an essay on care

How to build a better health system: 8 expert essays

We need to focus on keeping people healthy, not just treating them when they're sick Image:  REUTERS/Rupak De Chowdhuri

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Introduction

By Francesca Colombo , Head, Health Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Helen E. Clark , Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999-2008), The Helen Clark Foundation

Our healthy future cannot be achieved without putting the health and wellbeing of populations at the centre of public policy.

Ill health worsens an individual’s economic prospects throughout the lifecycle. For young infants and children, ill health affects their capacity to acumulate human capital; for adults, ill health lowers quality of life and labour market outcomes, and disadvantage compounds over the course of a lifetime.

And, yet, with all the robust evidence available that good health is beneficial to economies and societies, it is striking to see how health systems across the globe struggled to maximise the health of populations even before the COVID-19 pandemic – a crisis that has further exposed the stresses and weaknesses of our health systems. These must be addressed to make populations healthier and more resilient to future shocks.

Each one of us, at least once in our lives, is likely to have been frustrated with care that was inflexible, impersonal and bureaucratic. At the system level, these individual experiences add up to poor safety, poor care coordination and inefficiencies – costing millions of lives and enormous expense to societies.

This state of affairs contributes to slowing down the progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals to which all societies, regardless of their level of economic development, have committed.

Many of the conditions that can make change possible are in place. For example, ample evidence exists that investing in public health and primary prevention delivers significant health and economic dividends. Likewise, digital technology has made many services and products across different sectors safe, fast and seamless. There is no reason why, with the right policies, this should not happen in health systems as well. Think, for example, of the opportunities to bring high quality and specialised care to previously underserved populations. COVID-19 has accelerated the development and use of digital health technologies. There are opportunities to further nurture their use to improve public health and disease surveillance, clinical care, research and innovation.

To encourage reform towards health systems that are more resilient, better centred around what people need and sustainable over time, the Global Future Council on Health and Health Care has developed a series of stories illustrating why change must happen, and why this is eminently possible today. While the COVID-19 crisis is severally challenging health systems today, our healthy future is – with the right investments – within reach.

1. Five changes for sustainable health systems that put people first

The COVID-19 crisis has affected more than 188 countries and regions worldwide, causing large-scale loss of life and severe human suffering. The crisis poses a major threat to the global economy, with drops in activity, employment, and consumption worse than those seen during the 2008 financial crisis . COVID-19 has also exposed weaknesses in our health systems that must be addressed. How?

For a start, greater investment in population health would make people, particularly vulnerable population groups, more resilient to health risks. The health and socio-economic consequences of the virus are felt more acutely among disadvantaged populations, stretching a social fabric already challenged by high levels of inequalities. The crisis demonstrates the consequences of poor investment in addressing wider social determinants of health, including poverty, low education and unhealthy lifestyles. Despite much talk of the importance of health promotion, even across the richer OECD countries barely 3% of total health spending is devoted to prevention . Building resilience for populations also requires a greater focus on solidarity and redistribution in social protection systems to address underlying structural inequalities and poverty.

Beyond creating greater resilience in populations, health systems must be strengthened.

High-quality universal health coverage (UHC) is paramount. High levels of household out-of-pocket payments for health goods and services deter people from seeking early diagnosis and treatment at the very moment they need it most. Facing the COVID-19 crisis, many countries have strengthened access to health care, including coverage for diagnostic testing. Yet others do not have strong UHC arrangements. The pandemic reinforced the importance of commitments made in international fora, such as the 2019 High-Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage , that well-functioning health systems require a deliberate focus on high-quality UHC. Such systems protect people from health threats, impoverishing health spending, and unexpected surges in demand for care.

Second, primary and elder care must be reinforced. COVID-19 presents a double threat for people with chronic conditions. Not only are they at greater risk of severe complications and death due to COVID-19; but also the crisis creates unintended health harm if they forgo usual care, whether because of disruption in services, fear of infections, or worries about burdening the health system. Strong primary health care maintains care continuity for these groups. With some 94% of deaths caused by COVID-19 among people aged over 60 in high-income countries, the elder care sector is also particularly vulnerable, calling for efforts to enhance control of infections, support and protect care workers and better coordinate medical and social care for frail elderly.

Third, the crisis demonstrates the importance of equipping health systems with both reserve capacity and agility. There is an historic underinvestment in the health workforce, with estimated global shortages of 18 million health professionals worldwide , mostly in low- and middle-income countries. Beyond sheer numbers, rigid health labour markets make it difficult to respond rapidly to demand and supply shocks. One way to address this is by creating a “reserve army” of health professionals that can be quickly mobilised. Some countries have allowed medical students in their last year of training to start working immediately, fast-tracked licenses and provided exceptional training. Others have mobilised pharmacists and care assistants. Storing a reserve capacity of supplies such as personal protection equipment, and maintaining care beds that can be quickly transformed into critical care beds, is similarly important.

Fourth, stronger health data systems are needed. The crisis has accelerated innovative digital solutions and uses of digital data, smartphone applications to monitor quarantine, robotic devices, and artificial intelligence to track the virus and predict where it may appear next. Access to telemedicine has been made easier. Yet more can be done to leverage standardised national electronic health records to extract routine data for real-time disease surveillance, clinical trials, and health system management. Barriers to full deployment of telemedicine, the lack of real-time data, of interoperable clinical record data, of data linkage capability and sharing within health and with other sectors remain to be addressed.

Fifth, an effective vaccine and successful vaccination of populations around the globe will provide the only real exit strategy. Success is not guaranteed and there are many policy issues yet to be resolved. International cooperation is vital. Multilateral commitments to pay for successful candidates would give manufacturers certainty so that they can scale production and have vaccine doses ready as quickly as possible following marketing authorisation, but could also help ensure that vaccines go first to where they are most effective in ending the pandemic. Whilst leaders face political pressure to put the health of their citizens first, it is more effective to allocate vaccines based on need. More support is needed for multilateral access mechanisms that contain licensing commitments and ensure that intellectual property is no barrier to access, commitments to technology transfer for local production, and allocation of scarce doses based on need.

The pandemic offers huge opportunities to learn lessons for health system preparedness and resilience. Greater focus on anticipating responses, solidarity within and across countries, agility in managing responses, and renewed efforts for collaborative actions will be a better normal for the future.

OECD Economic Outlook 2020 , Volume 2020 Issue 1, No. 107, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD Employment Outlook 2020 : Worker Security and the COVID-19 Crisis, OECD Publishing, Paris

OECD Health at a Glance 2019, OECD Publishing, Paris

https://www.un.org/pga/73/wp-content/uploads/sites/53/2019/07/FINAL-draft-UHC-Political-Declaration.pdf

OECD (2020), Who Cares? Attracting and Retaining Care Workers for the Elderly, OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris

Working for Health and Growth: investing in the health workforce . Report of the High-Level Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth, Geneva.

Colombo F., Oderkirk J., Slawomirski L. (2020) Health Information Systems, Electronic Medical Records, and Big Data in Global Healthcare: Progress and Challenges in OECD Countries . In: Haring R., Kickbusch I., Ganten D., Moeti M. (eds) Handbook of Global Health. Springer, Cham.

2. Improving population health and building healthy societies in times of COVID-19

By Helena Legido-Quigley , Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder of the fragility of population health worldwide; at time of writing, more than 1 million people have died from the disease. The pandemic has already made evident that those suffering most from COVID-19 belong to disadvantaged populations and marginalised communities. Deep-rooted inequalities have contributed adversely to the health status of different populations within and between countries. Besides the direct and indirect health impacts of COVID-19 and the decimation of health systems, restrictions on population movement and lockdowns introduced to combat the pandemic are expected to have economic and social consequences on an unprecedented scale .

Population health – and addressing the consequences of COVID-19 – is about improving the physical and mental health outcomes and wellbeing of populations locally, regionally and nationally, while reducing health inequalities.¹ Moreover, there is an increasing recognition that societal and environmental factors, such as climate change and food insecurity, can also influence population health outcomes.

The experiences of Maria, David, and Ruben – as told by Spanish public broadcaster RTVE – exemplify the real challenges that people living in densely populated urban areas have faced when being exposed to COVID-19.¹

Maria is a Mexican migrant who has just returned from Connecticut to the Bronx. Her partner Jorge died in Connecticut from COVID-19. She now has no income and is looking for an apartment for herself and her three children. When Jorge became ill, she took him to the hospital, but they would not admit him and he was sent away to be cared for by Maria at home with their children. When an ambulance eventually took him to hospital, it was too late. He died that same night, alone in hospital. She thinks he had diabetes, but he was never diagnosed. They only had enough income to pay the basic bills. Maria is depressed, she is alone, but she knows she must carry on for her children. Her 10-year old child says that if he could help her, he would work. After three months, she finds an apartment.

David works as a hairdresser and takes an overcrowded train every day from Leganés to Chamberi in the centre of Madrid. He lives in a small flat in San Nicasio, one of the poorest working-class areas of Madrid with one of the largest ageing populations in Spain. The apartments are very small, making it difficult to be in confinement, and all of David’s neighbours know somebody who has been a victim of COVID-19. His father was also a hairdresser. David's father was not feeling well; he was taken to hospital by ambulance, and he died three days later. David was not able to say goodbye to his father. Unemployment has increased in that area; small local shops are losing their customers, and many more people are expecting to lose their jobs.

Ruben lives in Iztapalapa in Mexico City with three children, a daughter-in-law and five grandchildren. Their small apartment has few amenities, and no running water during the evening. At three o’clock every morning, he walks 45 minutes with his mobile stall to sell fruit juices near the hospital. His daily earnings keep the family. He goes to the central market to buy fruit, taking a packed dirty bus. He thinks the city's central market was contaminated at the beginning of the pandemic, but it could not be closed as it is the main source of food in the country. He has no health insurance, and he knows that as a diabetic he is at risk, but medication for his condition is too expensive. He has no alternative but to go to work every day: "We die of hunger or we die of COVID."

These real stories highlight the issues that must be addressed to reduce persistent health inequalities and achieve health outcomes focusing on population health. The examples of Maria, David and Ruben show the terrible outcomes COVID-19 has had for people living in poverty and social deprivation, older people, and those with co-morbidities and/or pre-existing health conditions. All three live in densely populated urban areas with poor housing, and have to travel long distances in overcrowded transport. Maria’s loss of income has had consequences for her housing security and access to healthcare and health insurance, which will most likely lead to worse health conditions for her and her children. Furthermore, all three experienced high levels of stress, which is magnified in the cases of Maria and David who were unable to be present when their loved ones died.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it evident that to improve the health of the population and build healthy societies, there is a need to shift the focus from illness to health and wellness in order to address the social, political and commercial determinants of health; to promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles; and to foster universal health coverage.² Citizens all over the world are demanding that health systems be strengthened and for governments to protect the most vulnerable. A better future could be possible with leadership that is able to carefully consider the long-term health, economic and social policies that are needed.

In order to design and implement population health-friendly policies, there are three prerequisites. First, there is a need to improve understanding of the factors that influence health inequalities and the interconnections between the economic, social and health impacts. Second, broader policies should be considered not only within the health sector, but also in other sectors such as education, employment, transport and infrastructure, agriculture, water and sanitation. Third, the proposed policies need to be designed through involving the community, addressing the health of vulnerable groups, and fostering inter-sectoral action and partnerships.

Finally, within the UN's Agenda 2030 , Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 sets out a forward-looking strategy for health whose main goal is to attain healthier lives and wellbeing. The 17 interdependent SDGs offer an opportunity to contribute to healthier, fairer and more equitable societies from which both communities and the environment can benefit.

The stories of Maria, David and Ruben are real stories featured in the Documentary: The impact of COVID19 in urban outskirts, Directed by Jose A Guardiola. Available here. Permission has been granted to narrate these stories.

Buck, D., Baylis, A., Dougall, D. and Robertson, R. (2018). A vision for population health: Towards a healthier future . [online] London: The King's Fund. [Accessed 20 Sept. 2020]

Wilton Park. (2020). Healthy societies, healthy populations (WP1734). Wiston House, Steyning. Retrieved from https://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/event/wp1734/ Cohen B. E. (2006). Population health as a framework for public health practice: a Canadian perspective. American journal of public health , 96 (9), 1574–1576.

3. Imagine a 'well-care' system that invests in keeping people healthy

By Maliha Hashmi , Executive Director, Health and Well-Being and Biotech, NEOM, and Jan Kimpen , Global Chief Medical Officer, Philips

Imagine a patient named Emily. Emily is aged 32 and I’m her doctor.

Emily was 65lb (29kg) above her ideal body weight, pre-diabetic and had high cholesterol. My initial visit with Emily was taken up with counselling on lifestyle changes, mainly diet and exercise; typical advice from one’s doctor in a time-pressured 15-minute visit. I had no other additional resources, incentives or systems to support me or Emily to help her turn her lifestyle around.

I saw Emily eight months later, not in my office, but in the hospital emergency room. Her husband accompanied her – she was vomiting, very weak and confused. She was admitted to the intensive care unit, connected to an insulin drip to lower her blood sugar, and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I talked to Emily then, emphasizing that the new medications for diabetes would only control the sugars, but she still had time to reverse things if she changed her lifestyle. She received further counselling from a nutritionist.

Over the years, Emily continued to gain weight, necessitating higher doses of her diabetes medication. More emergency room visits for high blood sugars ensued, she developed infections of her skin and feet, and ultimately, she developed kidney disease because of the uncontrolled diabetes. Ten years after I met Emily, she is 78lb (35kg) above her ideal body weight; she is blind and cannot feel her feet due to nerve damage from the high blood sugars; and she will soon need dialysis for her failing kidneys. Emily’s deteriorating health has carried a high financial cost both for herself and the healthcare system. We have prevented her from dying and extended her life with our interventions, but each interaction with the medical system has come at significant cost – and those costs will only rise. But we have also failed Emily by allowing her diabetes to progress. We know how to prevent this, but neither the right investments nor incentives are in place.

Emily could have been a real patient of mine. Her sad story will be familiar to all doctors caring for chronically ill patients. Unfortunately, patients like Emily are neglected by health systems across the world today. The burden of chronic disease is increasing at alarming rates. Across the OECD nearly 33% of those over 15 years live with one or more chronic condition, rising to 60% for over-65s. Approximately 50% of chronic disease deaths are attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the coming decades, obesity, will claim 92 million lives in the OECD while obesity-related diseases will cut life expectancy by three years by 2050.

These diseases can be largely prevented by primary prevention, an approach that emphasizes vaccinations, lifestyle behaviour modification and the regulation of unhealthy substances. Preventative interventions have been efficacious. For obesity, countries have effectively employed public awareness campaigns, health professionals training, and encouragement of dietary change (for example, limits on unhealthy foods, taxes and nutrition labelling).⁴,⁵ Other interventions, such as workplace health-promotion programmes, while showing some promise, still need to demonstrate their efficacy.

The COVID-19 crisis provides the ultimate incentive to double down on the prevention of chronic disease. Most people dying from COVID-19 have one or more chronic disease, including obesity, CVD, diabetes or respiratory problems – diseases that are preventable with a healthy lifestyle. COVID-19 has highlighted structural weaknesses in our health systems such as the neglect of prevention and primary care.

While the utility of primary prevention is understood and supported by a growing evidence base, its implementation has been thwarted by chronic underinvestment, indicating a lack of societal and governmental prioritization. On average, OECD countries only invest 2.8% of health spending on public health and prevention. The underlying drivers include decreased allocation to prevention research, lack of awareness in populations, the belief that long-run prevention may be more costly than treatment, and a lack of commitment by and incentives for healthcare professionals. Furthermore, public health is often viewed in a silo separate from the overall health system rather than a foundational component.

Health benefits aside, increasing investment in primary prevention presents a strong economic imperative. For example, obesity contributes to the treatment costs of many other diseases: 70% of diabetes costs, 23% for CVD and 9% for cancers. Economic losses further extend to absenteeism and decreased productivity.

Fee-for-service models that remunerate physicians based on the number of sick patients they see, regardless the quality and outcome, dominate healthcare systems worldwide. Primary prevention mandates a payment system that reimburses healthcare professionals and patients for preventive actions. Ministries of health and governmental leaders need to challenge skepticism around preventive interventions, realign incentives towards preventive actions and those that promote healthy choices by people. Primary prevention will eventually reduce the burden of chronic diseases on the healthcare system.

As I reflect back on Emily and her life, I wonder what our healthcare system could have done differently. What if our healthcare system was a well-care system instead of a sick-care system? Imagine a different scenario: Emily, a 32 year old pre-diabetic, had access to a nutritionist, an exercise coach or health coach and nurse who followed her closely at the time of her first visit with me. Imagine if Emily joined group exercise classes, learned where to find healthy foods and how to cook them, and had access to spaces in which to exercise and be active. Imagine Emily being better educated about her diabetes and empowered in her healthcare and staying healthy. In reality, it is much more complicated than this, but if our healthcare systems began to incentivize and invest in prevention and even rewarded Emily for weight loss and healthy behavioural changes, the outcome might have been different. Imagine Emily losing weight and continuing to be an active and contributing member of society. Imagine if we invested in keeping people healthy rather than waiting for people to get sick, and then treating them. Imagine a well-care system.

Anderson, G. (2011). Responding to the growing cost and prevalence of people with multiple chronic conditions . Retrieved from OECD.

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. GBD Data Visualizations. Retrieved here.

OECD (2019), The Heavy Burden of Obesity: The Economics of Prevention, OECD Health Policy Studies, OECD Publishing, Paris.

OECD. (2017). Obesity Update . Retrieved here.

Malik, V. S., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Global obesity: trends, risk factors and policy implications. Nature Reviews Endocrinology , 9 (1), 13-27.

Lang, J., Cluff, L., Payne, J., Matson-Koffman, D., & Hampton, J. (2017). The centers for disease control and prevention: findings from the national healthy worksite program. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine , 59 (7), 631.

Gmeinder, M., Morgan, D., & Mueller, M. (2017). How much do OECD countries spend on prevention? Retrieved from OECD.

Jordan RE, Adab P, Cheng KK. Covid-19: risk factors for severe disease and death. BMJ. 2020;368:m1198.

Richardson, A. K. (2012). Investing in public health: barriers and possible solutions. Journal of Public Health , 34 (3), 322-327.

Yong, P. L., Saunders, R. S., & Olsen, L. (2010). Missed Prevention Opportunities The healthcare imperative: lowering costs and improving outcomes: workshop series summary (Vol. 852): National Academies Press Washington, DC.

OECD. (2019). The Heavy Burden of Obesity: The Economics of Prevention. Retrieved here .

McDaid, D., F. Sassi and S. Merkur (Eds.) (2015a), “Promoting Health, Preventing Disease: The Economic Case ”, Open University Press, New York.

OECD. (2019). The Heavy Burden of Obesity: The Economics of Prevention. Retrieved from OECD.

4. Why e arly detection and diagnosis is critical

By Paul Murray , Head of Life and Health Products, Swiss Re, and André Goy , Chairman and Executive Director & Chief of Lymphoma, John Theurer Cancer Center, Hackensack University Medical Center

Although healthcare systems around the world follow a common and simple principle and goal – that is, access to affordable high-quality healthcare – they vary significantly, and it is becoming increasingly costly to provide this access, due to ageing populations, the increasing burden of chronic diseases and the price of new innovations.

Governments are challenged by how best to provide care to their populations and make their systems sustainable. Neither universal health, single payer systems, hybrid systems, nor the variety of systems used throughout the US have yet provided a solution. However, systems that are ranked higher in numerous studies, such as a 2017 report by the Commonwealth Fund , typically include strong prevention care and early-detection programmes. This alone does not guarantee a good outcome as measured by either high or healthy life expectancy. But there should be no doubt that prevention and early detection can contribute to a more sustainable system by reducing the risk of serious diseases or disorders, and that investing in and operationalizing earlier detection and diagnosis of key conditions can lead to better patient outcomes and lower long-term costs.

To discuss early detection in a constructive manner it makes sense to describe its activities and scope. Early detection includes pre-symptomatic screening and treatment immediately or shortly after first symptoms are diagnosed. Programmes may include searching for a specific disease (for example, HIV/AIDS or breast cancer), or be more ubiquitous. Prevention, which is not the focus of this blog, can be interpreted as any activities undertaken to avoid diseases, such as information programmes, education, immunization or health monitoring.

Expenditures for prevention and early detection vary by country and typically range between 1-5% of total health expenditures.¹ During the 2008 global financial crisis, many countries reduced preventive spending. In the past few years, however, a number of countries have introduced reforms to strengthen and promote prevention and early detection. Possibly the most prominent example in recent years was the introduction of the Affordable Care Act in the US, which placed a special focus on providing a wide range of preventive and screening services. It lists 63 distinct services that must be covered without any copayment, co-insurance or having to pay a deductible.

Whilst logic dictates that investment in early detection should be encouraged, there are a few hurdles and challenges that need to be overcome and considered. We set out a few key criteria and requirements for an efficient early detection program:

1. Accessibility The healthcare system needs to provide access to a balanced distribution of physicians, both geographically (such as accessibility in rural areas), and by specialty. Patients should be able to access the system promptly without excessive waiting times for diagnoses or elective treatments. This helps mitigate conditions or diseases that are already quite advanced or have been incubating for months or even years before a clinical diagnosis. Access to physicians varies significantly across the globe from below one to more than 60 physicians per 10,000 people.² One important innovation for mitigating access deficiencies is telehealth. This should give individuals easier access to health-related services, not only in cases of sickness but also to supplement primary care.

