducted on case planning and therefore cannot be evaluated at any institution. The alignment success is mainly dependent on the organization’s capability to offer support to the care delivery units. In this case, any concern that is raised by the physicians should be considered which is essential in communicative responses and creating transparency (Wolper, 2013).

Zhao et al., (2016) with physician alignment and shared risks agreements actionable marketing knowledge is created. In this context, it becomes easy for the healthcare organizations to comprehend relationship opportunities, focus on cooperation and actual real responses that communicates about the required solutions (Zhao et al., 2016). Today’s healthcare system is in progressive change which implies that it is more dynamic than in the past.  Healthcare institutions and clinicians are therefore necessitated to enhance their operations in the quest of achieving higher revenues possibilities while creating utmost patient care (Wolper, 2013). The obligation of physicians is critical to organization and clinical development given that their performance determines competitive positioning. Despite the contrasting goals, the decreasing physician compensation along with the raising operating expenses has mainly triggered clinicians to reassess their competitive positions in healthcare institutions (Zhao et al., 2016). Hospitals which have experienced economic difficulties accepts that collaborating with clinicians allows the achievement of quality improvement, cost reduction, satisfaction and financial stability (Zhao et al., 2016).

Conclusion

Based on the progressing state of the healthcare system, it is apparent that the main focus is to deliver quality under lower costs to create affordability and convenience. Risk-Sharing Agreements attempts to ensure that the economic and medical outcomes of merchandises are proven prior to making purchases. It is apparent that quality and affordability cannot be achieved without the incorporation of physician alignment given that a consumer-centric movement necessitates the participation of both parties. Physician’s role towards high performance is immeasurable and the best channel through which accountability, quality, and affordability can be achieved is through an alignment amid hospitals and physicians through shared risks and collaboration. Hospital administrators are in charge of planning and coordination an aspect that can be utilized to create structured communications to encourage transparency, teamwork and motivate the unification of goals. It is apparent that efficiency can never be achieved without good relationships between clinicians and hospital administrators as the major players. With the current economic changes and consumer demands and preferences consistent modifications, it should be noted that quality, safety and affordability and the prime priorities. While shared risk plays part in mitigating financial and clinical threats physician-hospital alignment is involved in creating favorable working surroundings for the achievement of common goals. Ultimately, this result in improved quality, affordability due to the operational costs reduction, physician’s satisfaction, efficiency and financial stability as the market is secured.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Feldstein, P. J. (2012). Health care economics. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Fulton, M. S. (2014). Physician Clinical Alignment and Integration: A Community-Academic Hospital Approach: PRACTITIONER APPLICATION. Journal of Healthcare Management, 59(3), 208-209.

Hernandez, S. R., & O'Connor, S. J. (2010). Strategic human resources management in health services organizations. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Jeroen, T., Canfyn, S., Lieven, A., & Paul, G. (2016). Physician–hospital exchanges and extra-role behaviour of physicians: The moderating role of the chief medical officer. International Journal of Healthcare Management, 9(4), 225-235. doi:10.1179/2047971915Y.0000000022

Kast, R., & Lapied, A. (2006). Economics and finance of risk and of the future. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons.

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Liang, L. L. (2010). Connected for health: Transforming care delivery at Kaiser Permanente. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Lovrien, K., & Peterson, L. (2011). Hospital-physician alignment: making the relationship work. Hfm (Healthcare Financial Management), 65(12), 72-78.

MacNulty, A., & Kennedy, D. (2008). Beyond the models: investing in physician-hospital relationships. Hfm (Healthcare Financial Management), 62(12), 72-77.

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Alternative medicine approach in treatment of a dermatological condition

Ma & Sivamani (2015) assert that acupuncture is an alternative medicine approach used by Chinese to treat dermatologic disorders. Other nations such as U.S are using this medicine since it has gained popularity. Traditional Chinese believed that the condition is as a result of disruption of vital energy. The treatment involves the use of acupuncture needlepoint to stimulate the meridians to cause normal circulation and cure. Results from a systematic search and 14 studies with 559 participants show that acupuncture is effective for dermatologic conditions like dermatitis, acne, polyhidrosis and urticaria (Ma & Sivamani, 2015). This is an alternative therapy in dermatological condition and evidence from a systematic study show that the medicine cleared acne lesions for a period of three months. Psoriasis is also a skin disorder which has affected a high population in U.S.  Acupuncture shows a significant resolution and substantial changes (Ma & Sivamani, 2015). 

 According to Landis et al (2014), complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used in U.S.  One review showed that dermatological patients who use CAM are 35%-69% (Landis et al, 2014). CAM study was taken in U.S and the study showed that patients who use CAM suffer from skin disease. Majority were female aged 50-79 years old. Numerous skin condition such as dermatitis and actinic were identified. CAM supplements were used by patients with dermatological conditions. They include fish oil, glucosamine, Lactinex, Flaxseed oil, Psorizide, Cinnamon among many (Landis et al, 2014). The overall results from this study show that almost 8,150,000 patients used CAM for five years. CAM supplements were effective for the general health. The top alternative medicine approach of dermatological condition  are  Lactinex - alleviates atopic dermatitis, Psorizide -a homeopathic medication  used to treat dermatitis and psoriasis for a period of 12 weeks, herbavision-provides antioxidants and EFA oil-anti-inflammatory (Landis et al, 2014).

 

 

 

 

Reference

Ma, C., & Sivamani, R. K. (2015). Acupuncture as a Treatment Modality in Dermatology: A Systematic

Review. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 21(9), 520.

doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0274

 

Landis, E. T., Davis, S. A., Feldman, S. R., & Taylor, S. (2014). Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Use in Dermatology in the United States. Journal Of Alternative & Complementary

Medicine, 20(5), 392. doi:10.1089/acm.2013.0327

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Title: Manual Blood Pressure.

General Purpose: The general purpose is to inform my classmates on how to measure blood pressure manually.

Specific Purpose: The main objective of this speech is to allow my classmates to know how to easily conduct manual blood pressure, thus being able to understand their health status.

INTRODUCTION

  1. It is necessary to understand one’s blood pressure, in order to determine if the blood pressure is either high or low. Thus either understanding the normalcy of one’s body or the condition which one is suffering from.
  2. I will consequently talk about the process involved in conducting a manual blood pressure, how to measure.
  3. I will also inform you how to read and how to read and understand the gauge, and what the readings on the gauge signify.

Transition: this speech will not only focus on how to measure blood pressure manually, but it will also focus on allowing my classmates to understand the actual blood pressure.

Body

  1. Preparations for the measurements.
  2. Do not take anything which might affect your blood pressure, and this may include taking alcohol or through smoking.
  3. Roll up the sleeve of your left arm.
  4. Locate a quiet place, and rest for a period of 5-10 minutes, to allow blood flow in the body to be at ease.
  5. Allow yourself to relax, by freeing yourself from any form of stress
  6. Locate the pulse on your arm using your index finger.
  7. Wrap the arm with the cuff tightly, making sure no space remains in between.
  8. Use your finger to check if there is any space left in between the cuff.

Transition: After making the necessary preparations, you should now begin taking the measurements.

  1. Taking the measurements.
  2. Slowly slide the head of the stethoscope into the cuff, while facing downwards. The stethoscope should be positioned directly above the pulse of the artery.
  3. Then position the gauge where you can easily see it and gently hold the gauge while taking the blood pressure.

Transition: interpreting the results is very significant, as it allows one to understand if his or her blood pressure is normal or not, and what are the effects of the given results.

  1. The normal blood pressure should not exceed 120mmHg, and the diastolic blood pressure should also be more than 80mmHg.
  2. If the reading in the gauge lies between 120 and 139mmHg, then one suffers from hypertension.
  3. If the reading lies between 80 and 89mmHg, then the individual will be suffering from diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the measurement of manual blood pressure should not be a complicated process, but an easy process which should help in diagnosing our blood pressure conditions. 

