The U.S. health care system is in a state of crisis. Costs continue to rise astronomically, the public health workforce soon will be unable to keep up with growing demands, more than 50 million Americans lack health insurance, and another 25 million are underinsured.
Health care must be seen as a human right, not a luxury. I support the American Nurses Association position that Americans are entitled to ready access to quality and affordable health care services, offered by an adequately sized and well-educated workforce.
Quality health care is safe, effective and timely care that meets patients' needs. It is equitable, acknowledging but not discriminating on the basis of factors such as culture, gender and socioeconomic status. It is patient-centered, respectful of patients and their families, and actively involves consumers in managing their own health. Access means that care is affordable and available, and that services are delivered in ways reflecting the realities of today, not outmoded patterns from the past.
The cost of health care is a complex issue. But it's time for a shift in thinking. Let's redirect the system away from overusing expensive, acute-care, hospital-based services and toward more community-based, preventive care. In addition, recruiting, educating, and retaining the workforce is key to system reform. Current estimates predict a shortage of up to a million nurses by 2020. This shortage will affect every aspect of patient care. While we must do all we can to mitigate the effects of this shortage, let's be clear about how we got here. The U.S. government spends 50 times ($8 billion yearly vs. $156 million) more on medical than on nursing education. We cannot prepare nurses for tomorrow if we don't have the financial support for teachers and adequate teaching facilities today.
Bold action is called for. The time to reform the system is now.
- Katharyn May is the dean of the UW-Madison School of Nursing. She has authored more than 50 papers and book chapters, including a major nursing textbook, and serves on a number of local, regional and national committees and boards related to nursing, health care and higher education.
Health care must be seen as a human right, not a luxury. I support the American Nurses Association position that Americans are entitled to ready access to quality and affordable health care services, offered by an adequately sized and well-educated workforce.
Quality health care is safe, effective and timely care that meets patients' needs. It is equitable, acknowledging but not discriminating on the basis of factors such as culture, gender and socioeconomic status. It is patient-centered, respectful of patients and their families, and actively involves consumers in managing their own health. Access means that care is affordable and available, and that services are delivered in ways reflecting the realities of today, not outmoded patterns from the past.
The cost of health care is a complex issue. But it's time for a shift in thinking. Let's redirect the system away from overusing expensive, acute-care, hospital-based services and toward more community-based, preventive care. In addition, recruiting, educating, and retaining the workforce is key to system reform. Current estimates predict a shortage of up to a million nurses by 2020. This shortage will affect every aspect of patient care. While we must do all we can to mitigate the effects of this shortage, let's be clear about how we got here. The U.S. government spends 50 times ($8 billion yearly vs. $156 million) more on medical than on nursing education. We cannot prepare nurses for tomorrow if we don't have the financial support for teachers and adequate teaching facilities today.
Bold action is called for. The time to reform the system is now.
- Katharyn May is the dean of the UW-Madison School of Nursing. She has authored more than 50 papers and book chapters, including a major nursing textbook, and serves on a number of local, regional and national committees and boards related to nursing, health care and higher education.