2. Early symptoms and initial diagnosis Inaccurate or delayed initial diagnoses present a risk to the health of patients, can lead to inappropriate or unnecessary testing and treatment, and represents a significant share of total health expenditures. A medical second opinion service, especially for serious medical diagnoses, which can occur remotely, can help improve healthcare outcomes. Moreover, studies show that early and correct diagnosis opens up a greater range of curative treatment options and can reduce costs (e.g. for colon cancer, stage-four treatment costs are a multiple of stage-one treatment costs).³

3. New technology New early detection technologies can improve the ability to identify symptoms and diseases early: i. Advances in medical monitoring devices and wearable health technology, such as ECG and blood pressure monitors and biosensors, enable patients to take control of their own health and physical condition. This is an important trend that is expected to positively contribute to early detection, for example in atrial fibrillation and Alzheimers’ disease. ii. Diagnostic tools, using new biomarkers such as liquid biopsies or volatile organic compounds, together with the implementation of machine learning, can play an increasing role in areas such as oncology or infectious diseases.⁴

4. Regulation and Intervention Government regulation and intervention will be necessary to set ranges of normality, to prohibit or discourage overdiagnosis and to reduce incentives for providers to overtreat patients or to follow patients' inappropriate requests. In some countries, such as the US, there has been some success through capitation models and value-based care. Governments might also need to intervene to de-risk the innovation paradigm, such that private providers of capital feel able to invest more in the development of new detection technologies, in addition to proven business models in novel therapeutics.

OECD Health Working Papers No. 101 "How much do OECD countries spend on prevention" , 2017

World Health Organization; Global Health Observatory (GHO) data; https://www.who.int/gho/health_workforce/physicians_density/en/

Saving lives, averting costs; A report for Cancer Research UK, by Incisive Health, September 2014

Liquid Biopsy: Market Drivers And Obstacles; by Divyaa Ravishankar, Frost & Sullivan, January 21, 2019

Liquid Biopsies Become Cheap and Easy with New Microfluidic Device; February 26, 2019

How America’s 5 Top Hospitals are Using Machine Learning Today; by Kumba Sennaar, February 19, 2019

5. The business case for private investment in healthcare for all

Pascal Fröhlicher, Primary Care Innovation Scholar, Harvard Medical School, and Ian Wijaya, Managing Director in Lazard’s Global Healthcare Group

Faith, a mother of two, has just lost another customer. Some households where she is employed to clean, in a small town in South Africa, have little understanding of her medical needs. As a type 2 diabetes patient, this Zimbabwean woman visits the public clinic regularly, sometimes on short notice. At her last visit, after spending hours in a queue, she was finally told that the doctor could not see her. To avoid losing another day of work, she went to the local general practitioner to get her script, paying more than three daily wages for consultation and medication. Sadly, this fictional person reflects a reality for many people in middle-income countries.

Achieving universal health coverage by 2030, a key UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), is at risk. The World Bank has identified a $176 billion funding gap , increasing every year due to the growing needs of an ageing population, with the health burden shifting towards non-communicable diseases (NCDs), now the major cause of death in emerging markets . Traditional sources of healthcare funding struggle to increase budgets sufficiently to cover this gap and only about 4% of private health care investments focus on diseases that primarily affect low- and middle-income countries.

In middle-income countries, private investors often focus on extending established businesses, including developing private hospital capacity, targeting consumers already benefiting from quality healthcare. As a result, an insufficient amount of private capital is invested in strengthening healthcare systems for everyone.

Why is this the case? We discussed with senior health executives investing in Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMIC) and the following reasons emerged:

• Small market size . Scaling innovations in healthcare requires dealing with country-specific regulatory frameworks and competing interest groups, resulting in high market entry cost.
• Talent . Several LMICs are losing nurses and doctors but also business and finance professionals to European and North American markets due to the lack of local opportunities and a significant difference in salaries.
• Untested business models with relatively low gross margins. Providing healthcare requires innovative business models where consumers’ willingness to pay often needs to be demonstrated over a significant period of time. Additionally, relatively low gross margins drive the need for scale to leverage administrative costs, which increases risk.
• Government Relations. The main buyer of health-related products and services is government; yet the relationship between public and private sectors often lacks trust, creating barriers to successful collaboration. Add to that significant political risk, as contracts can be cancelled by incoming administrations after elections. Many countries also lack comprehensive technology strategies to successfully manage technological innovation.
• Complexity of donor funding. A significant portion of healthcare is funded by private donors, whose priorities might not always be congruent with the health priorities of the government.

Notwithstanding these barriers, healthcare, specifically in middle-income settings, could present an attractive value proposition for private investors:

• Economic growth rates . A growing middle class is expanding the potential market for healthcare products and services.
• Alignment of incentives . A high ratio of out-of-pocket payments for healthcare services is often associated with low quality. However, innovative business models can turn out of pocket payments into the basis for a customer-centric value proposition, as the provider is required to compete for a share of disposable income.
• Emergence of National Health Insurance Schemes . South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and others are building national health insurance schemes, increasing a population’s ability to fund healthcare services and products .
• Increased prevalence of NCDs. Given the increasing incidence of chronic diseases and the potential of using technology to address these diseases, new business opportunities for private investment exist.

Based on the context above, several areas in healthcare delivery can present compelling opportunities for private companies.

• Aggregation of existing players.
• Leveraging primary care infrastructure. Retail companies can leverage their real estate, infrastructure and supply chains to deploy primary care services at greater scale than is currently the case.
• Telemedicine . Telecommunications providers can leverage their existing infrastructure and customer base to provide payment mechanisms and telehealth services at scale. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, investment in telemedicine can ensure that patients receive timely and continuous care in spite of restrictions and lockdowns.
• Cost effective diagnostics . Diagnostic tools operated by frontline workers and combined with the expertise of specialists can provide timely and efficient care.

To fully realize these opportunities, government must incentivise innovation, provide clear regulatory frameworks and, most importantly, ensure that health priorities are adequately addressed.

Venture capital and private equity firms as well as large international corporations can identify the most commercially viable solutions and scale them into new markets. The ubiquity of NCDs and the requirement to reduce costs globally provides innovators with the opportunity to scale their tested solutions from LMICs to higher income environments.

Successful investment exits in LMICs and other private sector success stories will attract more private capital. Governments that enable and support private investment in their healthcare systems would, with appropriate governance and guidance, generate benefits to their populations and economies. The economic value of healthy populations has been proven repeatedly , and in the face of COVID-19, private sector investment can promote innovation and the development of responsible, sustainable solutions.

Faith – the diabetic mother we introduced at the beginning of this article - could keep her client. As a stable patient, she could measure her glucose level at home and enter the results in an app on her phone, part of her monthly diabetes programme with the company that runs the health centre. She visits the nurse-led facility at the local taxi stand on her way to work when her app suggests it. The nurse in charge of the centre treats Faith efficiently, and, if necessary, communicates with a primary care physician or even a specialist through the telemedicine functionality of her electronic health system.

Improving LMIC health systems is not only a business opportunity, but a moral imperative for public and private leaders. With the appropriate technology and political will, this can become a reality.

6. How could COVID-19 change the way we pay for health services?

John E. Ataguba, Associate Professor and Director, University of Cape Town and Matthew Guilford, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Common Health

The emergence of the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2), causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has challenged both developing and developed countries.

Countries have approached the management of infections differently. Many people are curious to understand their health system’s performance on COVID-19, both at the national level and compared to international peers. Alongside limited resources for health, many developing countries may have weak health systems that can make it challenging to respond adequately to the pandemic.

Even before COVID-19, high rates of out-of-pocket spending on health meant that every year, 800 million people faced catastrophic healthcare costs ,100 million families were pushed into poverty, and millions more simply avoided care for critical conditions because they could not afford to pay for it.

The pandemic and its economic fallout have caused household incomes to decline at the same time as healthcare risks are rising. In some countries with insurance schemes, and especially for private health insurance, the following questions have arisen: How large is the co-payment for a COVID-19 test? If my doctor’s office is closed, will the telemedicine consultation be covered by my insurance? Will my coronavirus care be paid for regardless of how I contracted the virus? These and other doubts can prevent people from seeking medical care in some countries.

In Nigeria, like many other countries in Africa, the government bears the costs associated with testing and treating COVID-19 irrespective of the individual’s insurance status. In the public health sector, where COVID-19 cases are treated, health workers are paid monthly salaries while budgets are allocated to health facilities for other services. Hospitals continue to receive budget allocations to finance all health services including the management and treatment of COVID-19. That implies that funds allocated to address other health needs are reduced and that in turn could affect the availability and quality of health services.

Although health workers providing care for COVID-19 patients in isolation and treatment centres in Nigeria are paid salaries that are augmented with a special incentive package, the degree of impact on the quality improvement of services remains unclear. The traditional and historical allocation of budgets does not always address the needs of the whole population and could result in poor health services and under-provision of health services for COVID-19 patients.

In some countries, the reliance on out-of-pocket funding is hardly better for private providers, who encounter brand risks, operational difficulties, and – in extreme cases – the risk of creating “debtor prisons” as they seek to collect payment from patients. Ironically, despite the huge demand for medical services to diagnose and treat COVID-19, large healthcare institutions and individual healthcare practitioners alike are facing financial distress.

Dependence on a steady stream of fee-for-service payments for outpatient consultations and elective procedures is leading to pay cuts for doctors in India , forfeited Eid bonuses for nurses in Indonesia , and hospital bankruptcies in the United States . In a recent McKinsey & Company survey, 77% of physicians reported that their business would suffer in 2020 , and 46% were concerned about their practice surviving the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID-19 is exposing how fee-for-service, historical budget allocation and out-of-pocket financing methods can hinder the performance of the health system. Some providers and health systems that deployed “value-based” models prior to the pandemic have reported that these approaches have improved financial resilience during COVID-19 and may support better results for patients. Nevertheless, these types of innovations do not represent the dominant payment model in any country.

How health service providers are paid has implications for whether service users can get needed health services in a timely fashion, and at an appropriate quality and an affordable cost. By shifting from fee-for-service reimbursements to fixed "capitation" and performance-based payments, these models incentivize providers to improve quality and coordination while also guaranteeing a baseline income level, even during times of disruption.

Health service providers could be paid either in the form of salaries, a fee for services they provide, by capitation (whether adjusted or straightforward), through global budgets, or by using a case-based payment system (for example, the diagnostics-related groups), among others. Because there are different incentives to consider when adopting any of the methods, they could be combined to achieve a specific goal. For example, in some countries, health workers are paid salaries , and some specific services are paid on a fee-for-service basis.

Ideally, health services could be purchased strategically , incorporating aspects of provider performance in transferring funds to providers and accounting for the health needs of the population they serve.

In this regard, strategic purchasing for health has been advocated and should be highlighted as crucial with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a need to ensure value in the way health providers are paid, inter alia to increase efficiency, ensure equity, and improve access to needed health services. Value-based payment methods, although not new in many countries, provide an avenue to encourage long-term value for money, better quality, and strategic purchasing for health, helping to build a healthier, more resilient world.

7. L essons in integrated care from the COVID-19 pandemic

Sarah Ziegler, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Zurich, and Ninie Wang, Founder & CEO, Pinetree Care Group.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people suffering non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been at higher risk of becoming severely ill or dying. In Italy, 96.2% of people who died of COVID-19 lived with two or more chronic conditions.

Beyond the pandemic, cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and diabetes are the leading burden of disease, with 41 million annual deaths. People with multimorbidity - a number of different conditions - often experience difficulties in accessing timely and coordinated healthcare, made worse when health systems are busy fighting against the pandemic.

Here is what happened in China with Lee, aged 62, who has been living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for the past five years.

Before the pandemic, Lee’s care manager coordinated a multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nurses, pulmonary rehabilitation therapists, psychologists and social workers to put together a personalized care plan for her. Following the care plan, Lee stopped smoking and paid special attention to her diet, sleep and physical exercises, as well as sticking to her medication and follow-up visits. She participated in a weekly community-based physical activity program to meet other COPD patients, including short walks and exchange experiences. A mobile care team supported her with weekly cleaning and grocery shopping.

Together with her family, Lee had follow-up visits to ensure her care plan reflected her recovery and to modify the plan if needed. These integrated care services brought pieces of care together, centered around Lee’s needs, and provided a continuum of care that helped keep Lee in the community with a good quality of life for as long as possible.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, such NCD services have been disrupted by lockdowns, the cancellation of elective care and the fear of visiting care service . These factors particularly affected people living with NCDs like Lee. As such, Lee was not able to follow her care plan anymore. The mobile care team was unable to visit her weekly as they were deployed to provide COVID-19 relief. Lee couldn’t participate in her community-based program, follow up on her daily activities, or see her family or psychologists. This negatively affected Lee’s COPD management and led to poor management of her physical activity and healthy diet.

The pandemic highlights the need for a flexible and reliable integrated care system to enable healthcare delivery to all people no matter where they live, uzilizing approaches such as telemedicine and effective triaging to overcome care disruptions.

Lee’s care manager created short videos to assist her family through each step of her care and called daily to check in on the implementation of the plan and answer questions. Lee received tele-consultations, and was invited to the weekly webcast series that supported COPD patient communities. When her uncle passed away because of pneumonia complications from COVID-19 in early April, Lee’s care manager arranged a palliative care provider to support the family through the difficult time of bereavement and provided food and supplies during quarantine. Lee could even continue with her physical activity program with an online training coach. There were a total of 38 exercise videos for strengthening and stretching arms, legs and trunk, which she could complete at different levels of difficulty and with different numbers of repetitions.

Lee’s case demonstrates that early detection, prevention, and management of NCDs play a crucial role in a global pandemic response. It shows how we need to shift away from health systems designed around single diseases towards health systems designed for the multidimensional needs of individuals. As part of the pandemic responses, addressing and managing risks related to NCDs and prevention of their complications are critical to improve outcomes for vulnerable people like Lee.

How to design and deliver successful integrated care

The challenge for the successful transformation of healthcare is to tailor care system-wide to population needs. A 2016 WHO Framework on integrated people-centered health services developed a set of five general strategies for countries to progress towards people-centered and sustainable health systems, calling for a fundamental transformation not only in the way health services are delivered, but also in the way they are financed and managed . These strategies call for countries to:

• Engage and empower people / communities: an integrated care system must mobilize everyone to work together using all available resources, especially when continuity of essential health and community services for NCDs are at risk of being undermined.
• Strengthen governance and accountability, so that integration emphasizes rather than weakens leadership in every part of the system, and ensure that NCDs are included in national COVID-19 plans and future essential health services.
• Reorient the model of care to put the needs and perspectives of each person / family at the center of care planning and outcome measurement, rather than institutions.
• Coordinate services within and across sectors, for example, integrate inter-disciplinary medical care with social care, addressing wider socio-economic, environmental and behavioral determinants of health.
• Create an enabling environment, with clear objectives, supportive financing, regulations and insurance coverage for integrated care, including the development and use of systemic digital health care solutions.

Whether due to an unexpected pandemic or a gradual increase in the burden of NCDs, each person could face many health threats across the life-course.

Only systems that dynamically assess each person’s complex health needs and address them through a timely, well-coordinated and tailored mix of health and social care services will be able to deliver desired health outcomes over the longer term, ensuring an uninterrupted good quality of life for Lee and many others like her.

• Wang B, Li R, Lu Z, Huang Y. Does comorbidity increase the risk of patients with COVID-19: evidence from meta-analysis. Aging (Albany NY) 2020;12: 6049–57.
• WHO. Noncommunicable diseases in emergencies. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2016.
• WHO. COVID-19 significantly impacts health services for noncommunicable diseases. June 2020.
• Kluge HHP, Wickramasinghe K, Rippin HL, et al. Prevention and control of non-communicalbe diseases in the COVID-19 response. The Lancet. 2020. 395:1678-1680
• WHO. Framework on integrated people-centred health services. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2016.

8 . Why access to healthcare alone will not save lives

Donald Berwick, President Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement; Nicola Bedlington, Special Adviser, European Patient Forum; and David Duong, Director, Program in Global Primary Care and Social Change, Harvard Medical School.

Joyce lies next to 10 other women in bare single beds in the post-partum recovery room at a rural hospital in Uganda. Just an hour ago, Joyce gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She is now struggling with abdominal pain. A nurse walks by, and Joyce tries to call out, but the nurse was too busy to attend to her; she was the only nurse looking after 20 patients.

Another hour passes, and Joyce is shaking and sweating profusely. Joyce’s husband runs into the corridor to find a nurse to come and evaluate her. The nurse notices Joyce’s critical condition - a high fever and a low blood pressure - and she quickly calls the doctor. The medical team rushes Joyce to the intensive care unit. Joyce has a very severe blood stream infection. It takes another hour before antibiotics are started - too late. Joyce dies, leaving behind a newborn son and a husband. Joyce, like many before her, falls victim to a pervasive global threat: poor quality of care.

Adopted by United Nations (UN) in 2015, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. SDG 3 aims to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all. The 2019 UN General Assembly High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) reaffirmed the need for the highest level of political commitment to health care for all.

However, progress towards UHC, often measured in terms of access, not outcomes, does not guarantee better health, as we can see from Joyce’s tragedy. This is also evident with the COVID-19 response. The rapidly evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted long-term structural inefficiencies and inequities in health systems and societies trying to mitigate the contagion and loss of life.

Systems are straining under significant pressure to ensure standards of care for both COVID-19 patients and other patients that run the risk of not receiving timely and appropriate care. Although poor quality of care has been a long-standing issue, it is imperative now more than ever that systems implement high-quality services as part of their efforts toward UHC.

Poor quality healthcare remains a challenge for countries at all levels of economic development: 10% of hospitalized patients acquire an infection during their hospitalization in low-and-middle income countries (LMIC), whereas 7% do in high-income countries. Poor quality healthcare disproportionally affects the poor and those in LMICs. Of the approximately 8.6 million deaths per year in 137 LMICs, 3.6 million are people who did not access the health system, whereas 5 million are people who sought and had access to services but received poor-quality care.

Joyce’s story is all too familiar; poor quality of care results in deaths from treatable diseases and conditions. Although the causes of death are often multifactorial, deaths and increased morbidity from treatable conditions are often a reflection of defects in the quality of care.

The large number of deaths and avoidable complications are also accompanied by substantial economic costs. In 2015 alone, 130 LMICs faced US $6 trillion in economic losses. Although there is concern that implementing quality measures may be a costly endeavor, it is clear that the economic toll associated with a lack of quality of care is far more troublesome and further stunts the socio-economic development of LMICs, made apparent with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Poor-quality care not only leads to adverse outcomes in terms of high morbidity and mortality, but it also impacts patient experience and patient confidence in health systems. Less than one-quarter of people in LMICs and approximately half of people in high-income countries believe that their health systems work well.

A lack of application and availability of evidenced-based guidelines is one key driver of poor-quality care. The rapidly changing landscape of medical knowledge and guidelines requires healthcare workers to have immediate access to current clinical resources. Despite our "information age", health providers are not accessing clinical guidelines or do not have access to the latest practical, lifesaving information.

Getting information to health workers in the places where it is most needed is a delivery challenge. Indeed, adherence to clinical practice guidelines in eight LMICs was below 50%, and in OECD countries, despite being a part of national guidelines, 19-53% of women aged 50-69 years did not receive mammography screening.4 The evidence in LMICs and HICs suggest that application of evidence-based guidelines lead to reduction in mortality and improved health outcomes.

Equally, the failure to change and continually improve the processes in health systems that support the workforce takes a high toll on quality of care. During the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam, which adapted and improved their health systems after the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks, were able to rapidly mobilize a large-scale quarantine and contact tracing strategy, supported with effective and coordinated mass communication.

These countries not only mitigated the economic and mortality damage, but also prevented their health systems and workforce from enduring extreme burden and inability to maintain critical medical supplies. In all nations, investing in healthcare organizations to enable them to become true “learning health care systems,” aiming at continual quality improvement, would yield major population health and health system gains.

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance for health systems to be learning systems. Once the dust settles, we need to focus, collectively, on learning from this experience and adapting our health systems to be more resilient for the next one. This implies a need for commitment to and investment in global health cooperation, improvement in health care leadership, and change management.

With strong political and financial commitment to UHC, and its demonstrable effect in addressing crises such as COVID-19, for the first time, the world has a viable chance of UHC becoming a reality. However, without an equally strong political, managerial, and financial commitment to continually improving, high-quality health services, UHC will remain an empty promise.

1. United Nations General Assembly. Political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage. New York, NY2019.

2. Marmot M, Allen J, Boyce T, Goldblatt P, Morrison J. Health equity in England: the Marmot review 10 years on. Institute of Health Equity;2020.

3. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Committee on Improving the Quality of Health Care Globally. Crossing the global quality chasm: Improving health care worldwide. Washington, DC: National Academies Press;2018.

4. World Health Organization, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, World Bank Group. Delivering quality health services: a global imperative for universal health coverage. World Health Organization; 2018.

5. Kruk ME, Gage AD, Arsenault C, et al. High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution. The Lancet Global Health. 2018;6(11):e1196-e1252.