439 Words  1 Pages

Helping the uninsured

  People who do not have health insurance normally have their insurance coverage provided by the government through programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. However, most of these individuals fail to qualify for the insurance coverage. The others who qualify encounter great challenge in finding a physician who can accept this insurance due to the lower rates the government has been using to reimburse doctors. The government should use the market forces to provide coverage for individuals with no insurance by providing an effective insurance exchange where the individuals are connected with providers of insurance and financial contributors such as family members and family members (Longhurst, 2011). Left on alone, market forces can be exploited by other health insurance to earn more profit by hiking premiums. In such arrangements, consumers can be allowed to pool resources through the help of financial contributors and hence, source the insurance covers from market providers.

To fund enhance the financing efforts for the uninsured , there should be collaboration between the federal government and various states so that financial  burden can be reduced for the states and most of it is borne by the federal government (Kovner, Knickman, & Jonas,2011). The federal government should therefore, focus on how to raise the larger portion of the insurance costs by enacting laws through the senate; such laws should involve increased taxation for the high income earners and direct the funds towards insurance coverage for the uninsured. Through this, the low income earners can be allowed to pay insurance premiums that have been subsidized.

The control over private health insurance providers by the government should involve protecting the freedom of consumers to buy insurance plans as have been agreed between the parties. This also extends to protecting consumers from any fraud or force in the market and through this, the health insurance market will be left free of any interference. The reason for this control should be to ensure that various schemes of private health insurance do not work to exploitation of consumers through overcharged premiums that makes that deny them financial freedom (Motaze, Chi, Ongolo-Zogo, Ndongo, & Wiysonge, 2015). Without regulatory frameworks or interventions Private Health Insurance market players may come up with practices that aim at minimizing risks to prevent losses such as denying coverage for individual applicants with pre-existing health problems or even overcharging them for the same products. However, too much regulation should not be encouraged since the insurers may find themselves under much stress that lead to strangulation of the free market. Too much regulation may lead to a situation where the functioning of insurance schemes may not be sustainable and hence, can be forced to close their operations (Motaze, Chi, Ongolo-Zogo, Ndongo, & Wiysonge, 2015).

The government has the major task of shaping the health insurance sector .It largely takes the role of a regulatory body in the health insurance market and providing and enabling environment for private health insurance providers to operate and consumers to access such services. The aim government should ensure that the markets are competitive enough to allow consumers to freely select among different options, where there are different prices and coverage levels. The private health insurers should ensure that it provides health care coverage which the government is unable to meet due to financial constraints. Consumers should take control of their own health and raise complaints with other health stakeholders where they feel that their access to health insurance coverage is  not being addressed (Kovner, Knickman, & Jonas,2011).

References

Longhurst, B. H. (2011). Health Care Exchanges: How the Government Can Use Market Forces to Fix the Health Care System. Nev. LJ, 12, 868.

 

Motaze, N. V., Chi, C. P., Ongolo-Zogo, P., Ndongo, J. S., & Wiysonge, C. S. (2015). Government regulation of private health insurance. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD011512. Advance online publication. http://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011512

Kovner, A. R., Knickman, J., & Jonas, S. (2011). Jonas & Kovner's health care delivery in the United States. New York: Springer Pub.

670 Words  2 Pages


Utilizing Research Paper

EMR

Electronic Medical Record (EMR), is a digital type paper charts, which are utilized by practitioners for the tenacity of recording patients’ records. In addition, it also contains the medical history of patients, and their current medical issues (Skolnik, 2011). EMR is beneficial in research, as it allows medical practioners to use the collected data from different patients, thus determining the specific effects of a given disease or drug (Nass et al, 2009). In addition, it also improve the quality of a research, due to the clarity of the patients’ information which is being recorded. Information recorded in EMR may as well be used when conducting a research, thus making it easier for researchers to understand the conditions which people from a given area or state are suffering from, and the factors affecting their conditions in the area (Almarsdottir, 2016). Finally, EMR is significant for the collecting first-hand information about an area hence understanding the possible ways of providing medical care to the affected.

Utilization of Research

Healthcare research is significant both to the society and to a health organization, due to the following reasons (Nass et al, 2009). It provides different approaches to dealing with different conditions (Skolnik, 2011). In addition, it also provides the trends of diseases, care patterns, the costs of healthcare and use. Due to this reason, medical practitioners can be able to easily come up with new methods of treatment, hence being able to reduce the chances of the spread of the disease. On the other hand, healthcare research leads to the discovery of new medical discoveries, new therapies, and also the improvement of healthcare provision. Finally, researches have significant impact on human life, as they help in providing new ways of dealing and treating different medical conditions (Almarsdottir, 2016).

The administration is supposed to utilize research for its organization, as it allows it to understand the systems which it needs to incorporate, in order to deal with issues which have been recorded from the research (Skolnik, 2011). This may include the implementation of EMR, since it is significant to understand the research first and foremost, before moving forward to implement the EMR (Almarsdottir, 2016). This is significant as it allows the administration to understand the issues which it will be facing, the best system to deal with the issue, and the best ways of planning for the issues provided in the research (Nass et al, 2009).

The utilization of research is important for the implementation of EMR technology, since EMR is supposed to be made in such a way that it can be easily used (Almarsdottir, 2016). For instance, an EMR of a hospital in Texas, cannot be similar to an EMR of a hospital in California. This is basically because different health institutions require different EMR’s depending on how they prefer to use it (Nass et al, 2009). EMR is usually customized, and it is therefore necessary to conduct a research, on how to customize the EMR, thus making it easier for the medical practitioners in a health organization to use it at ease. In addition, research also allows the relevant authorities in an organization to understand the types of systems which should be incorporated into the EMR, and its cost, thus coming up with an expenditure (Skolnik, 2011).

Stakeholders

A stakeholder is any party which participates in the activities of a company, and can either be affected or affect the performance of the business.

Stakeholders may have an understanding on how research should be utilized in a company, this consequently means that if they are involved in research utilization, then they can come up with unique procedures of using the research, thus improving the performance of the company (Skolnik, 2011). In addition, stakeholders need to be involved in the execution of new tasks in the company, thus allowing them to provide their opinion on the issue, hence impacting the company positively. Failure to include stakeholders in the utilization of research, may affect the company negatively, a factor which may make some stakeholders to pull out of the company, thus affecting the performance of the company (Almarsdottir, 2016).

EMR is significant and it greatly influences stakeholders, due to the way it impacts flow of services in a healthcare organization (Nass et al, 2009). Immediately after an EMR is implemented, doctors, nurses, and patients, who are all stakeholders, get to fully benefit from the system, as it allows the storage of information to be done easily, treatment to be also conducted easily thus saving lives (Skolnik, 2011). Finally, EMR influences the medical practitioners to work hard, due to the flexibility of the EMR systems, which makes it easier for them to work ease, and to also provide medical support to patients without any problems whatsoever (Almarsdottir, 2016). As medical practitioners work hard, they also learn about new disease trends, hence coming up with measures of preventing the spread of the disease.

Recommendation      

EMR can be implemented in an organization through the involvement of all the stakeholders in the implementation process. This is whereby all the stakeholders will provide their opinions on how the system should be customized, thus leading to the implementation of a unique and easy to use system.

Reference

Skolnik, N. S. (2011). Electronic medical records: A practical guide for primary care. New York: Humana.

Almarsdottir, A. B. (2016). Drug utilization research: Methods and applications. Wiley-Blackwell.

Nass, S. J., Levit, L. A., Gostin, L. O., & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2009). Beyond the HIPAA privacy rule: Enhancing privacy, improving health through research. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.

