Introduction When it comes to health matters, everyone becomes attentive. People believe that with good health, one can virtually accomplish anything that they desire. This is the reason to as why health is given all the attention. It is important to have a clear understanding of the meaning of the term health, healthcare and systems that are put in place to facilitate healthcare. Health is described as “the general condition of the body or mind, especially in terms of the presence or absence of illness or impairments.” Health can also be defined as “the overall condition of something in terms of soundness, vitality and proper functioning” (Oxford, 263). From the definitions of health given, one can either be in good health or in unhealthy. Healthcare can then be described as an activity or act geared to maintain health. This could be through provision of medical services or any other services that aims at maintaining good health. Healthcare is not necessarily provided when a person becomes sick or loses health but is progressive and should always be provided as a preventive measure. Healthcare system is the organization of people, institutions, and resources to deliver health care services to meet the health needs of the targeted populations. Therefore, we can say that these are systems put in place to meet healthcare needs of a particular population. There are several systems worldwide and in this case, we are going to focus on the US Health care system. Significance of Healthcare Systems Healthcare systems are put in place so that they can meet and satisfy the healthcare needs of a people within a geographical area. They have the mandate to deliver healthcare services to the intended group or population and ensure fair... ... middle of paper ... ...s C. Gapenski, “Fundamentals of Healthcare Finance”, 8 Jun 2009 Madeline Drexler “Can cost-Effective Health care= Better Healthcare?” Winter 2010, Web 7 Feb 2012? http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hphr/winter-2010/winter10assessment.html Oxford University Press, “Pocket oxford American dictionary”, 6 Jun 2008 Rettig, R. A. Medical innovation duels cost containment. Health Affairs 13 (3): 7-27. 1994. Web 7 Feb 2012. Shi Leiyu, SinghDouglas A. “Essentials of the United States health care system” March 5, 2009 Stephen Jonas, Raymond G, Karen G, “An Introduction to the US healthcare System” 6th Edition, Page 118, 25 May 2007 U.S Healthcare costs, Web 7 Feb, 2012 http://www.kaiseredu.org/Issue-Modules/US-Health-Care-Costs/Background-Brief.aspx Ventres W. “Answers to US health care issues from other countries” Fam Med. Sep 2011 43(8):592-3. PubMed PMID: 21918943
Wekesser, Carol. Health Care in America: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA. Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1994.
The U.S. Health Care System: An International Perspective - DPEAFLCIO. (2014). Retrieved June 04, 2016, from http://dpeaflcio.org/programs-publications/issue-fact-sheets/the-u-s-health-care-system-an-international-perspective/
Kovner, A.R & Knickman, J.R (2011) Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States, 10th Edition. New York: Springer Publishing.
Despite the established health care facilities in the United States, most citizens do not have access to proper medical care. We must appreciate from the very onset that a healthy and strong nation must have a proper health care system. Such a health system should be available and affordable to all. The cost of health services is high. In fact, the ...
Shi, L., & Singh, D.A. (2008). Delivering healthcare in america. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Niles, N. J. (2011). Basics of the U.S. health care system. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
While most countries around the world have some form of universal national health care system, the United States, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, does not. There are much more benefits to the U.S. adopting a dorm of national health care system than to keep its current system, which has proved to be unnecessarily expensive, complicated, and overall inefficient.
Sicko, a film by Michael Moore was released in 2007. The film investigates health care system in the United States. One would definitely get amazed by the facts and figures explained in this documentary. The movie explains failing health care system in the United States. America has advance medical technology, big hospitals, and educated health care professionals, but these facilities are not universal. The film starts by talking about true American stories; what some people have experienced from current health care system, those who had and did not had health insurances. The story starts by Adam, one of 50 million people in America who does not have health insurance. Due to an accident Adam required a medical treatment, but for the reason of not having any insurance he puts stitches on his leg by himself. The second story was about Rick, who accidentally cut the top of his two fingers, middle and the ring while working on the table saw. As a result of not having health insurance, Rick could not put the top of his middle finger back because it was costing 60,000 dollars and he did not had the money. So, he decided to put his ring finger back because it cost 12,000 dollars which he could afford. The movie does not go into the detail of 50 million people who do not have health insurance, but it’s about 250 million Americans who do have health insurance.
Health is described as physical and mental well-being and freedom from disease, pain or defect. However, such descriptions only superficially define the actual meaning of health. There may be many occasions when individuals are not necessarily ill or in pain but may be overweight, stressed or emotionally unstable. Health is a quality of life involving dynamic interaction and interdependence among the individual’s physical state, their mental and emotional reactions, and the social context in which the individual exists. There are many factors that influence your health, but three major components contribute to general well-being: Self-awareness, a balanced diet and, regular physical activity.
The Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary (2012) defines health as a state in which an individual can perform well physically, socially, mentally and spiritually in order to bring out latent qualities in the surroundings in which one finds himself. Health is a state where an individual experiences a good or satisfactory condition. Lately, health has been addressed as the absence of any ailment. The WHO (2003) affirmed that health is not based on just the absence of evidence of disease or infirmity but goes beyond that. The physical, mental and social state of an individual is critical. From the above definitions, the three aspects, the physical, mental and social well-being of an individual is taken into consideration when issues pertaining to health is being addressed.
With the United Nations listing health care as natural born right and the escalating cost of health care America has reached a debatable crisis. Even if you do have insurance it's a finical strain on most families.
The US health system has both considerable strengths and notable weaknesses. With a large and well-trained health workforce, access to a wide range of high-quality medical specialists as well as secondary and tertiary institutions, patient outcomes are among the best in the world. But the US also suffers from incomplete coverage of its population, and health expenditure levels per person far exceed all other countries. Poor measures on many objective and subjective indicators of quality and outcomes plague the US health care system. In addition, an unequal distribution of resources across the country and among different population groups results in poor access to care for many citizens. Efforts to provide comprehensive, national health insurance in the United States go back to the Great Depression, and nearly every president since Harry S. Truman has proposed some form of national health insurance.
Barton, P.L. (2010). Understanding the U.S. health services system. (4th ed). Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
What does it mean to be healthy? Health is a state of complete physical , mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease, illness or infirmity. It is important to distinguish between disease and health. Disease is the prognosis of a particular disorder with a specific cause and characteristic symptoms. On the other hand, illness is the existence of disease
Health is having a healthy physical, mental and social life. There are a lot of concepts that contribute to being healthy. Health means having physical health as well as having the ability to move and achieve daily activities. Health includes social health. When one has a healthy relationship with others, as well as being able to function positively in society. Health is being able to learn from one’s hardships and having good mental health. Health is having a positive outlook on one’s life and maintaining a career. Health is when one loves themselves and life, as well as having high self-esteem. Health is having a very healthy lifestyle which will improve your physical health. A healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise as well as eating