US research

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Asha

A future healthcare system would be more diverse and inclusive of all people, providing equal safe, and effective care regardless of one's finances. Countries that offer universal health coverage are one in which everyone — regardless of their ability to pay — has access to essential health services. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the first path to universal coverage in the US; millions have gained coverage. A bipartisan effort in Congress reinforces the ACA marketplaces so more people can achieve affordable insurance. But some policymakers are proposing alternative paths to universal coverage, such as a single-payer system, in which the government provides coverage financed by taxes. For example, financing and care delivery is a classic single-payer model in which the government funds health care with general tax revenue and contracts directly with health providers to deliver care. England's National Health Service (NHS) is an excellent example of all residents being covered. It provides comprehensive care, including mental health and some dental and eye care, and there are no copayments or fees at the point of service. Roughly 12 percent of the population have limited private insurance through their employer, which gives them rapid access to care from specialists or elective surgery (Faccini, 2021). Still, everyone else relies exclusively on public coverage. Another such system resides in the Netherlands. Universal coverage can be achieved in many ways. The ACA builds on existing general insurance offered through Medicaid and reforms to the private insurance market. More than 40 million Americans are now covered through these expansions (TCF, 2018).

Additionally, the future will include more advanced care such as cell and gene therapies, offering hope to millions of people with genetic and some degenerative diseases. For example, therapies bringing hope to Parkinson's patients focus on specific genes inside the neuron rather than replacing the entire cell. This mode of treatment is working on expanding its reach for other disorders (TCF, 2022). Even in robotic technology, care will change. The future of healthcare looks bright, improving every stage of our lives, from birth to old age. Technology can help people live healthier and longer lives in ways we didn't think were possible, changing the healthcare system (Faccini, 2021).

Faccini, C. 2021. What Will the Future of Healthcare Look Like? Retrieved 8/2/22, from  https://www.mirarehab.com/blog/what-will-the-future-of-healthcare-look-like/ 

The Commonwealth Fund (TCF), 2018. How Other Countries Achieve Universal Coverage. Retrieved 8/3/22, from https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2018/how-other-countries-achieve-universal-coverage

Meghan

The future of healthcare will be centered around access, digital enhancements, and value-based care. US citizens will also shift their focus on wellness and well-being. 

Value based care will improve quality, patient satisfaction, and lower healthcare costs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will be in support of the transition to value-based care once they understand the benefits. Providers should be reimbursed and incentivized for the quality of care they are providing and not by the number of procedures or patients they can see. Value based care will also be a driving need behind provider collaboration and coordinated care between specialists and facilities. 

There is no doubt that technology will continue to influence healthcare operations and treatment. There will be more automated digitization at time of registration and check-in, providers or leaders can and will receive more real-time notifications related to reports or other necessary important, and there will be interoperability. An example of technology that is will continue to expand is mHealth. mHealth improves the ability of physicians to monitor chronic conditions can also improve outcomes while providing beneficial care in a more cost-effective way than an in-person visit (Ungvarsky, 2020). The technology enhancement will assist to reduce medication errors, readmission rates, and production of clinical data so specialists can treat in a timelier matter. In addition to clinical improvements, patient satisfaction will also be tracked and evaluated. Technology will enhance and encourage real-time feedback from patients and their families.Digital technology is driving rapid, fundamental changes to almost every aspect of daily life, including the delivery of healthcare (Medtronic, n.d.).

Every US citizen should be entitled to equitable access to healthcare. One of the biggest challenges related to healthcare is patient understanding and knowledge based which is linked to social determinants of health.  Facilities and schools will hold free information sessions to encourage and teach the public. Stakeholders will meet to understand and discuss the values and needs within vulnerable communities so that a change can be implemented. Structural changes will engage families, neighborhoods, and healthcare professionals.  The stigma and stress of receiving health care will be eliminated through a value-based model, mobile health, and telemedicine. 

Providing a good foundation of cultural understanding will assist the future practitioner to embrace the challenges they may face in a rapidly changing, dynamic clinical practice without losing the notion of one’s identity, self-worth, or getting burnout in providing care (Samarasekera et al., 2022). 

 

Medtronic. (n.d.). 5 Ways Artificial Intelligence is transforming healthcare . Medtronic. Retrieved July 31, 2022, from https://www.medtronic.com/us-en/our-company/artificial-intelligence-healthcare-technology.html

Dujeepa D. Samarasekera, & Matthew C. E. Gwee. (2022). Honouring the heritage and building the future of healthcare. The Asia Pacific Scholar, 7(1), 1–2. https://doi-org.ezproxy.