931 Words  3 Pages

Duck Syndrome

Part A

Task 1

Duck syndrome’s symptoms are: headache, anxiety, depression, increased appetite, sleep disorders and anger.

Task 2

Headline: IS DUCK SYNDROME THE NEW STRESS AGENT AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS?

Task 3

Duck Commander is a company which manufactures duck hunting products.

Task 4: Is Duck Syndrome the New Stress Agent Among College Students?

The effect of duck syndrome has been severe particularly among college students. This has been attributed to living far from home. In addition, increase in class work and extra-curricular activities at school have also led to the spread of the condition among college students (HALES, 2017). New students, particularly those in their freshman years in college are at a very high risk of contracting duck syndrome, and this has been attributed to the changes which they face when they move to college. On the other hand, older students have also been affected with duck syndrome, where most of them suffer from conditions such as depression, lack of no sleep and increased appetite. Older students are mainly affected by the large amounts of class work, which they are supposed to submit within a specific period of time. This makes them to freak out, most of them ending up being stressed (Bader, 2011).    

Part B

Hammer

  1. A hammer is one of the basic tools which are essential for man to be able to do different tasks. In the past, during the Stone Age period, the early man used stones which were creatively carved as hammers. They were consequently used for different purposes, and this included killing wild animals (Melton & Hornick, 2015). This tool therefore became a very significant tool for man, as he further evolved over the years. The current man, could not look for another tool other than a hammer, in order to perform different tasks such as breaking stones, hammering nails, and for smelting purposes. In the 18th century in particular, iron smelting was very diverse, due to the manufacture of weapons which included spears, swords, and arrows. These weapons were not made easily, since they were first smelted before being hammered, thus becoming sharp at the edges. Increase in population and the growth of kingdoms made it necessary for the invention of the hammer, as it was used for the manufacture of weapons which were important during that period.

Due to the emergence of civilization, it was necessary for man to come up with different types of hammers, which could be able to cater for different tasks (Melton & Hornick, 2015). This therefore saw the invention of the modern claw hammer, which is used mostly by carpenters. Similarly, club hammer was also designed for the purposes of construction of buildings and roads. In as early as 1860’s it was essential for a club hammer to be invented, as it was to be used to break huge stones into concrete for construction. The invention of the railway, also brought the need to use a club hammer for breaking huge pieces of rock into smaller pieces to be laid for the rail road. This consequently provides the reasons as to why it was necessary for hammers to be invented, as they have very wide applications in modern day, than they ever had in the past.

  1. Over the past ten years, the hammer has seen significant innovations, with the following being the main innovations. The hydraulic hammers, claw hammer and the modern technology claw hammer. These are just but a few innovations which have been made over a period of the past ten years. The hydraulic hammers are fitted on excavators, and they use hydraulic pressure, as the name suggests (Melton & Hornick, 2015). The hydraulic hammer was invented in order to reduce the man work, thus increasing efficiency through the use of machines, particularly in breaking huge rocks which might be humanly impossible to break. This tool was mainly associated with industrialization, which brought about the need to come up with machine aided hammer, in order to break huge rocks, thus making it easier for the construction of roads and buildings. It has consequently been one of the best innovations, as it has allowed the construction of buildings and highways to be done within the shortest time possible, and it is also cheaper as compared to manpower.   

The latest innovation of the claw hammer has also made it easier for the carpenters to be able to do their work at ease. This is because, the handle of the hammer has been made lighter, whereas the hammer itself has been made a little bit heavier, thus allowing the user to exert little pressure, and the hammer exerts more pressure on the nail (Melton & Hornick, 2015). In addition, the claw hummer has also been adapted to removing nails from timber through the use of the claws, which have been made easier to remove a nail from a timber. Finally, the modern technology hammers, these are hammers which are used for hammering metal sheets in industries. They are automatic, since they are fitted on automatic machines, which makes it easier for them to perform numerous jobs as instructed. They therefore accomplish tasks such as hammering metal sheets, giving metals a specific shape, and in the lining of steel rods. I believe these are the key innovations, simple because these are the types of hammers which are currently being used, thus showing how effective they are.

  1. In the next 10 years, automatic drilling hammers will be invented, thus replacing the club hammer, whereby claw hammers will be replaced by small automated hammers (Melton & Hornick, 2015). This is basically because of the technological improvements which are currently taking place. Everything will therefore become automated, hence making work easier, and also replacing man with machines.
  2. In the next 50-100 years, the product will still exist, however, it will have additional tooth like features, which will be responsible for breaking huge rocks into pieces. In addition, the claw hammer, since it will be automated, it will still retain its shape but its claws will be replaced by claws which resemble buffaloes horns (Melton & Hornick, 2015).   

Part C

  1. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

The foundation works to improve the well-being of the poor in the world’s poorest companies in the world. In addition, the foundation, also has a global health division, which aims at harnessing science and technological advances, hence being able to save lives of the poor in developing countries’ (Roza, Killcoyne & Moy, 2015). The foundation has different divisions, with each division having its objective. The United States division is mandated with the task of improving the high school and college education, and to also support the needy who live in the state of Washington (McGoey, 2015).

On the other hand, the global policy division is mandated with the task of coming up with strategies which will help in improving their policies, thus helping in advancing its work (McGoey, 2015). This division also provides the organization with ways through which it can be able to offer support to the needy, ways of offering grants, and ways through which they can be able to reach most people. This allows the company to be able to deal with a lot challenges, and to also be able to reach most people particularly those in developing countries (Roza, Killcoyne & Moy, 2015). 

  1. Bill and Melinda Gates is an international company, which works in different continents all over the world. These continents include: North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and South America and Oceania in Australia (Roza, Killcoyne & Moy, 2015). The organization, which was launched in the year 2000, has been at forefront in providing financial and medical aid to the poor in developing countries, whereas it also provides educational support to the vulnerable in the U.S. it was started after Bill Gates together with his wife Melinda, read of a story about death of poor people in developing countries, due to water shortage (McGoey, 2015). This made them to look for possible ways of reaching the poor and lend a helping hand, thus creating the foundation.

The foundation provides ways through which developing countries can be able to improve agricultural produces, thus being able to improve their economic levels (Roza, Killcoyne & Moy, 2015). In addition to that, through aiding in scientific advances, the foundation provides developing countries with new ways of avoiding drought, hence being able to safeguard the well-being of the poor all over the world. This has consequently seen the foundation reaching most people all over the world, and providing the best services to them.

Reference

HALES, D. I. A. N. N. E. (2017). PERSONAL STRESS MANAGEMENT. S.l.: HEINLE.

Bader, J. B. (2011). Dean's list: Eleven habits of highly successful college students. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Melton, J. G., & Hornick, A. (2015). The vampire in folklore, history, literature, film and television: A comprehensive bibliography.

Roza, G., In Killcoyne, H. L., & Moy, M. (2015). Bill and Melinda Gates: Digital age philanthropists.

McGoey, L. (2015). No such thing as a free gift: The Gates foundation and the price of philanthropy.

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Drug Discovery

Introduction

Drug discovery is the process whereby new medications are discovered. In the past, drugs were discovered through the identification of active ingredients from traditional medicines. This consequently led to the exploitation of traditional medicines, which were later found to be of positive impact to the human body. However, due to the emergence of the new technology, new methods of drug discovery have been invented, thus the use of chemical laboratories in the discovery of drugs has been on the rise. In a bid to understand drug discovery, this paper will describe the process of drug discovery, its importance, and the type of personnel involved in the process of drug discovery.

