Health Care Financing

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the doctor shortages facing hospitals in the United States, due to a combination of a lack of medical residency funding and the poor financial state of Medicare. It discusses the results of this lack of resources and the risks that it is imposing on medical student interns. The paper then suggests some steps and necessary reforms that need to be taken in order to improve the current situation.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis and Explanation of Complex Situation
Application
Evaluation
Summary and Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Finally, a review of the literature indicates that the U.S. faces at least a decade of severe physician shortages, a desperate situation that must be resolved now, since it takes a long time to train a doctor. This has caused a lack of needed doctors in smaller facilities, and the federal programs responsible for paying and subsidizing medical positions for students are in a financial state of crisis. As a result of the financial crisis, medical student interns must work longer hours, at a detriment to their safety and the safety of others. The safety of others that is placed at risk involves the general public as well as the patients that the over-tired medical student is supporting or treating. In an effort to address the uneven distribution of physicians in the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which heavily subsidizes graduate medical education, is tracking down unused resident positions and reallocating them to hospitals it deems the most in need of more physicians."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Barger, L., Cade, E., Ayas, N., Cronin, J., Rosner, B., Speizer, F. & Czeisler, C. (2005). Extended Work Shifts and the Risk of Motor Vehicle Crashes among Interns. NEJM 352, 125-134.
• Cauchon, D. (2004). Medical Miscalculation Creates Doctor Shortage. USA Today, March 22, 2005.
• Croasdale, M. (2004). Residency Slots Reallocated to Relieve Doctor Shortages. Retrieved April 23, 2007, from http://www.ama-ass.org.
• Ellenbogen, J. (2005). Cognitive benefits of sleep and their loss due to sleep deprivation. Neurology 64, E25-E27.
• Fletcher, K., Underwood, W., Davis, S., Mangrulkar, R. Mcmahon, L. & saint, S. (2005). Effects of Work-Hour Reduction on Residents' Lives: A Systematic Review. JAMA 294, 1025-1033.

More papers on Health Care Financing:

• Research Paper # 70100 : "Health Care Finance & Accounting"
• Term Paper # 147370 : "Financing Health Care and Health Insurance"
• Essay # 53415 : "Health Care Resources"

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