Abstract:
Chapter 9 was mainly about elders and their care. The chapter began with expressing the increasing amount of elderly people and how to deal with that increasing amount. Within 55 years, the percentage of elders has increased from 8% to 12.4% of the population. In the first couple of pages the chapter discussed the terms that are specific to this population. They stated that the overall median age for the U.S population is at an all-time high and should continue to increase. The chapter then went into depth of the myths surrounding aging. The idea that as people age, they just go straight downhill and become senile. A lot of the myths were proven to be false but many of these myths will always stand. Next was the discussion of the demography of aging. Demography is the study of a population and those variables bringing about change in that population. On pages 244 and 245, the book showed us several examples, displayed in graphs, to help give a more specific overview of the aging changes for females and males. The book then went into the factors at which affect the population. Given the increase in the median age, we've come to a general conclusion that this is only possible because there is a decrease in fertility rate, the declining mortality rate and decline in immigration. The chapter discussed the dependency and labor-force ratios. Dependency ratios are ratios that compare those who are economically unproductive and those who are economically productive. They had both youth and elderly dependency ratios. Then the chapter went into more variables that affect the demography of elders, such as living arrangements, racial/ethnic composition, marital status, geographic distribution, economic status and housing. The health of the elderly has also significantly decreased. The percentage of chronically disabled elderly is slowing falling. A lot of the risk factors that were making the mortality rate of elders rise have now become less of a problem. The chapter then went into a more sensitive topic. It discussed reports of elder abuse and neglect. The reports of elders being abused or neglected have severely increased over the recent years. Following the abuse section of the chapter, the instrumental needs of elders was next. Income, housing, personal care, health care, transportation, and community facilities and services are all examples. However, under community facilities and services comes several accompanying concepts. There are meal services, homemaker services, chore and home maintenance services, visitor services, adult day care programs, respite care programs, home health care, senior centers, and other services that are offered to elders.
Reflection:
When discussing this chapter our group found it really interesting that they offered so many services for the elders. Throughout the years the service towards elders has greatly increased and that is due to many of the laws that have been passed. Our group found it terribly frightening that the percentage of abuse towards elders between a ten year period (1980's to 1990's) had increased 150%. And according to the National Elder Abuse Incidence Study, and estimated total of 551,000 elderly persons over age 60 were experiences some sort of abuse or neglect. We just could not wrap our heads around the fact that this is happening and many of the incidences actually go unreported.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Chapter 14
Abstract:
Chapter 14 mainly focused on the health care system of the United States. The chapter discussed the major issues surrounding health care system and that included the concerns of cost, equality for their people, and access to that health care. They discussed the percentages of those who are uninsured and talked about their health, or disabilities. Such as poverty, elderly, less educated to the point where the job they pertain doesn't include health insurance, nonwhites, and those who are not U.S citizens. They then went into greater detail about the quality of health care that individuals receive. The book stated that to insure a healthy, productive nation, we must transform our health system very soon. Another issue that the book reviewed was the rising issue of how the health care is paid for. The two major means of delivering the health care is fee-for-service and prepaid health plans. The majority of health care is paid by third party payment. This is when the health care provider will ask to see proof of insurance, and then upon signing a couple places to just give them permission to release your information, the health care facility will then bill the insurance company and the insurance company will either pay in full or the patient may have to pay money also. The book then went into the insurance of children. There is an act called The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which insures uninsured children, low income children and minority children. This includes about 11.3 million uninsured children and the percent is even higher for minority or low income children. Following the insurance of children, the book went into key insurance terms. After that, the book explained the different types of health Insurance coverage. The two major health insurance programs are medicare and medicaid. Even with the health insurance of medicare for example, there is also a concept called supplement health insurance. The two major supplement insurances are medigap and long-term care insurance. Both programs are there to help even further with health coverage. Normally these programs are put on top of the benefits people are all ready receiving. Next the chapter reviewed managed care. Managed care is defined as "a set of techniques used by or on behalf of purchasers of health care benefits. To lower costs of health care by influencing the patient care decision making through case-by-case assessments of the appropriateness of care prior to its provision." Today, most of America is covered by some sort of managed care. The types of managed care is PPOs, EPOs, HMOs, POS, and PHOs. Next, the chapter gave some insight to other nations and their health care system. They talked about Canada and their national health plan. The book explained that the United States is the only nation who doesn't have a national health insurance program. The chapter concluded with the explanation of the states own health care programs and alternative ways to provide health care offered by Canada and certain states of the U.S.