6. Ricci-Cabello I, Violán C, Foguet-Boreu Q, Mounce LT, Valderas JM. Impact of multi-morbidity on quality of healthcare and its implications for health policy, research and clinical practice. A scoping review. European Journal of General Practice. 2015;21(3):192-202.

7. Valtis YK, Rosenberg J, Bhandari S, et al. Evidence-based medicine for all: what we can learn from a programme providing free access to an online clinical resource to health workers in resource-limited settings. BMJ global health. 2016;1(1).

8. Institute of Medicine. Best Care at Lower Cost: The Path to Continuously Learning Health Care in America . Washington, DC: National Academies Press 2012.

Health Care - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Health care encompasses a range of services provided by medical professionals to maintain or improve people’s health. Essays on health care could explore the different health care systems across countries, challenges in healthcare delivery, ethical concerns, or the impact of technology and policy on healthcare services. Discussions could also focus on healthcare disparities and proposed reforms. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Health Care you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Health Care Policy Analysis

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Veterans Mental Health Care

Mental health disparities affect a large amount of population across the United States. However, nobody is more affected by unstable mental health than those members of the military and their families. With the increase in the need for security in different areas of the world, military soldiers are deployed to assist in securing and protecting those areas. Often, these soldiers see combat and are affected in their mental state. Not only are the soldiers affected by the deployment, their families […]

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Particularly most of the trained nurses theatres a vital role in mental health depending on field of specialty. Hence, in this level my main concept of concern will be based psychiatric nurses with which have chosen to pursue for my masters level. Regardless of the education, I am ascertained by the specialization and exposure as it gives skills to handle some of the technical responsibilities with most of the patients. This practitioners serve primarily in the care of mental health […]

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Health Care Finance and Reimbursement

Revenue Sources and Purpose Medicare is a federal program that was created to pay for health care for elderly Americans as well as younger ones with disabilities. At age 65, automatic enrollment is initiated. It covers 49 million people, of whom a little more than 8 million are disabled and just over 40 million are 65 years or older (Casey, 2015). Payroll taxes and other government disbursement is utilized for coverage. Medicare is very helpful for the aging population as […]

Medicare and Home Health Care

The health care system faces many issues and concerns when treating patients. One of the many issues are readmission rates. Patients are often treated then return to the hospital again with relapse, recurrence of illness, or new deterioration of condition. Readmission rates put a very big burden on the medical system and health insurances. According to data from the Center for Health Information and Analysis, “Hospital readmissions cost Medicare about $26 billion annually, with about $17 billion spent on avoidable […]

Effect of Exercise on the Rate of Respiration and the Heart Rate

How does increase the number of jumping jacks affect the rate of respiration and the heart rate per minute in teenagers aged 17-18? Background Information: Different types of activity will have a different effect on the rate of respiration as well as the heart rate because of certain factors. These include the level of intensity and difficulty of the exercise, as well as determining whether it is an aerobic or anaerobic activity. Aerobic respiration requires the presence of oxygen. (Haldane, […]

Deciphering Hospital Code Grey: Understanding its Significance in Health Care Settings

'Code Grey' is a critical component of the emergency response system in the complex and frequently high-pressure setting of a hospital. This code, although not as well known as some other emergency codes, is critical in ensuring safety and order inside healthcare institutions. This paper investigates the definition, use, and relevance of Hospital Code Grey, providing light on its vital role in hospital operations and patient care. Hospital Code Grey, which varies significantly from institution to institution, often refers to […]

Alzheimer’s Disease and Relate Dementia Reform Health Care

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Why Good Nurses Leave the Profession

Nursing is always depicted as an attractive career that many people desire to pursue. Just like other professions, the nursing profession is challenging and rewarding. The work of nurses is to make a difference in the lives of people and connect with them on a personal level. Nurses should be involved in the profession stands the test of time through ages. The nursing profession is facing a crisis as nurses leave the bedside and eventually their profession. According to Johnson […]

Health Care Cyber Security

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The Ongoing Political Debate over LGBTQ Health Care

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Future Advances in Health Management Information Systems (HMIS)

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The U.S. Health Care System

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A Discussion on the Affordable Care Act that has the Purpose of Giving Universal Health Care

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A Study on the Best Approaches to Public Health Care Policy

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A Report on the Personal Experience with the Best Guide to Meditation and Health Care Policy

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Nursing Care for End of Life Patient

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A Study and Implementation of a New Health Care Policy in Logan County

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Discrimination in Health Care: Examining the Inequality and Disparities

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Argumentative Essay about Health Care

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Embracing Tomorrow: Memorial Hermann’s Trailblazing Journey in Health Care

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Nursing Metaparadigm

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The Influence of Entrepreneurs on Health Care

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Gap between Health Care and Child Abuse

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Nurses Role in Safety and Medication Administration

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Midwifery Complex Care Plan

Midwifery is a crucial part of the maternal health for expectant mothers. They need it at the time of delivery, so that they may save their lives and that of the unborn baby. There comes a time when the mother needs a specialized care, and that responsibility is necessary for her and the child. Some of the mothers develop critical conditions in the course of their gestation period, such that they need a specialized attention at the time of their […]

Clifford Beers

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Supply of Mental Health Insurance Coverage

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Biomedical Ethics

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Tuberculosis Research

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How to improve healthcare improvement—an essay by Mary Dixon-Woods

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As improvement practice and research begin to come of age, Mary Dixon-Woods considers the key areas that need attention if we are to reap their benefits

In the NHS, as in health systems worldwide, patients are exposed to risks of avoidable harm 1 and unwarranted variations in quality. 2 3 4 But too often, problems in the quality and safety of healthcare are merely described, even “admired,” 5 rather than fixed; the effort invested in collecting information (which is essential) is not matched by effort in making improvement. The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, for example, has raised many of the same concerns in report after report. 6 Catastrophic degradations of organisations and units have recurred throughout the history of the NHS, with depressingly similar features each time. 7 8 9

More resources are clearly necessary to tackle many of these problems. There is no dispute about the preconditions for high quality, safe care: funding, staff, training, buildings, equipment, and other infrastructure. But quality health services depend not just on structures but on processes. 10 Optimising the use of available resources requires continuous improvement of healthcare processes and systems. 5

The NHS has seen many attempts to stimulate organisations to improve using incentive schemes, ranging from pay for performance (the Quality and Outcomes Framework in primary care, for example) to public reporting (such as annual quality accounts). They have had mixed results, and many have had unintended consequences. 11 12 Wanting to improve is not the same as knowing how to do it.

In response, attention has increasingly turned to a set of approaches known as quality improvement (QI). Though a definition of exactly what counts as a QI approach has escaped consensus, QI is often identified with a set of techniques adapted from industrial settings. They include the US Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s Model for Improvement, which, among other things, combines measurement with tests of small change (plan-do-study-act cycles). 8 Other popular approaches include Lean and Six Sigma. QI can also involve specific interventions intended to improve processes and systems, ranging from checklists and “care bundles” of interventions (a set of evidence based practices intended to be done consistently) through to medicines reconciliation and clinical pathways.

QI has been advocated in healthcare for over 30 years 13 ; policies emphasise the need for QI and QI practice is mandated for many healthcare professionals (including junior doctors). Yet the question, “Does quality improvement actually improve quality?” remains surprisingly difficult to answer. 14 The evidence for the benefits of QI is mixed 14 and generally of poor quality. It is important to resolve this unsatisfactory situation. That will require doing more to bring together the practice and the study of improvement, using research to improve improvement, and thinking beyond effectiveness when considering the study and practice of improvement.

Uniting practice and study

The practice and study of improvement need closer integration. Though QI programmes and interventions may be just as consequential for patient wellbeing as drugs, devices, and other biomedical interventions, research about improvement has often been seen as unnecessary or discretionary, 15 16 particularly by some of its more ardent advocates. This is partly because the challenges faced are urgent, and the solutions seem obvious, so just getting on with it seems the right thing to do.

But, as in many other areas of human activity, QI is pervaded by optimism bias. It is particularly affected by the “lovely baby” syndrome, which happens when formal evaluation is eschewed because something looks so good that it is assumed it must work. Five systematic reviews (published 2010-16) reporting on evaluations of Lean and Six Sigma did not identify a single randomised controlled trial. 17 18 19 20 21 A systematic review of redesigning care processes identified no randomised trials. 22 A systematic review of the application of plan-do-study-act in healthcare identified no randomised trials. 23 A systematic review of several QI methods in surgery identified just one randomised trial. 56

The sobering reality is that some well intentioned, initially plausible improvement efforts fail when subjected to more rigorous evaluation. 24 For instance, a controlled study of a large, well resourced programme that supported a group of NHS hospitals to implement the IHI’s Model for Improvement found no differences in the rate of improvement between participating and control organisations. 25 26 Specific interventions may, similarly, not survive the rigours of systematic testing. An example is a programme to reduce hospital admissions from nursing homes that showed promise in a small study in the US, 27 but a later randomised implementation trial found no effect on admissions or emergency department attendances. 28

Some interventions are probably just not worth the effort and opportunity cost: having nurses wear “do not disturb” tabards during drug rounds, is one example. 29 And some QI efforts, perversely, may cause harm—as happened when a multicomponent intervention was found to be associated with an increase rather than a decrease in surgical site infections. 30

Producing sound evidence for the effectiveness of improvement interventions and programmes is likely to require a multipronged approach. More large scale trials and other rigorous studies, with embedded qualitative inquiry, should be a priority for research funders.

Not every study of improvement needs to be a randomised trial. One valuable but underused strategy involves wrapping evaluation around initiatives that are happening anyway, especially when it is possible to take advantage of natural experiments or design roll-outs. 31 Evaluation of the reorganisation of stroke care in London and Manchester 32 and the study of the Matching Michigan programme to reduce central line infections are good examples. 33 34

It would be impossible to externally evaluate every QI project. Critically important therefore will be increasing the rigour with which QI efforts evaluate themselves, as shown by a recent study of an attempt to improve care of frail older people using a “hospital at home” approach in southwest England. 35 This ingeniously designed study found no effect on outcomes and also showed that context matters.

Despite the potential value of high quality evaluation, QI reports are often weak, 18 with, for example, interventions so poorly reported that reproducibility is frustrated. 36 Recent reporting guidelines may help, 37 but some problems are not straightforward to resolve. In particular, current structures for governance and publishing research are not always well suited to QI, including situations where researchers study programmes they have not themselves initiated. Systematic learning from QI needs to improve, which may require fresh thinking about how best to align the goals of practice and study, and to reconcile the needs of different stakeholders. 38

Using research to improve improvement

Research can help to support the practice of improvement in many ways other than evaluation of its effectiveness. One important role lies in creating assets that can be used to improve practice, such as ways to visualise data, analytical methods, and validated measures that assess the aspects of care that most matter to patients and staff. This kind of work could, for example, help to reduce the current vast number of quality measures—there are more than 1200 indicators of structure and process in perioperative care alone. 39

The study of improvement can also identify how improvement practice can get better. For instance, it has become clear that fidelity to the basic principles of improvement methods is a major problem: plan-do-study-act cycles are crucial to many improvement approaches, yet only 20% of the projects that report using the technique have done so properly. 23 Research has also identified problems in measurement—teams trying to do improvement may struggle with definitions, data collection, and interpretation 40 —indicating that this too requires more investment.

Improvement research is particularly important to help cumulate, synthesise, and scale learning so that practice can move forward without reinventing solutions that already exist or reintroducing things that do not work. Such theorising can be highly practical, 41 helping to clarify the mechanisms through which interventions are likely to work, supporting the optimisation of those interventions, and identifying their most appropriate targets. 42

Research can systematise learning from “positive deviance,” approaches that examine individuals, teams, or organisations that show exceptionally good performance. 43 Positive deviance can be used to identify successful designs for clinical processes that other organisations can apply. 44

Crucially, positive deviance can also help to characterise the features of high performing contexts and ensure that the right lessons are learnt. For example, a distinguishing feature of many high performing organisations, including many currently rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, is that they use structured methods of continuous quality improvement. But studies of high performing settings, such as the Southmead maternity unit in Bristol, indicate that although continuous improvement is key to their success, a specific branded improvement method is not necessary. 45 This and other work shows that not all improvement needs to involve a well defined QI intervention, and not everything requires a discrete project with formal plan-do-study-act cycles.

More broadly, research has shown that QI is just one contributor to improving quality and safety. Organisations in many industries display similar variations to healthcare organisations, including large and persistent differences in performance and productivity between seemingly similar enterprises. 46 Important work, some of it experimental, is beginning to show that it is the quality of their management practices that distinguishes them. 47 These practices include continuous quality improvement as well as skills training, human resources, and operational management, for example. QI without the right contextual support is likely to have limited impact.

Beyond effectiveness

Important as they are, evaluations of the approaches and interventions in individual improvement programmes cannot answer every pertinent question about improvement. 48 Other key questions concern the values and assumptions intrinsic to QI.

Consider the “product dominant” logic in many healthcare improvement efforts, which assumes that one party makes a product and conveys it to a consumer. 49 Paul Batalden, one of the early pioneers of QI in healthcare, proposes that we need instead a “service dominant” logic, which assumes that health is co-produced with patients. 49

More broadly, we must interrogate how problems of quality and safety are identified, defined, and selected for attention by whom, through which power structures, and with what consequences. Why, for instance, is so much attention given to individual professional behaviour when systems are likely to be a more productive focus? 50 Why have quality and safety in mental illness and learning disability received less attention in practice, policy, and research 51 despite high morbidity and mortality and evidence of both serious harm and failures of organisational learning? The concern extends to why the topic of social inequities in healthcare improvement has remained so muted 52 and to the choice of subjects for study. Why is it, for example, that interventions like education and training, which have important roles in quality and safety and are undertaken at vast scale, are often treated as undeserving of evaluation or research?

How QI is organised institutionally also demands attention. It is often conducted as a highly local, almost artisan activity, with each organisation painstakingly working out its own solution for each problem. Much improvement work is conducted by professionals in training, often in the form of small, time limited projects conducted for accreditation. But working in this isolated way means a lack of critical mass to support the right kinds of expertise, such as the technical skill in human factors or ergonomics necessary to engineer a process or devise a safety solution. Having hundreds of organisations all trying to do their own thing also means much waste, and the absence of harmonisation across basic processes introduces inefficiencies and risks. 14

A better approach to the interorganisational nature of health service provision requires solving the “problem of many hands.” 53 We need ways to agree which kinds of sector-wide challenges need standardisation and interoperability; which solutions can be left to local customisation at implementation; and which should be developed entirely locally. 14 Better development of solutions and interventions is likely to require more use of prototyping, modelling and simulation, and testing in different scenarios and under different conditions, 14 ideally through coordinated, large scale efforts that incorporate high quality evaluation.

Finally, an approach that goes beyond effectiveness can also help in recognising the essential role of the professions in healthcare improvement. The past half century has seen a dramatic redefining of the role and status of the healthcare professions in health systems 54 : unprecedented external accountability, oversight, and surveillance are now the norm. But policy makers would do well to recognise how much more can be achieved through professional coalitions of the willing than through too many imposed, compliance focused diktats. Research is now showing how the professions can be hugely important institutional forces for good. 54 55 In particular, the professions have a unique and invaluable role in working as advocates for improvement, creating alliances with patients, providing training and education, contributing expertise and wisdom, coordinating improvement efforts, and giving political voice for problems that need to be solved at system level (such as, for example, equipment design).

Improvement efforts are critical to securing the future of the NHS. But they need an evidence base. Without sound evaluation, patients may be deprived of benefit, resources and energy may be wasted on ineffective QI interventions or on interventions that distribute risks unfairly, and organisations are left unable to make good decisions about trade-offs given their many competing priorities. The study of improvement has an important role in developing an evidence-base and in exploring questions beyond effectiveness alone, and in particular showing the need to establish improvement as a collective endeavour that can benefit from professional leadership.

Mary Dixon-Woods is the Health Foundation professor of healthcare improvement studies and director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute at the University of Cambridge, funded by the Health Foundation. Co-editor-in-chief of BMJ Quality and Safety , she is an honorary fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Physicians. This article is based largely on the Harveian oration she gave at the RCP on 18 October 2018, in the year of the college’s 500th anniversary. The oration is available here: http://www.clinmed.rcpjournal.org/content/19/1/47 and the video version here: https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/events/harveian-oration-and-dinner-2018

This article is one of a series commissioned by The BMJ based on ideas generated by a joint editorial group with members from the Health Foundation and The BMJ , including a patient/carer. The BMJ retained full editorial control over external peer review, editing, and publication. Open access fees and The BMJ ’s quality improvement editor post are funded by the Health Foundation.

Competing interests: I have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and a statement is available here: https://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/advisory-panels/editorial-advisory-board/mary-dixonwoods

Provenance and peer review: Commissioned; not externally peer reviewed.

This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ .

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Health Care in the United States, Essay Example

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In the United States, there has long been discussion about the quality and nature of the delivery of healthcare.  The debates have included who may receive such services, whether or not healthcare is a privilege or an entitlement, whether and how to make patient care affordable to all segments of the population, and the ways in which the government should, or should not, be involved in the provision of such services.  Indeed, many people feel that the healthcare in this country is the best in the world; others believe tha (The Free Dictionary)t our health delivery system is broken.  This paper shall examine different aspects of the healthcare system in our country, discussing whether it has been successful in providing essential services to American citizens.

The delivery of healthcare services is considered to be a system; according to the Free Diction- ary (Farlex, 2010), a system is defined as “a group of interacting, interrelated, or interdependent elements forming a complex whole.” This is an apt description of our healthcare structure, as it is compiled of patients, medical and mental health providers, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, insurance companies, and many other parties that are reliant on each other and that, when combined, make up the entity known as our healthcare system.

Those who believe that our healthcare system is the best in the world often point to the fact that leaders as well as private citizens from countries throughout the world frequently come to the United States to have surgeries and other treatments that they require for survival.  A more cynical view of this phenomenon is that if people have the money, they are able to purchase quality care in the U.S., a “survival of the fittest” situation.  Those who lack the resources to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment are simply out of luck, and often will die without the needed care.

In fact, reports by the World Health Organization and other groups consistently indicate that while the United States spends more than any other country on healthcare costs, Americans receive lower quality, less efficient and less fairness from the system.  These conclusions come as a result of studying quality of care, access to care, equity and the ability to lead long, productive lives.  (World Health Organization,2001.) What cannot be disputed is that the cost of healthcare is constantly rising, a fact which was the precipitant to the large movement to reform healthcare in our country in 2010.  More than 10 years ago, the goal of managed care was to drive down the costs of healthcare, but those promises did not materialize (Garsten, 2010.) A large segment of the population is either uninsured or underinsured, and it is speculated that over the next decade, these problems will only increase while other difficulties will arise (Garson, 2010.)

When examining the healthcare system, there are three aspects of care that call for evaluation: the impact of delivering care on the patient, the benefits and harms of that treatment, and the functioning of the healthcare system, as described in an article by Adrian Levy.  Levy argues that each of these outcomes should be assessed and should include both the successes and the limitations of each aspect.  The idea is that there should be operational measurements of patients’ interactions with the healthcare system that would include patients’ experiences in hospitals, using measurements of their functional abilities and their qualities of life following discharge.  The results of patients’ interactions with the healthcare system should be utilized to develop and improve the delivery of healthcare treatment, as well as to develop policy changes that would affect the entire field of healthcare in the United States.

One view of the state of American healthcare is that the system is fragmented; there have been many failed attempts by several presidents to introduce the idea of universal healthcare.  Instead, American citizens are saddled with a system in which government pays either directly or indirectly for over 50% of the healthcare in our country, but the actual delivery of insurance and of care is undertaken by an assortment of private insurers, for-profit hospitals, and other parties who raise costs without increasing quality of service (Wells, Krugman, 2006.) If the United States were to switch to a single-payer system such as that provided in Canada, the government would directly provide insurance which would most likely be less expensive and provide better results than our current system.

It is clear that throwing money at a problem does not necessarily resolve it; the fact that the United States spends more than twice as much on healthcare provision as any other country in the world only makes it more ironic that when it comes to evaluating the service, Americans fall appallingly flat.  In my opinion, if the new healthcare reform bill had included a public option which would have taken the profit margin out of the equation, the nation and its citizens would have been in a much better position to receive quality healthcare.  The fact that people die every day from preventable illnesses and conditions simply because they do not have affordable insurance is a national disgrace.  In addition, many of the people who have been the most adamantly against government “intrusion” into their healthcare are actually on Medicaid or Medicare, federally-funded programs.  Their lack of understanding of what the debate actually involves is striking, and they are rallying against what is in their own best interests.  These are people that equate Federal involvement in healthcare as socialism.  Unless and until our healthcare system is able to provide what is needed to all of its citizens, all claims that we have the best healthcare system in the world are, sadly, utterly hollow.

Adrian R Levy (2005, December). Categorizing outcomes of Health Care delivery. Clinical and investigative medicine, pp. 347-351.

Arthur Garson (2000). The U.S. Healthcare System 2010: Problems Principles and Potential Solutions. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from Circulation: The Journal of the American Heart Association: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/reprint/101/16/2015

The Free Dictionary. (n.d.). Farlex. Retrieved July 3, 2010. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/system

World Health Organization. (2003, July). WHO World Health Report 2000. Retrieved July 3, 2010, from State of World Health: http://faculty.washington.edu/ely/Report2000.htm

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How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

A+ in Nursing Essays Await You!

