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Limited Access to Healthcare
Anonymous Student
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Capella University
NHS-FPX 4000: Developing a Healthcare Perspective
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Limited Access to Health Care: A Growing Issue
Limited access to health care affects millions of Americans in varying ways. Many who
are uninsured do not have access to a primary care physician and must rely on emergency
services when health concerns arise. These visits, referred to as “treat and release” visits, often
come with heavy financial burdens. The median cost of these types of visits was $2,033 in 2017
(Kirsten et al., 2021). Others may seek out online health information, which puts them at risk of
following misleading or incorrect information. Lastly, some may rely on telemedicine–if they
know it is available. As nurses, we have many roles in our patients’ care. We are their advocate
and resource locator. Guiding patients toward resources that would decrease their financial
burden is our duty–whether it is a prescription coupon, providing education materials, or even
locating free or reduced-cost resources,
Professional Relavence
, I have only worked in an emergency department for about a month, and have already lost
count of how many patients I have seen with concerns related to being uninsured or
underinsured. Recently, I encountered a middle-aged woman who came in for a suspected
miscarriage. She was unstable, with a systolic pressure in the seventies. The ICU wanted to keep
her for a day until her blood pressure returned to normal. She told me she could never afford an
ICU stay, and requested AMA papers. My preceptor and I tried our best to convince her to stay,
even if it was just a couple more hours in the ER to be monitored, but ultimately, she decided to
leave. We told her to return if she changed her mind, or if her condition worsened, but we also
understood her position and wished her well.
Article Selection Process
Limited Access to Healthcare
Anonymous Student
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Capella University
NHS-FPX 4000: Developing a Healthcare Perspective
2
Limited Access to Health Care: A Growing Issue
Limited access to health care affects millions of Americans in varying ways. Many who
are uninsured do not have access to a primary care physician and must rely on emergency
services when health concerns arise. These visits, referred to as “treat and release” visits, often
come with heavy financial burdens. The median cost of these types of visits was $2,033 in 2017
(Kirsten et al., 2021). Others may seek out online health information, which puts them at risk of
following misleading or incorrect information. Lastly, some may rely on telemedicine–if they
know it is available. As nurses, we have many roles in our patients’ care. We are their advocate
and resource locator. Guiding patients toward resources that would decrease their financial
burden is our duty–whether it is a prescription coupon, providing education materials, or even
locating free or reduced-cost resources,
Professional Relavence
, I have only worked in an emergency department for about a month, and have already lost
count of how many patients I have seen with concerns related to being uninsured or
underinsured. Recently, I encountered a middle-aged woman who came in for a suspected
miscarriage. She was unstable, with a systolic pressure in the seventies. The ICU wanted to keep
her for a day until her blood pressure returned to normal. She told me she could never afford an
ICU stay, and requested AMA papers. My preceptor and I tried our best to convince her to stay,
even if it was just a couple more hours in the ER to be monitored, but ultimately, she decided to
leave. We told her to return if she changed her mind, or if her condition worsened, but we also
understood her position and wished her well.
Article Selection Process
