Assignment Applying Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Paper

HLT-312v Week 4 Assignment – Applying Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Paper

HLT-312v Week 4 Assignment – Applying Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Paper

Details: In preparation for this assignment, read the assigned article, “Making the Case for Ethical Decision-Making Models,” and the following case study:Assignment – Applying Ethical Decision Making in Health Care Paper

Case Study

Carrie, a 26 year-old female, is admitted to the hospital following a major motor vehicle accident. She is unresponsive and on life-support machines. The physicians and staff have expressed concerns regarding her ability to recover, as she is now in a persistent vegetative state with no brain activity. Her parents believe that she will recover given time and are insistent that she continue to receive aggressive treatment. Carrie’s husband, Bob, is at her bedside. He is requesting that the physicians stop providing treatment and is adamant that keeping her on the machines is against her wishes. The patient does not have a living will or a medical power of attorney identified. As a member of the ethics committee, you have been contacted to determine the best course of action.

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Assignment

Based on the article’s discussion, apply the four key aspects of decision-making models to the case study.

Write a 1-2 page letter to the attending physician and family in which you:

1. Describe the ethical dilemma.
2. Offer your recommendation for the best course of action.
3. Provide rationale for your recommendation.
4. Identify the ethical problem.
5. Gather relevant facts and information, considering others in terms of impact, views, and opinions.
6. Identify different possible options and choose and justify one option.
7. Implement the decision.

APA format is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.

Discussion Board 3.1: Health Disparities in Your Nursing Practice Student’s Example

Health Disparity

The health disparity that I encounter in my Nursing Practice is the discrepancy among many diverse populations and the medical services they receive.  The care that low income families receive is inconsistent with families who are not on Medicaid.  For the last fifteen years the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has reported disparities especially in low income families. According to Levine (2009), The National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR) tends to track access to care, care conditions amongst ethnicities, who is using the affordable care act, effective treatment plans, healthy living, patient safety and care centered around each individual person.  Between the years 2000 and 2009, the number of impoverished people increased by 11.3 million, and approximately 14% of the national population was below the poverty level, according to the NHDR (2013).  Low-income children of ethnic minority are at high risk for obesity.  The National has estimated over thirty percent of children to be obese.  According to Muturi, Kidd, Lindshield, Kattlemann, Adhikari, and Zies (2017), studies have shown in the past two decades an increase of low income children diagnosed with obesity.  Evidence has shown that socioeconomic status (SES) does affect the healthcare of individuals and health benefits.  Patients with lower SES are more likely to have chronic conditions, die younger, and receive limited care from medical professionals (Levine, 2009).

At the hospital I worked out when patients came in with no insurance the physicians would be limited to the test, they would order due to the hospital being responsible for the cost if the patient could not pay.  Florida has a lot of different minorities, so language barrier can also be an issue when trying to provide the best care to our patients.  Florida also has a lot of low-income patients who just don’t seek help due to rising costs of healthcare and procedures.  Many hospitals including the one I worked at have the patient sign an agreement to be responsible for costs if they have no health insurance before they receive treatment.  I also believe its not just a Florida problem but around the United States are seeing reimbursement issues, so Medicaid or low-income patients are just receiving minimal care or doctors are just not accepting them as a new patient (Healthy People 2020).

Low-income Vulnerability

I believe one of the reasons why this population is vulnerable due to an individual’s subjective perception of their health status and the quality of care they expect to get (Schuler, 2015).  With this being said, individuals with SES and income normally are not well educated on medical services or the care that should be provided to them.  Many low-income patients try to schedule appointments with primary and specialty services but receive no appointment due to lack of insurance or income to pay for the medical services.  Many specialty services want up front cost in order to see the patient, which many low-income families do not have the extra cash.  According to Levine (2009), offering care to patients of low SES, exposed populations, and patients with specific health concerns becomes challenging when they are also uninsured or underinsured. Low-income families were more at risk to health hazards or chronic health needs then families who were insured (Schuler, 2015).  The SES also effected were patients lived and the care that was provided in their community.  Some families have to travel through multiple transportation systems to receive care.

Address the Disparity

I have noticed over the past few years in Florida some clinics have opened up to address low-income families and patients who are not insured.  The affordable care act was passed a few years ago to help with individuals needing healthcare and not able to afford it.  However, the affordable care act has helped to drive up cost of private insurance companies making health insurance expensive.  Medicaid is a low cost health insurance for families who cannot afford coverage (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services).  Chips was created for families who make to much money for Medicaid but need assistance in providing insurance for their children.  A good resource at the hospital is case management and they can help the low income families or SES to gain assistance through government funded programs or assistance provided by drug companies.

References

(n.d.). Healthy People 2020. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/

Levine, J. K. (2009). Low Incomes : Social, Health and Educational Impacts. New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.library.maryville.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e700xna&AN=408126&site=eds-live&scope=site

Muturi, N., Kidd, T., Lindshield, E., Kattelmann, K. K., Adhikari, K., & Zies, S. (2017). Motivation for obesity prevention among adolescents in low-income communities in three U.S. states. Journal of Communication in Healthcare, 10(3), 169–179. https://doi-org.proxy.library.maryville.edu/10.1080/17538068.2017.1343757

Schuler, B. R. (2015). Health Perceptions and Quality of Life among Low-Income Adults. Health & Social Work, 40(3), 225–232. https://doi-org.proxy.library.maryville.edu/10.1093/hsw/hlv045

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). HHS.gov. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/

2012 National Healthcare Disparities Report (NHDR). (June 2013). Agency for healthcare research and quality. Rockville, MD. Retrieved from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s website http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/nhqrdr/nhdr12/2012nhdr.pdf