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Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

Ready to Excel in Your Nursing School Essay?

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How to Write a Nursing Essay?

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How to write "the change you want to see in health care" essay

By SeventyFourImages via EnvatoElements

By Urvi Gupta

There are many ways of approaching an essay such as this one. Here are some methods that we find useful, and we hope they will be helpful to you as well.

The most powerful essays are those which could not be written by anyone other than yourself. Keep this in mind as you begin your brainstorm. Finding stories which are personal and teach the reader something about you is crucial.

Pull out some pen and paper. Set a 5-minute timer on your phone. Use this time to jot down every thought that comes into mind about the ways you wish our health care system was better. Try to keep your pen to the paper and keep writing throughout the 5 minutes. 

Look over your list. Which ones stick out to you as the most compelling? Through your interactions with healthcare, have any of the challenges you brainstormed impacted you personally? Have you had any experiences where you worked towards any of these goals? Use these questions to pick 1-3 topics from your list.

Begin outlining your essay. For each of your topics, try to include answers to the following questions:

Briefly describe the topic/issue.

Why is this topic important to you specifically? How has it affected you/the people around you/the world? Give concrete examples.

How do you propose you can make it better? Again, be specific and try to draw inspiration from your own life. 

Begin writing!

Read your draft out loud to yourself or a friend/family member to look for areas that are unclear or that could be improved.

Remember that it is less important as to what you pick for the change you want to see in health care and more important that you have something compelling and personal to say about it. We want to learn about you!

The views expressed here are the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Stanford University School of Medicine. External websites are shared as a courtesy. They are not endorsed by the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The most powerful essays are those which could not be written by anyone other than yourself.

Urvi Gupta, BS SASI Teaching Assistant

April 15, 2024

An ICU Nurse Explains the Vital Role of Family Caregivers in Loved Ones' Health

Family caregivers provide critical support and familiarity to patients, but can also experience burnout

By Courtney Graetzer & The Conversation US

Self-care, although often neglected by caregivers, is critical when looking after a loved one.

manassanant pamai/Getty Images

The floor nurse had just told me that my new patient – let’s call her Marie – would not stop screaming.

Marie landed in the intensive care unit where I am a bedside nurse because she was too agitated and needed more oxygen. We immediately tried to fit her with a more advanced oxygen mask, but the screaming continued and her oxygen level worsened. No matter how much I comforted her, it was not my hand she wanted to hold. She was screaming for her daughter, April, who was on her way.

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April had been Marie’s caregiver at home for the past few years after Marie was diagnosed with end-stage Alzheimer’s. April is Marie’s familiar face, her source of comfort when she gets disoriented. Now Marie had been admitted to the hospital for pneumonia, and April had not left her side.

As a seasoned bedside critical care nurse, I see firsthand the benefits that family caregivers bring to patient care in the hospital. I also witness the emotional stress that caregivers experience when their loved one comes to the ICU.

After years of helping families and physicians navigate the complicated course of an ICU hospital stay, I have some advice for caregivers to take with them.

Caregivers often battle anxiety and depression

From making medical decisions to advocating for their loved one, family caregivers have many important roles when their loved one is in the hospital. Their presence not only provides a sense of security, but also strongly influences a patient’s response to treatment .

For example, Marie refused to take walks during physical therapy until we found out from April that she felt safest in her pink New Balance shoes, which April brought to the hospital. April’s unique knowledge of Marie’s specific needs proved to be invaluable to guiding Marie’s treatment plan at the hospital.

Including the family in the patient’s treatment plan, also known as family-centered care, can help shorten a patient’s hospital stay and can even reduce hospital costs. However, caregivers carry heavy emotional burdens while supporting loved ones at the hospital .

In fact, family caregivers are at high risk of developing long-term psychological health problems . Up to 70% of first-degree relatives of ICU survivors suffer from anxiety symptoms, more than a third suffer from depression , and many can experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder , or PTSD.

There are ways to help ease this emotional burden, and most of them come down to consistent and open communication between the patient, their caregivers and the medical team.

But how should you, as the caregiver without much medical knowledge, communicate with hospital staff when your loved one can’t speak for themself?

Communication is critical

First, exchange contact information with the primary medical team, which may include a passcode for patient privacy. This will ensure that you receive the most updated information about the patient and will give you the peace of mind knowing that you can call at any hour of the day or night to receive updates on your loved one.

Second, let the medical team know what the patient is normally like at home, which can include the patient’s medications, their baseline functional capabilities, any cultural or religious preferences, and their end-of-life wishes, just in case. With this information, the medical team can develop a reasonable treatment plan specific to your loved one, avoid unnecessary and uncomfortable tests, and provide a better insight into their prognosis and recovery.

As you provide information about the patient at home, the medical team should be giving you updates about the patient’s condition in the hospital. This is a good time for you to keep a diary to write down essential information and questions to ask them.

Knowing what to ask is essential to effective communication at the hospital. First, get yourself oriented to the hospital unit you are on: Ask about the visitation policy, unit phone number and even where the cafeteria and the bathrooms are.

Once familiar with your new environment, you may feel more at ease to truly be present for your loved one. Other important questions you can ask each day include:

What is happening to my loved one?

What is the plan for the next day?

What will the treatment be like for my loved one?

These are good first questions for setting daily expectations for the patient’s hospital stay. You can also find answers by participating in the patient’s clinical rounds. Every day, the interdisciplinary medical team sees each patient to discuss updates and treatment plans, and answers questions for the patient and their family. Research has also shown that rounds relieve anxiety and stress among family caregivers due to the consistent daily communication and emotional support that they provide.

Nurses can be helpful

After clinical rounds, the interdisciplinary team of doctors and nurses establishes a daily plan of care for your loved one, which will be carried out by your bedside nurse. The nurse will give the ordered medications, perform necessary clinical tasks and assess the patient for their response to the treatment. If you normally take care of the patient’s basic needs at home, offering to help your nurse with feeding or bathing may provide emotional reassurance to you and your loved one.

Nurses are the most accessible resource you have when your loved one is in the hospital. They can provide emotional support and coping strategies during this stressful time and can act as a translator between you and the physicians.

Once you establish a good relationship with your nurse and the medical team, spend quality time with your loved one. Even when the patient isn’t responsive, talk to them about familiar people in their life, FaceTime other family members, play their favorite music or TV show, and always remind them of the date and that they are in the hospital.

The importance of routines and familiarity

Since it’s easy for patients to lose track of the normal day-night cycle, they can be at high risk of ICU delirium , which is an acute and severe state of confusion. Preventing ICU delirium through reorientation and familiar faces can help prevent this serious complication and can even reduce their hospital stay.

Finally, one of the most important but often neglected task for you to do is self-care .

Research advises caregivers to tend to their own health and emotional needs by eating regularly, getting adequate sleep and taking breaks from the hospital. You have been strong for others and can continue to do so, but only if you take care of yourself as well.

Most families that come to the hospital describe the support they received from the medical team in a positive way . Your nurses and the rest of the medical team are all on your team, and we want the best possible outcome for your loved one.

This article was originally published on The Conversation . Read the original article .

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What really matters at the end: perspectives from a patient, a family member and an oncologist

It is not uncommon for physicians to write about what “they think” matters to patients. This essay explores “what really matters” from the perspective of a patient, a family member of another patient and an oncologist. The patient was a 58-year-old woman with recurrent metastatic small bowel cancer. The family member is the spouse of a 48-year-old man who had advanced gastroesophageal cancer. The medical oncologist is a mid-career clinician–scientist who cared for both patients.

The perspectives presented in this essay evolved from conversations that occurred initially between the oncologist and each of the other authors individually; eventually, the three authors met to discuss writing an essay. The three sections were written independently to ensure that they accurately reflected each author’s personal perspectives.

A patient’s perspective

After my diagnosis, I had to accept that I am not invincible. Once diagnosed with cancer, you will never be treated the same again. You will be perceived as fragile, weak and frail. Unless they have walked your path, others cannot know how tired, cold, weak, painful or anxious having cancer can be.

At this juncture, it would be well advised to accept that this is your diagnosis, your life, your death and that you must own it. The cancer trail will be less burdened by accepting the impermanence of the human condition. We are truly equals with the same conclusion no matter what our wealth, status or privilege. Without fear of death, we can live as full a life as possible. I chose to live joyfully and not accept just to exist!

In walking my cancer trail, I have been blessed to cross paths with some amazing people. It is imperative to have a medical team that is competent, attentive, efficient and compassionate. Doctors with minimal egos. Doctors who have ears for listening. These doctors know the difficult art of listening, have the ability to stay focused and to make my concern important. Good listeners know how to make me understand their perspective and give me time to process; this makes me feel worthy and important. These doctors are very aware that waiting breeds anxiety and distrust. The diagnosis of cancer quickens time and patients lose patience; the good doctor will realize this. My experience has been superb, blessed with staff who never left me worried if the test has been booked, the diagnosis delayed or my symptoms untreated.

As a patient, we too have obligations to our doctors. We must give our doctors permission to be honest. Sometimes with this honesty comes words of pain, but this in turn facilitates an understanding so that if the patient says, “no thank you,” the doctor will understand. This honesty comes not from ego or extended education; it comes from the heart. Honesty builds trust, and trust leads to better communication, better symptom management and an enriched quality of life. I have always felt like my voice is heard. I often see a flush of relief from the young doctor who realizes that I understand where this race stops, so he need not find words to mask the seriousness of the situation. I encourage these doctors to speak openly.

Some of my friends were amazed that I declined chemotherapy. It was the correct decision for me; I have had three plus years and a gifted life. Treatment becomes an addiction for some patients who become terrified to stop and lose their support team. I pay close attention to “appointmentitis.” My team understands that each day is precious and make every effort to stack my appointments.

Having loving friends and family, and a stable home make cancer bearable. Having physical touch reinforces that “someone still thinks I am worthy of touch.” The warmth of hands relieves anxiety and offers connection. To be hugged or held reminds the patient that they are loved. I have relied on calming activities such as gardening, walking, music and working the farm. I seldom think about cancer unless I am at the clinic. I now pay close attention to and appreciate my many blessings.

A family member’s perspective

I became a widow at 42 years of age. I lost my husband after a 16-month battle with metastatic gastroesophageal cancer. Cancer is a word no one ever wants to hear, especially if it is preceded by the word incurable. It is amazing how two words together can have such a big impact. Our epicentre comprised three people: my husband, his oncologist and myself. We were anchored together as a team within moments of his diagnosis. In this context, the process of “team-building” is full of paradox and irony. Patients and families seek out the best and most compassionate care, to build a “dream team,” all within the “nightmare” of cancer. We all know where this path ends. It is just a matter of negotiating the time between the start and the finish.

As the primary caregiver, my role was to listen, interpret and organize information in a way that was digestible and honest while looking for hope. This was the most difficult task. “Making lemonade out of lemons,” as my husband would say. I sought to make each day the best possible for my husband and my family; to free them from emotional pain, physical discomfort and anxiety. Most days, this was easier said than done. I discovered early on that the “system of care” was not a system at all. “System” implies connection between parts forming together as a whole. What I encountered was, for the most part, contrary to this definition. A set of binders containing all necessary health and care information became my constant companions. This enabled collaboration among parts of the system where there was none.

We did have glimmers of hope and cause for celebration. The first line of palliative chemotherapy gave us nine months within which to make happy memories. We planned activities to make the most of our time together. We pushed the boundaries for travel while doing our best to mitigate risk.

It was hard to know what to hope for. The most hopeful scenario would be to get better and never look back. Without that option available, the guiding light for me was to balance the desire for more time with quality of life. I had the good fortune of reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. This book in some way influenced my every decision. Our decision-making was framed within a context of humanism and compassion as we balanced “curative” versus “care-ative” approach to treatment options.

In the darkest of days, there is opportunity for learning and growth. Despite finding ourselves in a scenario we could never have imagined, our team became a cherished relationship characterized by compassion, hope, care, comfort and understanding. Perhaps that is the key to success as a caregiver, to seek out the people who and things that contribute to the best possible life in the face of death. It is all any of us could hope for under the circumstances.

An oncologist’s perspective

I gravitated to oncology because of the rich doctor–patient relationships. I knew I would cherish these privileged conversations throughout my career. During my training, I was surprised by the magnitude of “benefit” associated with many standard palliative therapies. Although some treatments offer substantial benefit to patients, I was struck that many standard treatments extend life by only a number of weeks. These initial impressions were formed when I was more layperson than oncologist; years later, I still wonder to what extent patients understand how marginal some of our treatments are. Despite limited benefits of many standard regimens, I learned how oncologists can make a real difference through compassion and symptom management. Having been in practice for a decade, I now retain a healthy skepticism about how much our drug therapies actually benefit patients. In caring for the two patients described in this essay, I struggled with how to balance discussions of benefit and harms, and trying to strike a balance with hope and realism.

I worry that technology-driven medicine has led to a decline in our traditional “art” that emphasized caring and compassion. The quality-of-life “cost” of new therapies to a patient and the associated financial costs to society make it increasingly important to discuss these issues. However, I have learned that no two patients are alike in how they balance the pros and cons of treatment for incurable cancer. What remains uniform across all patients is the need for honest communication and compassion. For a number of reasons, including the fear of taking away hope and emotional discomfort, these conversations may not happen as often as they should.

Although I try to communicate clearly these issues to my patients, I know I could do a better job. Many tests and treatments are done because they represent “standard care,” even though the extent to which they align with the values of each patient is not clear. I struggle with questions such as how to explain the absolute benefit of therapies better? How to help patients find hope in incurable cancer? At what point is “hope” helpful and at what point is “false hope” harmful? Is there intrinsic value in “doing something?” What really does matter to my patients? Although careful research might provide insight to some of these questions, the most powerful lessons will come from our patients and their families.

Putting it together

Patients and families facing incurable cancer will have unique goals, preferences and needs. What unifies us is the search for hope and meaning, when from the outset, there appears to be none. We all hope for long lives filled with joy and meaning. When that time is cut short, we must shift our hope toward care that is focused on a life that is free from as much pain, discomfort and anxiety as possible, and a death that comes as peacefully and humanely as possible.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Gord Sinclair and Duncan Sinclair for their input on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

We lost Penny just before the submission of this article. We offer these perspectives as a tribute to the many lessons we learned from her. We hope that our combined voices will provide comfort and support to others on similar journeys.

CMAJ Podcasts: article reading at https://soundcloud.com/cmajpodcasts/171285-enc

This article has been peer reviewed.

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120+ controversial health care essay topics, dr. wilson mn.

• August 3, 2022
• Essay Topics and Ideas , Samples

If you are a nursing student looking for medical argumentative essay topics, or health essay topics in general, you understand how crucial it is to choose controversial subjects you can explore in-depth. Your grade will depend not just on the content, but also how convincingly you support your stance through research and credible sources. That’s why it’s vital to pick topics that fascinate you and make your essay more engaging to write.(120+ Controversial Health Care Essay Topics)

When seeking healthcare or physical health argumentative essay topics for college or high school, consider aspects that provoke debate like alternative medicine instead of mainstream treatments, the role of pharmaceutical companies, or whether routine childhood vaccines should be mandatory. Mental health care accessibility, managing terminal illnesses, public health policies’ effectiveness, or the pros and cons of telemedicine also offer fertile ground.

Another avenue is examining ethical issues within the health field that nurses and doctors face, like prioritizing patient well-being over their wishes, rationing limited resources, confidentiality and privacy concerns, medical practices that conflict with personal beliefs, or the ethics of an organ transplantation committee deciding who will receive an organ.

It’s often wise to choose a topic ideas that connect to your own identity, environment, or experiences. You might explore health disparities among different populations, argue for promoting healthy lifestyles and inclusivity, or discuss impacts of issues like obesity, pollution’s role in disease, or health insurance costs.

For a master’s level paper, you could compare and contrast two healthcare systems, analyze a pandemic’s effects, delve into environmental health factors like air quality, or evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of measures like an assisted suicide mandate.

No matter the topic, select one that resonates with you and suits your needs for this next paper. Avoid overly broad subjects until you have strong writing skills and critical thinking abilities. With laser focus through tools like a mind map, you can craft an argumentative essay that showcases your knowledge in the field of medical research while supporting your arguments using credible sources.

If you are running out of time on your research paper, feel free to request for writing services from our professional writers.

Here are some ideas for your next paper:

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Strong Medical Argumentative Essay Topics

To help you get started, here are some strong Healthcare argumentative essay topics to consider:

• Is there a nurse shortage in the United States? If so, what are the causes, and what can be done to mitigate it?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of various types of Nurse staffing models?
• What are the implications of the current opioid epidemic on nurses and patients?
• Are there any ethical considerations that should be taken into account when providing care to terminally ill patients?
• What are the most effective ways to prevent or treat healthcare-acquired infections?
• Should nurses be allowed to prescribe medication? If so, under what circumstances?
• How can nurses best advocate for their patients’ rights?
• What is the role of nurses in disaster relief efforts?
• The high cost of healthcare in the United States.
• The debate over whether or not healthcare is a human right.
• The role of the government in providing healthcare.
• The pros and cons of the Affordable Care Act.
• The impact of healthcare on the economy.
• The problem of access to healthcare in rural areas.
• The debate over single-payer healthcare in the United States.
• The pros and cons of private health insurance.
• The rising cost of prescription drugs in the United States.
• The use of medical marijuana in the United States.
• The debates over end-of-life care and assisted suicide in the United States.

As you continue, thestudycorp.com has the top and most qualified writers to help with any of your assignments. All you need to do is place an order with us.

controversial health research topics to write

There is no shortage of controversial healthcare topics to write about. From the high cost of insurance to the debate over medical marijuana, there are plenty of issues to spark an interesting and thought-provoking argumentative essay.

Here are some Controversial healthcare argumentative essay topics to get you started:

1. Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

2. Should the government do more to regulate the healthcare industry?

3. What is the best way to provide quality healthcare for all?

4. Should medical marijuana be legalized?

5. How can we control the rising cost of healthcare?

6. Should cloning be used for medical research?

7. Is it ethical to use stem cells from embryos?

8. How can we improve access to quality healthcare?

9. What are the implications of the Affordable Care Act?

10. What role should pharmaceutical companies play in healthcare?

11. The problems with the current healthcare system in the United States.

12. The need for reform of the healthcare system in the United States.

Great healthcare argumentative essay topics

Healthcare is a controversial and complex issue, and there are many different angles that you can take when writing an argumentative essay on the topic. Here are some great healthcare argumentative essay topics to get you started:

• Should the government provide free or low-cost healthcare to all citizens?
• Is private healthcare better than public healthcare?
• Should there be more regulation of the healthcare industry?
• Are medical costs too high in the United States?
• Should all Americans be required to have health insurance?
• How can the rising cost of healthcare be controlled?
• What is the best way to provide healthcare to aging Americans?
• What role should the government play in controlling the cost of prescription drugs?
• What impact will the Affordable Care Act have on the healthcare system in the United States?

Hot healthcare argumentative essay topics for college

Healthcare is always a hot-button issue. Whether it’s the Affordable Care Act, single-payer healthcare, or something else entirely, there’s always plenty to debate when it comes to healthcare. Here are some great healthcare argumentative essay topics to help get you started.

1. Is the Affordable Care Act working?

2. Should the government do more to provide healthcare for its citizens?

3. Should there be a single-payer healthcare system in the United States?

4. What are the pros and cons of the Affordable Care Act?

5. What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare costs in the United States?

6. Is the Affordable Care Act sustainable in the long run?

7. What challenges does the Affordable Care Act face?

8. What are the potential solutions to the problems with the Affordable Care Act?

9. Is single-payer healthcare a good idea?

10. What are the pros and cons of single-payer healthcare?

Related articles: 30+ Medical Argumentative Essay Topics for College Students

Argumentative topics related to health care

Healthcare is always an ever-evolving issue. It’s one of those topics that everyone has an opinion on and is always eager to discuss . That’s why it makes for such a great topic for an argumentative essay . If you’re looking for some fresh ideas, here are some great healthcare argumentative essay topics to get you started.

1. Is our healthcare system in need of a complete overhaul?

3. Are rising healthcare costs making it difficult for people to access care?

4. Is our current healthcare system sustainable in the long term?

5. Should we be doing more to prevent disease and promote wellness?

6. What role should the private sector play in providing healthcare?

7. What can be done to reduce the number of errors in our healthcare system?

8. How can we make sure that everyone has access to quality healthcare?

9. What can be done to improve communication and collaboration between different parts of the healthcare system?

10. How can we make sure that everyone has access to the care they need when they need it?

Argumentative essay topics about health

There are many different stakeholders in the healthcare debate, and each one has their own interests and perspectives. Here are some great healthcare argumentative essay topics to get you started:

1. Who should pay for healthcare?

2. Is healthcare a right or a privilege?

3. What is the role of the government in healthcare?

4. Should there be limits on what treatments insurance companies must cover?

5. How can we improve access to healthcare?

6. What are the most effective methods of preventing disease?

7. How can we improve the quality of care in our hospitals?

8. What are the best ways to control costs in the healthcare system?

9. How can we ensure that everyone has access to basic care?

10. What are the ethical implications of rationing healthcare?

Argumentative health essay topics

• Is healthcare a fundamental human right?