The Process of Drug Discovery

The process of drug discovery is very long, and it can therefore be reduced to five categories which are:

Research and early development is the basic research process, where researchers get to look at the underlying mechanisms or the causes of a given disease (Ng, 2009). Researchers then look at the new chemical entities which display promising activity contrary to a specific biological target, which is believed to be significant for the disease. Preclinical research clinical trials cannot begin before preclinical research. The main objective of this process is to provide the ultimate safety of the product. In chemical and pharmaceutical development, researchers tend to design a quality product and its process of manufacture in order to deliver the desired performance of the product. Clinical research, in this process, clinical trials are conducted thus collecting both safety and efficiency data of the new drug. Non-clinical data of the drug is also collected, thus ensuring it provides the best results (Cooper & Mayr, 2011). Finally, in the chemical and pharmaceutical production, this is the process whereby the drug is approved, hence the manufacture and production of the drug begins.

Importance of Drug Discovery

Drug discovery targets to provide new and effective medicine, in order to deal with a unique ailment. This is consequently very important, as it allows researchers to come up with effective drugs, which can combat ailments which cannot be easily treated by ordinary drugs (Cooper & Mayr, 2011). In addition, drug discovery makes it easier for paramedics to understand new sources of medical drugs. The sources of drugs changes according to the way researchers explore and research for new sources of drugs (Ng, 2009).

Personnel involved in Drug Discovery

Drug discovery is a costly exercise, which involves different entities which come together in order to facilitate the discovery of the new drug (Cooper & Mayr, 2011). Private companies, may provide scientists, who work together with medical University students and scientists from government laboratories in order to explore the new drug. The process requires these three groups to work together, thus being able to come up with the best sources of drugs, hence being able to produce the best results, which is coming up with an effective drug (Ng, 2009).

Conclusion    

This paper has discussed the process of drug discovery, where it was evident that in order to discover a drug, five steps need to be followed, in order to produce a highly effective drug. In addition, the paper has also looked at the importance of drug discovery, where it discussed how the discovery of new drugs leads to the production of effective drugs. Finally, the paper has provided a list of personnel involved in the discovery of drugs, where it discuss how costly the discovery of drugs is, thus requiring different entities to work together in order to facilitate the discovery of the new drug. 

Reference

Ng, R. (2009). Drugs: From discovery to approval. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.

Cooper, M. A., & Mayr, L. (2011). Label-free technologies for drug discovery. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K: John Wiley & Sons.

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Discussion # week 4 Yaneisy Correa Vento

Use of Catharanthus roseus by the Ati, a Negrito ethnic group in Philippines

This therapy involves the administration of Catharanthus roseus as a leaf decoction for the purpose of treating dysmenorrhea in Women. This therapy has shown a high informant consensus among the ethnic community. The success in this therapy may be attributed to the various analgesic properties of the plant which can likely results from the chemotherapeutic agents and alkaloids. The properties have also been known to have some anticancer pain reducing abilities (Ong & Kim, 2015).  Plants that have analgesic effects can be used to provide temporary solution for dysmenorrhea including other aches such as pelvic, back, abdominal and labor pains. Such therapies have been conducted with an aim of intervening for the high maternal deaths and improvement of health conditions for women in this society (Ong & Kim, 2015).

Role of nurses in patient education

 Nurses in health care are tasked with the role of improving patients’ health by offering them recommendations that are evidence based and encouraging them to receive preventative services to avert any complications. Patient education is an integral part of any health care provision and the learning should be centered on the patient so as to empower them on how to give personal health care. The patient education offered by nurses should involve self-management skills especially in chronic diseases such as diabetes that comes with major health complications in future. The nurses should therefore , make the patients understand the need for receiving important services such as scanning and counseling, and following through the medication procedures. The patient education should also extent to whatever measures the patient should take such as lifestyle changes so as to avert any health complications (Hunink et. al 2014).

References

Ong, H. G., & Kim, Y. D. (2015). Herbal therapies and social-health policies: indigenous Ati Negrito women’s dilemma and reproductive healthcare transitions in the Philippines. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015.

 

Hunink, M. M., Weinstein, M. C., Wittenberg, E., Drummond, M. F., Pliskin, J. S., Wong, J. B., & Glasziou, P. P. (2014). Decision making in health and medicine: integrating evidence and values. Cambridge University Press.

 

 

364 Words  1 Pages

Annotated Bibliography on Congestive Heart failure Education

Baroni, L. J., Hughes, B. H., & Wahba, G. A. (2015). Effect of continuous education on readmission rates for CHF patients. Retrieved from     http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/research_scholarship_symposium/2015/poster_pres    entations/38/

            Baroni, Hughes & Wahba (2015) assert that consistent education leads to reduced readmission levels for CHF patients. Heart failure education is an essential knowledge that is offered to patients but zero or little follow ups are performed after patients discharge. The authors assert that the lack of consistent follows up on the patients leads to increased readmission rates based on the lack of supervision and guidance. The source is essential in offering supportive evidence to my research. In it will be utilized to assess and propose probable solutions to the increasing readmission levels among CHF patients.

Carpenter, J. E. (2015). Improving congestive heart failure care with a clinical decision unit. Nursing Economic$, 33(5), 255-262. Doi:

            The article holds that CDU developments result in reduced readmission rates. The research utilized a qualitative design where comparative groups were utilized to assess the outcomes of CDU on readmission levels. The article concludes that based on the need to create a balance amid financial and clinical stability CDU application offers numerous opportunities where nursing leadership can impact medical care desirable while maintaining their financial wellness. The study will offer evidence in regard to CDU effectiveness in controlling readmission rates among CHF patients. In addition, this will contribute to supporting the probable strategies that can be applied given that it is based on reliable evidence.

De Vleminck, A., Pardon, K., Beernaert, K., Deschepper, R., Houttekier, D., Van Audenhove, C. & Vander Stichele, R. (2014). Barriers to advance care planning in cancer, heart failure and dementia patients: a focus group study on general practitioners' views and experiences. PloS one, 9(1), e84905. Doi:

The article notes that, it is apparent that the readmission rate among CHF patients is quite high but is also clear that this is driven by healthcare professional’s perspectives and experiences. In that it is their working hardships that results. In the ineffectiveness. In this context, the concerns of the practitioners should be accounted for in the quest to improving care. The article will be utilized to support that argument that the working surrounding and healthcare knowledge plays a critical responsibility in driving the readmission levels.  

Gosselin, J., Hanson, J., Kapadia, S., Lin, M., Nash, B., Neill, L., & Tran, C. (2014). Congestive heart failure patient education intervention to address 30 days CHF readmission. Doi:

            According to the article, approximately 20 percent of patients with CHF are readmitted within 30 days after discharge. This is an occurrence that is mainly fueled by the fact that little follow-up interventions or education are applied after the patients have been charged. Thus, it is proposed that it is through education that a clear understanding can be developed in regard to self-supervision and treatment. The article is important given that it will offer evidenced based support to the study’s argument that there is a need to apply feasible and reliable intervention in lowering the readmission level.

Hobbs, J. K. (2016). CNE SERIES. Reducing hospital readmission rates in patients with heart failure. MedSurg Nursing, 25(3). doi:

            The financial significances highlighted by ACA, in association with clinical practice encounters in addressing the level of readmission within 30 days among CHF patients asserts on the need for effective interferences. The article emphasizes that healthcare professions are required to establish effective measures that seeks to lower patient’s readmission while offering quality care. The article is essential because it demonstrates the relation amid consistent education and quality care in lowering readmissions. The article will be utilized to support the need for clinical intervention due to the increasing readmission level for patients with CHF.

Jurgens, C. Y., Goodlin, S., Dolansky, M., Ahmed, A., Fonarow, G. C., Boxer, R., & Fleg, J. L. (2015). Heart failure management in skilled nursing facilities. Circulation: Heart Failure, 8(3), 655-687. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1161/HHF.0000000000000005

            The article asserts on the significance of addressing HF services in SNF. Amongst the projected, 2 million inhabitants within SNF in America heart failure is very mutual. However, despite the consistency of HF among SNF populace, there are none of the major randomized clinical trials in regard to HF that has incorporated this populace. This source is important in offering detailed evidence in regard to how different strategies can be applied to suit different populace based on their surroundings. 

