Public Health For Health Economic Theory: Waiting Time In Healthcare Industry

Health Economic Theory

Discuss about the Public Health for Health Economic Theory.

The purpose of this report is to provide a brief introduction about the problem of waiting time caused to the people that is increasing dissatisfaction among them. The people in the country United Kingdom are facing difficulty due to increase in hospital waiting time for the patients. Further, the report explains the health economic theory related to the case and policy recommendations for the companies. Further, it should also be noted that elective care also increases the waiting as it gives choices to people and low investment in GP makes the services inefficient.

Source: (QualityWatch)

The above mentioned is the constant change in the A&E hospital of UK that shows the fluctuations present in the whole industry that is distressing the clients in the environment1.

The publically funded health care system refers to the system under which the government or the agency holds the activities of the healthcare organization.. Under this type of system, the government does not take money from the public, instead they are formed to support the people of the country and help all levels of people to attain healthcare services.2. Further, there is high waiting time in such organizations because no person can claim for attaining the services from the organization³. On comparing the activities of publicly funded organization with privately funded organization, it should be noted that in private healthcare organizations people pays money to attain services resulting to which the staff of the healthcare organization to provide them services according4. But in the case of publicly funded organization the people cannot directly compliant to the organization, they need to complain to the government. Also, the process is very slow and lack of surveillances in such organizations makes it more difficult for people attain services on time.

Talking about elective care it should be noted, that this process increases the level of dissatisfaction among the employees. The time invested in elective care increases due to the change in clinical practices by the patients or physicians. Resulting to which, the problems of patients increased within that time that give rise to major level of dissatisfaction for them; in regards to which NHS allowed independent firms to carry on elective care by themselves. This aspect helped the patients to some extent. Worldwide, the GP and patients are getting dissatisfied due to the increasing waiting time. There is presence of less number of GP as compared to the patients due to which such problem arises. Further, people have started shifting from their family doctor to GPs. Also, presence of less funds investment by the government reduces the effectiveness of the hospitals to completely satisfy the patients. Investment is one way that can fix this problem but the government needs to be more concerned and the GP needs to take proper care of services provided by them.

Policy Solutions

Further, it should be noted that waiting time plays a major role in assisting the satisfaction level of the clients (patients) in the healthcare organization5. As waiting distresses all people and frustrate them resulting to which their satisfaction level reduces; also the NHS reports states that it takes 4 hours for the organization to take an emergency case, then what type of emergency it is when the patient is being treated in four after coming to the hospital⁶. Thus, people prefer going to the organizations where they need not to face long gaps before starting the actual treatment. Demand in the healthcare society works on basis of the waiting period given by the healthcare organizations. The hospitals that treats patients in time without making them wait receive high demand in the society from the patients as compared to others⁷.

The major factor that affects the waiting experience of the patients in the society is the services of the organization⁸. If the employees of the organization are ashamed for making the patients in wait and treat; them properly then the patients might forget the negative experience received to them. However, if the organization has adopted that habit of making the patients wait and do not feel guilty for that then it negatively affects the interest of the patients in the activities of the organization⁹. If the organization is trying their best to reduce the waiting time for the patients and are improving as well; then the patients might not feel frustrated while waiting for their turn to attain the healthcare services¹⁰.

Talking about the success of the implementation policies it should be noted that with the effect of increasing concern towards the problem of waiting, the organizations present in this industry are taking initiation to increase the satisfaction level of patients in the society. Also, the activities of the organization are promoting the satisfaction of the patients in the society as well11. The companies have started to treat people suffering from severe diseases on proactive basis. They are taking less time to begin the treatment of the patients coming to their organization¹². Further, it should also be noted that increase in number of GPs at the hospital will reduce the waiting for the patients¹³. Also, the process of elective care is too long that dissatisfies people, instead of that the government should make the system electronic and intimate information electronically that will reduce the time. The reason for cancellation of elective care should be clinical otherwise they should refund the amount in less than 28 days¹⁴.

Further, in relation to implementation to such policies it should be noted that apart from success of the policies still there are various barriers that are faced by the company along with the patients in initiating such activities in the organization¹⁵. The companies present in UK are unable to meet up to the expected data set for them, as there is complex organizational structure that give rise to delay in the activities of the organization. Also, the patients need to comply with all the formalities of the organization then only then can attain services of from the organization that increase the stress level of the patients¹⁶. Thus, it should be noted that still there is scope of improvement for organizations present in this industry in UK.

Conclusion

Thus, in the limelight of above mentioned events, it should be noted that the healthcare industry is the industry that requires to be attentive in their activities so as to treat the patients properly. However, increase in the waiting time for the patients decreases their satisfaction level and frustrate them as well. The organizations present in UK takes time of 3-4 hours to treat the emergency patients as well which is wrong act. Thus, in report explained the why the waiting problem arises, what factors affect the patients experience and the success and failure policies for reducing the waiting time for the patients in the society.

1. A&E waiting times; April 2018 [cited 2018 June 14]. Available from < https://www.qualitywatch.org.uk/indicator/ae-waiting-times#>
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3. Barua B, Rovere M, Skinner BJ. Waiting your turn. Fraser Institute; 2015.
4. Anandaciva S. What is happening to waiting times in the NHS?. 2017 November [cited 2018 June 12]. Available from: https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/articles/nhs-waiting-times
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12. Chen, H., Qian, Q. and Zhang, A., 2015. Would allowing privately funded health care reduce public waiting time? Theory and empirical evidence from canadian joint replacement surgery data. Production and Operations Management, 24(4), pp.605-618.
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15. Rechel B, McKee M, Haas M, Marchildon GP, Bousquet F, Blümel M, Geissler A, van Ginneken E, Ashton T, Saunes IS, Anell A. Public reporting on quality, waiting times and patient experience in 11 high-income countries. Health Policy. 2016 Apr 1;120(4):377-83.
16. Gijo EV, Antony J. Reducing patient waiting time in outpatient department using lean six sigma methodology. Quality and Reliability Engineering International. 2014 Dec 1;30(8):1481-91.

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