2. Should there be limits on medical research using human subjects?

3. Should marijuana be legalized for medicinal purposes?

4. Should the government do more to regulate the use of prescription drugs?

5. Is alternative medicine effective?

6. Are there benefits to using placebos in medical treatment?

7. Should cosmetic surgery be covered by health insurance?

8. Is it ethical to buy organs on the black market?

9. Are there risks associated with taking herbal supplements?

10. Is it morally wrong to end a pregnancy?

11. Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?

12. Is it ethical to test new medical treatments on animals?

13. Should people with terminal illnesses have the right to end their lives?

14. Is it morally wrong to sell organs for transplantation?

15. Are there benefits to using stem cells from embryos in medical research?

16. Is it ethical to use human beings in medical experiments?

17. Should the government do more to fund medical research into cancer treatments?

18. Are there risks associated with genetic engineering of humans?

19. Is it ethical to clones humans for the purpose

Argumentative essays on mental health

• Should there be more focus on mental health in schools?
• Are our current treatments for mental illness effective?
• Are mental health disorders more common now than they were in the past?
• How does social media impact mental health?
• How does trauma impact mental health?
• What are the most effective treatments for PTSD?
• Is therapy an effective treatment for mental illness?
• What causes mental illness?
• How can we destigmatize mental illness?
• How can we better support those with mental illness?
• Should insurance companies cover mental health treatments?
• What are the most effective treatments for depression?
• Should medication be used to treat mental illness?
• What are the most effective treatments for anxiety disorders?
• What are the most effective treatments for OCD?
• What are the most effective treatments for eating disorders?
• What are the most effective treatments for bipolar disorder?
• How can we better support caregivers of those with mental illness?
• What role does stigma play in mental illness?

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Mastering the Art of Writing a Health Care Essay on a Good Topic

'A healthy nation is a wealthy nation' - this famous proverb inspires many young people to pursue a career in healthcare, becoming nurses, physicians, therapists, etc. However, some of them fail to realize the responsibility that comes with such occupations. This may bring about a situation whereby colleges and universities turn out unqualified healthcare and nursing experts. To prevent it from happening, professors who teach respective disciplines assign their students the task of writing a health care essay. Being either an essay or research paper, it presents the students with a choice: to examine the problem on their own using various tools and equipment or analyze all available sources on the given research question, offering some personal findings.

14 Amazing Health Care Essay Topics with Introduction Examples

In your essay about health care, you may either talk about various diseases, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, or methods used by doctors to help their patients, as well as their roles in general. In most cases, students should criticize the modern healthcare system as it really is in need of improvement. It is necessary that they provide some vivid real-life examples if they wish to convince their audience of their point of view.

Approaches to healthcare in the US, UK, and Australia differ, so you may focus on discussing their pros and cons in the essays about health care.

To help you understand which issues to discuss, we have listed the best health care essay topics below. You can also find short answers to each question.

Why is Healthcare Important to Society?

"Healthcare and medicine is a broad term that refers to a system involving maintenance and enhancement of medical services to cater to the health demands of human beings and other living creatures. The quality of healthcare services is one of the most critical factors that predetermines a country's well-being. The system usually varies depending on the healthcare policies of the region. In highly industrialized countries (i.e.countries of the First World), the system is advanced, with almost every citizen having unrestricted access to healthcare services. The low economic level in underdeveloped countries exerts an adverse impact on the healthcare system of these nations."

Is Healthcare a Right or a Privilege

"In the countries of the Third World, healthcare and medicine are not developed enough to save the lives of all of their citizens. Most of them cannot afford quality services, and that is the main difference between developed and underdeveloped countries as far as healthcare is concerned. Unlike poor people, the rich should make health their priority. However, they often neglect to do so, wasting almost all their money on things that harm their body, such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages, drugs, etc. In other words, they tend to have more bad habits, and they value their health less."

Overweight is Putting Strain on the Health Care in the United States

"Childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. This type of disorder has adverse effects on both physical and mental health, as obese kids tend to fall victim to school bullies. The worst consequence of being overweight is Diabetes Type II, and, unfortunately, more and more US children are facing this problem. The pivotal role in the increase in fat intake is played by environmental factors, tastes and preferences, and culture. Highly stressful activities like homework assignments may cause the child to eat more sweets, while their parents do nothing to restrict their consumption of sugar-rich foods. And finally, the lack of physical exercises also takes its toll."

Is Healthcare a Human Right?

"According to NCBI, healthcare is not a human right. To understand why it is important to define both terms. 'Human right' refers to a moral right of great significance that each human being should be entitled to. Dictionaries define healthcare as 'the act of taking prevention or important procedures to make a person's well-being better.' Healthcare is even more complex and confusing to define. Its meaning is too broad to be considered a human right. So, is there a person ultimately responsible for providing healthcare to the entire world? Insisting that healthcare is a human right is, therefore, wrong and pointless."

Should the Government Provide Health Care Insurance?

"The US government is not the only one responsible for providing healthcare insurance to all its citizens. It is only typical of the representatives of the political left to believe that the government should do that. All parties agree that health care is a valuable service, but the government has other important things to take care of. Rather than take care of medicine and nursing, the government's main goal should be to monitor and control the political and economic situation in the country. In fact, each organization has its goals, and so does the government. The government may protect the customer's freedom to buy goods and services by putting in place the corresponding laws and regulations. That is the best thing the US government can do as far as healthcare is concerned."

Causes and Effects of Health Care Crisis in America

"While urban population is more or less OK with its healthcare system, the rural areas of the US keep on suffering from what they call an American healthcare crisis. Hospitals in these regions continue to close down, while those that remain operational provide services of increasingly poor quality. More than 80 rural hospitals have shuttered during the last eight years because their personnel lacked the qualifications to cure patients properly. More than 700 hospitals are at high risk of being closed down, as they lack qualified healthcare professionals. Therefore, emergency medical services are becoming very important, because this is the only way of providing help to patients suffering from strokes, heart attacks, and other heart-related conditions."

Professionalism in Healthcare

"Being a doctor is the most responsible job in the world. It is also the most in-demand one, even though not always properly remunerated. In the underdeveloped countries, the doctor's salaries are among the lowest. In the US, the situation is much better, but still needs improvement in many respects. Medical personnel in this country are granted a license to invest long hours in research and diligent evaluation. Licensure is the way to guarantee the doctor's excellent skills and rich experience in a specific field. It is their willingness to place personal needs after the needs of the patient."

What Has Been the Impact of Medicare on the Healthcare System?

"Quality medicare and teamwork are the essential prerequisites of professional attitude and behavior. The most essential qualities of any medical expert are integrity, accountability, motivation, altruism, and empathy. This way the crucial trust between the patient and professionals is developed. Advanced interpersonal and communication skills impact the quality of medicare as well. Over the past 20 years, we have been witnessing the resurgence of interest in professional training and fair evaluation in the US. It is, therefore, experienced doctors' job to support and guide young professionals on their way to success."

Why Do You Want to Pursue a Career in Healthcare?

"Several factors, the salary being probably the most important one, motivate a lot of young people to choose a career in healthcare. Everyone knows that good medical experts are valued extremely high in the United States. Jobs in healthcare guarantee great opportunities and full security. Quite a few students consider helping other people their priority because they lost their loved ones to fatal diseases. They want to contribute to the medical field by finding a cure to the most complicated disorders some day. And finally, a career in healthcare provides an excellent opportunity to live and work in different parts of the world."

Cultural Diversity in Healthcare

"The purpose of this research paper is to identify basic nuances and issues of cultural diversity in the context of medical treatment, as well as offer solutions aimed at preventing said issues. The main focus is on communication as a culture-based phenomenon, correlation between the patient's progress and expert's treatment, and possible communication characteristics that act as obstacles between healthcare staff and patients. Of the two theoretical approaches used in the study, the first one relates to the information processing, while the second one concerns changing behaviors and interpretation."

Healthcare in America

"Though considered one of the best in the world, the American health care system still has some catching up to do with other countries, including the US's closest neighbor Canada. The US lacks a uniform health system that could offer universal healthcare coverage. Its healthcare system can be referred to as hybrid as it is funded from different sources, such as private funds (48%), households funds (28%), and private businesses funds(20%). The majority of medical and nursing services in this country are privately-owned, even if they are financed by the government. What makes this system stand out from the rest of the world is its great professional staff."

Healthcare in Canada

"Canada has implemented one of the best healthcare reforms in the world. Over the past 4 decades, the country has introduced a number of improvements, making medical treatment affordable for almost every citizen. Urgent and essential health care services are provided based on the needs rather than financial opportunities. This fact alone shows how generous the Canadian government and its healthcare professionals are. When it comes to healthcare, they value fairness and equality more than other nations do. The local healthcare system keeps getting improved as the nation's population increases. It is also important to acknowledge that the very essence of healthcare is also undergoing change."

Public vs. Private Healthcare Sectors

"When comparing the public and private healthcare sectors, it is impossible to ignore the NHS or the National Health Service. The organization, whose staff is made up mostly of primary care nurses or emergency care nurses, provides free health care services to the UK population. That is the reason why the job of Registered Nurse is so prevalent in local healthcare institutions. Specialized caregivers account for another sizeable portion of the healthcare sector. Each young professional is provided with a lot of opportunities for professional development and further career growth.

Communication in Healthcare

"Communication is one of the most important factors in healthcare. Without knowing the details of the patient's conditions and their medical history, the doctor will not be able to make a proper diagnosis. The evidence obtained in the course of this study indicates that there's a direct correlation between the medical representative's communication skills and the patient's willingness to follow the doctor's advice. The doctor's duty is to help the patient control their chronic condition all by themselves, if needed, as well as acquire preventive behaviors. The doctor should not simply cure the patient, but rather teach them some significant lessons to help them remain healthy."

Hopefully, these samples of papers on medicine and nursing will help you choose the hottest topics and best introductions to your essays and research papers. Still having problems? We can offer affordably-priced assistance with any sort of academic writing, including an essay on health care! Try our services at any time, and you won't be disappointed!

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Top Nursing Argumentative Essay Topics: Engage in Thought-Provoking Debates

This article was written in collaboration with Christine T. and ChatGPT, our little helper developed by OpenAI.

Nursing is a diverse and evolving field, constantly presenting new challenges and debates. As a nursing student or professional, engaging in these discussions allows you to develop critical thinking and writing skills while expanding your field knowledge. This blog post will explore various nursing argumentative essay topics to help you find inspiration for your next paper.

Patient Care and Ethics

• The ethics of administering experimental treatments to terminally ill patients
• Balancing patient autonomy and nurse responsibility in care decisions
• Addressing cultural and religious beliefs in end-of-life care
• The role of informed consent in patient care and treatment decisions
• Ethical considerations in the allocation of scarce medical resources
• The ethics of withholding information from patients for their benefit
• Patient privacy and confidentiality in the age of electronic health records
• Comparing faith practices in healthcare: Sikhism, Judaism, Bahaism, and Christianity
• The ethics of using restraints in patient care
• The ethical implications of non-compliance with prescribed treatments
• The role of nursing in advocating for patients’ rights
• Ethical considerations in caring for patients with mental health disorders
• The ethics of mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers
• Addressing moral distress among nurses in patient care situations
• The ethics of caring for patients who refuse life-saving treatments
• The role of advance directives in ethical decision-making for patient care
• Ethical considerations in the care of patients with substance use disorders
• The ethics of healthcare rationing in times of crisis
• The ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies
• Addressing ethical dilemmas in neonatal and pediatric nursing
• The ethics of pain management in nursing practice
• Pediatric oncology: working towards better treatment through evidence-based research
• Ethical considerations in the care of patients with dementia and cognitive decline
• The ethics of genetic testing and personalized medicine in patient care
• The ethical implications of clinical trials and research involving human subjects
• The role of nursing in addressing ethical issues related to organ transplantation
• Ethical considerations in the care of prisoners and detainees
• The ethics of involuntary treatment and psychiatric care
• Euthanasia: an analysis of utilitarian approach
• Addressing ethical challenges in the care of patients with disabilities
• The ethical implications of medical tourism and cross-border healthcare
• The role of nursing in addressing ethical issues related to global health
• Ethical considerations in the care of military veterans and their families
• The ethics of surrogate decision-making in patient care
• Addressing ethical challenges in the care of patients with chronic and terminal illnesses
• The role of nursing in promoting patient advocacy and self-determination
• Ethical considerations in the care of patients with rare diseases and conditions
• The ethics of care rationing in the context of an aging population
• The role of nursing in addressing ethical issues related to access to healthcare
• Ethical considerations in the care of patients during public health emergencies
• The ethics of triage and prioritization of care in emergencies
• The role of nursing in promoting environmental sustainability and addressing ethical issues related to climate change
• Ethical challenges in the care of patients at the end of life

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Technological Advancements in Nursing

• The impact of electronic health records on nursing practice and patient care
• The role of telemedicine in expanding access to healthcare services
• How wearables and remote monitoring devices are changing nursing care
• The integration of artificial intelligence in nursing practice and decision-making
• The use of virtual reality in nursing education and training
• Ethical considerations in the use of advanced technologies in nursing practice
• The role of robotics in patient care and nursing support
• The impact of mobile health apps on nursing practice and patient engagement
• The use of big data and analytics in improving patient outcomes and nursing practice
• The role of 3D printing in medical device innovation and patient care
• The integration of telehealth in the management of chronic conditions
• The use of social media and online platforms for professional development and networking in nursing
• Usability, integration, and interoperability of healthcare technology
• The impact of advanced diagnostics and imaging technologies on nursing practice
• The role of blockchain technology in improving healthcare data security and management
• The use of gamification in nursing education and patient engagement
• The impact of technology on nursing workflow and time management
• The role of virtual assistants and chatbots in patient care and nursing support
• Clinical laboratory IT security: challenges, implications, and solutions
• The use of augmented reality in nursing education and practice
• The integration of telepsychiatry and mental health services in nursing care
• The impact of technology on nurse-patient communication and relationship-building
• The role of electronic prescribing and medication management systems in reducing medication errors
• The use of telemonitoring and remote care in the management of high-risk pregnancies
• The impact of technology on infection control and prevention in healthcare settings
• The role of smart home technologies in supporting aging-in-place and home-based care
• The use of technology in promoting self-care and patient empowerment
• Safeguarding patient information: nursing informatics best practices for privacy and security in healthcare
• The integration of genomics and personalized medicine in nursing practice
• The role of technology in addressing healthcare disparities and promoting health equity
• The impact of technology on nursing workforce planning and resource allocation
• The use of predictive analytics in identifying high-risk patients and improving care coordination
• The role of technology in promoting interprofessional collaboration and communication in healthcare
• The impact of technology on nursing education and the development of future nursing competencies
• The role of technology in supporting disaster response and emergency preparedness in nursing
• The use of technology in promoting patient safety and reducing medical errors
• The impact of technology on nursing leadership and management
• The role of technology in addressing the social determinants of health and promoting community health
• The integration of technology in palliative and end-of-life care
• The use of technology in enhancing patient engagement and satisfaction in nursing care
• The role of technology in promoting evidence-based practice and research in nursing
• The impact of technology on nursing ethics and professional boundaries
• The role of technology in addressing the global nursing shortage and promoting workforce sustainability

Nursing Education and Professional Development

• The role of simulation-based learning in nursing education
• The impact of online learning on nursing education outcomes
• Integrating cultural competence in nursing curricula
• Strategies for promoting lifelong learning in nursing practice
• The role of mentorship in nursing professional development
• Addressing the transition from student nurse to professional nurse
• The impact of interprofessional education on nursing practice and patient outcomes
• The role of nursing preceptorship in clinical education
• Strategies for reducing nursing student attrition and promoting retention
• The integration of evidence-based practice in nursing education
• The role of reflective practice in nursing professional development
• Addressing the nursing faculty shortage: Challenges and solutions
• The impact of standardized testing on nursing education and practice
• The role of nursing leadership development in healthcare transformation
• Strategies for enhancing critical thinking skills in nursing education
• Global health learning in nursing and health care disparities
• The impact of clinical experience on nursing students’ confidence and competence
• The role of continuing education in maintaining nursing competency and licensure
• Addressing the needs of diverse learners in nursing education
• The impact of technology on nursing education and the development of digital literacy skills
• Digital healthcare and organizational learning: enhancing patient care through technology and knowledge management
• The role of nursing education in promoting health literacy and patient education
• Strategies for promoting resilience and self-care in nursing education
• The impact of global health experiences on nursing students’ cultural competence and professional development
• The role of nurse educators in shaping the future of nursing practice
• Addressing the challenges of teaching nursing ethics and professional values
• The impact of accreditation standards on nursing education and program quality
• The role of professional nursing organizations in supporting continuing education and development
• Strategies for fostering a culture of learning and professional growth in nursing practice
• The impact of nursing education on patient outcomes and quality of care
• The role of nursing education in addressing healthcare disparities and promoting health equity
• The integral role of nurses in healthcare systems: the importance of education and experience
• Addressing the challenges of teaching and assessing clinical judgment in nursing education
• The impact of nursing education on workforce development and nursing shortages
• The role of nursing education in promoting environmental sustainability and planetary health
• Strategies for promoting effective communication and teamwork in nursing education
• The impact of nursing education on patient safety and error prevention
• The role of nursing education in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare
• Addressing the needs of adult learners and nontraditional students in nursing education
• The impact of nursing education on interprofessional collaboration and healthcare team dynamics
• The role of nursing education in promoting ethical decision-making and moral courage in practice
• Strategies for enhancing nursing students’ clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
• The impact of nursing education on the development of professional identity and role socialization

Healthcare Policies and Nursing Practice

• The role of nurses in shaping healthcare policy and advocating for reform
• The impact of the Affordable Care Act on nursing practice and patient care
• Addressing the nursing shortage: policy initiatives and workforce strategies
• Understanding the impact of the American Healthcare System Regulatory Acts
• The role of nursing scope of practice regulations on healthcare delivery and outcomes
• The impact of healthcare reimbursement policies on nursing practice and patient care
• The role of nursing in addressing the opioid crisis: policy and practice implications
• The impact of public health policies on nursing practice and community health
• The role of nursing in promoting healthcare access and reducing disparities
• The impact of healthcare quality and safety regulations on nursing practice
• The role of nursing in implementing evidence-based practice guidelines and policies
• The impact of health information technology policies on nursing practice and patient care
• The role of nursing in addressing social determinants of health through policy and practice interventions
• The impact of nurse staffing regulations on patient outcomes and workforce planning
• The role of nursing in promoting health literacy and patient-centered care through policy and practice initiatives
• Healthcare management: career paths and requirements
• The impact of healthcare privacy and confidentiality policies on nursing practice and patient trust
• The role of nursing in promoting environmental sustainability and climate change policies in healthcare
• The impact of healthcare workforce diversity policies on nursing practice and cultural competence
• The role of nursing in promoting global health and addressing international healthcare challenges
• The impact of mental health policies on nursing practice and the care of patients with mental health disorders
• The role of nursing in promoting value-based care and payment models in healthcare
• The impact of healthcare cost containment policies on nursing practice and resource allocation
• The role of nursing in promoting patient safety and quality improvement through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare reform on nursing education and workforce development
• Understanding the US health care reform: necessity, challenges, and implementation
• The role of nursing in promoting health equity and addressing healthcare disparities through policy and practice interventions
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing leadership and management roles
• The role of nursing in promoting interprofessional collaboration and teamwork through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on the integration of technology in nursing practice and patient care
• The role of nursing in promoting ethical decision-making and moral courage through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in rural and underserved communities
• The role of nursing in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in healthcare through policy and practice initiatives
• Combating health care-associated infections: a community-based approach
• The impact of healthcare policies on advanced practice nursing roles and scope of practice
• The role of nursing in promoting palliative and end-of-life care through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on infection control and prevention in nursing practice and patient care
• The role of nursing in addressing the challenges of an aging population through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in the care of patients with chronic and complex conditions
• The role of nursing in promoting patient advocacy and self-determination through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in disaster response and emergency preparedness
• The role of nursing in promoting evidence-based practice and research through policy and practice initiatives
• The impact of healthcare policies on nursing practice in the care of vulnerable and high-risk populations
• The role of nursing in addressing the global nursing shortage and promoting workforce sustainability through policy and practice initiatives

