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. f 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 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
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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 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
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Michigan’s Priority Health has started to cover (Appleby J, 2021). f 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 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
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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.
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