Reflection:
The chapter gave our group a lot of insight into the health care programs of the U.S. We thought it was interesting on how intricate our health care system actually is. On one of the figures the book showed, it listed all of the different accesses that certain groups of people have to our health care. It was a little difficult to read and trace were the certain groups actually received their care. We also thought that the book did a good job showing us how health care is paid for. And how many different organizations contributed to the costs of health care. It explained the inequality some minorities receive and even gave us an example of an insurance claim form. The chapter really helped my group understand the variety of our health care system but also the controversy that some health care facilities go through. The chapter really answered all of my groups questions and concerns about our health care system.
Chapter 14 mainly focused on the health care system of the United States. The chapter discussed the major issues surrounding health care system and that included the concerns of cost, equality for their people, and access to that health care. They discussed the percentages of those who are uninsured and talked about their health, or disabilities. Such as poverty, elderly, less educated to the point where the job they pertain doesn't include health insurance, nonwhites, and those who are not U.S citizens. They then went into greater detail about the quality of health care that individuals receive. The book stated that to insure a healthy, productive nation, we must transform our health system very soon. Another issue that the book reviewed was the rising issue of how the health care is paid for. The two major means of delivering the health care is fee-for-service and prepaid health plans. The majority of health care is paid by third party payment. This is when the health care provider will ask to see proof of insurance, and then upon signing a couple places to just give them permission to release your information, the health care facility will then bill the insurance company and the insurance company will either pay in full or the patient may have to pay money also. The book then went into the insurance of children. There is an act called The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) which insures uninsured children, low income children and minority children. This includes about 11.3 million uninsured children and the percent is even higher for minority or low income children. Following the insurance of children, the book went into key insurance terms. After that, the book explained the different types of health Insurance coverage. The two major health insurance programs are medicare and medicaid. Even with the health insurance of medicare for example, there is also a concept called supplement health insurance. The two major supplement insurances are medigap and long-term care insurance. Both programs are there to help even further with health coverage. Normally these programs are put on top of the benefits people are all ready receiving. Next the chapter reviewed managed care. Managed care is defined as "a set of techniques used by or on behalf of purchasers of health care benefits. To lower costs of health care by influencing the patient care decision making through case-by-case assessments of the appropriateness of care prior to its provision." Today, most of America is covered by some sort of managed care. The types of managed care is PPOs, EPOs, HMOs, POS, and PHOs. Next, the chapter gave some insight to other nations and their health care system. They talked about Canada and their national health plan. The book explained that the United States is the only nation who doesn't have a national health insurance program. The chapter concluded with the explanation of the states own health care programs and alternative ways to provide health care offered by Canada and certain states of the U.S.
Reflection:
The chapter gave our group a lot of insight into the health care programs of the U.S. We thought it was interesting on how intricate our health care system actually is. On one of the figures the book showed, it listed all of the different accesses that certain groups of people have to our health care. It was a little difficult to read and trace were the certain groups actually received their care. We also thought that the book did a good job showing us how health care is paid for. And how many different organizations contributed to the costs of health care. It explained the inequality some minorities receive and even gave us an example of an insurance claim form. The chapter really helped my group understand the variety of our health care system but also the controversy that some health care facilities go through. The chapter really answered all of my groups questions and concerns about our health care system.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Chapter 13!
Chapter 13 deal with the health care delivery system. Health care delivery in the United States can be best described by the four levels of practices displayed in the spectrum of health care delivery. These four levels of are; population-based public health practice, medical practice, long-term practice, and end-of-life practice.
Population-based public health practice is defined as a practice that "incorporates interventions aimed at disease prevention and health promotion, specific protection and a good share of case finding." Most of population-based public health practice is based on health education because before you can promote your health you need to know how. This type of practice mainly takes place in governmental health agencies along with with voluntary health agencies, social service agencies, schools, and businesses.
