Health CareKelly SheltonHCM-30012/12/12Health Care - The Hospital SectorIntroduction The chosen sector with regard to health care is the Hospital Sector. This paper covers the historical development of the hospital sector and the role it plays in health care delivery. Moreover, it also covers the main challenges the Hospital sector encountered before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was enacted, and the potential challenges it is likely to face after the passage of the health care reform law as well as associated regulations. Moreover, the paper also analyzes the potential risks and benefits of the health reform law with regard to the hospital sector, and covers the current overriding issues in health care for instance, access, cost and quality. Therefore, the research question to be answered is: What were the challenges encountered by the hospital sector before the enactment of PPACA, and what potential challenges/risks and benefits the sector faces after the passage of the law? Hospital Sector`s Historical Development and Current Role in Health Care Delivery According to Wallis (2010), hospitals in the United States account for more than one-third or $715.4 billion of the country`s expenditures on health care, and the Hospital sector employ nearly 4.7 million people. This sector started in the pre-industrial societies whereby, hospitals were operated simply as charitable and religious institutions. Wallis (2010) added that before the end of the 19th century, the goals of the hospitals included taking care of, and housing the sick people who were poor, insane or homeless. Towards the end of the 19th century however, hospitals began to redefine themselves as medical science institutions rather than institutions of social welfare. At this time also, hospitals began to employ health care professionals rather than charity workers. The hospital sector has since transformed into the current sophisticated health facilities mostly due to advances in m...