Cultural Competence and Health Equity

• The role of cultural competence in reducing healthcare disparities
• Integrating cultural competence into nursing education and practice
• Addressing implicit bias in nursing practice and patient care
• The impact of cultural competence on patient satisfaction and outcomes
• The role of nursing in promoting health literacy among diverse populations
• Strategies for effective communication with patients from diverse backgrounds
• Mental health and gender inequality
• The impact of cultural competence on nurse-patient relationship-building and trust
• The role of nursing in addressing social determinants of health and promoting health equity
• Addressing the challenges of providing culturally competent care in rural and remote settings
• The impact of cultural competence on interprofessional collaboration and teamwork
• Bridging the gap: tackling maternal and child health disparities between developed and underdeveloped countries
• The role of nursing in promoting cultural competence in healthcare organizations
• Addressing health disparities among LGBTQ+ populations through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on the prevention and management of chronic diseases
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent mental health care
• Addressing health disparities among immigrant and refugee populations through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on patient safety and error prevention
• The role of nursing in promoting cultural competence in palliative and end-of-life care
• Addressing health disparities among indigenous populations through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on the care of patients with disabilities
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care for patients with substance use disorders
• Addressing health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on the care of patients with rare diseases and conditions
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care in global health settings
• Addressing the challenges of providing culturally competent care in disaster response and emergency preparedness
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing leadership and management
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care in the context of an aging population
• Addressing health disparities among low-income populations through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing practice in the care of patients with complex and chronic conditions
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care for military veterans and their families
• Addressing health disparities among women and girls through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing practice in the care of patients with infectious diseases
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care for incarcerated individuals and detainees
• Addressing health disparities among individuals with limited English proficiency through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing practice in the care of patients at the end of life
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care in the context of climate change and environmental health
• Addressing health disparities among individuals experiencing homelessness through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing practice in the care of patients with traumatic experiences
• The role of nursing in promoting culturally competent care in the context of medical tourism and cross-border healthcare
• Addressing health disparities among individuals with low health literacy through culturally competent nursing care
• The impact of cultural competence on nursing practice in the care of vulnerable and high-risk populations

Mental Health and Burnout in Nursing

• The prevalence of burnout among nursing professionals
• Strategies for preventing and addressing nurse burnout
• The impact of nurse burnout on patient care and outcomes
• The role of nursing leadership in addressing mental health and burnout
• Promoting self-care and resilience among nursing professionals
• The impact of nurse burnout on job satisfaction and retention
• The role of nursing education in addressing mental health and burnout
• Strategies for fostering a healthy work-life balance in nursing
• The impact of nurse burnout on interprofessional collaboration and teamwork
• The role of peer support and mentorship in addressing mental health and burnout
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing errors and patient safety
• The role of workplace wellness programs in addressing mental health and burnout
• Strategies for managing stress and anxiety in nursing practice
• The impact of nurse burnout on professional development and career progression
• The role of professional nursing organizations in addressing mental health and burnout
• The impact of nurse burnout on healthcare costs and resource allocation
• The role of nursing research in understanding and addressing mental health and burnout
• Strategies for promoting emotional intelligence and self-awareness in nursing practice
• The impact of nurse burnout on the nursing workforce and workforce planning
• The role of nursing in promoting mental health and well-being among patients and families
• The impact of nurse burnout on ethical decision-making and moral distress
• The role of nursing in addressing mental health disparities and stigma
• Strategies for promoting a culture of empathy and compassion in nursing practice
• The impact of nurse burnout on nurse-patient communication and relationship-building
• The role of nursing in addressing mental health needs in rural and underserved communities
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing advocacy and policy engagement
• The role of nursing in promoting mental health and well-being in global health settings
• Strategies for addressing mental health and burnout among nursing students and new graduates
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing education and faculty well-being
• The role of nursing in addressing mental health needs in disaster response and emergency preparedness
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing practice in the care of patients with mental health disorders
• The role of nursing in promoting mental health and well-being in the context of an aging population
• Strategies for addressing mental health and burnout among advanced practice nurses
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing practice in the care of patients with chronic and complex conditions
• The role of nursing in promoting mental health and well-being among military veterans and their families
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing practice in the care of patients with substance use disorders
• The role of nursing in addressing mental health needs in the context of climate change and environmental health
• Strategies for addressing mental health and burnout among nurses working with vulnerable and high-risk populations
• The impact of nurse burnout on nursing practice in the care of patients at the end of life
• The role of nursing in promoting mental health and well-being in the context of healthcare innovation and change

Now that you have a list of thought-provoking nursing argumentative essay topics, you can engage in meaningful debates and expand your knowledge in the field. Consider various perspectives, use credible sources to support your arguments, and practice clear, concise writing. Happy writing!

📎 Related Articles

1. Mental Health Nursing Research Topics: Inspiring Ideas for Students 2. Top Nursing Topics for Discussion: Engaging Conversations for Healthcare Professionals 3. Key EBP Nursing Topics: Enhancing Patient Results through Evidence-Based Practice 4. Top Nursing Research Topics for Students and Professionals 5. Nursing Debate Topics: The Importance of Discussing and Debating Nursing Issues 6. Exploring Controversial Issues in Nursing: Key Topics and Examples 7. Pediatric Nursing Research Topics for Students: A Comprehensive Guide

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Essay on Health for Students and Children

500+ words essay on health.

Essay on Health: Health was earlier said to be the ability of the body functioning well. However, as time evolved, the definition of health also evolved. It cannot be stressed enough that health is the primary thing after which everything else follows. When you maintain good health , everything else falls into place.

Similarly, maintaining good health is dependent on a lot of factors. It ranges from the air you breathe to the type of people you choose to spend your time with. Health has a lot of components that carry equal importance. If even one of them is missing, a person cannot be completely healthy.

Constituents of Good Health

First, we have our physical health. This means being fit physically and in the absence of any kind of disease or illness . When you have good physical health, you will have a longer life span. One may maintain their physical health by having a balanced diet . Do not miss out on the essential nutrients; take each of them in appropriate quantities.

Secondly, you must exercise daily. It may be for ten minutes only but never miss it. It will help your body maintain physical fitness. Moreover, do not consume junk food all the time. Do not smoke or drink as it has serious harmful consequences. Lastly, try to take adequate sleep regularly instead of using your phone.

Next, we talk about our mental health . Mental health refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of a person. The mental health of a person impacts their feelings and way of handling situations. We must maintain our mental health by being positive and meditating.

Subsequently, social health and cognitive health are equally important for the overall well-being of a person. A person can maintain their social health when they effectively communicate well with others. Moreover, when a person us friendly and attends social gatherings, he will definitely have good social health. Similarly, our cognitive health refers to performing mental processes effectively. To do that well, one must always eat healthily and play brain games like Chess, puzzles and more to sharpen the brain.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Physical Health Alone is Not Everything

There is this stigma that surrounds mental health. People do not take mental illnesses seriously. To be completely fit, one must also be mentally fit. When people completely discredit mental illnesses, it creates a negative impact.

For instance, you never tell a person with cancer to get over it and that it’s all in their head in comparison to someone dealing with depression . Similarly, we should treat mental health the same as physical health.

Parents always take care of their children’s physical needs. They feed them with nutritious foods and always dress up their wounds immediately. However, they fail to notice the deteriorating mental health of their child. Mostly so, because they do not give it that much importance. It is due to a lack of awareness amongst people. Even amongst adults, you never know what a person is going through mentally.

Thus, we need to be able to recognize the signs of mental illnesses . A laughing person does not equal a happy person. We must not consider mental illnesses as a taboo and give it the attention it deserves to save people’s lives.

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Caring in Nursing Analytical Essay

Definition of term, uses and attributes of caring, surrogate and relevant uses of caring to nursing, consequences of caring, definition of terms.

Caring is a service offered by health care professionals to a patient.

There are many definitions of the concept caring as understood by different scholars, However, the real meaning of caring is hard to be captured but its effect on a patient can be assessed (Geissler, 1990).

In an attempt to define what caring is, we can utilize the caring behaviors and say that the act of extending these behaviors to a patient is caring. There are a number of caring behaviors in the field of nursing; these behaviors combine elements of good communication skills and humanistic gestures towards other people (Wagle, 2013).

The concept of caring is diverse and its understanding and definitions depend on the perspective of the party interested. However, no matter the definitions, it is clear that caring is a service rendered by a healthcare giver with the overall intention of improving health care.

There has been a strong desire in me to help ailing and the well persons recuperate and stay healthy respectively. This is a desire that I have consciously and subconsciously fulfilled throughout my growing up by providing physical, social and emotional support to the ailing members of the family and society regardless of their age.

Through the process of providing care, the caring behaviors have been embedded in me. My dream career of environmental health nursing is a platform through which I will be prepared to explore different services involved in the process of caring.

The role of caring in nursing is very vital as caring is the essence which nursing revolves around. The care received by a patient encompasses the concept of nursing.

One of the essential aspects of nursing is the caring services a patient receives. Social care services aid in the recuperation of the patient. The patient acquires a sense of belonging required for the positive psychological effect in the recuperation process.

These include giving patient comfort and company in order to ensure they feel loved and wanted. The patient has expectations that need to be met in order to aid in recuperation. If these expectations are not met in the best way possible and the care giver posses a non caring attitude, the patients feelings are crushed jeopardizing the process of recovery.

Physical attributes of care like touch, form a basis in assessing, planning, and evaluating elements of nursing. Since nursing involves the care of individuals, assessing the effect of caring services as a variable in nursing paves way for assessing nursing.

Caring for the environment around the patient is an important aspect in achieving the aim of nursing since the environment is a health determiner. Keeping the environment free of disease triggers will provide a chance to reduce the risk of infections and re-infections.

For example, it is a vain effort to treat patient without eliminating the disease causing factor which is found in the environment. A speedy recovery of the patient can be achieved if there is proper care and a clean comfortable environment (Spollett, 2003).

Caring for the well individuals serves as a preventive measure against the spreading of illnesses. Caring for the environment eliminates chances of disease causing micro- organisms to thrive thus reduces the rate at which an individual falls ill. Caring is more healthogenic than is curing the act of caring works hand in hand with the curing process (Oberle & Hughes, 2001).

Caring also provides the nurse a chance to manage the health of a patient and reduce the risk of other people getting infected. Recording the progress of the patient as a requirement for the caring process provides the doctor with the information needed to decide when to discharge a patient.

This ensures that any negative changes in the health of a patient is dealt with to avoid sudden deaths and also a patient is discharged when the doctor is sure the condition of the patient will not pose a health risk to other people around him both the sick and the healthy.

Since care is diverse, the patient also participates in the process of his recovery by involving himself in healthy practices attributed to caring. These processes may be self initiated or may be directed by the nurse.

For example, a patient suffering from a wound infection does not only need the help of the nurse to care for the wound. The patient can participate in the caring process by keeping the wound clean, eating plenty of fruits which aid in the process of wound healing (Sappington, 2003).

Caring is a promotion of health (Wagle, 2013). Lack of proper care can alleviate an otherwise minor health issue. Gynaecological nurses for example need to keep in mind the fragile nature of reproductive organs and their susceptibility to be infected and destroyed.

Proper care to disinfect gynaecological materials should always be maintained. Ante natal care givers should communicate with mothers and teach them proper methods of health care and the right kind of diet in ensuring low infant mortality rates before birth.

Nurses that deal with mentally ill patients should put in mind that most of the patients may be suffering from these conditions due to lack of proper emotional care, at work, home or the society. And that lack of emotional dependency often leads to emotional instability. There needs to be an extra amount of care in dealing with the feelings of these patients.

Avoid emotionally hurtful words that can send the patient into depression. A lot of sensitivity should thus be exercised as most mentally disturbed patients appreciate it when someone shows a genuine interest in them. The nurse’s attitude has a direct influence on the patient’s feelings (Spanier, 2012).

Nurses who deal with community health need to be aware of the fact that lack of proper care of self and the environment puts the populations at risk of infections. Proper self and environmental care measures need to be taught to the community members. The care givers also need to participate in medical sanctification of the environment to achieve the essence of nursing.

Patients who are critically ill need extra care and thus nurses need to know that they should be separated from other patients as any amount of neglect could be terminal.

Caring as a service offered by nurses enables doctors to come up with better treatment as it is dependent on the patient’s progress report of the nurse. The progress report helps the doctors to analyze the effect of certain drugs in the curing of certain ailments. This information can be used in knowing when to take a different course or maintain the same medication in treating of certain ailments.

Good nursing care in relation to consequences of nursing care and treatment is not only dependent on the healthcare provider’s knowledge but also on the mediation of knowledge. Knowledge is much needed in order to observe and meet the patients’ experience of illness and suffering (DiBenedetto, 1995).

Caring for a patient is a tedious process that requires lots of sacrifice and patience from the part of the care giver. The sacrifice comes in when the care giver has to inevitably overlook her personal interests and of those dependent on her. This can result to neglecting of her social responsibilities like family care.

This in turn exposes the family members to suffer from care neglect conditions. For example, a mother who is a care giver spends more time at the health care institution at the expense of her kids. The kids may suffer from psychological trauma related to lack of maternal care.

Caring for other patients involves administering medication that may contain harmful substances that may affect the health of the nurse. Controlled substances like mercury are found in small doses in most medicines that cure dermatological problems.

Over exposure to this substance have negative effects to the health of an otherwise healthy individual. It is thus essential to care for the care giver by putting in place necessary measures to prevent being affected by harmful substances.

Caring for extremely ill patients can emotionally affect the nurse. Owing to the emotional connection that binds the patient and the care giver, some level of suffering of the patient can stress and depress the care giver. This stress and depression can manifest itself in different forms like, headaches, fear of the unknown, loss of appetite and insomnia. These conditions are known to lead to serious deterioration of the health.

Caring for mentally challenged patients is a high safety risk for the care giver. Some mentally challenged patients tend to get violent and pose a great danger to the care giver. The fear of being physically or verbally abused may affect the performance of the care giver as he or she may be in a hurry to get away from the patient due to fear of impending danger.

Caring for patients suffering from common communicable diseases poses a great health risk to the care giver and the people the care giver interacts with, for example air-borne diseases, like tuberculosis that are easily transmitted from one person to another. Since the care giver is directly in contact with the patient, he is susceptible to get infected and carry it home and infect others around him or her.

Caring as a process requires the patient’s participation. The patient needs to have faith and show hope to recover. Caring for a patient that has lost hope will frustrate the care giver as the patient will not practice self care that is essential part of the caring concept. For example, a patient who has lost hope in ever getting better may refuse to take medication. The care givers services may be rendered fruitless in such a situation.

Theoretical definition

Nursing care refers to the services provided as a humanitarian gesture that involves the value of health determined by physical, social and emotional aspects of caring.

Operational definition

Nursing care consists of the creative and imaginative process of providing a cushion against physical, social emotional and environmental factors that may affect human health and recuperation by promoting caring behaviors that foster sustenance of human health.

A.B. is a 69 year old man and has been suffering from type 2 diabetes for five years. “Two years before this diagnosis in 1997, he had been suffering from hyperglycaemia” (Vilt, 2009, p.13). His fasting blood glucose values are at 118-127 mg/dl/, a sign of borderline diabetes. He is also obese and thus has to lose weight an advice he did not heed.

The family physician advised him to visit a clinic that specifically cares for diabetic patients. At the clinic, he is diagnosed with weight gain and foot pain to add on his diabetic condition. His efforts in exercising have been rendered fruitless since he has not lost weight for the past six months. He stopped his Glyburide (Diabeta), 5 mg medication due to the awful side effects.

His doctor had also prescribed daily medicine for the treatment of hyperchlosteromelia. He refuses to check the level of glucose in his blood at home due to lack of awareness of the usefulness of this procedure in diabetes care.

He put up his business for sale and began participating actively in a society organization as a volunteer. He was blessed with a wife, who gave him two children. The children however do not live with their parents since they are already married. Despite the fact that both of his parents suffered from the same type of diabetes, he has very little knowledge on how to care for himself as a strategy for diabetes control.

“His wife has suggested to him to consider treating diabetes through weight loss supplements and herbally” (Vilt, 2009, p.13). She looks for online solutions for diabetes maintenance.

A.B’s diet contains junks of carbohydrate taken as in bread and pasta that largely characterizes his diet. He takes nearly two cups of pasta and at least two slices for bread daily for dinner.

He eats fruits on a regular basis. Apart from eating lots of carbohydrates, he accompanies it with white meat and sauce. On the other hand, his wife’s offer to make him grilled meat without any topping is in vain. He usually accompanies his dinner with wine every evening. He decided to quit smoking when the prize of cigarette shot up.

His medical documents indicate a low level of hemoglobin of 8%. His blood pressure measurement readings are at 150/70, 148/92 and 165/88 mmHg, all the readings have been taken separately. The readings were taken at the local scanning centre during the previous year.

His blood pressure is above the normal rate yet he seems to portray a state of unawareness on the importance of maintaining the normal level of blood pressure. He is also not aware of the effect the high blood pressure can have on functionality of his vital organs: his heart and kidney.

He regularly receives the normal primary care services prescribed for diabetic patients’.He not only lacks knowledge on how to care for his foot but he has never undertaken the a foot scan test. His medical records indicate he has enjoyed a life of robust health.

His immunization schedule is updated and he has enjoyed a healthy life. He also suffers from; hypertension, obesity, hyperlpidemia, self care management lifestyle deficit and uncontrolled diabetes (Vilt, 2009, p. 13).

He was assigned a professional nurse to help in his care as he starts to manage his condition. As required in such extreme circumstances, the nurse began by addressing Hypertension and the high glucose level as they were the most life threatening in this instance.

The patient together with his wife upon the nurse’s advice agreed to visit a dietician who would help the patient adopt a healthy eating habit necessary for the promotion good health. The patient was also willing reduce the food portion he takes. The N.P. contacted a registered dietician and booked an appointment for the patient.

The main priority was to receive a therapy that centers on nutritional assessment focusing on two key areas: how to control diabetes and the physical activities that promote weight loss. The N.P. also took an extra step of care and requested the patient too keep a food journal in which he would keep a record of the meals and snacks intake. The journal also required of the patient to estimate the portion of the food he takes.

The N.P. also chose a first line medication targeted at achieving maximum control in the level of glucose in blood without the side effect of weight gain. On top of that, she developed a schedule to help manage dosage by increasing and decreasing whenever necessary.

She also made sure to maintain contact and communication with the patient by writing out the date and time of the day together with a medical report that she handed it over to the patient.

She gave the patient together with his wife lessons on how to use and read the glucose meter and the importance of these readings in making a choice on the type of medication and in evaluation of the effect of his change in diet. She also helped the patient and his wife set both long term and short term goals that would aid in the loss of weight through different forms of exercise and medication (Spanier, 2012).

The model has all the defining attributes of nurturing as a concept in delivering care. The care giver in a holistic way manages to listen attentively to the patient and deliver services that will help the patient manage his diabetes. She comes up with a chart that will help the patient monitor his eating patterns.

Her genuine concern also sees to it that she ensures the patient has a clear understanding of the usefulness of taking the glucose readings. She shows him and his wife how to take the readings and explains to them the importance of the reading. She undertakes the teaching role, a concept crucial in the science of care (Irvin & Acton, 1996).

Her holistic approach is also seen in her utilization of the communication process attributed to caring. She communicates with the patient by listening and scrutinizing the patient’s point of view and clarifies to the patient the importance of engaging in the activities the patient had previously taken for granted.

This helped the patient in making an informed decision. She ensures to maintain the communication process by providing telephone numbers through which the patient can make contact (Wagle, 2013).

Similarly, on her part, the wife of the patient is concerned for the husband’s health. She also shows a readiness to participate in the health nurturing process of her husband. “She is willing to actively participate in activities that benefit her husband” (Wagle, 2013, p.17).

She shows her sense of responsibility and concern by accompanying her husband for clinical visits and readily offers to see him through the activities he has been advised to undertake. She scans the internet for ways she can adopt to alleviate her husband’s condition. As a person she is portrays the caring behaviors needed in order to effectively facilitate the concept of caring (Wagle, 2013).

She also struggles to care for her husband’s environment. Since she is part of his environment, she tries to prepare diabetic friendly meals and encourages him to participate in the exercises prescribed. She motivates him and provides a friendly environment for her husband’s recuperation. Her motivation is seen through her willingness to take part in her husband’s exercise activities and also when she escorts him for clinical visits.

The model also demonstrates participation as a concept of caring. Patient’s participation is essential since there are those activities that the patient needs to take part in order to complement the care givers efforts. Engaging in the communication process by honestly providing the required information needed for analysis.

The patient was honest in explaining the amount of food he takes in a day and the activities he engages in. He also provided reasons as to why he engages in these activities even though they were not in line with diabetic care.

The patient’s willingness to attend the clinic and participate in the prescribed activities is also seen as a major step in self care process. The patient had developed hypertension to add on the diabetic condition he had due to his lifestyle. He was unaware of the impact of neglecting self care had on his health. Gladly, after understanding the impact, he actively participated in self care by agreeing to exercise regularly and visit a dietician.

Capturing the meaning of care in words can be a tricky endeavor considering the inability to separate it from nursing. The whole concept however centers its meaning on its ability to facilitate delivery of nursing skills to a patient..

As much as the care givers give a professional approach towards caring, the surrounding of the patient is also crucial in the determination of the effectiveness of the caring process. The environment is able to determine whether the patients will receive his physical, social, economical and cultural care services.

Caring is also manifested in simple daily activities that promote good health. Being careful on the content of the food in our diet, going for regular health check up are simple activity that constitute self care.

Caring should be undertaken right from the time of birth in order to reduce health mishaps that may arise from careless lifestyles. For example ensuring an individual receives all the childhood vaccines will reduce chances of the individual suffering from these diseases later in adulthood.

Caring in nursing is a determinant of the effectiveness of the nursing process. The goal of nursing is to promote health and this cannot be achieved without caring for patients. It is the responsibility of the care givers to create awareness in the community on the importance of self and environmental caring.

DiBenedetto, D.V. (1995). Occupational hazards of the health care industry: protecting health care workers. AAOHN journal: official journal of the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses , 43(3), 131.

Geissler, E.M. (1990). An exploratory study of selected female registered nurses: meaning and expression of nurturance. Journal of advanced nursing , 15(5), 525 – 530.

