Healthcare Economic Issue

Poor Care Access in Rural and Underserved Communities
Healthcare economics is a concept that promotes the allocation of resources within the healthcare system to determine the impact of the allocations on public health and define the application of economic principles in enhancing healthcare delivery. One of the main healthcare economic issues is the lack of access to and funding for healthcare within the rural and underserved communities. The issue has a significant undermines the quality of healthcare received by the populations and it undermines public health, social equity, and economic stability. In light of the observation, this study examines poor healthcare access in rural and underserved communities as healthcare economics issue, its impact on work, individuals, and communities, and the gap contributing to the need to address the economic issue.
Lack of Healthcare Access in Rural and Underserved Communities
Although the U.S. has made multiple changes to transform the healthcare industry, some communities have experienced limited access to healthcare services, opportunities, and resources required to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing. According to Owsley et al. (2020), the rural-urban difference in healthcare accessibility has increased by 1.4 percent between 2014 and 2018 as rural regions are vulnerable to provider shortages, hospital closure, high healthcare costs, and long transport periods. The rural and underserved populations usually experience barriers to healthcare that undermine their ability to obtain the care they need within a timely manner. As a healthcare economics issue, the lack of access and funding translates to poor health outcomes that can increases the cost of healthcare in the long term. As the disadvantaged populations deal with the untreated conditions, they can become severe and impose more financial burdens for their management. As a result, the disparity strains the healthcare systems and also imposes a huge financial burden on individuals, families and communities. Altogether, the limited access and funding for quality healthcare services that undermines the overall economic vitality of the rural and underserved region as they lack a healthy workforce that can promote productivity and economic development.
Rationale of Choosing the healthcare Economic Issue
The rationale of focusing on the healthcare economic issue is influenced by the lack of access and funding in rural and underserved communities is based on the extended implications of the issue on public health and economic equity (Owsley et al., 2020). Firstly, ensuring that all people from all backgrounds and locations have access to quality and safe healthcare is a matter of social justice to address all underlying inequalities. Secondly, poor healthcare outcomes in the underserved populations usually evoke high healthcare costs in the long run since the untreated conditions can become severe imposing huge financial burdens on individuals, communities, and the healthcare system. Thirdly, ensuring the accessibility of healthcare in rural and underserved areas can improve the public health outcomes, minimizing the prevalence of chronic diseases and improving the life expectancy. Finally, improving healthcare accessibility is important for maintaining a healthy workforce, an important aspect for economic productivity and community development.
Impact of the Healthcare Economic Issue
As the lack of access to healthcare services heightens health disparities, the resultant financial burdens and disparities affect work, organizations, colleagues, and the community at large. On a work scope, operating in rural and underserved areas with limited resources complicates work due to the shortage of healthcare practitioners and resources suitable for meeting the overwhelming needs of the populations (Hewitt et al., 2019). As fewer practitioners are obliged to manage many patients with complex health issues and with limited support, the increased workload triggers complex stress and burnout. Additionally, the healthcare practitioners are compelled to operate with limited resources and specialist services, factors that undermine their ability to provide high-quality care and can be frustrating for healthcare providers committed to their patients. Secondly, colleagues working in the healthcare environments are overwhelmed by the strain on resources and increased workload that can undermine their team dynamics and morale. More so, there is limited access to professional development opportunities that undermine the ability of the colleagues to remain updated on advanced medical practices and technologies. Thirdly, healthcare organizations are also affected by the limited accessibility of healthcare resources and services in the rural and underserved areas. The organizations are vulnerable to financial instability due to reduced patient volumes and high rates of uncompensated care services. The financial challenges imposed on the organizations make it challenging to manage operations leading to high turnover rates of qualified practitioners, deteriorated services, and potential closure of the facilities (Hewitt et al., 2019). Finally, limited access of healthcare resources in rural and underserved populations affects communities by increasing the rates of chronic diseases, limiting access to preventative care, and causing delayed treatment due to resources shortages. Economically, the poor health outcomes lead to a reduced healthy workforce, undermining the productivity and economic development in the community.
Gap in Addressing the Economic Issue
The gap leading to the healthcare economic issue of lack of access to quality and safe healthcare in rural and underserved communities is influenced by disparities in resource allocation, workforce distribution, and infrastructure. According to Hewitt et al. (2019), disparities in access are heightened by the absence of facilities in rural and underserved areas, lack of advanced technologies and equipment for diagnostics and treatments. Poor workforce distributions have also heightened the issue due to the shortages of healthcare practitioners and poor retention rates of qualified staff in the underserved areas (Hewitt et al., 2019). Moreover, lack of financial resources in the rural and underserved region leads to funding inequalities, high patient volumes, high rates of uninsured patients and limited access to funds from grants and federal programs aimed at helping the delivery of quality healthcare.
Conclusion
Rural and underserved communities have limited healthcare providers and resources, compelling individuals to move to longer distances to access care, experience longer wait time, and experience delayed medical treatment. As a result, addressing the lack of access and funding in rural and underserved communities requires the adoption of policy reforms to increase funding for resources, provision of incentive program to attract healthcare professionals in the rural areas. Additionally, investment in healthcare infrastructure in the region and development of community-based health initiatives will improve health outcomes and reduce the economic burdens on the underserved regions. Altogether, the strategies will support the creation of an equitable and efficient healthcare system to improve the health of the rural and underserved populations.

References
Hewitt, S., McNiesh, S., & Fink, L. (2019). Barriers to primary care access in rural medically underserved areas: Immediate care: A simple solution to a complex problem. Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 127-155. https://doi.org/10.14574/ojrnhc.v19i2.582.
Owsley, K. M., Hamer, M. K., & Mays, G. P. (2020). The growing divide in the composition of public health delivery systems in US rural and urban communities, 2014–2018. American Journal of Public Health, 110(S2), S204-S210. https://doi.org/10.2105%2FAJPH.2020.305801.