McHugh, M. D., & Ma, C. (2013). Hospital nursing and 30-day readmissions among Medicare patients with heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, and pneumonia. Medical Care,     51(1), 52. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182763284

According to the article among Medicare patients, 20 percent of those suffering from HF is, readmitted within 30 days. The guidelines of ACA that have raised financial accountability of healthcare facilities for readmissions that can be prevented. The article asserts that in addition to consistent education the relationship amid education and working environment impact the potential of the intervention strategies. The source is important because it will be utilized to demonstrate the relationship amid the education and healthcare settings in lowering readmission.

 

Kripalani, S., Theobald, C. N., Anctil, B., & Vasilevskis, E. E. (2014). Reducing Hospital     Readmission: Current Strategies and Future Directions. Annual Review of Medicine, 65,     471–485. http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-med-022613-090415

            According to the article the authors note that the increasing financial penalties for health facilities that acquires the utmost readmission has increased the need to establish feasible interventions. There are however several strategies that have proved to be effective in lowering the readmission rate such as medical needs evaluation, education and follow-up interventions. However, the obligation played by home-based interventions has not be defined adequately. The source is useful because it illustrates the most effective intervention strategies as well as illustrates the necessity to focus on home-based intervention that is intended to maintain consistent supervision.

Banoff, K. M., Milner, K., Rimar, J., Greer, A. E., & Canavan, M. (2016). Assessment of a Novel Tool for Identifying Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure At Risk for 30-Day Readmission,  High Cost, And Longer Length of Stay. Nursing Economic$, 34(4), 172-    181.

Based on the article despite ACA contribution CHF is categorized as the most expensive in regard to the required efforts and finances. The authors therefore, proposes that Rothman Index evaluations can be essential to prospectively establish patients that are at HF risks to avoid extensive hospitalization that is associated with high cost. The source is essential because it provides evidence on the cost of CHF readmissions and how it can be avoided. The source will help in supporting argument of the most feasible measures.

House, M. (2016). Cardiac Medicine 30-Day Readmission Reduction Strategies: Do Improved Discharge Transitions Decrease Readmissions. MEDSURG Nursing, 25(4), 251-254.

            The article is objected at investigating the effectiveness of advanced ejection transitions in lowering readmissions rates. The author noted that most patients are readmitted within 30 days after their discharge given that the process is not well designed. The process should be an advanced one that seeks to establish the patients’ needs and how follow-ups and interventions can be applied. The article will be utilized in developing arguments in regard to the significance of developing discharge processes as a measure of lowering the readmissions levels.

Hoffman, R., & Whitton, A. (2013). A Partnership of a Hospital Based Heart Failure Program and Home Health Care Agency to reduce 30-day Readmissions. Heart & Lung, 42(4), 303. doi:10.1016/j.hrtlng.2013.0

            The authors note that there is a need to integrate home and hospital based initiatives that seek to address the readmission issue. In that, it has been established that hospital based initiatives normally end after discharge and there is little follow up afterward which results in appropriate self-management among patients. However, with the incorporation of home-based initiatives, this can help in creating consistent follow-ups that will, in turn, lower the general level of readmission. The article will be utilized to support the argument that home-based initiatives are appropriate in ensuring that patients are well supervised which promotes health wellness.

Mortara, A., Pinna, G. D., Johnson, P., Maestri, R., Capomolla, S., Rovere, M. L., & Sleight, P.     (2009). Home telemonitoring in heart failure patients: the HHH study (Home or Hospital in Heart Failure). European Journal of Heart Failure, 11(3), 312-318.     doi:10.1093/eurjhf/hfp022

The article investigated the effectiveness of telemonitoring among HF patients.  The authors concluded that home and hospital assessments in regard to HF demonstrates that self-administered HT is a probable solution. However, the article asserts that the effectiveness of HT in lowering the readmission rates should be assessed thoroughly. The article will be utilized to demonstrate that home, as well as hospital management programs, should seek to offer education to the patients on self-management. This will, therefore, offer evidenced based support on the argument that there is a necessity to addressing the increasing readmissions among CHF patients.

1478 Words  5 Pages

Pros and Cons of Regulations of Clinical Research

The regulation of clinical research has both pros and cons, based on the regulations provided by the regulatory body. This determines whether the regulation will be of benefit or if it will provide challenges for clinical research. In a bid to understand the why clinical research should be regulated, this paper will provide both the pros and cons of clinical research regulation.

Pros of Clinical Research

The main pros of regulating a clinical research is to provide maximum safety for those participating in the research, and to also allow for the transparency of the information gathered from the research (Cavalieri, Rupp, 2014). The research should be conducted in such a way that the participants are not put at any form of risk. There are many types of risks, and this may include contracting a disease from a victim or from the environment where the research is being conducted. The safety of the participants should not therefore be at stake. Secondly, the process of conducting the research, the methods of gathering used should also be transparent, thus making it easier to understand how the conclusion was reached (Olson, Claiborne, 2014).

Cons of Clinical Research

Regulation of clinical research might also lead to a lot of challenges, some of them being the following: poor room for conducting the research, and strict rules hindering proper research (Olson, Claiborne, 2014). The regulatory commission may not provide clear rules for conducting clinical research, a factor which might hinder the researches from conducting the clinical research at ease. Similarly, the rules might also be very strict, thus making it hard for the researchers to be able to conduct the research in the best way possible (Cavalieri, Rupp, 2014).

Reference

Cavalieri, R. J., Rupp, M. E., & Sigma Theta Tau International,. (2014). Business administration for clinical trials: Managing research, strategy, finance, regulation, and quality.

Olson, S., Claiborne, A. B., & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2012). Strengthening a workforce for innovative regulatory science in therapeutics development: Workshop summary. Washington, D.C: National Academies Press.

346 Words  1 Pages

The Problems of Rising Health Care Costs

                                                   Introduction

 In the recent years, the high cost of medication and treatment has led to the surge in healthcare insurance costs. The primary drivers of high health care cost include technological and treatment options advancement, physician services, and aging populace and prescribed drugs. the high rate of uninsured persons is characterized by individuals who are unable to afford health insurance and thus their health issues are less likely to be addressed leading to poor health status. According to Kumar (2011) there is an over dependence on medical technology in the current generation to the extent that certain services such as pediatric health care are out of reach of the average citizen. High healthcare costs have also been as a result of increased pricing of prescription medicine because of branding. The resultant effect, according to Kesselheim (2013) is that patients, as well as that of health, insures is strained further contributing to the problem. The adverse effects of high cost of healthcare are that it impacts on the health care professional ethics, social as well as political well-being. Health care rinsing cost is therefore a major economic and social issue that affects developments and national stability.

Overview of the Problem

Rising healthcare cost is considered as a major issue because it results in adverse health outcomes. One major problem associated with high cost of medication is that it results in reduced or lowered adherence to necessary medication in cases where they cannot afford such (Kesselheim, 2013). The primary drivers associated with increased health care costs over the years have been attributed to healthcare technology, wasteful spending in the medical sector as well as unhealthy lifestyles that have seen increases in a condition such as obesity. Annually, the government spends close to 850 billion dollars on health care which outweighs the economy. The rising gaining populace and the intensifying healthcare cost drives health spending even higher as health initiatives and social security has increased by 10 percent  which is expected to increase up to 16 percent in the next few years.  There have been reforms to address these problems such as the Affordable Care Act, but according to Thorpe (2005), most reforms are usually targeted towards insurance based solutions. The multiple causative factors associated with increased healthcare costs call for a need to come up with various solutions to adequately address the problem.

