Should We Allocate Resources and Apply Them to Achieve

Should We Allocate Resources and Apply Them to Achieve

 The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number?

American Sentinel University

Should We Allocate Resources and Apply Them to Achieve the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number?

Some Americans believe that if a person cannot pay for a service such as health insurance then that person should go without health care.  However, in our country, those who cannot afford the insurance are the same people who provide services that are an integral part of our society (Rashford, 2007).  These uninsured people provide the much needed childcare so parents can work.  They care for our ailing parents when we are not able to do so.  They cook our dinners when we are exhausted from our job.  Our society depends on them to survive. Yet their salary barely provides them basics such as food, clothing and shelter. These people need health insurance, but they cannot afford it.  Society should not ignore their health care needs simply because they cannot pay.

It is a fact that the United States spends trillions of dollars in healthcare per year, more money than any other industrialized country. Unfortunately, it is a flawed system and it is facing a financial emergency.  If our country is to sustain economically, it needs to embrace a system that can allocate our resources to benefit the greatest number (Cauvin).  Our country’s citizens must realize that it would be in the best interest of all if this could be achieved.

Health care professionals understand treating every patient is going to be a huge undertaking (University of Miami Ethics Programs).  In order to ensure the greatest good is being done for the greatest number, a deliberate, rational system needs to be established (Ubel M.D.).  It should be based on values such as beneficence, justice, and fidelity (Gardent & Reeves, 2009).  It should not be based on prejudices such as age, race, gender or socioeconomic status (Jonsen & Edwards, 1998). This system should utilize its financial resources to care for society as a whole, not just a select few. It must ensure that everyone has access to health insurance. Finally, it should be a system in which healthcare professionals are accessible to all patients.  The recently enacted Affordable Care Act is a step in the right direction.

The ACA now requires not-for-profit hospitals to perform a community health needs assessment every three years.  Through this assessment, hospitals can evaluate many aspects of its community health status.  Issues such as smoking, healthy eating and mental wellness can be appraised.  The assessment can also identify any barriers to care such as availability and accessibility.  Demographic and social issues affecting all the people in their community can be determined as well (Bilton, 2011) .  Once these issues and barriers are identified, hospitals can work with the community and its leaders to begin to develop interventions to care for the needs of the majority.

Another way the Affordable Care Act is working towards achieving the greatest good for the greatest number is by providing a universal system of health insurance.  In the past, health insurance was inaccessible to many because of the costs. While states did have Medicaid in place, it covered the very poor, children, disabled and elderly and pregnant women.  Now, all the uninsured will have access to healthcare coverage with established health benefits previously only offered to those who could afford health care.

Finally, there are also provisions in the Act to increase the number of primary care givers to ensure everyone has access to a provider.  The National Health Service Corps, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers financial incentives to physicians, dentists, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the form of loan forgiveness in exchange for 2-3 years of service in an underserved and vulnerable population area (HRSA.gov, 2013).  One unexpected benefit reported is that once the provider has met the contractual obligation, he/she continues to serve the community for another two years (HRSA.gov, 2013).  This further provides those communities with much needed access to medical and dental services and continues to promote the overall wellbeing of those served.