Running head: U.S. HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES 1 U.S. HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES 7 Week 2 Assignment-Operational challenges, trends and issues for the U.S. Healthcare Executives Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Introduction A healthcare system is an organization of funds, individuals, and institutions which provide healthcare to satisfy the health requirements of a society. Globally, healthcare systems vary depending on the specific healthcare needs of particular states. Nevertheless, the common aspects of public and private care are often similar (Drummond, Sculpher, Claxton, Stoddart & Torrance, 2015). Over the years, we have witnessed the systems evolving, and with this constant change, it is vital to analyze operational challenges, trends, and issues for the U.S. healthcare executives. In this paper, the main areas that will be discussed are operational challenges, trends, and problems experienced in the United States health care executives. Challenges experienced in the healthcare workplace Various problems have been experienced in the healthcare workplace relating to healthcare provision in the United States. Financial difficulties are one of the main challenges being experienced in the healthcare workplace in the United States. The vital financial problems arise due to lack of enough finances for implementation of new technologies to improve healthcare delivery process (Mayes, 2017). Most healthcare facilities lack adequate funds to implement advanced technologies that can be used to increase the quality of healthcare delivery. As a result, this has reduced healthcare quality improvement plans in the United States. Therefore, there is a need for federal governments to meek proper arrangements to fund all healthcare activities to improve services delivery in the health sector. Besides, healthcare professionals to comply with federal requirements for electronic health records is another challenge that has been experienced in the United States healthcare workplace. For the past year, some healthcare professionals have failed to comply with federal government guidelines regarding health care delivery (Mayes, 2017). Furthermore, the increasing number of patients who cannot pay for health care services is a significant challenge that has been experienced in the United States healthcare delivery systems. These finance challenges adversely affect healthcare delivery system in the United States. Work overload is another major challenge that has been experienced in the United States health sectors (Mayes, 2017). Observations for past years reveal that work overload at the workplace affects the performance of health care professionals in the United States. Most healthcare professionals are assigned many responsibilities at workplaces, which reduces their efficiency. Another cause of the rising cost of healthcare is the introduction of government programs. For example, Medicare assists those without insurance, which led to an incre.

1. Running head: U.S. HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES
1
U.S. HEALTHCARE EXECUTIVES
7
Week 2 Assignment-Operational challenges, trends and issues
for the U.S. Healthcare Executives
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction
A healthcare system is an organization of funds, individuals,
and institutions which provide healthcare to satisfy the health
requirements of a society. Globally, healthcare systems vary
depending on the specific healthcare needs of particular states.
Nevertheless, the common aspects of public and private care are
often similar (Drummond, Sculpher, Claxton, Stoddart &
Torrance, 2015). Over the years, we have witnessed the systems
evolving, and with this constant change, it is vital to analyze
operational challenges, trends, and issues for the U.S.
healthcare executives. In this paper, the main areas that will be
discussed are operational challenges, trends, and problems
experienced in the United States health care executives.
Challenges experienced in the healthcare workplace
Various problems have been experienced in the healthcare
workplace relating to healthcare provision in the United States.
Financial difficulties are one of the main challenges being
experienced in the healthcare workplace in the United States.

2. The vital financial problems arise due to lack of enough
finances for implementation of new technologies to improve
healthcare delivery process (Mayes, 2017). Most healthcare
facilities lack adequate funds to implement advanced
technologies that can be used to increase the quality of
healthcare delivery. As a result, this has reduced healthcare
quality improvement plans in the United States. Therefore, there
is a need for federal governments to meek proper arrangements
to fund all healthcare activities to improve services delivery in
the health sector.
Besides, healthcare professionals to comply with federal
requirements for electronic health records is another challenge
that has been experienced in the United States healthcare
workplace. For the past year, some healthcare professionals
have failed to comply with federal government guidelines
regarding health care delivery (Mayes, 2017). Furthermore, the
increasing number of patients who cannot pay for health care
services is a significant challenge that has been experienced in
the United States healthcare delivery systems. These finance
challenges adversely affect healthcare delivery system in the
United States.
Work overload is another major challenge that has been
experienced in the United States health sectors (Mayes, 2017).
Observations for past years reveal that work overload at the
workplace affects the performance of health care professionals
in the United States. Most healthcare professionals are assigned
many responsibilities at workplaces, which reduces their
efficiency.
Another cause of the rising cost of healthcare is the introduction
of government programs. For example, Medicare assists those
without insurance, which led to an increase in demand for
services, thus increasing the cost of healthcare (Levy, 2016).
Additionally, the rise in healthcare costs can be attributed to the

