How Available is Healthcare

Principles of

Health Science

List the Positives and Negatives of Health care in the United States.

Positives – choice of doctors and hospitals research safety ER takes all people Negatives – Expensive higher than average mortality compared

with other countries people who can’t afford health care don’t go to doctor

Types of Health care Facilities Hospitals – “acute” care, in patient care Long Term Care Facilities – Nursing Homes, Assisted Living Facilities Medical Offices – doctors offices Dental offices – Dentist, orthodontist, oral surgeons Clinics – “one stop shop”, multiple doctors, xrays, lab, etc. Optical centers – eye doctor Emergency care centers – “acute care center” for non life threatening emergencies Laboratories – run tests on blood, urine, etc. Home health care – health care (nurses and aides) at home Hospice – home care and in patient care for dying patients Mental Health – for patients with mental illness, inpatient and

outpatient Physical Rehab facilities – physical therapy, occupational and speech.

Facilities HMO’s – Health Maintenance Organization, designed to keep cost of health care low. No choice of doctors, primary doctor decides if any other care is needed. School Health Services – medical care at school, at some schools even a health care clinic. Government Agencies (VA) – Veterans Administration, cares for veterans who have benefits. US Department of Health and Human Services – Provides oversight for public health, and Medicaid services. National Institute of Health (NIH) – Maintains research hospitals paid for through public taxes CDC – Center for Disease Control, tracks and educates public on communicable diseases such as Aids, HIV, Hepatitis, Ebola FDA – Food and Drug Administration, monitors and regulates food and drugs OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration, monitors and

regulate employee safety.

Health Systems National Health care system paid by the govt through taxes, one payer (govt)

Private Health care Health Insurance paid for by the individual to cover medical

expenses or private payment.

Public Health care Govt Programs to help certain populations pay for or

receive health care based on income, examples would be CHIPS, Medicaid,

Medicare

Mixed systems United States has a mixed system, some private, come

public health care.

Health Insurance Terms contract between the insurance company and the insured person

Premium amount of money paid to the insurance company for an insurance policy.

Deductible amount of money paid by the insured before insurance starts paying

Co payment amount of money paid in addition to the insurance payment for a specific service

Out of pocket amount of money the insured person pays in total for the year (excluding premiums)

Individual insurance sold to an individual for them or their family

Group insurance sold to a group to insure individuals for a better (cheaper) price.

Managed care Insurance that is “Managed” for cost containment.