Understanding the Industry: Revealing the Hidden Sphere
In this article, the final 3 sectors will be explained and expounded upon (so exciting!). Just like the other sectors, I will also provide examples for each one so that you can get a better idea of what it looks like in the real world.
For most people, this is information that you learn along the way as you grow in your Healthcare Administration career.
So when I say that this newsletter works hard to provide hacks - so that you can understand the things that your professors, your peers, and even your mentors might not think to explain to you - I mean that. ;)
And to my fellow colleagues in the field, let’s continue saying the quiet part out loud so that everyone can be on the same page, with the same understanding, knowledge, and contextual information.
Today's topic is (Finally) revealing and explaining the sectors within the “hidden sphere”.
In this diagram, the middle sphere is the hidden sphere. It contains the sectors: Supporters, Educators, and Researchers.
Let’s dive into each of them, shall we?
Researchers and Educators
Most people interact with this sector through a university or academic medical center (or sometimes both). These institutions are responsible for disseminating the most up-to-date information to students, clinical providers, and other working professionals. One could expect to learn the “best practices” of the industry from them.
This sector is much more wide and vast than most people realize. This can include research institutions, foundations, associations, coalitions and collaboratives, universities, colleges, hospitals, academic medical centers, physician associations, health agencies (state, federal, and global), and more! This sector is the fuel behind our healthcare industry, because many are trained and taught through education while others find innovation, amplification of important issues, and novelty through emerging research and studies.
Often, organizations and institutions that belong in these sectors also belong in other sectors. For example, I would consider the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) to be both a Researcher and Educator. Whereas, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is better well-known as a Payor but also acts as a Researcher.
Some other examples include:
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Supporters
The “Public Health” sector refers to public health departments (city, county, or state), some public utility services (water), and health education. It also represents community-based organizations (or CBOs) that meet the health-related social needs of people in a specific geographic area. This area coined the term “social determinants of health” (SDOH).
The large reason why we even have a “sick” care system in the United States is because the environment and living situation for many people in this country is subpar, and if persistently unaddressed, leads to the increased occurrence and prevalence of chronic care conditions in the American population.
Choosing to neglect the quality of our water will lead to more health issues in an area. Long ago, when I watched a viral Netflix documentary on why you should become a vegan, the most touching and heartbreaking part was seeing people living in rural areas acquire the worst diseases and health complications simply because they live in the midst of industrial waste, runoff, and pollution. So, public health must be empowered and elevated so that leaders in this space can have authority, not just in educating the masses but also in regulating and enforcing appropriate standards for corporations and businesses.
Some organizations in the “Provider” sector attempt to contribute to this cause by assessing and meeting the needs of their local population (i.e. Community Needs Assessment, local events, health fairs, etc). This is only a fraction of all the ways that public health organizations support the healthcare industry.
Some examples include:
And then, let’s not forget about the Purchasers!
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