Research and discuss 1 piece of federal legislation that has affected the use of medical technology.
Explain how changes in medical technology affect healthcare costs.
Discuss 12 current trends in medical technology and how those trends are expected to impact the performance of the U.S. healthcare system and public health.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Impact of Federal Legislation on Medical Technology and Healthcare Costs
Introduction
The intersection of federal legislation and medical technology plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of healthcare delivery in the United States. One significant piece of legislation that has profoundly influenced the use of medical technology is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009. This Act aimed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, particularly electronic health records (EHRs). In this essay, we will explore the implications of the HITECH Act on medical technology, analyze how advancements in medical technology affect healthcare costs, and discuss twelve current trends in medical technology and their expected impact on the U.S. healthcare system and public health.
The HITECH Act: A Catalyst for Medical Technology
The HITECH Act was designed to incentivize healthcare providers to adopt EHRs and improve the quality and efficiency of care. By providing financial incentives, the legislation encouraged hospitals and physicians to transition from paper-based records to digital systems. This shift has led to enhanced data sharing, improved patient safety, and streamlined workflows.
Impacts of the HITECH Act:
1. Increased Adoption of EHRs: The percentage of hospitals using certified EHR technology jumped from 12% in 2009 to over 80% in recent years.
2. Improved Patient Care: EHRs facilitate better coordination of care, reducing medical errors and improving health outcomes.
3. Data-Driven Decisions: The availability of comprehensive patient data allows for better clinical decision-making and population health management.
How Medical Technology Affects Healthcare Costs
Advancements in medical technology can both increase and decrease healthcare costs. On one hand, new technologies often come with high initial costs for development, implementation, and maintenance. For example, advanced imaging systems or robotic surgical systems require significant investments. However, these technologies can lead to long-term savings by improving efficiencies, reducing hospital stays, and minimizing complications.
Cost Implications:
1. Initial Investment vs. Long-Term Savings: While new technology often requires significant upfront costs, it can lead to overall lower costs through improved patient outcomes and reduced need for additional treatments.
2. Increased Demand for Services: As new technologies become available, there may be increased demand for procedures (e.g., surgeries using robotic assistance), which can drive up costs.
3. Value-Based Care: With a focus on outcomes rather than volume, the integration of medical technology into care delivery can promote efficiencies that help manage costs effectively.
Current Trends in Medical Technology
1. Telemedicine and Telehealth: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services, which have improved access to care while reducing costs associated with in-person visits.
2. Wearable Health Technology: Devices like fitness trackers and smartwatches enable continuous monitoring of health metrics, leading to proactive management of chronic conditions.
3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Diagnostics: AI applications are enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, potentially reducing the costs associated with misdiagnosis.
4. Blockchain for Health Data Security: Blockchain technology offers secure methods for managing patient records, enhancing data integrity while potentially lowering administrative costs.
5. Personalized Medicine: Advances in genomics are leading to tailored treatment plans based on individual genetic profiles, improving outcomes while optimizing resource allocation.
6. Robotics in Surgery: Robotics enhances surgical precision, resulting in shorter recovery times and lower complication rates, ultimately reducing overall treatment costs.
7. 3D Printing: Custom prosthetics and implants produced via 3D printing reduce production costs and improve patient-specific solutions.
8. Remote Patient Monitoring: Technologies allowing for constant patient monitoring can lead to early intervention and reduced hospital admissions.
9. Mobile Health Apps: These applications empower patients to manage their health more effectively, resulting in better outcomes and potentially reducing the burden on healthcare systems.
10. Health Information Exchanges (HIE): Facilitating data sharing among providers can improve care coordination and reduce unnecessary testing and procedures.
11. Augmented Reality (AR) in Training: AR is being used in medical training to enhance surgical techniques without additional risk to patients, promoting better-trained providers.
12. Cloud Computing: The shift to cloud-based solutions provides scalable resources for healthcare organizations, reducing IT infrastructure costs while enhancing data accessibility.
Conclusion
The HITECH Act has significantly influenced the adoption of medical technology in the U.S., leading to improvements in patient care and operational efficiencies. While advancements in medical technology can initially drive up costs, they also offer long-term savings through improved outcomes and efficiencies. Current trends such as telemedicine, AI diagnostics, and personalized medicine are set to revolutionize the healthcare landscape further. Understanding these trends is crucial as they will shape the future of healthcare delivery, efficiency, and public health outcomes in the U.S.