3. rise in illnesses such as heart diseases, high blood pressure, and
diabetes amongst Americans and lack of a rising market. This
means that patients cannot pre-empt, calculate, and compare the
exact cost of healthcare. The cost of services may also end up
differing with the provider (Kim et al., 2015).
Supply And Demand Challenges for Health Care Services
The healthcare industry has witnessed an increase in demand
over the years as a result of a rise in client base, chronic
diseases, and an aged populace. However, there is still a
deficiency of healthcare providers (Kim, Tanner, Foster & Kim,
2015). This fact has inevitably led to increased healthcare costs.
To offset this imbalance, various recommendations have been
put forward, for example, incorporation of telehealth and
employment of more healthcare providers to improve on the
supply.
Meeting Compliance and Regulation requirements
With the development of medical technology and increase in the
regulations of the healthcare industry, compliance has become a
significant issue for most healthcare providers. A good example
is when it comes to telehealth, which may involve different
geographical locations (Drummond et al., 2015). Therefore, it
becomes difficult to know which regulations apply.
Changes in personal health information management
Even though various financial challenges affect healthcare
delivery systems in the United States, all other activities have
been running smoothly. First, patients' information management
is done appropriately with care (Drummond et al., 2015). For
instance, patients' information is collected using the best
approach and adequately managed by healthcare professionals.
Besides, their various changes that have occurred in patients'

4. information management. Currently, health information about
patients is collected electronically and adequately documented
to enhance easy access by authorized persons only. Patients'
information collected is then critically analyzed to understand
the healthcare conditions of the patient to arrange for
appropriate medication. Besides, the patients' personal
information is kept confidential and not shared with
unauthorized persons without a patient's consent (Drummond et
al., 2015). In doing so, the level of accountability and
confidentiality in healthcare facilities has increased, thus
leading to good coordination of all activities.
On the other hand, patients' information is electronically
documented and stored safely for future references. The use of
technology in the documentation of patients' information has
happened to ensure that all confidential personal information is
well managed (Drummond et al., 2015). As such, there is a need
for the record department to ensure proper management of
patients' information to avoid unauthorized access to sensitive
information.
The technology used at healthcare workplace in the United
States
The use of technology in different sectors of the economy has
been increasing rapidly over the past decade. Similarly, in the
health sector, the use of technology is expanding to improve the
quality of healthcare delivery (Burwell, 2015). Currently,
Qualcommm Tricorder is one of the most critical technologies
used in the United States in the health department. Typically, it
is very challenging to perform a diagnosis for patients without
in-depth testing. As a result, this contributed to the invention of
this device to help thorough testing of patients before diagnosis.
The device helps in identifying all health problems a patient is
suffering to help healthcare professionals to know the type of
diagnosis to perform. This technology will help to improve

5. services delivery in the health sector, which will improve the
quality of life (Burwell, 2015) eventually. As such, there is a
need for health officials to encourage the use of this technology
in the health sector. The latter will help to improve service
delivery to patients regardless of their backgrounds.
On the other hand, Bioelectronics is another technology that is
currently used in the health sector. The technique involves the
use of advanced scientific approaches to collect personal
information of all employees and patients (Burwell, 2015). It
helps in the time-saving and functional management of data at
healthcare facilities. The technology uses signal and commands
to give direction on how activities are performed to increase the
efficiency of all personnel.
Additional training of healthcare professionals
Currently, there are various new technologies used in the health
sector that should be handled by an experienced health
professional. Intrinsically, there is a need for additional training
for health care professionals (Burwell, 2015). Additional
training will equip health professionals to learn how to use the
newly invented technology to improve the quality of services
offered to patients. Besides, additional training is required to
help healthcare professional know how to implement the new
technology that is currently being used in healthcare facilities.
Shortage of healthcare personnel at the workplace
Healthcare sector is one of the most sensitive departments in the
economy. Statistically, the number of healthcare professionals
has been low in different departments, which reduces the
efficiency of delivering healthcare services (Burwell, 2015). In
most facilities, there are shortages of doctors and clinical
officers, which has led to a delay in services delivery.

