Problem identification Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Problem identification - Case Study Example is the lack of access to cost effective health care, particularly to the uninsured and the underinsured (Greenwald, 2010). Access to quality and cost-effective health care is a key challenge, which is often faced by the health care system. This is mainly because, more often than not, the health care centers and services are highly expensive and time consuming. This in turn, leads to a series of problems, such as lack of availability of prompt medical assistance, thus putting the patients at a higher health risk. Furthermore, it has also been observed that seeking self-referrals for acute illnesses is a tedious task, thus further limiting and / or restricting the access to basic / primary health care. Most of the professional health care practitioners in the U.S., often seek a referrals from physicians, rather than acknowledging self-referrals. Such a practice delays the treatment to critical diseases and postpones the availability of prompt and urgent medical assistance (Hammaker, Tomlinson, 2010). The above mentioned hassles may not be bothersome to the economically well off individuals, or those who a re aptly covered by a health care insurance, however in case of an average citizen or a commoner, i.e. those who are uninsured and / or underinsured, such setbacks play a huge role in influencing their decision and restricting their access to cheaper, better and effective health care. According to statistics approximately 50.7 million people in the U.S. are currently uninsured, which is estimated to be at a record high and reflects the magnitude of health crisis that has befallen the average American citizen in present times (msnbc, 2010). The percentage of those who are under-insured too has risen over the years. According to available statistics, there has been a whopping 60 per cent rise in the number of people who are under-insured in less than four years, and is