A health organization that has been working towards improving people’s lives for many years is United Healthcare. This organization’s mission is to “help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone” (UnitedHealth Group, 2018). United Healthcare has been working on enhancing the healthcare system’s performance and improving the overall health of people and their communities. Additionally, United Healthcare works closely with healthcare professionals to improve access and affordability of care for many people as well as providing people with the necessary information and tools to make decisions about their health. Their workforce includes more than 85,000 clinical professionals who help them with their mission. Through their partnership with Optum, United Healthcare has been able to provide healthcare to people in all 50 states of the U.S. and to people in over 130 other countries. The health organization’s success and impact is quite evident, and they have been able to provide care that keeps up with technological advancements and new knowledge.
Health Care Needs of Citizens
United Healthcare’s mission focuses on improving the healthcare system now as well as in the future. As one of the largest health organizations in the United States, United Healthcare has made many advancements to try to improve care for all people. One way that United Healthcare has been able to do this is through their partnership with Optum, which is a health information technology and services business. According to UnitedHealth Group (2017), “Optum helps clients deliver better experiences, quality outcomes and reduced costs in five core areas: data analytics, pharmacy care services, population health management, health care delivery and health care operations.” Moreover, they state that Optum’s resources, investment capacities, and operational experience in coming up with solutions and providing services will help United Healthcare to better serve their members. United Healthcare has been able to create three new businesses with Optum: OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx (UnitedHealth Group, 2018). OptumHealth focuses on population health management and health care delivery. OptumInsight focuses on providing health information, technology, and services and consultations. OptumRx focuses on pharmacy care services. Optum’s data base contains a large number of clinical data including 6.5 billion medical procedures, 18 billion lab results, and 6 billion diagnoses (UnitedHealth Group, 2018). All of this data has helped United Healthcare to improve their services and find new ways of providing better care.
Similarly, United Healthcare has extended their relationship with AARP that focuses on improving the health of Americans ages 50 and older. This relationship has been extended to last at least until 2025 and maybe even go up until the end of 2030. These two organizations have worked together for over 20 years to improve healthcare for older patients. This relationship will allow United Healthcare to not only offer AARP Medicare-related insurance products, but also many other service that will benefit older Americans. For instance, Untied Healthcare will be able to offer AARP prescription discounts, which has helped members save about $175 million on prescription medications since 2013 (UnitedHealth Group, 2017). Additionally, food access and healthy-eating programs have provided more than 37 million meals to older citizens. Lastly, United Healthcare and AARP will collaborate on a program that will “fund innovative research that informs and improves health care for people 50-plus” (UnitedHealth Group, 2017). United Healthcare’s partnerships and relationships will definitely help improve technology, research, data, and knowledge about the healthcare system in the upcoming years. It will make healthcare more affordable and accessible for all people.
Network Growth
Networking is an important aspect of any job or organization. “Networking involves developing and maintaining connection with individuals, then mutually benefitting from this developed relationship” (University at Albany, 2014). Networking is important because it connects people in the same field, allows sharing and gathering of information, and increases the chances of obtaining a job. In this case, networking is important for United Healthcare because they need to be able to provide a number of different resources to their members. Additionally, they need to create their own relationships with other organizations to improve their data and the overall health system in America. United Healthcare’s network includes 1.2 million physicians and other healthcare professionals as well as about 6,5000 hospitals and other facilities (UnitedHealth Group, 2018). Moreover, Optum has a network of more than 67,000 pharmacies; 1000,0000 physicians, practices and other facilities; and government agencies in 37 states. This network is evidently quite vast and has helped United Healthcare to make important changes in the health system when it comes to financial costs and better care.
Nurse Staffing
Nurse staffing is important in any healthcare system because nurses are one of the first healthcare professionals to engage with the patients and care for them. Having a sufficient number of nurses is extremely important because it helps ensure patient safety, high-quality care, and positive outcomes. United Healthcare has become one of the largest employer of nurses, and it created the Center for Nursing Advancement in 2008 to improve the way that the organization hired and worked with nurses (McCallion, 2015). Additionally, the Center for Nursing Advancement (CFNA) created the External Nurse Advisory Board (ENAB) to prepare not only the 24,000 United Healthcare nurses in the United States and seven other countries, but also nurses everywhere for their expanding roles (UnitedHealth Group, 2014).
Resource Management
Utilizing resources in the most efficient way is an important aspect of any organization. United Healthcare has an abundance of resources that need to be maintained and managed in order to improve the healthcare system. Resource management must be organized so that the resources will end up giving the best possible outcomes and results. Using resources correctly and managing them benefits the organization because it allows the organization to reach its goals and maintain its good reputation. United Healthcare has been a leading health organization in the United States that manages its resources in a way that backs up its mission statement and proves that it is able to improve healthcare for all people.
Patient Satisfaction
Patient are the most important consumers in the United Healthcare organization; therefore, patient satisfaction is an extremely important aspect. If patients are dissatisfied, they won’t want to associate with United Healthcare. Thus, United Healthcare needs to make sure that its members are happy and that their health and well-being are improving. One way that United Healthcare keeps track of its patients’ opinions and preferences is through the United Healthcare Consumer Sentiment Survey. This survey is an annual survey conducted by using a landline or cell phone with a large sample of patients in the U.S. 18 years or older. In 2017’s survey, the sample size was 1,006 patients (United Healthcare, 2017). The survey asks the patient about health plans, technology usage, medical costs, and other related healthcare topics that affect many patients. This survey helps United Healthcare get a sense of what patients understand and what they may like or dislike. This information allows the organization to make appropriate changes and improve their services.
Comparison to Singapore Airlines
One similar thing about both organizations is that United Healthcare and Singapore Airlines both worked on improving their respective workforces. Singapore Airlines wanted highly skilled and youthful flight stewards with positive attitudes. United Healthcare wanted a nurse employees who are able to expand their roles and solve healthcare problems. Additionally, both organizations focused on patient satisfaction by conducting surveys to see the consumers’ opinions, preferences, and complaints. Both organizations also want to follow their mission statements and improve their field for their consumers and the entire community.
Conclusion
United Healthcare is a leading health organization in the United States that aims at providing high-quality care to all people. Additionally, it aims at improving the health system in general and providing technological advancements and new knowledge that will make care accessible and affordable. United Healthcare has many relationships and partnerships that allow it to expand and truly improve healthcare. They focus on managing their resources efficiently, expanding their network, staffing nurses who are able to expand and adjust their roles, and providing patient satisfaction.