Irvin, B.L., & Acton, G.J. (1996). Stress mediation in caregivers of cognitively impaired adults: theoretical model testing. Nursing research , 45(3), 160 – 166.

Oberle, K., & Hughes, D. (2001). Doctors’ and nurses’ perceptions of ethical problems in end‐of‐life decisions. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 33(6), 707 – 715.

Sappington, J. (2003). Nurturance: The spirit of holistic nursing. Journal of holistic nursing: official journal of the American Holistic Nurses’ Association , 21(1), 8 – 19.

Spanier, A. (2012). Environmental health. Public health reports , 127(4), 440.

Spollett, G. (2003). Case Study: A Patient With Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes and Complex Comorbidities Whose Diabetes Care Is Managed by an Advanced Practice Nurse. Diabetes Spectrum , 16(1), 32 – 36.

Vilt, K. (2009). Environmental health. The American journal of nursing , 109(1), 13.

Wagle, K. (2013). IBM Watson: Revolutionizing healthcare? Young Scientists Journal , 6(13), 17.

• Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2023, December 17). Caring in Nursing. https://ivypanda.com/essays/caring-in-nursing/

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Bibliography

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, getting college essay help: important do's and don’ts.

College Essays

If you grow up to be a professional writer, everything you write will first go through an editor before being published. This is because the process of writing is really a process of re-writing —of rethinking and reexamining your work, usually with the help of someone else. So what does this mean for your student writing? And in particular, what does it mean for very important, but nonprofessional writing like your college essay? Should you ask your parents to look at your essay? Pay for an essay service?

If you are wondering what kind of help you can, and should, get with your personal statement, you've come to the right place! In this article, I'll talk about what kind of writing help is useful, ethical, and even expected for your college admission essay . I'll also point out who would make a good editor, what the differences between editing and proofreading are, what to expect from a good editor, and how to spot and stay away from a bad one.

Table of Contents

What Kind of Help for Your Essay Can You Get?

What's Good Editing?

What should an editor do for you, what kind of editing should you avoid, proofreading, what's good proofreading, what kind of proofreading should you avoid.

What Do Colleges Think Of You Getting Help With Your Essay?

Who Can/Should Help You?

Advice for editors.

Should You Pay Money For Essay Editing?

The Bottom Line

What's next, what kind of help with your essay can you get.

Rather than talking in general terms about "help," let's first clarify the two different ways that someone else can improve your writing . There is editing, which is the more intensive kind of assistance that you can use throughout the whole process. And then there's proofreading, which is the last step of really polishing your final product.

Let me go into some more detail about editing and proofreading, and then explain how good editors and proofreaders can help you."

Editing is helping the author (in this case, you) go from a rough draft to a finished work . Editing is the process of asking questions about what you're saying, how you're saying it, and how you're organizing your ideas. But not all editing is good editing . In fact, it's very easy for an editor to cross the line from supportive to overbearing and over-involved.

Ability to clarify assignments. A good editor is usually a good writer, and certainly has to be a good reader. For example, in this case, a good editor should make sure you understand the actual essay prompt you're supposed to be answering.

Open-endedness. Good editing is all about asking questions about your ideas and work, but without providing answers. It's about letting you stick to your story and message, and doesn't alter your point of view.

Think of an editor as a great travel guide. It can show you the many different places your trip could take you. It should explain any parts of the trip that could derail your trip or confuse the traveler. But it never dictates your path, never forces you to go somewhere you don't want to go, and never ignores your interests so that the trip no longer seems like it's your own. So what should good editors do?

Help Brainstorm Topics

Sometimes it's easier to bounce thoughts off of someone else. This doesn't mean that your editor gets to come up with ideas, but they can certainly respond to the various topic options you've come up with. This way, you're less likely to write about the most boring of your ideas, or to write about something that isn't actually important to you.

If you're wondering how to come up with options for your editor to consider, check out our guide to brainstorming topics for your college essay .

Help Revise Your Drafts

Here, your editor can't upset the delicate balance of not intervening too much or too little. It's tricky, but a great way to think about it is to remember: editing is about asking questions, not giving answers .

Revision questions should point out:

• Places where more detail or more description would help the reader connect with your essay
• Places where structure and logic don't flow, losing the reader's attention
• Places where there aren't transitions between paragraphs, confusing the reader
• Moments where your narrative or the arguments you're making are unclear

But pointing to potential problems is not the same as actually rewriting—editors let authors fix the problems themselves.

Bad editing is usually very heavy-handed editing. Instead of helping you find your best voice and ideas, a bad editor changes your writing into their own vision.

You may be dealing with a bad editor if they:

• Add material (examples, descriptions) that doesn't come from you
• Use a thesaurus to make your college essay sound "more mature"
• Add meaning or insight to the essay that doesn't come from you
• Tell you what to say and how to say it
• Write sentences, phrases, and paragraphs for you
• Change your voice in the essay so it no longer sounds like it was written by a teenager

Colleges can tell the difference between a 17-year-old's writing and a 50-year-old's writing. Not only that, they have access to your SAT or ACT Writing section, so they can compare your essay to something else you wrote. Writing that's a little more polished is great and expected. But a totally different voice and style will raise questions.

Where's the Line Between Helpful Editing and Unethical Over-Editing?

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether your college essay editor is doing the right thing. Here are some guidelines for staying on the ethical side of the line.

• An editor should say that the opening paragraph is kind of boring, and explain what exactly is making it drag. But it's overstepping for an editor to tell you exactly how to change it.
• An editor should point out where your prose is unclear or vague. But it's completely inappropriate for the editor to rewrite that section of your essay.
• An editor should let you know that a section is light on detail or description. But giving you similes and metaphors to beef up that description is a no-go.

Proofreading (also called copy-editing) is checking for errors in the last draft of a written work. It happens at the end of the process and is meant as the final polishing touch. Proofreading is meticulous and detail-oriented, focusing on small corrections. It sands off all the surface rough spots that could alienate the reader.

Because proofreading is usually concerned with making fixes on the word or sentence level, this is the only process where someone else can actually add to or take away things from your essay . This is because what they are adding or taking away tends to be one or two misplaced letters.

Laser focus. Proofreading is all about the tiny details, so the ability to really concentrate on finding small slip-ups is a must.

Excellent grammar and spelling skills. Proofreaders need to dot every "i" and cross every "t." Good proofreaders should correct spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar. They should put foreign words in italics and surround quotations with quotation marks. They should check that you used the correct college's name, and that you adhered to any formatting requirements (name and date at the top of the page, uniform font and size, uniform spacing).

Limited interference. A proofreader needs to make sure that you followed any word limits. But if cuts need to be made to shorten the essay, that's your job and not the proofreader's.

A bad proofreader either tries to turn into an editor, or just lacks the skills and knowledge necessary to do the job.

Some signs that you're working with a bad proofreader are:

• If they suggest making major changes to the final draft of your essay. Proofreading happens when editing is already finished.
• If they aren't particularly good at spelling, or don't know grammar, or aren't detail-oriented enough to find someone else's small mistakes.
• If they start swapping out your words for fancier-sounding synonyms, or changing the voice and sound of your essay in other ways. A proofreader is there to check for errors, not to take the 17-year-old out of your writing.

What Do Colleges Think of Your Getting Help With Your Essay?

Admissions officers agree: light editing and proofreading are good—even required ! But they also want to make sure you're the one doing the work on your essay. They want essays with stories, voice, and themes that come from you. They want to see work that reflects your actual writing ability, and that focuses on what you find important.

On the Importance of Editing

Get feedback. Have a fresh pair of eyes give you some feedback. Don't allow someone else to rewrite your essay, but do take advantage of others' edits and opinions when they seem helpful. ( Bates College )

Read your essay aloud to someone. Reading the essay out loud offers a chance to hear how your essay sounds outside your head. This exercise reveals flaws in the essay's flow, highlights grammatical errors and helps you ensure that you are communicating the exact message you intended. ( Dickinson College )

On the Value of Proofreading

Share your essays with at least one or two people who know you well—such as a parent, teacher, counselor, or friend—and ask for feedback. Remember that you ultimately have control over your essays, and your essays should retain your own voice, but others may be able to catch mistakes that you missed and help suggest areas to cut if you are over the word limit. ( Yale University )

Proofread and then ask someone else to proofread for you. Although we want substance, we also want to be able to see that you can write a paper for our professors and avoid careless mistakes that would drive them crazy. ( Oberlin College )

On Watching Out for Too Much Outside Influence

Limit the number of people who review your essay. Too much input usually means your voice is lost in the writing style. ( Carleton College )

Ask for input (but not too much). Your parents, friends, guidance counselors, coaches, and teachers are great people to bounce ideas off of for your essay. They know how unique and spectacular you are, and they can help you decide how to articulate it. Keep in mind, however, that a 45-year-old lawyer writes quite differently from an 18-year-old student, so if your dad ends up writing the bulk of your essay, we're probably going to notice. ( Vanderbilt University )

Now let's talk about some potential people to approach for your college essay editing and proofreading needs. It's best to start close to home and slowly expand outward. Not only are your family and friends more invested in your success than strangers, but they also have a better handle on your interests and personality. This knowledge is key for judging whether your essay is expressing your true self.

Parents or Close Relatives

Your family may be full of potentially excellent editors! Parents are deeply committed to your well-being, and family members know you and your life well enough to offer details or incidents that can be included in your essay. On the other hand, the rewriting process necessarily involves criticism, which is sometimes hard to hear from someone very close to you.

A parent or close family member is a great choice for an editor if you can answer "yes" to the following questions. Is your parent or close relative a good writer or reader? Do you have a relationship where editing your essay won't create conflict? Are you able to constructively listen to criticism and suggestion from the parent?

One suggestion for defusing face-to-face discussions is to try working on the essay over email. Send your parent a draft, have them write you back some comments, and then you can pick which of their suggestions you want to use and which to discard.

Teachers or Tutors

A humanities teacher that you have a good relationship with is a great choice. I am purposefully saying humanities, and not just English, because teachers of Philosophy, History, Anthropology, and any other classes where you do a lot of writing, are all used to reviewing student work.

Moreover, any teacher or tutor that has been working with you for some time, knows you very well and can vet the essay to make sure it "sounds like you."

If your teacher or tutor has some experience with what college essays are supposed to be like, ask them to be your editor. If not, then ask whether they have time to proofread your final draft.

Guidance or College Counselor at Your School

The best thing about asking your counselor to edit your work is that this is their job. This means that they have a very good sense of what colleges are looking for in an application essay.

At the same time, school counselors tend to have relationships with admissions officers in many colleges, which again gives them insight into what works and which college is focused on what aspect of the application.

Unfortunately, in many schools the guidance counselor tends to be way overextended. If your ratio is 300 students to 1 college counselor, you're unlikely to get that person's undivided attention and focus. It is still useful to ask them for general advice about your potential topics, but don't expect them to be able to stay with your essay from first draft to final version.

Friends, Siblings, or Classmates

Although they most likely don't have much experience with what colleges are hoping to see, your peers are excellent sources for checking that your essay is you .

Friends and siblings are perfect for the read-aloud edit. Read your essay to them so they can listen for words and phrases that are stilted, pompous, or phrases that just don't sound like you.

You can even trade essays and give helpful advice on each other's work.

If your editor hasn't worked with college admissions essays very much, no worries! Any astute and attentive reader can still greatly help with your process. But, as in all things, beginners do better with some preparation.

First, your editor should read our advice about how to write a college essay introduction , how to spot and fix a bad college essay , and get a sense of what other students have written by going through some admissions essays that worked .

Then, as they read your essay, they can work through the following series of questions that will help them to guide you.

Introduction Questions

• Is the first sentence a killer opening line? Why or why not?
• Does the introduction hook the reader? Does it have a colorful, detailed, and interesting narrative? Or does it propose a compelling or surprising idea?
• Can you feel the author's voice in the introduction, or is the tone dry, dull, or overly formal? Show the places where the voice comes through.

Essay Body Questions

• Does the essay have a through-line? Is it built around a central argument, thought, idea, or focus? Can you put this idea into your own words?
• How is the essay organized? By logical progression? Chronologically? Do you feel order when you read it, or are there moments where you are confused or lose the thread of the essay?
• Does the essay have both narratives about the author's life and explanations and insight into what these stories reveal about the author's character, personality, goals, or dreams? If not, which is missing?
• Does the essay flow? Are there smooth transitions/clever links between paragraphs? Between the narrative and moments of insight?

Reader Response Questions

• Does the writer's personality come through? Do we know what the speaker cares about? Do we get a sense of "who he or she is"?
• Where did you feel most connected to the essay? Which parts of the essay gave you a "you are there" sensation by invoking your senses? What moments could you picture in your head well?
• Where are the details and examples vague and not specific enough?
• Did you get an "a-ha!" feeling anywhere in the essay? Is there a moment of insight that connected all the dots for you? Is there a good reveal or "twist" anywhere in the essay?
• What are the strengths of this essay? What needs the most improvement?

Should You Pay Money for Essay Editing?

One alternative to asking someone you know to help you with your college essay is the paid editor route. There are two different ways to pay for essay help: a private essay coach or a less personal editing service , like the many proliferating on the internet.

My advice is to think of these options as a last resort rather than your go-to first choice. I'll first go through the reasons why. Then, if you do decide to go with a paid editor, I'll help you decide between a coach and a service.

When to Consider a Paid Editor

In general, I think hiring someone to work on your essay makes a lot of sense if none of the people I discussed above are a possibility for you.

If you can't ask your parents. For example, if your parents aren't good writers, or if English isn't their first language. Or if you think getting your parents to help is going create unnecessary extra conflict in your relationship with them (applying to college is stressful as it is!)

If you can't ask your teacher or tutor. Maybe you don't have a trusted teacher or tutor that has time to look over your essay with focus. Or, for instance, your favorite humanities teacher has very limited experience with college essays and so won't know what admissions officers want to see.

If you can't ask your guidance counselor. This could be because your guidance counselor is way overwhelmed with other students.

If you can't share your essay with those who know you. It might be that your essay is on a very personal topic that you're unwilling to share with parents, teachers, or peers. Just make sure it doesn't fall into one of the bad-idea topics in our article on bad college essays .

If the cost isn't a consideration. Many of these services are quite expensive, and private coaches even more so. If you have finite resources, I'd say that hiring an SAT or ACT tutor (whether it's PrepScholar or someone else) is better way to spend your money . This is because there's no guarantee that a slightly better essay will sufficiently elevate the rest of your application, but a significantly higher SAT score will definitely raise your applicant profile much more.

Should You Hire an Essay Coach?

On the plus side, essay coaches have read dozens or even hundreds of college essays, so they have experience with the format. Also, because you'll be working closely with a specific person, it's more personal than sending your essay to a service, which will know even less about you.

But, on the minus side, you'll still be bouncing ideas off of someone who doesn't know that much about you . In general, if you can adequately get the help from someone you know, there is no advantage to paying someone to help you.

If you do decide to hire a coach, ask your school counselor, or older students that have used the service for recommendations. If you can't afford the coach's fees, ask whether they can work on a sliding scale —many do. And finally, beware those who guarantee admission to your school of choice—essay coaches don't have any special magic that can back up those promises.

Should You Send Your Essay to a Service?

On the plus side, essay editing services provide a similar product to essay coaches, and they cost significantly less . If you have some assurance that you'll be working with a good editor, the lack of face-to-face interaction won't prevent great results.

On the minus side, however, it can be difficult to gauge the quality of the service before working with them . If they are churning through many application essays without getting to know the students they are helping, you could end up with an over-edited essay that sounds just like everyone else's. In the worst case scenario, an unscrupulous service could send you back a plagiarized essay.

Getting recommendations from friends or a school counselor for reputable services is key to avoiding heavy-handed editing that writes essays for you or does too much to change your essay. Including a badly-edited essay like this in your application could cause problems if there are inconsistencies. For example, in interviews it might be clear you didn't write the essay, or the skill of the essay might not be reflected in your schoolwork and test scores.

Should You Buy an Essay Written by Someone Else?

Let me elaborate. There are super sketchy places on the internet where you can simply buy a pre-written essay. Don't do this!

For one thing, you'll be lying on an official, signed document. All college applications make you sign a statement saying something like this:

I certify that all information submitted in the admission process—including the application, the personal essay, any supplements, and any other supporting materials—is my own work, factually true, and honestly presented... I understand that I may be subject to a range of possible disciplinary actions, including admission revocation, expulsion, or revocation of course credit, grades, and degree, should the information I have certified be false. (From the Common Application )

For another thing, if your academic record doesn't match the essay's quality, the admissions officer will start thinking your whole application is riddled with lies.

Admission officers have full access to your writing portion of the SAT or ACT so that they can compare work that was done in proctored conditions with that done at home. They can tell if these were written by different people. Not only that, but there are now a number of search engines that faculty and admission officers can use to see if an essay contains strings of words that have appeared in other essays—you have no guarantee that the essay you bought wasn't also bought by 50 other students.

• You should get college essay help with both editing and proofreading
• A good editor will ask questions about your idea, logic, and structure, and will point out places where clarity is needed
• A good editor will absolutely not answer these questions, give you their own ideas, or write the essay or parts of the essay for you
• A good proofreader will find typos and check your formatting
• All of them agree that getting light editing and proofreading is necessary
• Parents, teachers, guidance or college counselor, and peers or siblings
• If you can't ask any of those, you can pay for college essay help, but watch out for services or coaches who over-edit you work
• Don't buy a pre-written essay! Colleges can tell, and it'll make your whole application sound false.

Ready to start working on your essay? Check out our explanation of the point of the personal essay and the role it plays on your applications and then explore our step-by-step guide to writing a great college essay .

Using the Common Application for your college applications? We have an excellent guide to the Common App essay prompts and useful advice on how to pick the Common App prompt that's right for you . Wondering how other people tackled these prompts? Then work through our roundup of over 130 real college essay examples published by colleges .

Stressed about whether to take the SAT again before submitting your application? Let us help you decide how many times to take this test . If you choose to go for it, we have the ultimate guide to studying for the SAT to give you the ins and outs of the best ways to study.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Mental Health Essay

Introduction

Mental health, often overshadowed by its physical counterpart, is an intricate and essential aspect of human existence. It envelops our emotions, psychological state, and social well-being, shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and interactions. With the complexities of modern life—constant connectivity, societal pressures, personal expectations, and the frenzied pace of technological advancements—mental well-being has become increasingly paramount. Historically, conversations around this topic have been hushed, shrouded in stigma and misunderstanding. However, as the curtains of misconception slowly lift, we find ourselves in an era where discussions about mental health are not only welcomed but are also seen as vital. Recognizing and addressing the nuances of our mental state is not merely about managing disorders; it's about understanding the essence of who we are, how we process the world around us, and how we navigate the myriad challenges thrown our way. This essay aims to delve deep into the realm of mental health, shedding light on its importance, the potential consequences of neglect, and the spectrum of mental disorders that many face in silence.

Importance of Mental Health

Mental health plays a pivotal role in determining how individuals think, feel, and act. It influences our decision-making processes, stress management techniques, interpersonal relationships, and even our physical health. A well-tuned mental state boosts productivity, creativity, and the intrinsic sense of self-worth, laying the groundwork for a fulfilling life.

Negative Impact of Mental Health

Neglecting mental health, on the other hand, can lead to severe consequences. Reduced productivity, strained relationships, substance abuse, physical health issues like heart diseases, and even reduced life expectancy are just some of the repercussions of poor mental health. It not only affects the individual in question but also has a ripple effect on their community, workplace, and family.

Mental Disorders: Types and Prevalence

Mental disorders are varied and can range from anxiety and mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia.

• Depression: Characterized by persistent sadness, lack of interest in activities, and fatigue.
• Anxiety Disorders: Encompass conditions like generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias.
• Schizophrenia: A complex disorder affecting a person's ability to think, feel, and behave clearly.

The prevalence of these disorders has been on the rise, underscoring the need for comprehensive mental health initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Understanding Mental Health and Its Importance

Mental health is not merely the absence of disorders but encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Recognizing the signs of deteriorating mental health, like prolonged sadness, extreme mood fluctuations, or social withdrawal, is crucial. Understanding stems from awareness and education. Societal stigmas surrounding mental health have often deterred individuals from seeking help. Breaking these barriers, fostering open conversations, and ensuring access to mental health care are imperative steps.

Conclusion: Mental Health

Mental health, undeniably, is as significant as physical health, if not more. In an era where the stressors are myriad, from societal pressures to personal challenges, mental resilience and well-being are essential. Investing time and resources into mental health initiatives, and more importantly, nurturing a society that understands, respects, and prioritizes mental health is the need of the hour.

• World Leaders: Several influential personalities, from celebrities to sports stars, have openly discussed their mental health challenges, shedding light on the universality of these issues and the importance of addressing them.
• Workplaces: Progressive organizations are now incorporating mental health programs, recognizing the tangible benefits of a mentally healthy workforce, from increased productivity to enhanced creativity.
• Educational Institutions: Schools and colleges, witnessing the effects of stress and other mental health issues on students, are increasingly integrating counseling services and mental health education in their curriculum.

In weaving through the intricate tapestry of mental health, it becomes evident that it's an area that requires collective attention, understanding, and action.

