Long-Term Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Long-Term Care - Essay Example s go through all the available information about the medical problem in question, including the treatment options and the consequences, and then consider how these fit with the patient’s preferences for health states and health outcomes (Hibbard, 2003). A study by â€Å"McKinsey & Company† found that employees were more likely to change their behavior and shop for treatment alternatives, but they were frustrated by the lack of information available to help them make these decisions (Agrawal, Ehrbeck, Packard & Mango, 2005). Patients would communicate with others who are experiencing the same condition through online chat rooms and support groups. They may want information about a physician’s bedside manner. Subjectivity is important in health care, as it is in most other intimate personal relationships (Agrawal, Ehrbeck, Packard & Mango, 2005). The growing demand and the desire for more choices have fueled an increase in competition within the field of long-term care, which has created a need for more efficiency and effectiveness. Providers have been forced to enter into the world of public relations, marketing and business, which led to generating a whole industry specialized in health care. It has, at the educational level, led to development of graduate programs in business but with specialty in health administration. All this development happened with the purpose of creating more efficient professionals who could deal with current trends in health care and stay one step ahead in competition (Study Notes, n.d., pp. 1-2). Consumers’ involvement in their care has created a transcendental effect at many levels and it will continue to impact the health care industry. The trend started with the baby boomers (those born from 1946 to 1964) lifting the expectations and putting considerable pressure on those who provide the services (Study Notes, n.d., p. 2). The demand for services will continue rather than drop off not only because the baby boomers are creating