The principles of primary healthcare are essential for the provision of high-quality, effective, and affordable health services. These principles may include universality, accessibility, affordability, community involvement, and intersectoral collaboration.
Primary healthcare is the entry point for most people into the health system and is, therefore, essential for the effective and efficient delivery of health services. By adopting these principles, primary healthcare providers can enhance the effectiveness of their services and make a significant contribution to the health of their communities.
If you are a registered nurse, you can join a specialized field of nursing that focuses on the promotion and protection of the health of populations through the UIndy online FNP program. Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the program is designed for working nurses who want to expand their scope of practice and earn a higher degree. This will equip you with skills such as disease prevention, health promotion, and the management of preventive services. The program also promotes interagency collaboration, community outreach, and program leadership.
5 key principles of healthcare
A principle is a fundamental rule or maxim governing a particular discipline. It provides the structural foundation upon which a theory or practice is built. In healthcare, certain key principles have come to be accepted as governing the provision of high-quality health services for all. These principles are considered essential to primary healthcare and the effective delivery of any health service. They include:
1. Multi-sectoral approach
Contemporary healthcare systems are set up to provide a seamless continuum of services from primary to secondary and tertiary levels, with primary healthcare at the core. The focus of primary healthcare is on the promotion and protection of community health, and the multi-sectoral approach is at the heart of this effort.
Care is distributed by providing primary healthcare services in each community so that patients do not have to travel long distances and wait for services. Primary healthcare provides the necessary bridge between the health system and community members with disabilities.
2. Equitable distribution of resources
Accessibility is a key component of primary healthcare. It allows communities of different social and economic backgrounds to receive equitable services. This is essential when ensuring that all members of the community have equal opportunities to achieve good health. All individuals must have an equal right to obtain primary health services, irrespective of their ability to pay or other individual differences.
Primary healthcare providers must work diligently to ensure that they have the necessary resources to serve the health needs of their communities. The health system must be equitable in resource distribution so everyone can access care. There can be no exclusion from healthcare based on income, age, gender, ethnicity, residence, or physical ability.
3. Appropriate technology
Technology can be the key to quality primary healthcare. Health systems with appropriate technology contribute to the sustainability of primary healthcare. In terms of health care, adequate and appropriate technology is defined as having a positive impact on patient outcomes and efficiency through cost savings, robustness, safety, and maintainability.
Primary healthcare providers must consider current technological capabilities when dealing with patients’ health conditions. The importance of allowing for innovation to remain current should not be overlooked. Inappropriate technology can have a damaging impact on patient outcomes and efficiency, so each health system is able to equip its providers with the appropriate technologies. This may include digital patient forms that help appropriately manage patients’ medical records and other health information systems that allow a more robust and durable delivery of primary healthcare.
4. Manpower development
The development of human resources is crucial for the effective delivery of affordable health services. Health systems must ensure that healthcare providers have the necessary skills and competencies to deliver high-quality primary healthcare. This requires continual training and retraining so providers can keep pace with technological advancements and changing health demands. In addition, each health system must develop strategies to encourage more people to pursue careers in healthcare.
5. Community participation
Primary healthcare aims to serve the needs of all community members in society. This entails collaboration and involvement from all sectors: non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, public-sector entities, private-sector companies, and international organizations. Health systems must have the capacity to handle data, share experiences and expertise, and contribute to community development.
Final words
There are numerous different types of primary healthcare that have been defined throughout the years. Although they all aim to provide primary health care to as many people as possible through a comprehensive approach, each type of primary healthcare varies in its strategies.
Primary healthcare providers can enhance the effectiveness of their services and make a significant contribution to the health of their communities by adhering to these critical rules.