 Healthcare Costs as a Social, Political and Ethical Problem

The rising cost of healthcare is considered as a moral problem because it impacts on the ethical decision making of healthcare providers. The major issue that arises with increased health care costs is that healthcare institutions are faced with a challenge of balancing their profits while at the same time providing holistic healthcare to their patients. These institutions operate on a limited budget and hence the need to make profits to sustain their business operations. Another ethical challenge that might arise with the high cost of healthcare is when health care practitioners are faced with the dilemma of caring for patients who are under-insured. While this often results in stretching the institutions' resources, it is an ethical obligation for healthcare providers to provide service to patients regardless of their economic status. Riley and Moy (2012) are of the opinion that moral conflict often arises when there are financial factors in play that place barriers in the provision of the best possible medical care to patients. The rising cost of healthcare means that the cost of healthcare insurance is also affected and the majority of the population end up not being able to access these services. Provision of health care to these individuals, therefore, creates moral dilemma to health care providers who are required by their profession to provide holistic care but at the same time face challenges caused by high costs of healthcare provision. 

The rising cost of healthcare is also a social problem because it limits access to health care services to individuals by class and race. In the U.S, for example, health disparities have often existed based on class and race, and this is considered a social problem. Inequality in the provision of healthcare as well as social inequality which is exacerbated by racial discrimination is a major social issue and the leading cause of illnesses among vulnerable populations. Race and class identification is a system of socioeconomic stratification whose impacts on the cost of healthcare provision cannot be underestimated. Minority ethnic communities are often marginalized when it comes to access to essential amenities such as healthcare. The high cost of healthcare implies that these populations are likely to be negatively affected because the majority of individuals are poor (Kawachi, Daniels, & Robinson, 2005). Access to quality healthcare as well as to healthcare insurance services is limited to minority ethnic groups as a result of an increase in health care costs. The high cost of healthcare, therefore, contributes more to the problem of as social inequity by further limiting access to essential amenities by persons belonging to a lower ethnic community and the poverty stricken.

One of the key areas of government spending is in the healthcare sector. The rising healthcare costs are viewed a political problem because it impacts government spending and more importantly increases the cost of government spending. In the U.S in particular, it is estimated that the government has expanded spending on healthcare over the years in a bid to curb the high costs of medication, but this has not been effective in controlling the cost increase (Brown, 1992). The problem seems to lie in the financing system employed. Reforms in the health care insurance policy, through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), have tried to minimize the gap in insurance provided to American citizens and to increase healthcare insurance coverage across the growing population. High health care cost is a political problem because it calls into question the role of the government in streamlining healthcare provision and making it accessible to all the citizens. The primary debate surrounding the role of government as far as health insurance is concerned is whether there should be a public health insurance program to supplement those offered by private companies or the government should come up with a  universal public healthcare insurance to replace those provided by private insurance companies. The debate surrounding these issues often tends to delay the establishment of appropriate government policies to curb the problem, and this contributes further to the escalating cost of healthcare provision.

 Conclusion

In summing up, the high cost of health care is attributable to various factors and successfully tackling it requires the adoption of multiple strategies. Government efforts in lowering the cost of healthcare have been one dimension focusing mostly on insurance based policies. Despite the implementation of such policies, the continued increase in health care costs poses social, ethical and political challenges to all stakeholders involved as well as the public. Practical approaches to addressing the problem of rising healthcare costs would include the adoption of public health interventions as well as shifting focus on promoting health. There is also need to ensure and promote cost effective medical care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       

 

 

References

Brown, E. R. (1992). Problems of health insurance coverage and health care in the United States: public and private solution strategies. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 8(3), 270-286. Doi: 10.1590/s0102-311x1992000300007

Kawachi, I., Daniels, N., & Robinson, D. E. (2005). Health Disparities by Race and Class: Why Both Matter. Health Affairs, 24(2), 343-352. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.2.343

Kesselheim, A. S. (2013). Rising Health Care Costs and Life-Cycle Management in the Pharmaceutical Market. PLoS Medicine, 10(6), e1001461. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001461

Kumar, R. K. (2011). Technology and health care costs. Annals of Pediatric Cardiology, 4(1), 84–86. http://doi.org/10.4103/0974-2069.79634

Riley, E. C., & Moy, B. (2012). Ethical Challenges: Caring for the Underinsured, Geographically Disadvantaged Patient. Journal of Oncology Practice, 8(4), 215-218. doi:10.1200/jop.2012.000603

Thorpe, K. E. (2005). The Rise in Health Care Spending and What to Do About It. Health Affairs, 24(6), 1436-1445. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.24.6.1436

                             

1342 Words  4 Pages

 Human Resource

 

McKesson is one of the most prevalent distributors of healthcare products across the United States.  The principal operational theme at McKesson underlines the provision of improved health service that equates customer needs in different aspects of the industry (Giber et al. 2009). The firm is a major player in the delivery of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies to healthcare facilities including pharmacies such as drugs in North America and internationally.  Nevertheless, McKesson specializes in the provision of information technology (IT) services to the healthcare environment.  It plays a vital role in the supply chain of pharmaceuticals considering its efforts to maintaining its consistency in the distribution and procurement of medical products more than other many suppliers.

Suitable to the diversity of McKesson’s business sector, its operations are segmented into two different units to facilitate efficiency. The two departments include; the distribution solutions and technology solutions component. The distribution solutions group is principled to distribute products for example; drugs, health equipment, and beauty-care products.  It is in particular oriented to the supply of pharmaceutical solutions for different medical institutions including hospitals, retail pharmacies, and other medical systems in the healthcare community.  Conversely, the ‘technology solutions’ division is a representation of McKesson’s ‘Health Technology Solutions’ department that intermediates clinical solutions, network performance instruments, claims payment, and other technological resolutions aimed to diminish service convolution in the medical arena.  Some of the services provided by the technology solutions department include; the clinical, financial and connectivity support.

 

 

Competitive Position

McKesson is ranked fifth on the ‘Fortune 500’ list (“Fortune 500”, 2017). McKesson is among the top three largest pharmaceutical distributor companies in the state of California where it is headquartered. As mentioned earlier, McKesson has a series of “Strategic Business Units” (SBUs) which operate under separate categories (Distribution and Technological Solutions). From different aspects of McKesson’s operations (Health Solutions and health technologies), the firm stands at a thriving position in the United States.  The planning and organizational management at Mckesson believe in cooperation of its two operational entities as a key weapon of instigating positive outcomes of its auxiliaries and generally, its competitive position. However, there are other significant human resource factors which a lot contribute to positive results of McKesson’s activities more than services provided by many of its competitors. 

McKesson's market sector, size, and its diversity in the pharmaceutical landscape continuously favor its market success in regards to competitive position. Through the aspects, the firm has been able to make a set of strategic moves which effectively sustain its competitive advantage by equalizing short-term impacts whereas establishing a base for a long term thrive.

Market Sector

McKesson has over years prevailed as an important competitor in the pharmaceutical industry allowing for the fact that there are a variety of other firms along the supply chain to the provision of pharmaceutical services. The company is involved in a complex market sector which often experiences a lot of significant transformations, mainly, as a result of the ever-changing nature of globalization. Importantly, McKesson's growth corresponds with its market sector facilitated by the flexibility of the company's industrial segments. For instance, the firm is from time to time able to implement current technologies by changes in the market sector which mostly indicate aspects of healthcare improvement.  The company's consistency in quality improvement increases the reliability and validity of its services in the pharmaceutical supply system and so, the sustainability of competitive position.

Without hesitation, McKesson holds an honor in the pharmaceutical landscape which grabs it an excellent competitive position. Considerably, McKesson is by far independent in aspects of supply and procurement of pharmaceutical products unlike some other participants in the supply chain who depend on services from supplementary companies for a streamlined distribution system.