Medical practice refers to services that are provided by a physician or other traditional health care provider. These services are offered at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Primary medical care plays the role of a regular source of care for patients including dental checkups, annual physical exams, and screenings to detect health problems in the early stages. Primary health care has eight elements according the WHO. These include education on prevailing health problems and methods to prevent and control them, promotion of fool supply and proper nutrition, adequate supply of safe water and sanitation, maternal and child health care, immunizations, prevention and control of endemic diseases, treatment for common disease and injury, and provision of essential drugs.
Secondary medical care is "specialized attention and ongoing management for common and less frequently encountered medical conditions." Secondary medical care is divided into two categories of their own; acute and subacute. Acute is short term intense medical care for illness or injury that may require hospitalization. Subacute is care given to people with an unstable condition that require active monitoring and treatment, or technically complex nursing treatments.
Tertiary medical care is given to people unusal or complex condition. It is performed in specialty hospitals or specailized floors of hospitals and provides advanced care for patients with illnesses like cancer or heart disease that need speical procedures.
The third level is long-term practices that also has two catagories; restorative care and long-term care. Restorative care is given after surgery, during remission of a cancerous diseasem or when the progression of an incurabe diesease has been arrested. Settings for restroative care include rehab units, nursing homes, and halfway houses. Long-term care helps patients with chronic illnesses and disablilities that limit them physically or mentally. This type of care can help with taks such as bathing, dressing, an preparing meal.
End-of-life practices is the last level and is defined as care given to people shortly before their time of death. This is most commonly in the form of hospice care in which physical, psychological, social and spiritual care is given to the terminally ill with a life expectancy of less then six months, and their families.
There are over 200 different career in the health care industry which are catagorized six different ways. The first is independant providers who are professionals with the education and legal authority to treat any health problem. Independant providers include allopathic providers (Doctors of Medicine, MD) and osteopathic providers (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, DO). The two providers are very similar, infact it would be hard to the differance in care. The group of inependant providers also includes nonallopathic providers who studycomplementary/alternative medicine such as chiropractors.
Limited care providers are health care providers who provide care for a specific part of the body such as a dentist, optomerists, or psychologist.
Nurses have their own group within which they are further divided based on their education and schooling. Nurses can be classified as licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), professional nurses, and advanced practice nurses.
Nonpysician practitioners are "clinical professionals who practice in many of the areas similar to those in which physicians practice but do not have a MD or a DO degree. This group can include nurse practitioners, certified midwives, and physician assistants.
The last two groups are allied health care professionals who are health care workers that provied services that assist, facilitate, and compement the work of physicians and other health car specialists and public health professionals. These are health care workers that work in a public health orginization.
The beginning of the chapter states; "other develped countries have national health insurance run or organized by the government and paid for, in large part, by general taxes. Also, in these countries almost all citizens are entitled to receive health care services, including routine and basic health care." It also tells us of the stuggles president Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton endured during their many attemps at changing the health care system in this country that never went into affect. Personally I cannot wrap my head around the argument for not providing free health care to all citizens. As a future tax payer I can personally say that there are not many places I'd rather see my money go than contributing to this cause and help those who either cannot pay themselves or normally would not qualify for health insurance. As a united country we need to live up to that reputation and pull together to help one another. What better way is there to support each other than to make sure each and every citizen of this country is accounted for and given the services they need?.
Population-based public health practice is defined as a practice that "incorporates interventions aimed at disease prevention and health promotion, specific protection and a good share of case finding." Most of population-based public health practice is based on health education because before you can promote your health you need to know how. This type of practice mainly takes place in governmental health agencies along with with voluntary health agencies, social service agencies, schools, and businesses.
Medical practice refers to services that are provided by a physician or other traditional health care provider. These services are offered at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.
