Our revolutionary healthcare system. Equitable quality wellness for all.
Proposed System
The EqualiWell healthcare system uses the same typology as the current system except for one small addition: the EqualiWell Mobile Unit (EMU). This enables EqualiWell to adapt existing systems quite easily and effectively. It is built on top of our current healthcare system without having to overhaul or replace it. It proves that our existing healthcare system is not a mistake but simply a current iteration waiting for the next step in its evolution.
EqualiWell Typologies
EqualiWell efficiently distributes the different healthcare services to different typologies. When networked together, these typologies provide the system with proper gate-keeping. This means that cases are properly diagnosed, triaged, and brought to the appropriate typology, which leads to less congestion and more efficiency.
EqualiWell System
The proposed EqualiWell healthcare system is a research-based centralized referral system that is composed of different typologies creating a web-like structure. At the center of this network is where you find the National Department of Health (DOH). The DOH is responsible for elaborating policies and strategies, ensuring proper monitoring and evaluation, and the regulations within the entire healthcare sector. All data within the network is compiled and analyzed at the DOH.
At the second tier, Central Hospitals are equipped to deal with all types of health related concerns including highly specialized medical scenarios. Each region is required to have at least one Central Hospital. They report directly to the DOH. Next in line are the Provincial Hospitals, which are required in each province. They report directly to the Central Hospitals. After, we have the District Hospitals that mostly provide primary healthcare. Each typology requires a referral prior to being accepted.
Lastly, we have the EqualiWell Mobile Units (EMU) and the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) that connect all the different typologies within the system. They travel on existing supply routes and act as the conduit between the hospitals providing them with resources such as medicine and manpower. These (EMUs) provide primary healthcare when attached to hospitals, but also along the road where population is not enough to require a hospital. Thus, the system is able to provide equal access to its citizens and eliminates the need for patients to travel vast distances.
Resilient Network
Adaptive capacity is defined as the capacity of a system to adapt if the environment where the system exists is changing. It’s a systems ability to adjust to disturbances, moderate potential damage, takes advantage of opportunities, and copes with the consequences of the occurring transformation. It can be enhanced by: learning to live with change and uncertainty, nurturing diversity for resilience, combining different types of knowledge for learning, and creating opportunity for self-organization towards social-ecological sustainability. The proposed design has an optimal level of adaptive capacity.
EqualiWell’s organic healthcare structure allows it to react to any scenario such as natural disasters and disease outbreaks. A research-based system can distribute its healthcare and treat its patients more efficiently using information and data. Due to the different levels of autonomy, each typology can react quickly without having to depend on the different levels within the system. There is a clear hierarchy of decisions made within each level of healthcare providing clarity and accountability. Decision making is also clearly identified with different levels of authority. Proper capital and information infrastructure must be in place for effective implementation of designed system.
Scenario: Natural Disaster
During a natural disaster, the designed proposal allows for much quicker reaction time, due to the inherent modularity and constant motion of the EMU’s. With the proposed system, when one area get struck and cripples part of the healthcare system, the EqualiWell Mobile Units react and shift towards that one area, where they can then create a semi-permanent health structure. These units are equipped with all the equipment needed for physicians to deliver dignified care, which is very important when delivery any type of healthcare.
Through the use of EMU’s, the system can also minimize damages that can lead to a lot of costs. Weather can now be predicted to a certain extent. The healthcare system can brace for the impact of a natural disaster by moving EMU’s from a certain area decreasing loss of valuable lifesaving equipment.
There is gap between a natural disaster and full recovery that is often overlooked by disaster relief planners and volunteers. Relief is important to preserve the lives of those afflicted but sustainability is just as important because recovery can last for years. EMU’s can both provide during relief and full recovery due to its modularity. It can grow from a temporary facility to a permanent facility like LEGO building blocks.
Furthermore, after a natural disaster has struck, the main issues healthecare providers face are security, communication, potential outbreaks, and transportation. With the EMU’s being networked to a chain of command, communication and logistics are managed and accounted for.
Scenario: Disease Outbreak
Similar to the natural disaster scenario, the EMU’s can move resources to deal with specific issues such as a disease outbreaks. This is needed for quick isolation of a disease, which prevents people from needing to travel and spreading the disease along the way.
