Abstract
This paper deals with the necessity to introduce a health care program in the US that is available to all persons and that deals with all relevant issues. The paper highlights the decline in the effectiveness of the current system and calls on the nursing profession to introduce a cost effective program and to encourage co-operation between patients and the health care programs. The paper continues by emphasizing that the nursing profession is in the front line and is able to introduce an affordable medical aid system to suit all facets of society.

Outline:
The issue
Background
Nurse's relevance on the issue
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The quality of health care continues to decline and be inadequate as crisis management is more and more becoming the patchwork solution for the nation's ineffectual healthcare system. This is not to say that there are not certain elements that of the current health care system that should not be maintained and continued. Reform should build upon the best parts of the current health care system and begin moving toward patient wellness and care. Nursing organizations realize what is needed in the area of reform and plan to convert rather than eliminate the current health care system."

Tags:nursing, reform, health, care, nursing

Abstract
This paper describes the problem of insufficient health care in America affecting mostly the near-poor. This is the sector of people who are not poor enough to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid programs and, the paper points out, a sector that is growing. The paper compares the U.S. healthcare system to a sieve, where many members of the population fall through the holes and then takes a look at two possible solutions to the, briefly analyzing their advantages and disadvantages.

From the Paper
"Our healthcare system is not a bowl that catches everyone. It's more like a sieve. As our population pours into this sieve, some people remain in the bowl while others slip through. 38% of employed Americans under the age of 65 do not get health care. They aren't eligible for Medicare yet, and aren't protected by safety nets such as California's State Children's Health Insurance. Because of our piecemeal system, nearly 45 million Americans lack health care today (KFF, 2004). This number has risen dramatically in the last five years, and now more than one in six adults under the age of sixty-five have no health care."

Tags:compassionate, caring, hospitals, insurance, marketplace, afford, uninsured, pay

Abstract
In creating a health care program that works to avoid fostering inequalities in health according to the utilitarian ethical theory, it is necessary to examine the biological, social and psychological factors that contribute to the basis of health care inequalities. This paper investigates the relevant literature on this subject in order to promote a health care system that is not unequal for the patients.

Abstract
In this article, the writer notes that according to the annual market study of California's health plans, hospital systems and physician organizations, as conducted by the California Health Care Fund, overall the market is experiencing less turmoil than it did in the first part of the century. The writer looks at the 'California Health Care Market Report 2006' written by Allan Baumgarten and notes that the purpose of the report is to present a comprehensive data resource on such important health care related factors as financial results, enrollment trends, measures of utilization, market share and effectiveness of care. The writer maintains that the conclusions of the study are valid as the reader can make the same determinations from the presented data.

From the Paper
"The study found several major trends. Among these are a shift away from HMOs, thus putting greater pressure on physician organizations; economic power shifting generally away from hospitals and instead back towards individual health plans; hospitals are spending a majority of their funds on physical construction and expansion programs; and continued challenges to the growing number of uninsured and underinsured.
"The study itself was generally successful in following the criteria of good research. Doing research in the healthcare field is becoming more and more difficult with new privacy protections such as the federal government's HIPPA legislation. However, despite this limitation, the annual study conducted by the California Healthcare Market Report did a good job of taking a broad approach of this abstract and large market in order to get a good understanding of its current state."

Tags:hospital, systems, programs, physician

Abstract
This paper explains that mental illness, which also includes autism, Alzheimer's disease, addiction, mental retardation and epilepsy, affects people of all nations of all social, economic and cultural backgrounds; however, the poor suffer most from a lack of the most basic resources for effective treatment. The author points out that, even though available treatment methods for mental illness differ among regions and socio-economic classes, most patients are prescribed psychotropic drugs, such as antidepressants. The paper states that, in the U.S., managed care systems usually do not cover mental disease and insurance companies look to mental health benefits as the first place to cut in an attempt to reduce rising costs.

Table of Contents:
Mental Health and Primary Care
Status of the Primary Mental Health Care Industry
Incidence
Current Approaches
Recognition and Current Response
Policy Initiatives
The New GMS Contract
General Practitioners and Practitioners with Special Interest
Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Workers
Shared Care between GP Practices and Community Health Teams
Obstacles and Issues
Little Attention Paid to Improving Primary Mental Health Care
Fragmented Linkages of Substance Abuse Treatment with Community-Based Services
Obstacles to Accessing Primary Mental Health Care
Social Disparities
Developments
Effects of Cutting Back on Health Coverage
Legislation
Community-based Primary Care Satellite Clinics

From the Paper
"Mandating mental health benefits has already been an ongoing policy process, as in fact, more than as many states have enacted legislation and the mandates have become more typically comprehensive than previous ones. However, state legislation has not proved to be adequate substitutes of a federal legislation. State legislation did not appear to have reached enough persons to create a significant difference at the population level. Many consumers in the parity states were not aware of their improved coverage or that parity legislation may have accelerated the development of managed care in the mental health care arena, which separates nominal benefits from actual benefits."

Tags:depression, proactive, insurance, programs, legislation

Abstract
This paper describes a survey that will be administered to the staff at a single Vet Center, with the focus being on improving the delivery of health care services to the Center?s veteran patients and to improve the administration of the human resources function. The paper includes an example of the actual survey that was administered.