Primary medical care plays the role of a regular source of care for patients including dental checkups, annual physical exams, and screenings to detect health problems in the early stages. Primary health care has eight elements according the WHO. These include education on prevailing health problems and methods to prevent and control them, promotion of fool supply and proper nutrition, adequate supply of safe water and sanitation, maternal and child health care, immunizations, prevention and control of endemic diseases, treatment for common disease and injury, and provision of essential drugs.
Secondary medical care is "specialized attention and ongoing management for common and less frequently encountered medical conditions." Secondary medical care is divided into two categories of their own; acute and subacute. Acute is short term intense medical care for illness or injury that may require hospitalization. Subacute is care given to people with an unstable condition that require active monitoring and treatment, or technically complex nursing treatments.
Tertiary medical care is given to people unusal or complex condition. It is performed in specialty hospitals or specailized floors of hospitals and provides advanced care for patients with illnesses like cancer or heart disease that need speical procedures.
The third level is long-term practices that also has two catagories; restorative care and long-term care. Restorative care is given after surgery, during remission of a cancerous diseasem or when the progression of an incurabe diesease has been arrested. Settings for restroative care include rehab units, nursing homes, and halfway houses. Long-term care helps patients with chronic illnesses and disablilities that limit them physically or mentally. This type of care can help with taks such as bathing, dressing, an preparing meal.
End-of-life practices is the last level and is defined as care given to people shortly before their time of death. This is most commonly in the form of hospice care in which physical, psychological, social and spiritual care is given to the terminally ill with a life expectancy of less then six months, and their families.
There are over 200 different career in the health care industry which are catagorized six different ways. The first is independant providers who are professionals with the education and legal authority to treat any health problem. Independant providers include allopathic providers (Doctors of Medicine, MD) and osteopathic providers (Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, DO). The two providers are very similar, infact it would be hard to the differance in care. The group of inependant providers also includes nonallopathic providers who studycomplementary/alternative medicine such as chiropractors.
Limited care providers are health care providers who provide care for a specific part of the body such as a dentist, optomerists, or psychologist.
Nurses have their own group within which they are further divided based on their education and schooling. Nurses can be classified as licensed practical nurses (LPNs), registered nurses (RNs), professional nurses, and advanced practice nurses.
Nonpysician practitioners are "clinical professionals who practice in many of the areas similar to those in which physicians practice but do not have a MD or a DO degree. This group can include nurse practitioners, certified midwives, and physician assistants.
The last two groups are allied health care professionals who are health care workers that provied services that assist, facilitate, and compement the work of physicians and other health car specialists and public health professionals. These are health care workers that work in a public health orginization.
The beginning of the chapter states; "other develped countries have national health insurance run or organized by the government and paid for, in large part, by general taxes. Also, in these countries almost all citizens are entitled to receive health care services, including routine and basic health care." It also tells us of the stuggles president Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton endured during their many attemps at changing the health care system in this country that never went into affect. Personally I cannot wrap my head around the argument for not providing free health care to all citizens. As a future tax payer I can personally say that there are not many places I'd rather see my money go than contributing to this cause and help those who either cannot pay themselves or normally would not qualify for health insurance. As a united country we need to live up to that reputation and pull together to help one another. What better way is there to support each other than to make sure each and every citizen of this country is accounted for and given the services they need?.
Chapter 6 Abstract
Chapter six focuses on the approach school systems take towards promoting a healthy environment for all students and faculty, as well as teaching students the aspects necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. The program that school systems follow in order to do this is called the "coordinated school health program" and is defined as "an organized set of policies, procedures, and activities designed to protect, promote, and improve the health of students and staff , thus improving students ability to learn. It includes, but is not limited to comprehensive school health education, school health services, a healthy school environment, school counseling; psychological and social services; physical education; school nutrition services; family and community involvement in school health; and school site health promotion for staff." As the chapter progressed, it began to discuss how each component of a normally functioning school system contributes to this implimented plan. It all starts with the school health council, which essentially is a mixed group of people ranging from parents and volunteers to employees and administrators. This group is responsible for the planning and organizing of the coordinated school health program. The chapter then proceeds to explain the roles that different faculty members play in order for the program to reach its full potential. The chapter concludes with a discription of different policies that the program embodies, and an explanation of the procedures a school system hould take to follow these policies.
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