Differences Between the UK and US Health Systems
Differences between the UK and US Health systems
In the United Kingdom, the health system is completely public and socialized medicine. It means that all citizens have the right to receive all the care that is needed without any cost. It results on a single payer system with a centrally governed structure, wide simpler than our system. The fundus came from taxation and that is the reason for the sales taxes are 20% and income taxes 50%; so, there is not such a thing like “free cost health care”. Also, dental care is not included and all prescriptions requires a co-payment with not exclusion (US and UK Healthcare System Comparison, 2016).
By the other hand, United States complex health system is financed by private insurances companies, general taxation, payroll taxes, and beneficiary premium. It has created a complex, bureaucratic, administrative structure that impact negatively on the performance of the providers that expend so much time only doing paperwork and others administrative issues. But, it shows improvement on preventive care, nosocomial infections, fewer readmissions, and less time to wait to receive specialized treatment (How Does the Quality of the U.S. Healthcare System Compare to Other Countries?, 2020).
What are key opportunities related to advocacy and politics interventions that can be done by advanced practice nurses to improve our current health system?
Is well know that advocacy is part of the core of nursing as profession. It is not a secret that our Health System is fragmented, complex, not fair enough, with a high administrative cost and overwhelming paperwork that has a negative impact. Is important to understand all gaps, issues and possible solutions to give patients adequate choices. Nurse practitioners has the opportunity to evaluate and speak for those in need, for communities, society and themselves. It is a way to provide information, expertise and collaborate with local and state institutions in an effort to improve care and the expansion of the infrastructure (5 Ways Nurse Practitioners Can Serve as Advocates – Nursing@USC, 2020).
Just as the educational level increases, proportionally the degree of social commitment also increases. The association of Nurse Practitioners with political activism and willingness to speak out results beneficiary for all society (Kung & Lugo, 2015). This political advocacy must be the driving force behind radical changes aimed to promote social equity, remedy injustice, and therefore emphasize the work of this profession as an agent of change. our mission is defended, support and promote a policy of safety and universal care for all individuum in the society regardless economic status or cultural level. Political advocacy is a powerful tool and should be promoted during the education of philosophy, ethics and other aspects of the profession. The union of many voices can promote change and if these voices belong to people with the relevant education and experience then the chances of success are greater. It is not just saying the difficulties but contributing to the plans for change (Cleveland et al., 2019).
References
5 Ways Nurse Practitioners Can Serve as Advocates – Nursing@USC. (2020, September 2). USC-MSN. https://nursing.usc.edu/blog/5-ways-nurse-practitioners-can-serve-as-advocates/
Cleveland, K., Motter, T., & Smith, Y. (2019). Affordable Care: Harnessing the Power of Nurses. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.3912/ojin.vol24no02man02
How does the quality of the U.S. healthcare system compare to other countries? (2020, August 20). Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/quality-u-s-healthcare-system-compare-countries/#item-post-op-clots-better-u-s-comparable-countries
Kung, Y. M., & Lugo, N. R. (2015). Political advocacy and practice barriers: A survey of Florida APRNs. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 27(3), 145–151. https://doi.org/10.1002/2327-6924.12142
US and UK Healthcare System Comparison. (2016, April 26). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4Y0TKiwNgo