American economic issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American economic issues - Essay Example Because debt plays such an integral part in the economy, it must be measured appropriately to convey the long-term impacts it brings forth. Currently, the national debt held by the public is over $13 trillion, which is around 74 percent of the country’s economy, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (Fisanick, 2010). The gross debt, which includes money owed to other parts of the federal government, is over $18 trillion. The National debt has accumulated to that because, over the last 40 years, the federal government has generally spent more than it collected in revenue. When this occurs, the government must borrow money to cover the difference. The government borrows by selling securities such as treasury bonds, then agreeing to bondholders back with interest. Over time this borrowing accumulates into the national debt. Presence of a National debt in the economy directly affects the public in the following ways: The high cost of living: High debt levels mean higher inte rest rates on everything from credit cards to mortgage loans. Since incomes do not rise at the same rate as interest rates, what follows is a pinch in consumer pockets as goods and services become more expensive. Slower wage growth: In times of high debt and high-interest rates, every dollar an investor spends buying government debt is a dollar not invested elsewhere in the economy, hence slower economic growth. Reduced fiscal flexibility: The debt levels doubled between 2008 and 2013, as a response to the 2008 financial crisis.

Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations Essay

Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations - Essay Example enerally, this involves anticipating survey team observations and then proactively showing through patient activities and units of care delivery, a mastery of the essentials which the accreditation team is seeking at Sentara. The planning for accreditation at Sentara is more of an ongoing process in which accreditation, which is as mentioned above, already achieved, is also maintained. The various bodies that have accredited the healthcare system send survey teams from time to time to any one of Sentara’s hospitals and delivery facilities, in order to interview patients and staff, and review documents as well as observing quality of care. â€Å"The team may track a patient through his or her hospital stay--in person and through medical records--to find out how the hospitals systems and processes work in supporting patient care† (Accreditation, 2008). During this process, Sentara has to prepare to be judged directly in terms of what care is given to patients, whether it is quality care, effectively carried out, and performed well to the resulting tendency of improving the quality of life of the patient. In order to prepare for the accreditation and renewal processes (accreditation needs renewed after three years), Sentara concentrates on teamwork, leadership, and communication. The healthcare group is evaluated by survey teams who come through looking at various hospital departments. They work in a group together closely at every step of the process, integrating their respective findings to reach viable conclusions about Sentara’s system-wide performance. â€Å"At the end of the survey, the team scores the hospital on how well it meets the standards in the Accreditation Manual for Hospitals† (Accreditation, 2008), related to scored performance standards that are scaled and measured. the programs and the leader of Sentara makes a formal request for review. Then letters are sent out backing up this request. Then, some time before the review, the office for