Decreased contribution to the economy through loss of employment.
When the healthcare system is not operating properly, there is less opportunity for jobs in the
community. Healthcare is a major employer (Current employment statistics, n.d.), and
contributes to the economy through cash flow from employee taxes and purchase of goods
and services. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020), notes that the healthcare industry
employs over 15 million people in the U.S. in a variety of professional, clinical and support
roles. Indiana alone employs 301,650 people in healthcare roles (U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, 2020).
Loss of trust and reputation.
According to Smith (2017), trust is fundamental in healthcare and is associated with patients
following prescribed treatment regimen and seeking care. Smith (2017) describes a cyclical
form where trust results in better care, which results in increased trust and satisfaction. This
loss of trust is not confined to the general public. Additionally, Poses (2003) asserted that it is
also found among physicians described as “the abandonment of medicine’s core values”.
According to Poses, physician loss of trust in the healthcare system reduces physician
engagement and increases dissatisfaction, which lead to dysfunctional medical practice,
impacting the quality of care.
Decline in population health
Abendshein (2018) describes a broken healthcare system where population health declines
because the system is not optimally designed. Population health is based on availability of
health resources. Lack of resources such as personnel, access, supplies and education would
all contribute to a decline in population health.
Increased mortality.
There are several aspects of a broken healthcare system that would contribute to an increase
in mortality:
than for those with private insurance coverage (Wilper et al., 2009).
In research from Castellucci, a Johns Hopkins study found that the risk of avoidable death
increased at a lower graded hospital. The Leapfrog Group (n.d.) publishes data to provide
transparency on hospital quality and safety to the general public. Lower graded hospitals
would be those with lower quality of care scores and higher number of untoward safety
events.
Driscoll, 2020). Infant mortality is defined by the CDC as death before the first birthday.
Over 21,000 infants died in 2018, with causes including birth defects, preterm birth and
pregnancy complications, all which the CDC correlate to lack of sufficient healthcare
(Driscoll, 2020).
et al., 2015). According to Ezzeti et al., in high-income countries there has been a slowing
in cardiovascular mortality rates due to such factors as control of blood pressure and
serum cholesterol levels. As the quality of healthcare improves, so does the
cardiovascular mortality rate. Conversely, when healthcare is not available or is
insufficient, mortality increases.