NURS329 Healthcare Systems And Policy

Answer  

Introduction

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an American based organization that works with various countries throughout the region by cooperating with the member countries in eradicating or rather fighting communicable and non-communicable disease, their causes, so as to establish strong health system and responding to disaster and emergencies. PAHO has two specialties first involves the inter-American system and also specialized health agency in the US that serves as regional office of World Health Organization (PAHO, 2017). This organization has fifty two member countries and it is dedicated promoting and supporting everyone’s right to good health and in ensuring that everyone gets quality health services required irrespective of their financial situations. This organization works together with other corporations and institutions such as government agencies, international agencies, civil societies, community groups among others to ensure that it achieves its goals of people living longer, healthier and with good health.

Organization’s;

Mission- “To lead strategic collaborative efforts among member states and other partners to promote equality in health, to combat diseases and improve the quality of, and lengthen the lives American people.”

Vision- “To be the main catalyst for making sure that all the American citizens enjoy optimal health and contribute to wellbeing of their families and communities”

Values- The organizations vision and mission are guided by the values which include; “equity, excellence, solidarity, respect and integrity.”

The organization’s responsibilities and duties are in line with their goals, mission, and their values guide them in achieving the ultimate goals of the organization. The organization’s values start within the organization and this is stated in the PAHO’s policy on the prevention and resolution of harassment in the work place. However, all activities within PAHO are guided by vision, mission and values to achieve the desired goals. There are a number of achievements witnessed by PAHO through collaboration by its member countries, for example during the Zika virus outbreak PAHO collaborated with the affected countries by providing critical support in laboratory and clinical departments right from diagnosis of cases, management and vector control apart from that PAHO also collaborated with partners to give out evidence based, the ethical guidelines and advice to all members states (PAHO, 2017). According to the findings it is evident that the organization is carrying out its daily activities governed by the principles and dedicated to providing quality health services to all people and collaborating with member states to ensure that people leave healthy and better lives. It is important for the mission, vision and values of PAHO to be clearly seen because through this people are able to trust the organization based on the practices including services and support for humanity (PAHO, 2017).

Swot Analysis

Streangths of PAHO

• Staffs are well trained and have accountancy skills which help them in accountancy and transparency skills which are of benefit to the organization
• The managerial system at PAHO has trained personnel in their areas of expertise hence great management.
• Recognized for provision of emergency support and assistance to all member countries that are facing an outbreak or crisis.
• The organization makes the maximum use of its facilities to ensure its goals and objectives are achieved

Weaknesses

• Due to the nature of the organization it takes time to respond to urgent issues like procurement during emergency situations
• A proactive approach should be adopted to help protect the diminishing human resource within the ministry
• Diversity in various communities sometimes make it difficult to understand the needs of a specific community
• Lack of adequate resources to sustain all the communities that are in need of health care at the same time.

Threats

• Perception of the public that public health provides second-class health care
• Legislations that doesn’t support some community based
• Migrant population
• Increased urbanization hence increased population density which threatens public health

Opportunities

• The young community can be trained to assist in emergency cases within their locations
• The organization  has an opportunity to partner with local and regional organizations
• National health plans to introduce stress management response team

Future implications of PAHO

PAHO has a relatively great future based on their current plans for example to end tuberculosis by 2030 which has been supported by seventy five ministers, but in order to achieve their vision, increased collaboration and partnership both at local and international level is vital. With various accomplishments that have already been experienced, PAHO is on the right path to achieving its organizational goals and objectives (PAHO, 2017). Moreover, the organization has the support of the government and other non-governmental organization that have come together to help it achieve its vision of being the main catalyst for making sure that all the American citizens enjoy optimal health and contribute to wellbeing of their families and communities

Healthy working environment

According to the US National Library of Medicine, a public report published in 2011 about healthy workplaces states that the nature of the work place can negatively or positively affect the employees’ physical and mental health. Some of the things that create unhealthy work environments include workload, and poor safety measures among others (Rechel, EHPN, EOHS and Policies & WHO, 2009). These issues can be addressed by establishing key environmental protection measures that governs the human resources in health facilities.

References

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) (2017). About Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Pan American Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91%3Aabout -paho&lang=en

Rechel, B., European Health Property Network., European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies., & World Health Organization. (2009). Investing in hospitals of the future. Copenhagen: World Health Organization on behalf of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.