Unit 3 Discussion Reply 2

“Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14) Though Paul uses the word equality in this portion of his letter to the Corinthians, equity is also interwoven into his message. The relationship between equity and equality can be confusing because although they are related, they have some distinct differences. For a Christian administrator, knowing these differences is important in tackling the financial issues related to the delivery of healthcare. Equity, involves trying to understand and give people what they need to enjoy full, healthy lives. Equality, in contrast, aims to ensure that everyone gets the same things in order to enjoy full, healthy lives. Like equity, equality aims to promote fairness and justice, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same things. With this understanding, the Christian administrator must tackle the giant of the financial aspects of healthcare. First, a clear understanding of what the health status is of the community should be assessed, followed by a detailed search for resources available to that community. This fulfills the equity component. According to the WHO (2011), “reducing health inequities is important because health is a fundamental human right and its progressive realization will eliminate inequalities that result from differences in health status (such as disease or disability) in the opportunity to enjoy life and pursue one’s life plans.” Then, a proper and fair distribution of care and resources can be implemented, keeping the factors of cost, quality, and access near to conscious so every need can be met adequately, as well as equally.

(2011, June 8). Equity. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/equity/en…

“Of course, I do not mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality. Right now you have plenty and can help those in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14, NLT). Shi and Singh (2015) admit that US health care industry is the largest and most powerful employer in the nation. Health care professionals are among the most sophisticated and diverse of all work groups. Health services professionals range from hospitals, clinics, nursing care facilities, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, inpatient and outpatient facilities, mental health centers, community clinics, school clinics, and a range of other facilities (p. 124). Therefore, access to any type of health care or a health care professional is plentiful. However, there are a wide array of challenges when it comes to cost and quality of health care. Although U.S. citizens have access to healthcare, the cost and quality does not match. Healthcare is extremely costly and not only is it costly, when a person is truly sick, they rely on healthcare professionals to make them better. Shortly thereafter they are hit with a bill that will cost them thousands of dollars. Health administrators should focus on equity rather than equality and see people as people and not a cash cow. Christian health administrators should listen to the woes of patients and their concern would be a good start to addressing the challenges of the healthcare system.

Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2015) Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach (7th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.