Introduction
Data Collection
Analysis and Reporting

From the Paper
"Every type of organization has, or should have, as a major goal, the need to optimize the productivity of its human resources (Farr, Schuler & Smith, 1993). One organization that has recently assumed critical importance in the U.S. is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Today, the VA is responsible for administering an enormous healthcare and benefits network for its active duty and retired service members and their families at U.S. taxpayer expense."

Tags:government-administered, programs, medical, centers, community, outreach, clinics

Abstract
This paper explores all of the myriad and complex causes of the high cost in today's health care environment and recommends changes that would be the most likely to positively impact change. Charts and graphs are used to help illustrate important points.

Introduction
Prescription Drugs
Medical Devices and Medical Advances
Rising Provider Expenses
General Inflation
Government Mandates and Regulations
Government Programs and Tax Laws
Increased Consumer Demand
Lack of Consumerism
Litigation and Risk Management
Fraud and Abuse
Managed Care System
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Priority Health also believes that the United States government is at fault for not imposing price controls on pharmaceutical products as do most other industrialized nations, thus leading to drugs costs that are as much as one hundred percent higher in this country. Additionally, the United States government imposes regulations for drug distribution and sales that make drugs less readily available and more expensive than in other countries. Also, government granted patents protect drug for up to seventeen years, limiting competition and driving up prices."

Tags:health, care, spending, managed, care, health, insurance, employers, premium

Abstract
The paper provides an overview of the Medicare/Medicaid health care systems. An analysis of the goals to reform the current system discusses improvements that are being introduced to the current system. The role of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is also analyzed. A detailed investigation into diabetes discusses the disease in-depth including the steps to solve this growing dilemma in the United States. The paper concludes by evaluating the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's continuum of care for diabetes. Figures and tables are included with the paper.

Table of Contents:
Objective
Evolution of Health Care System: Medicare and Medicaid
Influence of Health Care Delivery Systems on Current Systems
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Diabetes Continuum of Care Program in the United States
Summary and Conclusions

From the Paper
"The work entitled: "Significance of Medicare and Medicaid Programs for the Practice of Medicine" states: "...1965, the Medicare and Medicaid Programs have enormous influence over the practice of medicine. The evolution of medical care, its' financing, and the expectations of the American population for high-quality care and rational use of public funds have linked, irreversibly, CMS to clinical medicine. CMS finances health care for more Americans than any other single entity; the agency has responsibility to its beneficiaries to ensure that they receive quality, effective, and efficient health care." (Health Care Financing Review, 2005) It is noted that CMS answers to not only beneficiaries but also to investors and taxpayers as well as addressing "the concerns of an array of political constituents, including Congress, presidential administrations, and groups representing the health care industry" (Health Care Financing Review, 2005)
II. INFLUENCE OF HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEMS ON CURRENT SYSTEM
In order that CMS effectively balance what are "competing interests" in its pursuit of "evolving policy goals" stated is that CMS "...has had no choice but to become engaged in the practice of medicine and the delivery of health care services." (Health Care Financing Review, 2005) Clinical medicine is stated to have become "intertwined with CMS" in four areas:"

Tags:diabetes, medicare, medicaid, health, system, CDC

Abstract
This paper designed the ideal program for maximizing human capital in an EAP health care setting. The paper describes the health care setting. It then discusses the ideal human capital system in terms of the required policies, procedures, standards, measurements, and compensation and benefits components.

From the Paper
"Kocakulah and Harris define the term human capital' as referring to the idea that in any organization facility plant or institution employees have the ability to be economically productive. Noting that a variety of strategies e g education training health care can be used to increase employees economic productivity the authors state that organizations should actively pursue the maximization of their human capital. The purpose of this paper is to design the ..."

Tags:human capital, EAP, compensation, benefits, healthcare, human capital management

Abstract
This paper shows that administrative programs are planned and developed for the health care services industry based on a number of deciding factors. It discusses how, when looking at health care services and planning administrative programs, the following are taken into consideration: Composition and social organization of society at large; Utilization by the population of health care services including acute care treatment facilities and chronic illness vs. long term care; Government involvement in public health and funding; Politics. The paper shows that all of these factors play a key role in determining how our health care services are structured. The paper examines how the America health care system presently serves a large and diverse population through an assorted number of programs including private/group care facilities, ambulatory services, hospitals and long term care facilities. Each of these programs in turn is administered in different ways. The paper also looks at overall trends in health care services in the United States today.

From the Paper
"One important idea to consider when discussing the administration of health care services is the perceived need by the public for such services. The concept that the availability of health care services creates a demand for health care and need is important to consider. New technological advances have perhaps implanted in the minds of physicians and patients the need to treat disease that may have otherwise been ignored. One important factor to consider in planning health program administration is evaluation of utilization of health care services. The function of health planners is to identify areas of greatest need or highest potential demand in communities for health care delivery organizations. Patient care plans can only be decided upon once social, psychological and physiological factors are accounted for. Many models exist that explain the public's access to health care services and resulting trends in usage of such facilities and programs."

Tags:doctor, community, hospital, insurance