An article in the Wall Street Journal discussed Aspire Health, a startup firm that believes that it can use software to "predict which patients are likely to die in the next year and reduce their medical bills substantially by offering them palliative care at home. ... Palliative care focuses on easing symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath that are often overlooked amid aggressive efforts to save seriously ill patients." a. Should providing palliative care to very ill patients, who are typically elderly, be an important goal of a health care system? Are there other goals that should have a higher priority? (Note: This question is basically a normative one without a definitive correct or incorrect answer. You are being asked to consider what the goals of a health care system should be.) b. Would it be possible to measure how successful the health care systems of different countries are in providing palliative care? If so, how might it be done?

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Importance of Palliative Care

Palliative care is important as it ensures the quality of life for very ill patients is prioritized and their suffering is minimized. The decision to prioritize palliative care may vary based on the healthcare system's resources, cultural norms and values. Other possible goals for a healthcare system could be disease prevention, improving patient survival rates, accessibility and affordability of care.

02

Prioritizing Healthcare Goals

In considering other goals that should have a higher priority, it is important to note that it depends on a balance of factors. These include the available resources, the prevalent diseases within the population, societal values and the needs of the population. Healthcare systems must regularly reassess their goals and strategies as per changing healthcare landscapes.

03

Measuring Success in Palliative Care

The success of palliative care offerings could be measured using certain indicators. These could include patients' reported quality of life, the number of hospital readmissions, patient satisfaction surveys, and cost reductions due to decreased hospital stays. Comparing these values across different healthcare systems could provide insight into the success of each system in providing palliative care.

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