In defining “healthcare”, why do we stop short of incorporating social work, education, public services, and mental health? Rather than regard them each as separate entities, we should be thinking of them in mutualistic terms: entirely dependent on the survival of each other. If you search the term healthcare, you will find something along the narrative of prevention and treatment of disease, usually specific to the medical field. This seems to be a simplistic and insufficient way of addressing health, a term the World Health Organization describes as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being”. Healthcare is neither narrow nor constrained to the medical field. It is an ecosystem in which there are a myriad of contributing providers. For health to be the attainable liberty we espouse it to be, we need to make sure every provider can not only survive, but thrive. Sadly, this holistic view seldom mirrors reality in our current national healthcare system. Discrimination finds a foothold in the form of coverage. In recent years, as we prioritize value-based care, there have been incremental shifts toward parity in reimbursement for mental health services. Nonetheless, a chasm of reimbursement still exists between these equitable forms of healthcare. For example, one common clause used to circumvent payment for mental healthcare is the “medical necessity” stipulation. This payer-led action clearly portrays prejudice toward physical healthcare and an ingrained stigmatization of non-medical healthcare providers. Cut to this year, as we saw COVID-19 begin to devastate communities, we also saw it shine a light on an overlooked and under-appreciated healthcare provider: the charitable nonprofit sector. A study conducted by Johns Hopkins in June estimated that 1.6 million nonprofit jobs were lost in just 4 months. When the nonprofit sector suffers, we not only lose jobs, we lose humanity. Local charities and nonprofit organizations take the pulse of the community, assess needs, and provide critical support as well as a voice for the most vulnerable of our population. In a time of extreme crisis, with unemployment at an alarming high, we should be supporting them in the same way they selflessly endeavor to support us. To this end, I reached out to Marilee Murphy, Executive Director of the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes. She told me her story about working for over 30 years as an acupuncturist and integrative health provider, and how she has hope for a more holistic future. The Cancer Resource Center’s goal is to provide essential community support and resources to those affected by cancer. They are a pillar of community and compassion and help local Ithacans navigate challenges of facing cancer, pain, and loneliness. Undoubtedly, this is a social service that serves as one form of healthcare. Marilee and I discussed sectoral discrimination, how this model exists within today’s health system, and her optimistic vision for the future. As a holistic practitioner, she saw up close the frustration people felt while immersed in a healthcare system “geared toward crisis management”. Even in such uncertain times, she has a persistent hope that we are moving in the right direction by increasing focus on social determinants of health as vital to positive outcomes. We both agreed that the shift needs to encompass both policy and culture and involve factors that will effectively “force discomfort” within the traditional operating system. Discomfort can be a catalyst for change and healthcare leaders need to embrace the feeling and drive this holistic campaign. So, let's redefine healthcare. Education, support, advocacy, human and social services, and mental health are all forms of healthcare. Medical care is massively important in the ecosystem, but without these other elements, we are not truly centering the patient and prioritizing health. If you want to show your local nonprofits some love - CLICK HERE About the Author: Anna Rutherford is a first year MHA student in the Sloan Program at Cornell University. After receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Arkansas in Psychology, she spent two years learning about barriers limiting quality care in vulnerable populations from organizations seeking to bridge the gap in access to care through provider coordination. At Thrive Autism Solutions, she implemented team based applied behavioral treatments and in her position as Program Coordinator for TeamHealth General Surgery, she managed the operations of an emergency physician group. She is passionate about driving inclusive health culture and addressing population health needs. On top of that, she is excited to be joining such a supportive and dedicated group of future healthcare leaders!
0 Comments
|
|