Social issues in healthcare: key policies and challenges

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Social issues in healthcare: key policies and challenges

healthcareOne of the most important assets of a country is a healthy population. This enables them to engage in the community, the workplace and in family life. Social issues are rampant in healthcare for both the healthcare practitioner and for the client. Social issues can be defined as a health issue each patient will have to gauge depending on her or his values, unique situation and beliefs.

Key social issues in healthcare

  1. Religious beliefs

When it comes to healthcare decisions strongly held beliefs of religion have a big impact. Some patients hold religious beliefs as a way of determining which treatments can be administered and which cannot be administered. Furthermore, the medical practitioners need to respect the beliefs of religion of the client even if the situation may seem difficult.

  1. Childhood vaccinations

Throughout childhood multiple vaccinations are administered to children of certain ages which is in line with the standard of care. The importance of vaccines is to prevent a life-limiting or a life-threatening disease. The major concern of the most medical practitioners is that if many guardians refuse to vaccinate their children the diseases that vaccines are capable of eradicating may return stronger.

  1. End of life care

In the United States for example, most people avoid discussing the topic of death. Many people do not discuss what medical treatment they would like administered or not administered in case they lost a loved one.

  1. Healthcare policy

Antagonism and political uncertainty and lack of a clearly formulated regulatory process, may have an impact when it comes to dealing with changing the current healthcare policy.

  1. The government and social life.

With the government being in a position to see what people post on social media, this limits what we can or cannot post. This is done to avoid commentary that may cause hatred in the state.

  1. War

Wars have made it hard for citizens in Arab countries because what they is strictly monitored by the government.

  1. Family and single parenthood

In various social settings, single-parent families cause social issues. This comes with the notion that single parenthood families may affect the growth of children and also their emotional and mental health.

  1. Gender identity

The way we engage and interact with in another is greatly affected by the way we identify ourselves.

  1. Social media and bullying

Bullying has adverse effects on people’s behavior and can cause suicidal thoughts in the extreme.

  1. Education

Disparity in education can impact one’s financial status and may lead to huge social differences in the society.

Challenges facing healthcare

Moreover, healthcare despite being affected by the social issues is also faced with numerous challenges. Some of the challenges include:

  1. Lack of advancement opportunities

According to a poll, 51% of the respondents lacked advancements in their respective careers. However, this can be mitigated by providing unique responsibilities, leadership positions to long-standing employees and social bonuses. Employers should also consider providing education and training opportunities.

  1. Work overload

Health workers in their respective line of work felt overloaded especially with the emergence of a growth of demand in healthcare. The future healthcare sector will require more physical doctors and technicians over doctors according to a study by Bureau of Labor Statistics.

  1. Poor salary

From doctors to allied medical practitioners, feel that they do not earn enough compared to the amount of work and effort they put in their day to day activities.

  1. Too few staff

Simply putting more money into hiring part-time workers and reducing what goes to the CEO can improve worker satisfaction. The more the workers are the less turnover.

  1. Poor organizational culture

Health workers feel that their places of work do not organize labor fairly and efficiently.

  1. Lack of mentoring

By training health professionals and implementing programs that are voluntary that end up with real academic certifications and financial benefits.

  1. Poor personal fit with employers

Most medical practitioners do not get along with their employers according to a study. By giving focus to positive issues and language affirmation employees and employers can relate better.

  1. Limited or not enough access to technology

Better technology can improve productivity and also efficiency in the services offered by the medical professionals.

  1. Lack of training

Medical professionals require more training.

  1. Not enough time with patientshealthcare

According to Medscape, women doctors spend more time with their patients than male doctors do. The lack of patient interaction is attributed by the lack of enough staff in the hospitals. Furthermore, this has an effect on the way the staff feel about their workplace.