Among the most pressing needs for the health care system in the United States is the provision of quality health care to all with the aim of improving quality of life as well as life expectancy. With these in mind, the Healthy People 2010 aims at improving four major components of healthcare each serving to better the health needs of the United States citizens. These include clinical preventive care which aims at taking preventive actions as well as recognizing risks for certain health conditions in a stage that is early enough to enable successful treatment or prevention. Diseases that are best suited here are sexually transmitted diseases and cancers primary care which deals aims at ensuring that every one is able to access a usual health care provider more so the minorities who have been poorly represented in the past emergency services to act as stabilizers in cases of severe illnesses so as to give time for provision of comprehensive care and long-term care and rehabilitative services for persons who need rehabilitation and self-care services such as the aged or physically and mentally ill persons.
Some facts on access to care
For one to have the most accurate measure on how access to care has been specifically in the four areas, health insurance cover best suits this. The number of persons with health insurance has been increasing from the 1990s with more uninsured persons standing at 44.3 million persons in 1997. Preventive care services have been largely ignored by the health insurance companies. Even those who are insured, affordability and accessibility is not guaranteed by the insurers. Quality of health care has been an issue with a 1999 report on the same indicating errors in provision of care (Healthy People 2010, 2001).
A broad section of the society has experienced challenges in accessing care as due to lack of the services and finances to facilitate the same among other reasons. Disabled persons are particularly affected due to physical accessibility and attitudes of health care providers. Primary care access to the Hispanics as well as the young adults is also as poor as in uninsured persons. As of 1998, the Mexican Americans were the most uninsured persons. Poverty is also a major reason for lack of insurance. Belonging to a certain ethnic group is therefore a factor that determines access to care. According to 1997 National Health Interview Survey for instance, while 87 of Whites had access to care, only 61 of Mexican had access to health care (Healthy People 2010, 2001). Persons with persistent conditions like diabetes also face the challenge of being covered by insurance companies.
Even with the above challenges in access to health care, Health People 2010 is still conscious of its responsibility for a healthy America and for that reason, it seeks to ensure that health insurance coverage reaches 100 percent i.e. total coverage across ethnic groups, states and age sets. It is also the objective of Healthy People 2010 to increase the number of health care professionals across all sectors of health care more so in groups of population that have under-representation. This is to be achieved by increasing educational facilities and access to the same among the minorities.
In conclusion, non profit organizations have a very crucial role in ensuring comprehensive access to care. The American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) (www.holisticmedicine.org) is for instance aimed at ensuring that the whole person i.e. mind, body and spirit is catered for to ensure healthy lives which is in tandem with the goals of Healthy People 2010.
Some facts on access to care
For one to have the most accurate measure on how access to care has been specifically in the four areas, health insurance cover best suits this. The number of persons with health insurance has been increasing from the 1990s with more uninsured persons standing at 44.3 million persons in 1997. Preventive care services have been largely ignored by the health insurance companies. Even those who are insured, affordability and accessibility is not guaranteed by the insurers. Quality of health care has been an issue with a 1999 report on the same indicating errors in provision of care (Healthy People 2010, 2001).
A broad section of the society has experienced challenges in accessing care as due to lack of the services and finances to facilitate the same among other reasons. Disabled persons are particularly affected due to physical accessibility and attitudes of health care providers. Primary care access to the Hispanics as well as the young adults is also as poor as in uninsured persons. As of 1998, the Mexican Americans were the most uninsured persons. Poverty is also a major reason for lack of insurance. Belonging to a certain ethnic group is therefore a factor that determines access to care. According to 1997 National Health Interview Survey for instance, while 87 of Whites had access to care, only 61 of Mexican had access to health care (Healthy People 2010, 2001). Persons with persistent conditions like diabetes also face the challenge of being covered by insurance companies.
Even with the above challenges in access to health care, Health People 2010 is still conscious of its responsibility for a healthy America and for that reason, it seeks to ensure that health insurance coverage reaches 100 percent i.e. total coverage across ethnic groups, states and age sets. It is also the objective of Healthy People 2010 to increase the number of health care professionals across all sectors of health care more so in groups of population that have under-representation. This is to be achieved by increasing educational facilities and access to the same among the minorities.
In conclusion, non profit organizations have a very crucial role in ensuring comprehensive access to care. The American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA) (www.holisticmedicine.org) is for instance aimed at ensuring that the whole person i.e. mind, body and spirit is catered for to ensure healthy lives which is in tandem with the goals of Healthy People 2010.
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