The pharmaceutical industry is dominated by large industries with huge revenues. The sector in which McKesson is engaged in has few companies that can be considered as its competitors thus offering it an excellent opportunity to utilize the privilege to boost its competitive advantages.  The American Bergen and Cardinal Health together with McKesson own the largest share in the medical business sector.  The market share enables them to grip an outsized portion of profits hence discouraging entrance of new companies in the industry. New entrants encompass a variety of difficulties when establishing a sufficient market share in the dominated environment since it becomes hard for the new players actually to transform their distribution resources into equitable profits. Importantly, the vibrant nature of the market avails McKesson a continuing competitive position. For example, the large firms including McKesson purchase drugs from manufacturers at large cut rates than individual customers and other suppliers and so, grabbing it a unique position in the industry.

 

Size

The most prominent aspect of McKesson industry highlights the immense size of its operations in various fields of the industry that increases its economic status. The large-scale of McKesson’s operations is logically a key illustration of its competitive advantages. Owing to the demands of the healthcare industry, the company has continuously thrived in performance fueled by its capabilities to operate as a large distribution corporation (Khan & Zsidisin, 2011). The Large structure of its supplies enables the firm to cover the market demands hence its superiority. Nevertheless, the company is capable to deliveries since it has many employees in the supply system which deters the occurrence of distribution delays. For instance, it is the prime distributor of pharmaceutical products in big outlets such as ‘CVS Health pharmacy’ and Wal-Mart hence outdoing the smaller supplier industries in the market so avoiding chances for a downstream movement of its current position. 

On the other hand, McKesson has successfully continued to invest in the establishment of productive distribution assets which are readily contributed by its large distribution responsibilities. It has efficient and dense supply density that increases efficiency and volume of its distribution channels. The firm has been able to generate accommodating warehousing infrastructure thus increasing probabilities for huge asset returns.  Besides, the firm has incorporated a team of relevant expertise in its operating systems that lessen the burden accrued in capital management, consequently, increasing its economic returns. As a result, McKesson registers substantial asset returns which enhance its capabilities of sustaining a top level competitive position.

 

 

Diversity

The variety of the industry exemplifies that a supply company must be efficient to the delivery of multifaceted products for it to thrive in the medical field (In Roberson, 2013).  McKesson is among the biggest firms in the pharmaceutical landscape; providing services of diverged nature.  McKesson structure is segmented into operational units with each unit majoring in the supply of different products. As a result, McKesson can dominate its competitive position in the market since not all among its competitors have the distribution capabilities of its range.

Facilitated by its effective strategies to pharmaceutical diversity, McKesson has hindered the emergence of immediate and affluent drawbacks in its supply scheme. Importantly, it, as a result, emphasized on the expansion of its auxiliaries such as Albertsons and also, established possible relationship systems with core customers (Wal-Mart) which wholesomely enhances its performance. Also, McKesson continues to reestablish the existing distribution as well as its procurement networks. Reorganization of its operational structure is purposely meant to minimize the encompassed costs while curbing the complexity of information technology in the healthcare industry. Arguably, reorganization of its segments has progressively enhanced its operational efficiency and at the same time sustaining the company’s competitive position.

Risks

Despite the McKesson’s competitive advantages, the firm encounters some significant risks in its operations which trigger the existence of immediate drawbacks to its performance.  Client consolidation, consumer decisions, and pricing intelligibility can be measured as the key threats that are likely to cause performance unstableness for McKesson. 

Pricing Transparency

The pharmaceutical industry has over time received unrelenting suggestions that highlight the need for pricing transparency.  The players especially the small scaled players have over and over again shown interests for a more transparent pricing system. Specifically, players critique the need for pricing transparency between drug manufacturers and distributors.  It is logical that pricing transparency has the potential to lower McKesson’s pricing privileges by impacting a reduction of the existing discounting levels over potential competitors.

Probabilities of drug spending reduction

Over a period, clients have been delivering negative attitudes towards drug spending; a move that exposes McKesson to risks of profit reduction and slashing of its market. The firm's customers have continued to send their unrelenting fear for the increasing supply pricing of pharmaceutical products. Payers have in turn signaled continuing dedications of curbing the increment of drug spending.  Arguably, the risk underlines a continuous trend considering that pricing is dependent on market demand (Zhao et al. 2016). Without hesitation, McKesson’s providence depends on the perceptions of drug manufacturers and pharmacy retailers. For instance, the firm remains uncertain whether manufacturers will be willing to shift their pricing based on demands. It is therefore logical that McKesson stands in a delicate pricing situation taking into account that reluctant acceptance among the manufacturers to turn purchase pricing by supply demands will cut down its economic margins.

Customer Consolidation

Augmentation of client mergers with McKesson’s competitors is a significant risk to its operations in different fields. McKesson operates in a highly competitive business hence the firm often face the danger of losing its core clients.  A loss of its market adds up to unfavorable effects, especially on its financial limits.

Human Resource Opportunities

Notably, the healthcare industry is contemporarily experiencing a variety of transformations which are majorly focused on the improved service quality. The many changes in healthcare exemplify the need for systematic improvements in all operations including healthcare supply chain to establish quality improvement. In response to the need for an efficient supply chain in the medical industry, it is important for the distribution companies to put into practice the available human resources opportunities to increase their distribution efficiency.  Nevertheless, many distributors in the pharmaceutical industry refer to opportunities as an immediate base of establishing a solid competitive position.

Considerably, there are some human resource opportunities that a merchant can utilize to enhance operational efficiency while setting its competitiveness.  Owing to the human resource risks that McKesson faces in the healthcare industry; acquisitions, merger, and partnerships can be critiqued as the core management approaches that increase its business opportunities.  The possibilities accrued by the mentioned strategies have the potential to helping McKesson boost its shareholder value and develop an enduring growth. The key opportunities include investment, saving, and franchise opportunities.

Acquisition

McKesson Corporation has the human resource capabilities of acquiring a variety of other distribution divisions in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Therefore, the firm has a chance of using acquisition as a strategic weapon of influencing growth in the overall healthcare landscape. Through the acquisition, the company acquires the opportunity of strengthening its competitive position. Growth through acquisition demonstrates the importance of getting hold of other potential distribution divisions at both the domestic and international level which in turn increases an organization’s market share.

Merger

An alliance describes the combination of two operating companies to form one company (DePamphilis, 2010).  For the case of McKesson, a merger is an effective strategy of influencing positive outcomes of its operations in the industry.  McKesson has a variety of opportunities in the industry that can be achieved quickly through the merger. The firm has the needed human resource capabilities to participate in horizontal and market extension mergers.

The logic behind horizontal merger describes the incorporation of two companies which operate in the same industry for the sake of enhancing market consolidation.  In the pharmaceutical industry, there are a variety of distributor firms which can merge with McKesson Corporation. Significantly, the firm has the necessitated human resource capabilities including capital investment for an active merger with small and also large distributors.  Also, the firm has the ability for a product extension merger considering that its operations face competition in different markets. Product extension merger demonstrates the union between companies that provide similar products but encounter competition in various environments.

The amalgamation between McKesson and other supplier businesses in the industry is likely to favor its performance by strengthening and creating enough chances for driving its position to higher levels.  The merger provides the firm the opportunity to enjoy sufficient economies of scale. For instance, it develops a strong base through which McKesson will be able to make up for its transparency costs in a broad range of increased operations.  Merger offers McKesson the control over its comparative economies in the supply market, which highly diminishes competition pressure. Less completion in the market provides the firm enough chances of providing products at increased prices thus reducing the effects that may result from pricing transparency and reduction of drug spending (Parr et al. 2005).  Also, merger develops a satisfactory customer base, and so, McKesson will be able to undercut the impacts of client consolidation by its competitors. For instance, McKesson merger with many distributors and in particular dealers at lower levels denies its core competitors such as the Bergen Brunswig chance to scheme for a significant market share (Paley, 2006).  McKesson will in due course grab a significant market share which favors its competitive position.

