USA Healthcare Issues - Assignment Example

Pharmacist in Patient Care Health is the most important asset to human beings and needs to be kept in its best shape as possible. Pharmacists assist patients in a community setting. Pharmacists understand patients, since they talk to people when they are healthy and when they are sick. They are also involved in emergency situations or when the community is need of specific need of advice or information. It is also important to note that pharmacists are playing key role in maintaining health awareness among human beings by providing counseling about preventive medicine (Smith, Wertheimer and Fincham, 2005). In addition, pharmacists are also involved in providing services to the patients by ensuring that they receive information and advice on health. Pharmacists provide medications and associated services to patients. They also recommend referral of patients to other pharmacists, physicians when required to do so. The modern advancements in information technology enable pharmacists to provide education to patients as well as maintaining and monitoring patient records through the use of a computer. The field of pharmacy requires knowledgeable people on the composition of drugs as well as their chemical and physical properties. Pharmacists also need to be well knowledgeable about the manufacture of drugs, how drugs are tested for purity and strength as well as their uses. Further, the pharmacist needs to be well conversant about the activity of the drug and how it will work within the body. More people now rely on pharmacists for information on drugs and their availability they are also concerned about the activity of the drugs in the same way patrons do when they inquire about nonprescription medication (Smith, Wertheimer and Fincham, 2005). . Logistics of Obamas Health Care Reform Obama’s health care reform is aimed at health care insurance reform. The health care reform will provide more security and stability to those citizens of America who already have health insurance. In addition, it offers coverage to those people who do not have health insurance as well as lower cost of health care in American families and businesses (The Obama Plan, 2010). For the people who already have health insurance, the reform, according to Obama will end discrimination against citizens with pre-existing conditions. It will also prevent insurance companies from dropping insurance coverage during sickness, prevent extra expenses so that people don’t get broke when they fall ill and prevent extra charges for preventive care. Further, the reform will protect Medicare for the old and prevent age discrimination in health care (The Obama Plan, 2010). Incase there are those who do not have health insurance, the reform creates a new insurance perspective that allows poor citizens to buy insurance at low prices. Health care insurance for the poor is aimed at providing new tax credits to help people by insurance as well as helping small businesses cover for their employees. The health care reform also provides new low cost coverage so as to protect citizens with preexisting conditions from financial quagmire until the new insurance exchange is determined (The Obama Plan, 2010). For all Americans, the health care reform will create an independent commission of doctors and medical personnel to identify waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system. In addition, the reform also orders immediate medical malpractice reform projects. These could help doctors focus on prioritizing patients, but not on practicing defensive medicine. Finally, the health reform will require large employers to cover their employees as well as citizens who can afford the health insurance. This will ensure that everyone shares in the responsibility of reform (The Obama Plan, 2010). Problems in Pharmacy Field The biggest challenge to pharmacy and pharmacists is to maintain close oversight of dispensing functions at the same time trying to find time to serve as patient educator and advocate. The evolution of the profession is also challenged by the need to develop a reimbursement model that is not linked directly to the cost of medication. The reimbursement model must be commensurate with professional services provided by the pharmacist (Durgin and Hanan, 2004). Another major problem in the pharmacy field is the prescription errors. The public has continued to fall victims of wrong prescriptions. Pharmacists often give wrong medications to patients, this leads to death or other serious complications to the health of people. Wrong prescription is mainly due to inadequate training of the pharmacist. The people are therefore advised to seek medication in more reputable pharmacies. These pharmacies should have more than one pharmacist working with clerk and technician helpers (Durgin and Hanan, 2004). Universal Health Care Universal health care in America will benefit everyone. First, it will help in ensuring that low income people in America, for example, those who change beds and clean floors in health centers and other low income jobs, receive adequate medical service. These people are also expected to receive preventive health care. In addition, private health insurers necessarily waste a lot of money on issues that have nothing to do with care such as overhead and underwriting. They also charge patients high rates on health insurance. The health care reform, which advocates for universal health care will reduce high charge rates of insurance, thus making health care affordable to everyone (Derickson, 2005). The universal health care advocates for a single payer system. This will ensure that all Americans are covered for all medically necessary services. Americans will receive services including doctor, hospital, preventive and long-term care. Further, they will receive reproductive health care under the universal health care system as well as prescription drugs and medical supply costs. American ailing citizens will regain free choice of doctor and hospital. The doctors will also be expected to regain autonomy over patient care (Derickson, 2005). Conclusion Universal health care is of great importance to the whole nation. An ailing nation can not carry its economic duties as expected. Healthy citizens ensure that there is more time spent in more economic based activities that ensure economic stability. Therefore, the government should be able to implement fully the universal health care reform to lessen suffering on the part of the low income earners. Failure to cover medical costs of all citizens will lead to more desperate situations in the citizens. It is the government’s sole responsibility to ensure good living standards in the society. The universal health care reform is therefore of great importance to America. References Derickson A (2005). Health security for all: dreams of universal health care in America. New York, JHU Press. Pp 49-55. Durgin J and Hanan Z (2004). Pharmacy practice for technicians. New York, Cengage Learning. Pp 384-386. Smith M, Wertheimer A and Fincham J (2005). Pharmacy and the US health care system. London, Routledge. Pp 410-415. The Obama Plan (2010). “Stability and security for all Americans”. Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/obama_plan_card.PDF on 24th January, 2010. Read More