Title: Healthcare management: do quality and standards vary based on national culture

Authors: Yvette Essounga-Njan

Addresses: School of Business and Economics, Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison Road, SBE 388, Fayetteville, NC 28301, USA

Abstract: This discussion reflects on the importance of quality and standards in the delivery and management of healthcare regardless of the national culture, focusing on the still recent Patient Protection Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the Affordable Care Act, or referred to by some as Obamacare. If the bill was not so lengthy many who read this 906 pages long piece of literature would discover it actually included many provisions expressing the concern and duty of care the government owed to all US citizens and residents. In this reflection, models and propositions are offered, showing the relationships between healthcare quality, standards, technology and reductions of costs. This discussion continues the conversation on Obamacare, even as the bill has yet to deliver on its promises, yet is certain to mushroom into a full-fledged functioning, effective and efficient single payer system in the long-run.

Keywords: healthcare management; healthcare quality; healthcare standards; cost reduction; national culture; healthcare delivery; Affordable Care Act; Obamacare; USA; United States; duty of care; healthcare technology; healthcare costs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSS.2015.068066

International Journal of Services and Standards, 2015 Vol.10 No.1/2, pp.72 - 88

Received: 10 Jun 2014
Accepted: 07 Dec 2014

Published online: 15 Mar 2015 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article