Module 3 Case Study: Approaches to Healthcare Delivery Questions
IHP 600
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As technology is advancing each year, both videos displayed different perspectives in
medicine. For instance, in What if Dr. House used Twitter, Dr. Mesko introduced the
constant dilemma that is ongoing in the medical field, old vs. new (SNHU A11y
Remediated Videos, 2018). In this type of culture, a lot of older physicians who are used to
the traditional side of medicine do not feel comfortable browsing the internet to search up
differential diagnosis. Differential diagnosis is basically an analysis of a patient’s condition
and is narrowed down to two to three conditions that can be the reason behind the patients’
symptoms. Instead, these physicians would rather use the hundreds of books/journals located
inside the hospital library or google their differentials instead of turning to the medical
online community to ask. In contrast, the culture amongst a lot of newer generational
doctors would rather save their time and browse the internet or use social media to help
answer their questions regarding their patient’s diagnosis.
Another cultural aspect that is displayed in the video is the quick and easy accessibility
in medicine. In today’s era of medicine, many doctors turn to social media to help solve
their medical cases by reaching out to other doctors in their scope of field. Social media
helps connect doctors worldwide in which they can communicate. aa Despite the different
approaches in medicine, both era’s focus on quick and efficient care for their patient.
Training More Country Doctors showed a different aspect of medicine when it comes to
treating patients. Not many would think that doctors still show up for in home visits, but
Training More Country Doctors showed us that they indeed still do (SNHU A11y
Remediated Videos,2018). The cultural beliefs in a rural countryside are quite different than
a city side. In the rural/countryside, towns are much smaller and therefore everyone knows
one another. As shown in Training More Country Doctors, the doctors know their patients
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off first names bases and are treated more like family rather than a patient. The doctors also
go above and beyond to treat their patients. As shown in the video, the doctors also pay at
home visits and know exactly their patient’s family history, current history, and their day-to-
day routine without looking at their charts (SNHU A11y Remediated Videos, 2018).
Incorporating cultural awareness in the education of healthcare professionals is very
valuable because it helps expand their knowledge amongst the diverse population they are
attending to. For instance, in Training More Country Doctors, the cultural awareness that
the physician is spreading to his students is that the patients who they attend to are not
their average patients who just come in for a medical checkup (SNHU A11y Remediated
Videos,2018). In fact, these patients are family that the physician has treated for
generations. They are not only seeking prescriptions, but also looking for someone to talk
to. Meanwhile, in What if Dr. House used Twitter, the use in incorporating cultural
awareness is excellently displayed in terms of technology.
Dr. Mesko highlights the importance of expanding the use of social media amongst
doctors to cater to their “e-patients” (SNHU A11y Remediated Videos,2018). Over the years
Dr. Mesko mentioned an increase in online patients who seek medical information over the
web in which he encourages physicians to also be present and up to date with today’s
medicals needs which is social media and the internet (SNHU A11y Remediated Videos,
2018). It also raises awareness amongst the medical community about rare cases that may
be present in a physician’s care which other parts of the world have not experienced. The
value that cultural awareness would bring to the medical facility is for instance social
media, which provides health care providers with tools to share information, to debate
health care policy and practice issues, to promote health behaviors, to engage with the
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public, and to educate and interact with patients, caregivers, students, and colleagues
(Ventola C. L, 2014).
I believe insurance companies will cover some extent of these services. For an
example, patients who like to see their doctors online for non-emergency care are one of
the services that Michigan’s Priority Health has started to cover (Appleby J, 2021). aa Dr.
Mesko, in What if Dr. House used Twitter, mentions to include more online/technology-
based services for patients as it’s the future of medicine, but unfortunately insurance may
charge as much as an in person visit and the patient may or may not receive the attentive
care (SNHU A11y Remediated Videos,2018). When doctors see their patients in person,
they can sense, feel, and touch the patient to get a better understanding of their illness
which allows for proper treatment versus online, which you see the patient through a
camera, but cannot probably see the lacerations or rashes due to poor internet/camera
connectivity. Services like in home patient visits from a primary care doctor may be
covered by the insurance, but the transportation by the physician may not be. A Physician
may not be reimbursed for his or her time to drive to the patient’s home or for the
gas/electricity the car uses up for the travel as shown in Training More Country Doctors.
In this case the only way reimbursement is possible is charging the patient a bit more for in
home visits that way it covers the physicians time and travel.
Doctors take the Hippocratic oath solely to swear that they will uphold ethical
standards when caring for their patients. Therefore, the many deliveries of care approaches
would cause competition, but for the best interest not only in the healthcare organization,
but also for the patients. This competition would encourage physicians to explore alternative
methods to give better access to medicine for their patients. I do agree with providing
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services with all the possible approaches because at the end of the day it is in best interest
of the patient. Incorporating the latest technology and making it easily accessible for
patients via online will help encourage patients to see their physicians quite often instead of
dreading the in person wait times, this will be convenient according to their work schedules.
Also, physicians providing in home visits would create more relationships between
physician and patients. This will show patients that their doctors genuinely care and are
willing to go above and beyond for their well-being.
Embracing cultural beliefs, values, and these care delivery approaches within our
medical organizations would make the United States more competitive. America is a
melting pot with so many people all from different backgrounds, religions, and cultures
which makes it the most desired country where everyone can practice his or her culture
according to the first amendment right. With that being said, the medicine world is the
same exact way in the United States. We have many healthcare providers from different
parts of the world practicing in our nation and catering to the needs of patients according to
their beliefs, rituals, and culture. From telemedicine to rural medicine, this allows our
medical organizations to be a lot more competitive compared to other countries.
References
1. Ventola C. L. (2014). Social media and health care professionals: benefits, risks, and
best practices. P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management, 39(7),
491–520.
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2. Appleby, J. (2021). Insurance focused on virtual visits? the Pros and cons of a new
twist in Health Plans. Kaiser Health News. Retrieved from
https://khn.org/news/article/virtual-first-insurance-plans-telemedicine/
3. SNHU A11y Remediated Videos. (Jun 21,2018). IHP 600 What if Dr House used
Twitter CC.[video].YouTube. https://youtu.be/bNLJqc0w_U8
4. SNHU A11y Remediated Videos. (Jun 21,2018). IHP 600 Training More Country
Doctors CC.[video].YouTube. https://youtu.be/TpeKHyUnF5s
