U.S. Health Care Basics
Unlike many other developed nations, the U.S. does not have one central governing agency overseeing the entire health care system.
What is no central governing agency?
The mission of the U.S. public health system is to improve and protect community health.
What is public health?
Diet, exercise, smoking, and other personal choices can significantly affect a person's health.
What are behavioral factors?
This describes a person's overall physical, mental, and social well-being, not simply the absence of disease.
What is health?
In the U.S., having this can make it easier for a person to obtain health care services.
What is health insurance?
Physicians, hospitals, insurers, employers and government programs all play a role in U.S. health care.
What are multiple players?
Combines health insurance with the delivery of health services while attempting to control costs and use of services.
What is managed care?
Air pollution, food and water contaminants, radiation, and toxic chemicals.
What are physical environmental factors?
Influenza and COVID-19 are examples of this.
What are infectious diseases?
Some Americans delay doctor visits or skip treatment because they cannot afford the cost of care. This is an example of what problem?
What is unequal access to health care?
Patients often assume the newest innovations represent the best quality care.
What is technology-driven health care?
Patient homes, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes may provide this type of ongoing care.
What is long-term care?
Inheriting a greater risk for certain diseases from parents because of this health determinant.
What is heredity?
These conditions may be controlled with medical treatment but can lead to serious health problems if left untreated.
What are chronic conditions?
In this system, medical care and benefits are distributed based on people's willingness and ability to pay.
What is market justice?
The ability of individual to obtain health care when needed.
What is access?
A network of health care providers and organizations that provides coordinated health care to a population and is responsible for the health outcomes and health status of that population.
What is an integrated delivery system?
How people view their health, illness and death can be influenced by this.
What are cultural beliefs and values?
Overall satisfaction with life during and following a person's encounter with the health care delivery system.
What is quality of life?
This philosophy argues that society has a responsibility to help ensure people can obtain needed health care regardless of their ability to pay.
What is social justice?
No single group controls U.S. health care, hospitals, insurers, government agencies, and providers must share influence across the system.
What is balance of power?
Active-duty service members and certain military beneficiaries receive care through this specialized health care subsystem.
What is military medical care?
This alone cannot ensure optimal health.
What is medical care?
The integration of medical care with preventive services, health promotion, and education; integration of personal and community health care; and increased access to integrated care services.
What are Healthy People initiatives?
The U.S. spends more on health care than many other nations, yet its overall health outcomes are often only average. What system characteristic does this describe?
What is high cost and average health outcomes?