Partnership and Contracting

McKesson position in the supply chain offers it enough chances to partner with other players at different echelons in the supply chain whose capabilities do not overlap (Ayers, 2006). On the other hand, contracting is another human resource factor that can easily derive McKesson’s performance while helping the firm to maintain its competitive position of its technology unit

The partnership provides McKesson the opportunity of strengthening its market share hence maintaining its competitiveness. For instance, the pharmaceutical industry has a big number of viable partners such as the retailers who stand at a different level since McKesson operates as a supplier. Partnering is an effective strategy of expanding its operational boundaries in various market settings since retailers are located in different target markets.

The existing healthcare industry underscores increasing requests for IT solutions to counteract the ever-changing growth of healthcare organizations. As a response to technological advancement, McKesson’s technological unit acts as a vendor for different technological solutions for medical solutions such as imaging solutions. Also, the firm operates not just as a seller but has advanced into a connectivity partner of the imaging technology. The biggest challenge impacting the company’s progress in some markets, suggestible, regional markets encompass issues related to the lack of a striking marketing team. For this reason, McKesson needs to partner with a consulting agency to get the essential requirements for an effective campaign of its medical technology, especially in the local business environments.

 It is important to note that the buying behavior of technological solutions within the healthcare industry is determined by the reliability and efficiency of the system and distributor capabilities of supplying the accrued solutions. Connectivity is a complex field which requires critical attention related on often basis regarding issues of, for instance, maintenance and upgrading hence the need for contacting. McKesson has potential opportunities for subcontracting its technology solutions unit with specialized companies in the IT sector.  Authorization of its technology unit to a specified IT agency presents a set of useful elements on the company's reliability and efficiency. Subcontracting would ensure that McKesson's services are up to date in regards to the changes in the healthcare industry and so, building a strong customer base. 

 

 

 

References

Ayers, B. J. (2006).Handbook of Supply Chain Management, Second Edition. CRC Press

DePamphilis, D. M. (2010). Mergers, acquisitions, and other restructuring activities: An integrated approach to process, tools, cases, and solutions. Burlington, MA:       Elsevier/Academic Press.

Fortune 500. (2017). McKesson. Time Inc. extracted from http://fortune.com/fortune500/mckesson/

Giber, D., Lam, S. M., Goldsmith, M., & Bourke, J. (2009). Linkage Inc's Best Practices in          Leadership Development Handbook: Case Studies, Instruments, Training. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.

In Roberson, Q. M. (2013). The Oxford handbook of diversity and work.

Khan, O., & Zsidisin, G. A. (2011). Handbook for supply chain risk management: Case studies,   effective practices, and emerging trends. Ft. Lauderdale, FL: J. Ross Pub.

Paley, N. (2006). The manager's guide to competitive marketing strategies. London: Thorogood.

Parr, A. N., Finbow, R. J., & Hughes, M. J. (2005). UK merger control: Law and practice.           London: Sweet & Maxwell.

Zhao, Y., Meng, X., Wang, S., & Cheng, T. C. E. (2016). Contract analysis and design for           supply chains with stochastic demand.

 

2729 Words  9 Pages

Prevention of HIV among Adolescent Girls and Young women between the ages of 15 to 24 years

Introduction

Health promotion is necessary for the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDs among the young girls and young women between the ages of between 15 to 24 years. The spread of HIV/AIDs has more than doubled in the US, thus making mostly teenagers to fall victims of the disease. Most youths have ended up losing their lives due to poor health education. In addition, most youths indulge in unprotected sex, a move which makes them to end up contracting the disease or otherwise becoming pregnant. In order to deal with this issue, this paper will conduct a health education, whereby it will provide an analysis on the reasons as to why most teenagers are at high risk of contracting the disease, statistics showing the numbers of youths infected by the disease, and the ways through which the spread of HIV/AIDs among the youths can be prevented.

As of the year 2014, 22% of the youths between the ages of 15 to 24 were diagnosed with new HIV infections in the US (Health People.gov, 2014). A huge number of the new diagnoses mainly occurred on females’ bisexuals and lesbians. African Americans and Hispanic lesbians were the most affected, however, this was a significant drop in the number of new infections amongst the youths (Rhodes & Wong, 2016). The spread of the disease was majorly attributed to unprotected sex among the youths, which makes them vulnerable to the disease (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). On the other hand, some people particularly teenage girls who were mainly affected by poverty, ended up indulging in sexual activities for money, a move which resulted into contracting HIV.   

The youths lack common knowledge on how to deal with peer pressure, and the abuse of drugs. Young teenagers in the university, tend to abuse drugs, due to peer pressure, a factor which results in the spread of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases too. This is a measure which needs to be looked at carefully, due to the huge number of youths who are being infected by the disease in each and every year (Health People.gov, 2014). In order to deal with this issue, it will be necessary to engage the youths into health conversations, whereby they will be taught on ways of either abstaining from sex, or using protection (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013).

Entertainment is one of the best means of reaching the youths, since the youths are attracted to areas where they can be entertained (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). In order to effectively conduct a health education among the youths, it will be necessary to come up with a summer camp, whereby youths particularly youth teenagers and women will be the main audience. In the camp, there will be prominent musicians who will perform, and this is aimed at attracting a huge number of youths to the event (Health People.gov, 2014). Different talents will also be recognized, the youths will be given the chance to showcase their talents, before the audience (Rhodes & Wong, 2016). This summer camp should also be advertised on the social media and their media platforms. This will allow most teenagers be it males or females to attend.

In the three day summer camp, youths will be taught on the effects HIV, this will be a move which will be aimed at showing the youths the other side of the disease. In addition, they will also be taught how to avoid falling into sexual traps, and this may include rape or ending up indulging in sexual activities due to the abuse of drugs. Secondly, the youths will also be encouraged, to use protection during sexual intercourse, thus making sure that they prevent themselves from contracting the disease (Health People.gov, 2014). Finally, all groups and sexual communities which are: gay, lesbians, bisexuals, vulnerable teenagers and young women will also be represented, and they will be given a chance to communicate to case managers, who will advise them on how to conduct themselves (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013).

The victims of the disease will also be taken good care of, whereby they will be advised and encouraged to take medication and maintain a proper diet (Prado, Lightfoot & Brown, 2013). In so doing, the project will be a success, whereby a very huge number of youths will reached. This will therefore allow most young African American teenagers to be able to avoid contracting the disease (Health People.gov, 2014). In order to help the youths to develop lifestyle changes, the case managers will also provide multiple ways. This may include: playing video games, indulging in sporting activities and focusing on areas of concern such as education, or work (Rhodes & Wong, 2016).

Conclusion

The spread of HIV among young female teenagers and youths has been on the rise, a factor which has consequently affected their future. In order to deal with this issue, the paper has provided a project, which is aimed at creating the awareness of HIV among the youths, thus enabling them to avoid contracting the disease. In the health project, which will be a summer camp, youths will be taught on ways of avoiding to indulge in sexual affairs, and the importance of protected sex, hence allowing them to avoid contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.  

Reference

Health People.gov. (2014). Leading Health Indicators: Office of Disease Prevention  and Health Promotion.

Prado, G., Lightfoot, M., & Brown, C. H. (2013). Macro-level approaches to HIV prevention among ethnic minority youth: State of the science, opportunities, and challenges. American Psychologist, 68(4), 286-299. doi:10.1037/a0032917

Rhodes, S. D., & Wong, F. Y. (2016). HIV Prevention Among Diverse Young MSM: Research Needs, Priorities, and Opportunities. AIDS Education & Prevention, 28(3), 191-201.

971 Words  3 Pages
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