Increased Life Span

Question 1

In 2012, the life span in the United States increased to 78.8 from 76.8 in 2000 (CDC Data/Database, 2016).

Answer 1

This 2-year increase can be attributed to the increasing use of prevention and wellness programs that resulted in the reduction of deaths caused by diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Question 2

Efforts such as population health and monitoring of quality indicators

Answer 2

shown a direct impact on the steadily rising life expectancy rates in the United States.

Question 3

In 1900, the average life expectancy

Answer 3

at birth for a male was 46.3 years of age, and for a female it was 48.3 years of age.

Question 4

By 1950, the life expectancy

Answer 4

at birth for a male was 65.6 years of age, and for a female, it was 71.1 years of age.

Question 5

In 2007, the life expectancy

Answer 5

at birth had improved yet again; males were expected to live until 75.4 years of age, and females were predicted to live until 80.4 years of age

Question 6

United States health care system emphasizes

Answer 6

preventive-care and wellness, population health, and quality monitoring systems; each of these impacts the quality of care and overall life span of America’s population.
(Health care has a stronger emphasis on continuous quality improvement)

Question 7

The Affordable Care Act

What role does the Affordable Care Act play in services aimed at increasing life expectancy?

Answer 7

has implemented a prevention strategy that transforms the view of health care from disease curing to wellness and prevention. Preventing disease improves quality of life, increasing life spans
(Implemented a prevention strategy that transforms the view of health care from disease to wellness and prevention)
(Recognized and supports research and treatment for a preventable disease such as cancer and heart disease)

Question 8

Population health

Answer 8

is a concept of health that studies health determinants. It involves studying the health outcomes of a group of individuals and proposes that there are patterns of health that can be addressed by developing and implementing policies and actions to improve the health of those populations.
(Studying health determinants proposes that patterns of health can be addressed through developing actions that impact the group’s life span)

Question 9

Population health

What are the implications of population health’s impact on life span?

Answer 9

also involves reducing health inequities among populations.

Closely linked to prevention and well-being, population health addresses groups of patients

Question 10

Population health shifts the view of health care to a positive concept,

Answer 10

promoting that patients approach health as a resource with a focus on pursing healthy goals and acquiring skills and knowledge.

Question 11

Closely linked with prevention and well-being practices,

Answer 11

population health is the key concept for policy and program development that has had a direct impact on the design of health care; in turn, this has had positive outcomes on lengthening life spans.

Question 12

Monitoring of quality indicators in health care is built on

Answer 12

a strong reliance on standards and guidelines, routine measures of patient function, a disease-specific clinical outcome, and appropriate results used to guide practice.

Question 13

The health care system’s reliance on monitoring quality performance
The health care system’s reliance on monitoring quality performance is evident in __________.

Answer 13

is also evident in the reimbursement process, and providers are subject to pay for performance, providing a financial incentive around patient outcomes.
(providers are subject to pay for performance)
(linking quality care with improving the patient experience, which impacts cost)

Question 14

The average life expectancy over the years, the question of why such a dramatic increase has taken place must be asked.

Answer 14

The answer is, of course, the efforts of the U.S. health care system in reducing death rates through education and eradication of illness and diseases.

Question 15

These extended life expectancies affect the different stakeholders in the health care industry.

Answer 15

patient perspective, the longer life expectancy means the opportunity for the individual to live longer, thus being afforded the means to spend more time with his or her family or to fulfill lifelong dreams. For example, individuals are living longer than in past decades; thus, they may be able to work longer or fulfill more of their dreams after retiring thanks to that healthier and longer life span.
(Opportunity to enjoy life and live longer, spend more time with family, or fulfill lifelong dreams after retirement)

Question 16

Providers

(What is the provider’s perspective on increased life expectancy?)

Answer 16

view this as a strength of the health care industry because when people live longer, they tend to consume more health care services. This, in turn, leads to an increased demand for the services that the providers offer, keeping them in business. For example, as people live longer, the tendency to consume more health care services rises, providing more business for healthcare providers.
(Increased life expectancy increases demand for services resulting in more business for health care providers)
((Increased life expectancy is a strength for health care as people live longer and consume more health services))

Question 17

From an administrator’s perspective

What is the health administrator’s perspective on increased life expectancy?

Answer 17

longer life expectancies lead to busier practices as the demand for health care services increases. This correlates to the increased demands for services from providers and can lead to higher revenue levels overall.
(As life expectancy increases, so does the demand for the health care services)
(Increased life expectancy creates busier practices)
(As life expectancy increases, so does the demand for the health care services)

Question 18

Third-party payers

What is the third-party payer’s perspective on increased life expectancy?

Answer 18

view longer life expectancies as a strength because the increased demand for services also means more business for their companies, thus helping to build profits. With the increased demand for services, the insurance companies may be able to obtain more contracts with employers to broaden their network of patients.
(Increased life expectancy helps insurance or third-party payers build profits) / (Increased life expectancy increases demand for third-party payment services)
(Increased life expectancy increases demand for third-party payment services and helps to build profits)

Question 19

the government

Answer 19

view longer life expectancies as a strength because it not only bodes well for the quality of life in the United States, but it also helps to keep the economy growing; living longer means more consumption of goods and services. This increased demand for goods and services reaches far beyond the health care industry and stretches into all other U.S. industries.
(Increased life expectancy means that increased demand for goods and services reaches far beyond the health care industry to all other United States industries)

Question 20

The health care system’s reliance on monitoring quality performance is evident in __________.

Question 21

Why has there been a dramatic increase in the average life expectancy at birth over the years?

Answer 21

Efforts of the United States health care system in reducing death rates through education, eradication of disease, and health promotion

Question 22

Which strategy or service is emphasized to increase life expectancy?

Answer 22

Quality standard monitoring of health systems and health care delivery