  Short Essay about Mental Health

Mental health, an integral facet of human well-being, shapes our emotions, decisions, and daily interactions. Just as one would care for a sprained ankle or a fever, our minds too require attention and nurture. In today's bustling world, mental well-being is often put on the back burner, overshadowed by the immediate demands of life. Yet, its impact is pervasive, influencing our productivity, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Sadly, mental health issues have long been stigmatized, seen as a sign of weakness or dismissed as mere mood swings. However, they are as real and significant as any physical ailment. From anxiety to depression, these disorders have touched countless lives, often in silence due to societal taboos.

But change is on the horizon. As awareness grows, conversations are shifting from hushed whispers to open discussions, fostering understanding and support. Institutions, workplaces, and communities are increasingly acknowledging the importance of mental health, implementing programs, and offering resources.

In conclusion, mental health is not a peripheral concern but a central one, crucial to our holistic well-being. It's high time we prioritize it, eliminating stigma and fostering an environment where everyone feels supported in their mental health journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the primary focus of a mental health essay?

Answer: The primary focus of a mental health essay is to delve into the intricacies of mental well-being, its significance in our daily lives, the various challenges people face, and the broader societal implications. It aims to shed light on both the psychological and emotional aspects of mental health, often emphasizing the importance of understanding, empathy, and proactive care.

• How can writing an essay on mental health help raise awareness about its importance?

Answer: Writing an essay on mental health can effectively articulate the nuances and complexities of the topic, making it more accessible to a wider audience. By presenting facts, personal anecdotes, and research, the essay can demystify misconceptions, highlight the prevalence of mental health issues, and underscore the need for destigmatizing discussions around it. An impactful essay can ignite conversations, inspire action, and contribute to a more informed and empathetic society.

• What are some common topics covered in a mental health essay?

Answer: Common topics in a mental health essay might include the definition and importance of mental health, the connection between mental and physical well-being, various mental disorders and their symptoms, societal stigmas and misconceptions, the impact of modern life on mental health, and the significance of therapy and counseling. It may also delve into personal experiences, case studies, and the broader societal implications of neglecting mental health.

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The Clerestory Podcast S 1 E 25

Issue No. 8 Embodiment

Issue No. 7 Sanctuary

Issue No. 6 Food

Issue No. 5 History

Issue No. 4 Ecology

Issue No. 3 Therapy

Issue No. 2 Community

Issue No. 1 Faith

Issue no. 3 therapy.

Jen Ashley is a writer living in Charleston, South Carolina who seeks to find the humor and humanity in all things. Yes, Ashley is her last name.

Taking Care of Ourselves

By jen ashley.

This essay has an associated podcast episode. Listen now .

My friends know me as ‘Jen’, but marketing agencies know me as ‘a mid-20s American woman.’ I am the target demographic for those shilling self-care products, and I am bombarded with ads for them constantly. If they knew me a little better, though, they might realize that no essential oil diffuser in the world could calm these ever-fraught nerves, and even if it could, I wouldn’t be able to afford it.

The term ‘self-care’ took off in the late 2010s as a means to combat the growing trend of burnout. At the heart of the concept was self preservation . It wasn’t about fixing your problems, it was about coping with them: “Your life sucks. Treat yourself to 10 minutes of meditation, or a manicure!”

Newsletters and blogs devoted to self-care started springing up. The faces of stylish, beautiful women in the bylines tell us in gentle, feminine tones that we should buy that sponsored eucalyptus candle or vegan yoga mat as if that will satisfy our growing desperation for peace.

Search the hashtag #selfcare on Instagram, for instance. In between pastel graphics featuring inspirational quotes, you’re bound to find numerous product posts: alternative medicine, moisturizers, crystals, throw pillows, detoxifying teas and low-calorie ice creams. “We can make you feel a little better,” the brands promise, “ for a price. ”

After a year filled with fear, loss, sickness, change, and uncertainty, the need to address my own physical and mental wellbeing reached an all-time high. I wasn’t happy, and I could no longer believe the lie, “If I can just get through this week , my schedule will start clearing up.” I realized I too had a need for self-care, but the online discussion around it felt less like a resource and more like a marketplace oversaturated with overpriced hokum.

Self-care may have started out as a good faith movement for combating burnout, but it has grown into a $450 billion industry that preys upon those who are burnt out. But if life is so hard for so many people, imagine how much harder it must be for those who can’t afford to pamper ourselves with $100 facials? Aren’t they, too, deserving of self-care? And if so, where does it leave them?

Maybe we shouldn’t be listening to the marketers who tell us that we are too old, too ugly, or too imperfect, and that we need to be fixed. Maybe we should listen to ourselves instead.

Should we purchase blue light glasses to protect our eyes from the excessive screen time, or should we quit scrolling our timelines? Should we download a freemium meditation app, or should we take a walk outside? Are we practicing self-care, or have we lost our sense of self?

One evening recently, I was feeling particularly exhausted. All I wanted to do was sit on my sofa and pretend that I did not exist. When I, shoeless, stepped on a spill on the floor, I seriously considered returning to the couch with dirty bare feet. Instead, I forced myself to go to the tub and wash them. It sounds odd, but the quiet and solitary act of washing my own feet felt incredibly therapeutic. It occurred to me that maybe what I was doing was, technically, self-care.

When reflecting more on the concept, I realized I’d been framing it the wrong way – starting with the very term. I began to put intention not into ‘self-care’, but ‘taking care of myself.’ Simply by making it an active phrase rather than an ambiguous term, it instantly became less like an impulsive purchase or an elitist indulgence and more like a necessity.

It is a mantra. When I feel a sense of dread sweeping over me at the thought of doing the laundry, or flossing my teeth, or responding to an email, I now think: “By doing this, I am taking care of myself.” It doesn’t necessarily make these tasks enjoyable, but it does give me a sense of mindfulness.

While self-care is a reactionary measure, taking care of myself is a lifestyle. I no longer make to-do lists for the day, where work deadlines are prioritized above all else. Instead, I make a schedule that incorporates an even mixture of chores, work and self. Lunch breaks are just as important as a mandatory Zoom call. My career will not end if I opt to take a 20-minute walk over a doom-scroll through my inbox – and if that was actually a possibility, would I really want that career?

I challenge you to stop thinking that life is inevitably stressful and that your only option is to take the occasional vacation or book a quarterly massage to patch up your feelings of burnout. You can still book that yoga retreat or buy that candle if you can afford it, but you should think of those purchases as treats, not band-aids. Your wellbeing is not a commodity. Take care of yourself.

A tall Victorian at the end of the line for the J-Church streetcar was home to The Integral Counseling Center. I caught the streetcar a block from my apartment on that most rare of things in San Francisco, flat ground, and rode the car as it lurched around the curves up a very steep grade.

There is no magic deeper than re-telling a story, for you are giving yourself agency to assign meaning and (most importantly) to assign usefulness to time and events. When fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen wrote, “Our lives are fairytales written by God’s fingers,” it was not just a cute ditty— it was a magic healing spell. 

What Blocking Emergency Abortion Care in Idaho Means for Doctors Like Me

O n April 24, the Supreme Court will hear arguments weighing whether Idaho politicians have the power to block doctors from giving emergency medical care to patients experiencing pregnancy complications—a case that will open the door for other states to prohibit emergency reproductive care and worsen medical infrastructure for people across the board. Once again, politicians have set up a case that could have devastating impacts on the ability of doctors to provide--and for pregnant women to receive--essential reproductive health care.

I’m a family physician who’s practiced medicine in rural Idaho for more than 20 years, where I’ve had the opportunity to guide hundreds of patients through their pregnancies. It’s no exaggeration when I say that my state’s health care system is in crisis, thanks in enormous part to our near-total abortion ban. Now, instead of trying to salvage what’s left, Idaho politicians are looking to hasten our downward spiral, making it even harder for doctors like me to provide care to patients in need. I can only hope that the Court will take into account that it’s not just abortion at stake in this case—it’s the future of emergency room care and medicine altogether.  

Rural health care has always faced challenges, but in the nearly two years since the overturning of Roe v. Wade , it’s gotten exponentially worse. In Idaho, we’ve lost nearly a quarter of our obstetricians since the state’s abortion ban went into effect—colleagues and friends who got into medicine to help people are being forced out of practicing obstetrics in our state. They realized it was impossible to provide adequate care while under the thumb of politicians more interested in advancing their extremist agenda than protecting the health of their constituents.

Idaho’s abortion ban makes it a crime for anyone to perform or assist with performing an abortion in nearly all circumstances. The ban does not even include an exception for when a person’s health is at risk—only for when a doctor determines that an abortion is necessary to prevent the pregnant person’s death. Ask any doctor and they'll tell you that this "exception" leads to more questions than answers.

Read More: ‘ Am I a Felon?’ The Fall of Roe v. Wade Has Permanently Changed the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Patients need an emergency abortion for a wide range of circumstances, including to resolve a health-threatening miscarriage. But there is no clear-cut legal definition under the ban of what exactly that looks like or when we can intervene, and doctors—operating under the threat of prosecution—have no choice but to err on the side of caution.

“Can I continue to replace her blood loss fast enough? How many organ systems must be failing? Can a patient be hours away from death before I intervene, or does it have to be minutes?” These are the callous questions doctors are now forced to think through, all the while our patient is counting on us to do the right thing and put their needs first.

As a result, pregnant patients sometimes make repeated trips to the ER because they’re told time and time again that nothing can be done for them until their complications get more severe. Imagine if someone you love had a 104-degree fever but you were told nothing could be done until it spiked to 106 and your organs were failing. Requiring patients to get right up to the point of no return before administering care is not sound medical policy—it’s naked cruelty, and it’s only going to get worse as long as we allow extremism, not science, to run rampant in our statehouses and trample over our safe system of care.

It also violates a longstanding federal law—the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)—that requires hospitals to treat emergencies before they become life-threatening. That’s exactly why the U.S. Department of Justice sued Idaho soon after the state’s abortion ban took effect. The lawsuit argues only that Idaho must allow doctors to provide abortions in medical emergencies when that is the standard stabilizing care, but even that proved too much for state leaders.

Instead, Idaho politicians fought the DOJ all the way up to the Supreme Court. How the Supreme Court rules will have broad implications that will reverberate throughout the country. If the Court holds that federal law no longer protects pregnant people during emergencies, it will give anti-abortion politicians across the country the green light to deny essential abortion care, push providers to leave states where the choices made with their patients can be second-guessed by prosecutors, and continue this cycle of inhumanity for patients. 

As we’ve seen in Idaho, policies guided by anti-abortion extremism make health care worse for everyone. This assault on abortion has not ended with abortion—rather, it has extended to more of our rights and health care, with birth control , IVF , prescription drugs , and now emergency medical care all at risk.  

This must stop. 

For nearly 40 years, federal law has guaranteed that patients have access to necessary emergency care, including when a pregnancy goes horribly wrong. The Supreme Court must uphold this law and ensure pregnant people continue to get the care they need when they need it most. The health of my patients in West Central Idaho—and millions of other Americans across the country—deserve nothing less.

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SCOTUS Has a Chance to Right the Wrong Its EMTALA Ruling Forced

Will it listen.

This week, the Supreme Court will hear a case that could have devastating and widespread consequences for pregnant patients, their families, and their health care providers—yes, even considering where we currently are with reproductive health care in this country. It involves Idaho’s near-total abortion ban, which makes it a crime for the state’s physicians to terminate a pregnancy, even when termination is necessary to protect the mother’s health. As a result of that state’s cramped statutory exceptions for emergency abortion care, a woman showing up to an ER in Idaho could be at imminent risk of losing her reproductive organs, and yet a physician could still not be allowed to end her pregnancy to save them, unless or until she is about to die.

By contrast, right now, a federal law called the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires that hospitals that participate in Medicare (meaning virtually every private hospital in the country) provide stabilizing care when the health of a patient is in serious jeopardy. As any emergency physician can explain , sometimes an abortion is the stabilizing care necessary to protect a patient’s health: to avoid loss of reproductive organs and fertility, loss of other organs, permanent disability, severe pain, dire mental health results, and a host of other horrible consequences, including—but also short of—risk of imminent death.

​Before Idaho’s law took effect, a federal district court in the state found that EMTALA and the Idaho law conflict: When a pregnant patient needs an abortion to stabilize a health emergency and consents to receive one, federal law requires that her doctors give her an abortion. The Idaho ban therefore criminalizes what federal law requires. Whenever that happens, the Constitution’s supremacy clause says federal law wins: Under what’s known as the preemption doctrine, federal law is the “supreme Law of the Land” and overrides the conflicting state law. The Idaho court thus temporarily ordered an exception to the Idaho law, allowing physicians to terminate a pregnancy when EMTALA requires it.

​In January, however, the Supreme Court disagreed. Leaping into the case before it was conclusively resolved, the high court issued a stay allowing Idaho’s law to take effect again, despite the conflict with EMTALA, ruling on its “ shadow docket ” and offering no opinion explaining its reasoning. On Wednesday, in the final week of the court’s term, the justices will hear oral argument in the case. They have an opportunity to undo the harm their earlier ruling has already caused. Their decision will affect the law not just in Idaho but in every state whose laws clash with EMTALA.

In the weeks since the high court paused EMTALA and allowed Idaho’s more stringent ban to go into effect, health care providers have experienced what can been seen only as a natural experiment in what happens when physicians are barred from delivering the kinds of medical assistance that is widely understood to be the standard of care in emergency rooms. Whereas the justices may have been able to plausibly claim back in January that they had no idea what it would mean to turn away patients who should have received stabilizing care under EMTALA, we now know. In fact, we can measure the harms. And in Idaho, over just a few months, the consequences of the Supreme Court’s stay have been devastating.

St. Luke’s Health System is the largest private employer in the state of Idaho and treats by far the most emergency patients. (Disclosure: Lindsay Harrison is counsel of record for St. Luke’s in the case.) In an amicus brief submitted to the court in this lawsuit, St. Luke’s explains that since the stay was imposed, it has continued to see patients with emergency medical conditions posing severe health risks short of death and that, as a result of the stay, those patients are suffering.

Because of the stay, Idaho physicians have essentially two options: First, because Idaho’s ban still allows for abortions to prevent death, they can certainly wait until the risks to a patient’s health become life-threatening. But the conditions that come with this state can be extremely painful. And if untreated, they can cause serious health complications, including systemic bleeding, liver hemorrhage and failure, kidney failure, stroke, seizure, and pulmonary edema. In these situations, watching a patient suffer and deteriorate until death is imminent is intolerable to most doctors. It is also medically unsound and dangerous.

Their best option is therefore the second and only alternative: Transfer the patient out of state. But this delays critical emergency care while transport is arranged, still forces patients to endure serious physical pain, and still risks potentially grave complications. It also distances patients from their families, homes, and support networks at a time when they most need them. And it is expensive and wholly unnecessary.

Despite the serious downsides of transfer, the numbers show starkly how that option has become the new “standard of care” in Idaho. In the whole of 2023, before Idaho’s law was in effect, only one pregnant patient presenting to St. Luke’s with an emergency was transferred out of state for care. Yet in the few months the new abortion law has been in effect, six pregnant St. Luke’s patients with medical emergencies have been transferred out of state for termination of their pregnancy. This is a dramatic change for a small state like Idaho, and what it shows is that the new crabbed definition of stabilizing care is already harming pregnant women. In an extremely short time, we have seen precisely the uptick in transfers that could have been predicted when SCOTUS allowed Idaho to end-run the federal statute: More patients are harmed, more patients are sent long distances for care, and more providers find themselves unable to offer necessary care.

Congress passed EMTALA decades ago to solve a serious problem—hospitals were dumping patients on other hospitals without considering their medical condition or how the transfer might harm them. The Supreme Court’s stay is now actually undermining the stated goal of the statute by literally forcing Idaho’s hospitals to transfer patients across state lines, instead of providing the emergency care they need.

When they hear arguments in this case, the justices should therefore bear in mind one other piece of data: The patients affected by this decision are still receiving exactly the same number of abortions they received before the stay because, for patients presenting with their particular medical emergencies, termination remains the standard of care. The St. Luke’s data thus proves that abortion care will still happen—but it will happen following costly and time-wasting emergency transfers, helicopter rides, and bleeding and pain for women who are often already experiencing the very worst day of their lives. The St. Luke’s numbers reveal that denying abortion care doesn’t save fetal life or protect maternal health. It just makes emergency care more expensive, higher-risk, and brutally painful.

A few weeks back, we saw the Supreme Court’s justices take it upon themselves to second-guess the practice of medicine and drug regulation in the mifepristone case. The EMTALA case offers a repeat opportunity for justices to publicly practice emergency medicine without a license, a knowledge base, or any solicitude for actual physicians and their real-life patients. Allowing the Idaho abortion statute to go into effect was a consequential legal error that has already demonstrably harmed pregnant people and their families while impeding doctors from offering the kind of health care they have been trained to deliver. This suffering is entirely avoidable. The court has the power to rectify this error. Now the justices also have the data to understand what will happen should they opt not to do so.

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Guest Essay

Who Cares if Supreme Court Justices Get Along?

By Linda Greenhouse

Ms. Greenhouse, the recipient of a 1998 Pulitzer Prize, reported on the Supreme Court for The Times from 1978 to 2008 and was a contributing Opinion writer from 2009 to 2021.

The Supreme Court is hurting.

I can say that with confidence — not based on any inside information but on the external evidence of how hard some of the justices are working to show that everyone on the court really does get along.

“When we disagree, our pens are sharp, but on a personal level, we never translate that into our relationship with one another,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor told an audience at the National Governors Association conference in February. “We don’t raise our voices, no matter how hot-button the case is,” Justice Amy Coney Barrett said at the civics forum at George Washington University in March.

The retired justice Stephen Breyer, on the talk circuit for his new book on constitutional interpretation, has been making the same point. In a guest essay in The Times this month, he observed that “justices who do not always agree on legal results nonetheless agree to go to hockey games or play golf together.” He added: “The members of the court can and do get along well personally. That matters.”

I’m reminded of the last time the court made a concerted effort to assure the public that all was well. It was during the weeks that followed the ruling that clinched the 2000 presidential election for George W. Bush. With the court in recess, justices who had voted on either side of that 5-to-4 decision, Bush v. Gore, scattered around the country and the world (Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg went to Australia), taking the occasion of previously scheduled lectures to claim that the court was not in crisis.

Justice Ginsburg and Justice Antonin Scalia, bitterly opposed in that case and in a good many others, let it be known that they had kept up their tradition of New Year’s Eve dinner together with their spouses. “The justices are behaving almost like survivors of a natural disaster who need to talk about what happened in order to regain their footing and move on,” I wrote at the time.

Now, by contrast, there is no single issue, no giant iceberg that the court has struck, but rather separate disconcerting developments that have noticeably dented the court’s once secure public standing.

Was it the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that erased the constitutional right to abortion and upended state politics in much of the country? The astonishing leak of a draft of the Dobbs decision, which Justice Clarence Thomas called “tremendously bad” and destabilizing for the court? The controversy over the court’s seeming inability to bind itself to a judicial ethics code? The abrupt emergence of a conservative supermajority flexing its muscles so forcefully that Justice Barrett, before reaching her first anniversary on the court, felt driven to declare publicly that “this court is not composed of a bunch of partisan hacks”?

It may be a bit of each of these or none of them, but the inventory itself suggests that what matters is what the court does or doesn’t do: that the legacy of the Roberts court will reside in the pages of United States Reports, the official compilation of Supreme Court decisions, and not in the justices’ datebooks. What counts is not how the justices treat one another but how they treat the claims of those who come before them.

I’m still shaking my head, for example, over a decision from several terms ago that stripped two laywomen, teachers in elementary parochial schools, of the protection of federal anti-discrimination laws because, the 7-to-2 majority held, they were effectively “ministers” who fell under a rule the court adopted eight years earlier called the ministerial exception to ordinary civil laws. The women had no substantial religious training. One did not have her contract renewed after she revealed that she needed time off for treatment of breast cancer. The Americans With Disabilities Act did her no good. By the time the court decided the case, she had died.

Few people remember that decision from only four years ago, Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru, which cast thousands of lay employees of religious organizations out from a federal safety net intended for all. I mention it only to underscore the ongoing need to watch what the court does, not how the justices feel.

The Supreme Court and other appellate courts are categorized in the judicial literature as collegial courts. “Collegial” in that usage is a term of art. It doesn’t mean that the judges necessarily get along. It means that these multimember courts act as collectives, when a majority coalesces. In a forthcoming memoir, “Vision,” Judge David Tatel, who recently retired from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, offers as good a definition of judicial collegiality as I have seen. “Judicial collegiality,” he writes, “has nothing to do with singing holiday songs, having lunch or attending basketball games together. It has everything to do with respecting each other, listening to each other and sometimes even changing our minds.”

Years ago, Mark Alan Stamaty used a “Washingtoon,” his cartoon that ran regularly in The Washington Post, to depict the Supreme Court justices walking in single file, each carrying a bundle. “The Supreme Court Goes to the Laundromat” was the title. I thought it was so funny that I kept it for years tacked to the New York Times cubicle in the Supreme Court pressroom. It portrayed, to be sure, a collegial Supreme Court.

But it was a cartoon.

Linda Greenhouse, the recipient of a 1998 Pulitzer Prize, reported on the Supreme Court for The Times from 1978 to 2008 and was a contributing Opinion writer from 2009 to 2021.

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