Posted: September 7th, 2024

Global Health Comparison Grid Template 7

Global Health Comparison Grid Template

Use this document to complete the Module 6 Assessment Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Global Healthcare Issue
Healthcare inequalities
Description
Health is one of the significant markers of high-quality life. Socioeconomic factors and positions have an impact on health outcomes, which leads to inequalities. People from poor socioeconomic backgrounds die at a younger age than those in favored positions. The identification of healthcare inequalities, including drivers, is a critical factor in bridging the health inequality gap.

Country United States
Switzerland
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue Has one of the highest health inequalities in the world (Noonan et al., 2016). To combat the issue, policymakers passed the Affordable Healthcare Act. Its clauses aim to reduce the health inequalities in the country by making health insurance affordable to all, especially people in the low-income social bracket. Expands Medicaid and compels employers to provide insurance to employees. (Hero et al., 2017)

The Swiss Federal Law on Compulsory Health Care (LAMal) is the policy that requires all citizens domiciled in the Switzerland to have basic compulsory insurance (De Petro et al., 2015). Reduces health disparities by ensuring that everyone has access to affordable health.
What are the strengths of this policy? 1. Increases insurance coverage to provide more protection to the vulnerable low-income communities.
2. Health insurance now affordable.
3. It protects patients with pre-existing conditions.
4. High costs of preventative medication are split between the consumers and the government.
5. Reduces mortalities and improves mental health
6. No existing limits to care

1. Provides protection to all members of the society.
2. Health insurance is affordable.
3. Patients with pre-existing conditions are protected.
4. Healthy people can choose higher deductibles.
5. Flexibility on the basic coverage.
6. Led to high health standards.
What are the weaknesses of this policy?
1. Increased premiums for people who already had health insurance to cover those with pre-existing conditions.
2. Patients insured and without an exemption may obtain a hefty fine.
3. Increase in taxes.
4. Some organizations reduce employees so as to avoid covering them. (Hero et al., 2017)

1. Anyone coming into Switzerland must have health insurance.
2. An individual can only change the healthcare provider once a year.
3. People pay from their own pockets instead of universal healthcare.
4. Expensive as people pay out of pocket and are reimbursed later.

Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)
The social conditions in which people are born, where they live, work, and age, drive the inequalities in health. Race is a critical social determinant of health. The problem is associated with substandard employment, poor housing, and access to health services. People are exposed to occupational hazards, such as toxic chemicals in the line of duty and allergens in the home, and environmental exposures (Noonan et al., 2016). Psychologically, race negatively affects and patients’ mental wellbeing and may lead to emotional trauma
The country does not have problems associated with inequalities arising from the race. All people have high-quality schooling, access to healthy foods, and live in good neighborhoods. Therefore, the quality of health in the population is high.
How has each country’s government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue? High costs of access to medical care are dealt with through subsidized health insurance schemes. The Affordable Healthcare Act reduces premiums and strengthens Medicare.

The government has adopted universal health coverage where everyone is required to have basic private health insurance (De Petro et al., 2015). All people have access to excellent high quality healthcare.
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples) The policy has resulted in more people having access to medical insurance. People are treated for more conditions. However, the United States still has the worst health outcomes and shorter life expectancies that are divided along racial and ethnic lines. Life expectancy at birth is 78.6 years, while that for people of color is 75.3 years (Statista, 2018). It causes high suicide and mental health deaths.

This policy has resulted in most people in Switzerland accessing healthcare. Switzerland has one of the highest life expectancies with that of women at 85.6 with the males at 81.3 ( Statista, 2018).
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurses in each country. The ACA increased the number of people requiring healthcare services (Donkin, 2018). As a result, the demand for nurses increased. It emphasized patient outcomes, which increased the need for certifications.

Increased demand for nurses. The country has to keep training and upgrading the skills of its nurses to meet the patients’ expectations. Continuous professional learning is crucial to maintain high healthcare standards.
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)
COVID 19 has put a strain on local health facilities, leaving them strained and vulnerable. Similarly, it has increased healthcare gaps resulting in higher health care inequalities that are a setback on all the gains.

COVID 19 has stretched local health facilities leaving them strained and vulnerable. However, its strategy of addressing the virus reduced fatalities, including herd immunity.
General Notes/Comments

The Affordable Care Act came to address inequalities in access to health care.

Universal health coverage has enabled the country to have one of the best health standards.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Education on health disparities plays a crucial role in eliminating the problem of inequality. To bridge the gap in the United States, there is a need for the adoption of an international lens when it comes to universal health coverage. Switzerland is an excellent case study that has earned massive benefits from universal health coverage. The nation has one of the highest life expectancies, with the life expectancy of a woman at birth at 85.6, with men having 81.3 (Statista, 3018). Thus, its citizens are not only healthier but also contribute to better global health outcomes through reduced health disparities. As a nurse leader, I would advocate for a universal health scheme as seen in Switzerland since it ensures that everyone, regardless of being a foreigner or citizen, has access to affordable health. The quality of healthcare is also high, which results in lower healthcare disparities. The incorporation of a global lens reveals the importance of acknowledging the impact of race and racism on healthcare. It shows the need to note that additional social justice issues, such as race and religion, can impact one’s healthcare. Furthermore, it will advocate for the behavioral change analysis through the use of education on health disparities affecting minority communities, such as the American Indians, as they face different health inequalities. Local tailored made community projects are crucial in addressing the problems at the grassroots. For instance, success in the reduction of diabetes among aboriginal communities has been achieved through the adoption of the traditional food project from 2010 to 2012 (CDC, 2020). Furthermore, the asthma initiative also achieved significant success in reducing health inequalities. Therefore, conducting education and coming up with local projects on the various aspects of race and racism and their impact on healthcare would go a long way in addressing these disparities. Furthermore, it will help in formulating tailored solutions, such as affirmative action in healthcare.

References
CDC (2020). Strategies for reducing health disparities. Selected CDC-Sponsored Interventions, United States, 2016. https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/strategies2016/index.html
Noonan, A. S., Velasco-Mondragon, H. E., & Wagner, F. A. (2016). Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice. Public health reviews, 37(1), 1-20.

Hero, J. O., Zaslavsky, A. M., & Blendon, R. J. (2017). The United States leads other nations in differences by income in perceptions of health and health care. Health Affairs, 36(6), 1032-1040.

Donkin, A., Goldblatt, P., Allen, J., Nathanson, V., & Marmot, M. (2018). Global action on the social determinants of health. BMJ global health, 3(Suppl 1), e000603.

De Pietro, C., & Crivelli, L. (2015). Swiss popular initiative for a single health insurer… once again!. Health Policy, 119(7), 851-855.

Statista (2018). United States: Life expectancy at birth from 2008 to 2018. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263724/life-expectancy-in-the-united-states/

Statista (2018). Switzerland: Life expectancy at birth from 2008 to 2018. https://www.statista.com/statistics/261317/life-expectancy-at-birth-in-switzerland/

Order | Check Discount

Tags: PSY Papers, Psych Research Paper Sample, Psychology Assignment, Psychology Dissertation Writing, Psychology research paper