{"id":42747,"date":"2018-03-08T12:15:25","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T20:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=42747"},"modified":"2018-03-08T12:15:25","modified_gmt":"2018-03-08T20:15:25","slug":"7-healthcare-concerns-in-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/7-healthcare-concerns-in-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Healthcare concerns in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The first year of President Trump\u2019s administration has been strife with a lot of debatable policies. One of the topics of debate that\u2019s dominated the headlines in 2017 is the Affordable Care Act and the future of the American healthcare system. Robert I. Field, a professor of law and healthcare management at Drexel University, pointed out some challenges ahead when he stated: \u201cThey\u2019ve got to keep the government funded; they\u2019ve got to deal with Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); they\u2019ve got to deal with the cost sharing reductions under Obamacare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Field highlights only some of the most pressing issues our healthcare system will face in 2018.<\/p>\n

1. Cyber Security Breaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve gone to your health care provider or a hospital recently, you may have noticed that tablets and computers are almost everywhere. Your health information is now being documented and stored digitally for a multitude of reasons. Although it may be far more convenient for hospitals and doctors, it also comes with some risks as well.<\/p>\n

This store of information becomes a prime target for hackers. A data breach means healthcare organizations could compromise patient medical records, patient billing information, clinical trials, and research, as well as employee information and the financial information for the hospital itself. Cyber security is such a problem, 89% of healthcare organizations<\/a> have reported some kind of attack within the past two years.<\/p>\n

Although there haven\u2019t been any cyber security breaches as of late, Equifax, the recipient of one of the major cyber security attacks of the decade, recently announced that their data breeche from 2017 impacted 2.4 million more people<\/a> that originally thought, bringing the total to approximately 148 million Americans.<\/p>\n

2. Medical Malpractice Lawsuits<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Each year, there are more than 17,000 medical malpractice lawsuits filed in the US. These lawsuits are such a commonplace, the Medical Scribe Journal suggests that an average doctor can expect to be sued once every 7 years<\/a>. These lawsuits don\u2019t just reach doctors; registered nurses, dentists pharmacists, chiropractors, and psychologists have also been sued.<\/p>\n

Medical professionals don\u2019t always have to pay a sum of money. Sometimes, they\u2019ll face other repercussions that include giving the professional or the organization a bad name, thus driving patients away. It also drives up malpractice insurance premiums leading doctors to increase their rates. Being sued causes the doctor to begin practicing \u201cdefensive medicine\u201d. Defensive medicine is a term for doctors ordering more tests<\/a> and procedures than actually necessary in order to protect themselves in the case of a negligence lawsuit.<\/p>\n

3. Maternal Mortality<\/strong><\/h4>\n

When mothers go to the hospital to give birth, they expect that everything will go smoothly. Sadly, since 2000, maternal mortality has been increasing at an alarming rate. On a global scale, the maternal mortality rate has decreased by 36.6%, which is great news. However, in the US, that number has increased<\/a> by 16.6%<\/a>. <\/strong>These deaths occur for a multitude of reasons such as infection, embolism, mental health conditions and hemorrhaging, which is the top cause at 12.7%.<\/p>\n

There are a few strategies that healthcare providers and mothers can employ to reduce the risk of maternal death and they include:<\/p>\n