Paper #2: Assessment of a major health system (20 points) Individual paper: Assessment of a major healthcare system/organization; 10 pages (including a title page, abstract page, and reference page)...

Running Head: PAPER #2: ASSESSMENT OF A MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM        1
PAPER #2: ASSESSMENT OF A MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM                3
PAPER #2: ASSESSMENT OF A MAJOR HEALTH SYSTEM
[SELECTED ORGANIZATION: VETERAN HEALTH ADMINISTRATION]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a detailed information on Veteran Health Administration (VHA) hospitals and the impact they have made on the healthcare industry in recent times. The study highlights VHA operations that are based on the core values of discipline, integrity, dedication, excellence and performance. VHA comprises one of the largest healthcare systems in the United States with services provided in multidisciplinary fields of medicine including mental health, rehabilitation, trauma, spinal cord injury, women’s health services, geriatric services and wellness programs. Furthermore, there is focus on the growth of VHA and its performance measures with compared to other private organizations in the United States.
Table of Contents
Abstract    2
Introduction    4
Part A: Background of the Chosen Organization, its Purpose and Mission    4
Part B: Organizational Leadership Chart    6
Part C: Major Departments of Healthcare, their Leadership and Services    7
Disability Department    7
Center for Women Veterans    8
Hepatitis Department    8
HIV Department    8
Mental Health Department    9
Rehabilitation Services Department    9
Spinal Cord Injury Department    9
Telehealth Department    9
Part D: Performance Measurement within Organization    10
Part E: Key Contributions of the Organization in Last Ten Years to Healthcare    11
Part F: Critiquing Organization’s Contribution to Healthcare and Suggesting Changes if Needed    12
Conclusion    12
References    14
Introduction
Healthcare industry is the most important concern today owing to the growing number of transmissible and non-transmissible diseases. The maintenance of healthcare is carried out via diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases, or because of injury, accidents, or any other mental illnesses. There are several categories of healthcare services provided by healthcare professionals in their specialized fields of medicine such as dentistry, cardiology, pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and audiology.
Healthcare systems are the organizations that are designed to meet the health needs of different populations according to their needs. Maintaining an efficient healthcare system requires well-trained and skilled staff, advanced medication devices and technologies, making reliable policy decisions as well as large capitals to fund the entire system. Healthcare forms an important part of country’s economic development as well as industrialization. It is primary responsibility of healthcare systems to ensure the physical and emotional wellbeing of an individual by promoting good health services.
As an example, smallpox was the first disease that was eradicated worldwide in the year 1980 as declared by WHO. Healthcare organizations are developed to deliver quality health services by specialized workforce to varying populations and communities. Health organizations could be Government owned where the funding, medical facilities are provided by federal bodies or it could be private healthcare organizations, which operates out of Government control and uses people’s own money and their insurance policies.
Part A: Background of the Chosen Organization, its Purpose and Mission
Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated healthcare system that is known to provide care to 1454 healthcare facilities, consisting of 171 medical centers and 1283 outpatient sites of care that serves approximately 9 million veterans per year. The first governing agency that was known to provide medical care to veterans was Naval Home situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the year 1812.
All the medical facilities that are part of VHA are under the ownership of Government. The fees that are paid to doctors and other healthcare professionals are also borne by the Government of United States. The funding is allocated from Department of veterans affairs that comes from the federal governing bodies and hence veterans, who are VHA qualified, do not have to pay any premiums for their healthcare.
As mentioned by Adams, Sayre and Saini (2019), VA received the contract for veteran care in early 1920s when Congress passed additional legislation by authorizing VA to provide inpatient, outpatient and emergency care each with specific requirements to meet eligibility criteria. There was a new Act called VA MISSION act of 2018 that established a permanent community care program by building a network of community providers, which are available to provide care to the veterans. The aim was to provide VA and Non VA providers with ultimate level of care values. As mentioned by Mahajan, Selvaganesan, Madhani and Chitikeshi (2018), it is estimated that 640,000 VA-enrolled veterans are referred to the community during the initial years of MISSION implementation.
VA enrolled veterans account for approximately 42% population and they have unique needs of healthcare and comorbidities. As suggested by Lum, Nearing, Pimentel, Levy and Hung (2020), rural veterans aged 65 years and above constitute 57% enrolment of VHA are known to have worse complex medical issues. Physical and mental health of rural veterans is very poor due to aging and chronic or multiple illnesses, which makes it difficult for them to manage their health.
Around 20% people also face the other aggravated symptoms such as anxiety, depression and stress. Some people are triggered by certain past events in their life such as loss of loved one, failed relationships, sensory losses, traumatic events, financial concerns, all of which exacerbates their stress levels and create more complex mental health issues. As stated by O’Malley, Vinson, Pless Kaiser, Sager and Hinrichs (2020), aging non-veterans also face challenges similar to aging veterans though the latter has most complex nature of clinical presentations such as cataracts, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and stroke.
Some of the standard benefits that veterans qualifies for are geriatric evaluation where a plan of care is designed that includes rehabilitation, social services and treatment methods for the veterans. These evaluations are performed by Geriatric Evaluation Management (GEM) Units and geriatric primary care clinics. Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) is another such therapeutic program that provides with rehabilitation as well as medical services to the veterans.
Respite care is a unique form of support service...