6. Effects of healthcare personnel at the workplace
Typically, shortages of a healthcare professional at workplaces
have adverse effects on workflow. First, it leads to the work
overload of employees who perform various activities. When
there are few workers at healthcare facilities, more tasks are
assigned to available employees, which leads to work overload
(Burwell, 2015). As a result, this reduces employees' efficiency,
thus, lowering the quality of services offered to patients. Since
shortages of healthcare personnel directly affect services
delivery, patients will suffer a lot because services offered to
them will not meet their healthcare needs.
Conclusively, there are various challenges experienced in the
healthcare sector that affect services delivery. Some of these
challenges include supply and demand of healthcare equipment,
non-compliance with professional requirements, and inadequacy
of finances. Besides, there are various technologies used in the
health sector to improve the efficiency of services delivery.
Priority
Issue or Trend
Organizational area of impact
Rational for priority level
1.
Financial issues
Accounting office and operational offices
Inadequacy of services delivery.
Medical services reimbursement
Services-based payment program
Patients’ services, Procurement and Human resources
Limits services delivery to patients due to inadequacy of
services.
2.
Professional challenges

7. Human resources and Operational offices
Lack of healthcare personnel.
Provision of quality healthcare services to patients
Patients’ services and Human resources
Reduces efficiency in services delivery
References
Burwell, S. M. (2015). Setting value-based payment goals—
HHS efforts to improve US health care. N Engl J Med, 372(10),
897-899.
Drummond, M. F., Sculpher, M. J., Claxton, K., Stoddart, G. L.,
& Torrance, G. W. (2015). Methods for the economic evaluation
of health care programmes. Oxford university press.
Kim, S. H., Tanner, A. H., Foster, C. B., & Kim, S. Y. (2015).
Talking about health care: News framing of who is responsible
for rising health care costs in the United States. Journal of
health communication, 20(2), 123-133.
Levy, A. D. A. M. (2016). Healthcare And Technology Today:
A guide for providers and practice managers. Place of
publication not identified: LULU COM.
Mayes, B. R. (2017). Christy Ford Chapin, Ensuring America’s
Health: The Public Creation of the Corporate Health Care
System.
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8. Week 3—Assignment: Formulate How Healthcare
Executives Address the Top 10 Trends and Issues for
Their Healthcare Organizations
Instructions
During Week 2, you examined and prioritized the trends, issues,
and challenges facing U.S.
healthcare executives and prepared a table of the issues you will
address as the healthcare
executive. This week, you will focus your attention on the top
10 issues and trends for your
organization as you anticipate these 10 issues/trends to have the
highest-level impact on the
mission of a healthcare organization.
For this assignment, you will build on the Week 2 assignment.
In a Word document, you will
create the Issue Brief Working Template grid as depicted here,
which includes your top 10
priority issues/trends from last week’s assignment. This week’s
grid is expanded from Week
2 and contains additional elements. The additional elements are
those found in an Issue
Brief, a short document used for internal discussions examining
issues and their impact on
the organization. You will use Issue Briefs in a future

9. assignment and the information you
provide in this assignment will be utilized. An example of the
grid is provided here, and you
may wish to display your grid document in the landscape
orientation.
Length: For this assignment, be sure to include a title page and
reference page. The length
will depend on how you summarize your responses within each
column.
Resources: A minimum of 1 reference is required for each issue.
Issue Brief Working Template
Table 2. Issue Brief Working Template
Issue/Trend Organizational
Area of
Impact
Strategies/
Recommendations
to Address
Evidence
Supporting
Strategies and/or
Recommendations
References
for the
Supporting

10. Evidence
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Issue/Trend Organizational
Area of
Impact
Strategies/
Recommendations
to Address
Evidence
Supporting

11. Strategies and/or
Recommendations
References
for the
Supporting
Evidence
Ex.: Financial
challenges—
Medicare
reimbursements
—Value-based
Payment
Program
Ex.: Business
Office—Finance;
Accounting;
Budget Office,
Facilities
Management,
Purchasing,

12. Human
Resources,
Patient Services
Examine hospital’s
quality reporting
submissions to
Medicare to assure
regulatory deadlines
are met; examine
length of stay to
determine whether
standardization of
care would be
beneficial
Ex.: Ellison (2017)
reported financial
challenges as the
top issue for

13. hospital CEOs.
Ex.: Ellison,
A. (2017)
Record
Activity Details
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