US Healthcare System: Chapters 7 & 8 Case Study Analysis

This case study analyzes the US healthcare system, particularly focusing on outpatient and primary care services, in the context of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). It explores the growth of ambulatory services, driven by factors such as technological advancements, patient preferences, and policy changes favoring outpatient care. The study differentiates between outpatient, ambulatory, and primary care, and highlights the role of community health centers and quarantine stations. The paper also discusses the impact of the ACA on healthcare accessibility and affordability, emphasizing its role in increasing the number of insured individuals. The conclusion highlights the significant changes brought about by the ACA in the US healthcare landscape and its impact on the accessibility to care services.

Running head: US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
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US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
Introduction
The United States is witnessing quality healthcare services financed by a range of public
players including Federal, State and local governments and also private insurance and individual
payments (Birk, 2016). There has been a significant rise in the ambulatory service and decrease
in the hospital inpatient days due to the changes in the healthcare system. Outpatients refers to
the patients who visits physician clinics and offices for getting comprehensive care. Primary care
refers to coordinated and continuous care by clinicians by addressing and accessing personal
health care needs and developing partnership with patients. All primary care is outpatient but all
outpatient care is not primary such as urgent care treatment, emergency treatment, rehabilitation,
chemotherapy and renal dialysis.
Critique
1. There has been a growth in ambulatory service as a result of some significant changes in
the healthcare services that made it possible for the community health centers to receive
both federal as well as state money for serving the rural or inner cities. The policy that
was developed on this ground offers for reimbursement that constraints inpatient services
and works in favor of outpatient or ambulatory services. The health care system that was
followed and implemented has a lesser payment restrictions and allows for a wide range
of services including surgery, chemotherapy and dialysis and are paid as fee-for-service.
The recent health care system has also witnessed a major development and advancement
of new technology that are less invasive and offers a quicker recovery from surgery. The
health care service delivery system also offers utilization controls by managing of care

US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
and a quicker discharge. Preference of the patients for receiving services at home or in
any community based settings, particularly long term care is also one of the reasons why
there has been an increase in the ambulatory services.
2. Ambulatory services includes the care given to patients who visits physician chamber,
office, clinics or outpatient surgery and are given mobile diagnostic units and home
health services to patients (Ahrq.gov, 2019). Ambulatory service does not require patients
for staying overnight requiring room and board costs. Ambulatory care services are
similar to community medicine since it surrounds community, gives convenience and
accessibility. The outpatient or ambulatory services include minor and primary treatment
in the physician’s chamber or office (Ahrq.gov, 2019). The basic services includes
physical exams or assessments, and minor treatment given by accessing their health
condition and implementing intervention strategies by addressing them. Therefore, all
primary care is ambulatory but not all ambulatory care is primary such as emergency
room, rehabilitation, outpatient surgery, renal dialysis and chemotherapy. Primary care
focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, health education, counseling, minor surgery and
therapeutic services that are delivered between the patient and the various components of
the delivery system. It also includes referring patients for specialized care and give advice
regarding diagnosis and therapy approaches available.
3. The United States Quarantine Stations are a part of comprehensive system that restricts
the spreading of contagious diseases in the United States. They are staffed with health
officers both medical and public workers who are responsible for deciding whether the
sick people can enter the United States or not. It also takes several measures to prevent
the spread of contagious diseases that have detrimental effect on the patient’s health. The

US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
diseases that are tagged under the quarantinable disease by the Executive order includes
diphtheria, plague, smallpox, infectious tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever, viral
hemorrhagic fevers and severe acute respiratory syndromes. U.S. Quarantine Stations are
managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Division of Global
Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) and forms a comprehensive quarantine system helps
in limiting the spread of serious contagious diseases in the United States. The United
States Quarantine Stations have made possible to give care to the sick and direct the
healthcare organizations of medical practice. It has also enhanced the institutions and the
care delivery process. It has facilitated an advance medical training and research for a
better outcome (Cdc.gov, 2019).
Conclusion
The Affordable Act (ACA), which was legislated in 2010 is responsible to bring
significant changes in the healthcare system in the United States. The main goal was to decrease
the number of uninsured and make the coverage extra affordable in order to increase the access
to care services. In order to achieve this, the ACA has extended the eligibility for Medicaid and
has created marketplaces where an individual can buy policies from the insurers directly without
the employer coverage (Birk, 2016). This has not only improved the healthcare system in the
United States but also increased the accessibility to care services.

US HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
References:
Ahrq.gov. (2019). Ambulatory Care | Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality. Retrieved 27
September 2019, from
https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/ambulatory/tools.html
Birk, H. S. (2016). United States National Healthcare Policies 2015: An analysis with
implications for the future of medicine. Cureus, 8(1).
Cdc.gov. (2019). U.S. Quarantine Stations | Quarantine | CDC. Retrieved 27 September 2019,
from https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/quarantine-stations-us.html