High-quality medical care is an essential aspect of preserving the well-being and health of society. For the most effective flow of this process, companies must apply specific policies focused on the population. Their implementation can be a significant advantage with the correct and detailed planning of activities. Thus, the purpose of this work is to consider strategies for medical institutions that will be based on the provision of health services. Such positive aspects justify their implementation as reducing financial costs and improving the quality of patient care.
Analysis of the Policy
First of all, it should be mentioned that all new technologies that are introduced in healthcare organizations should take into account that multiple internal and external factors affect the health of the population. The centralization approach to people in medical institutions sets its main task to improve health and reduce inequality in the health sector. This direction can be successfully implemented through intersectoral relations with various partners. NH may include the state, communities, and many other stakeholders.
A policy focused on the health of the population implies the development of unique plans and directions of action in accordance with the legislation of the country. In some cases, voluntary proposals are introduced, which must necessarily comply with the established rules and not violate them. Moreover, this policy necessarily takes into account the rights and privileges of various segments of the population, as well as the social status and the impact of social health indicators.
Patient-Centered Approach
One of the examples of the organizations that successfully implement population-oriented policy is Montefiore. Sources state that it “uses innovative practices for managing chronic disease, provides access to high-quality specialty hospital care, and employs targeted care management and robust health information technology in support of integrated care” (Chase, 2010, p. 1). Such a policy is centralized on the patient, as it focuses on health as the leading indicator. Moreover, this strategy focuses on the general determinants of the well-being of the population and not on individual cases of diseases (“Interpreting services program”, n.d.). It leads to an understanding of the needs that need to be met in the field of medical care. In addition, vulnerable groups are taken into account on an equal basis with the rest of the population.
Employed Strategies
It is important to emphasize that strategies for the centralization of patients in healthcare should pursue several main aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to make all decisions based on reliable information, involve medical personnel headed by primary care, and engage patients and the community. Such a strategic move as getting rid of discrimination in hiring and caring is also a critical element. Research shows that “Montefiore has adapted the traditional hospital-based medical model in order to create an approach that is equally focused on population health and social supports” (Chase, 2010, p. 16). It is an advantage of a patient-oriented policy, as it shifts the focus precisely on getting rid of the disease and not on social status and other characteristics. Getting rid of unnecessary procedures to provide quality care is also a valuable element of the policy under discussion. Moreover, this strategy helps to reduce losses due to the non-use of unnecessary services. The organization should base its activities on the collected information on the health indicators of the population in order to ensure the most significant productivity and positive results.
Gaps in the Implementation
One of the holes that can arise when applying the patient orientation policy is the unreliability of the information collected due to the use of incorrect methods of its collection and analysis. Another problem Montefiore has encountered is the rather lengthy ERP implementation process. It is due to the fact that this step requires retraining of personnel and customized programs for the needs of the organization. Moreover, the problem is that due to limited access to Internet resources, only 16 percent of patients are currently able to use the organization’s services more effectively (Chase, 2010). This is also a hindering factor in the successful implementation of the policy under discussion.
Recommendations
Improving the organization’s cultural competence with regard to patient engagement and communications is of critical importance for any healthcare institution. One such strategy may be to increase diversity in the workplace, which has been lacking attention in recent years (Goode & Landefeld, 2018). It promotes the growth of cultural awareness, which will directly affect the improvement of the quality of staff work, as Montefiero works with various representatives of society. Moreover, the development of diversity contributes to the formation of friendly and robust relations between employees and patients and contributes to the creation of a positive atmosphere in a medical institution.
Additionally, to improve cultural competence in the workplace, a strategy can be applied to introduce communication programs and get rid of its barriers. The establishment of this aspect is also necessary to improve the quality of medical care. This strategy will help get rid of misunderstandings, which can have significant negative consequences for both staff and patients. To implement this strategy, such steps as feedback management, the introduction of systems for collecting proposals and complaints, and the use of technological innovations can be applied, which will significantly reduce financial and time costs.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Strategy
A practical and productive strategy for disease prevention and health promotion is health communication. Thus, this process in healthcare will consist of influencing groups of the population and employees of a clinical institution to spread awareness about making healthier decisions (“Health Communication”, n.d.). This approach will contribute to a significant reduction in cases of morbidity, especially infectious diseases. Changing behavioral patterns through communication in healthcare will also contribute to reducing risk factors and external negative impacts, increasing the availability of services for all segments of the population, and improvement of population health status.
Strategies for the Use of a Population Health Approach
The main component of the public health strategy is to identify the main problem threatening the health of the population. This also includes the formation of a list of risks and causes of the issue. Then, it is necessary to develop steps to prevent the threat and put them into practice. A valuable aspect of this activity is to improve the population’s well-being and reduce inequality, which may hinder the provision of medical services. The strategy, therefore, should also function based on the collection of qualitative and quantitative data on the health of the population, the distribution of target groups based on monitoring and screening of evidence. It must be remembered that the main task of the policy of a health-oriented society is centralization of patients and not on a particular disease.
References
Chase, D. (2010). Montefiore medical center: Integrated care delivery for vulnerable populations. High-Performing Health Care Organization, 53.
Goode, C. A., & Landefeld, T. (2018). The lack of diversity in healthcare. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity, 11(2), 73-95.
Health Communication. (n.d.). Rural Health Promotion Hub. Web.
Interpreting services program. (n.d.). Monrefiore. Web.