Category: Health

Introduction

Defining health as a state of being has always represented a source of confusion for a number of experts due to the lack of a coherent set of criteria for it. Despite being a rather easy to perceive the notion of health is nearly impossible to understand it without introducing the opposing notion of diseases or omitting certain aspects of well-being. Nevertheless, health can be defined as the state of having the functions of the organism running properly, the emotional responses being within the established norm, and the spiritual goals successfully being pursued.

Definitions: Discussion

When considering the traditional approaches to defining health, one should first mention the most commonly used one that suggests juxtaposing health to illness. The specified definition suggests in a rather blunt and self-explanatory manner that health is the absence of diseases or disorders in an individual (Rotter et al. 366). Although the suggested definition might seem as quite exhaustive, it still lacks the necessary depth. Namely, by defining health on the basis of the phenomena that it does not include does not allow shaping the idea of what health actually is. Rather, the proposed definition points to the notions that are not included into the concept of health, which does not provide the actual definition for the subject matter.

Furthermore, identifying health as something that is contrary to being ill or unwell provides a rather unclear description since the state of being ill or unwell does not have clear boundaries with health, either. Specifically, when considering mental health issues, one will have to admit that the stat of normalcy ranges significantly in individuals (Rotter et al. 367). Similarly, thin physical conditions, diseases that remain dormant for years may prevent one from being classified as ill, yet it carrying the disease does not place an individual into the healthy category, either.

Therefore, when defining health from a nursing perspective one should focus on providing clear criteria for the being healthy, as well as accurate descriptors of health. With the specified approach in mind, one will be able to suggest more sensible definitions of health, such as having all systems of the human body functioning properly (Lalani 440). The proposed definition is more clear since it offers an accurate descriptor and measurable criteria for determining health.

At the same time, it is worth noting that health involves not only physical and mental capacities, but also the extent of emotional and spiritual well-being. For this reason, the definition of health can be worded as the state of the human body functions running, emotional responses being adequate, and spiritual needs being met (Lalani 440). The definition offered above seems to be the most reliable one since it covers a broad range of aspects of health, thus, providing one with an opportunity to measure the phenomenon of health.

Conclusion

By incorporating the spiritual and emotional well-being along with the physical and mental one into the definition, it can produce comprehensive description of health that nurses will find especially useful. The definition of heath as testate of having ones physiological, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs met, one approaches the most comprehensive definition of health. Using it, nurses can improve patient outcomes significantly by incorporating factors other than those tethered to physical and mental health in order to improve the quality of care. Thus, opportunities for measuring health and introducing appropriate interventions to keep it safe can be possible.

Works Cited

Lalani, Nasreen. Meanings and Interpretations of Spirituality in Nursing and Health. Religions, vol. 11, no. 9, 2020, pp. 428-441.

Rotter, Thomas, et al. What Is Lean Management in Health Care? Development of an Operational Definition for a Cochrane Systematic Review. Evaluation & the Health Professions, vol. 42, no. 3, 2019, pp. 366-390.

Humans wish to be fit, healthy, and free of illness, able to work till retirement and enjoy the benefits. However, this is not always the situation in the healthcare industry. As a result, this is where Medicare and Social Security come into play. Payers in the health sector and organizations like Medicare are in charge of determining service rates, accepting payments, handling claims, and paying providers claims. Payers are distinct from providers such as clinics and hospitals that offer services (Payers in the health care industry, 2020). Generally, Payers are a significant trend in healthcare since they improve treatment effectiveness and quality.

In the United States, Medicare is a government initiative that becomes accessible to elderly individuals when they reach the age of 65. As a result, it will be upon them to make enrollment decisions for things like Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. The concept of universal health care has been around for decades. However, the majority of people, particularly the elderly, are still unaware of these payer solutions. According to Hernandez et al. (2021), since information about how older adults can obtain Medicare is incredibly limited, it has become challenging to make the appropriate decision. Generally, one should consider whether they want the liberty to get their doctors or frequently travel and if the scheme fits their finances before selecting a Medicare plan.

There are various ways in which people can apply for Medicare. One of the most common approaches is through Social Security. Individuals can get in touch with Social Security in a number of different ways, including online, by phone, or in person. Traditional Medicare can be obtained by completing the Social Security Administrations online Medicare application. They can apply online by going to the Social Security Administration portal at socialsecurity.gov, where they must create a MySocialSecurityAccount if they do not yet have one (Guinan, 2022). Users should select Medicare Enrollment from the homepage and Apply for Medicare Only. Generally, the entire process takes a shorter time if a person observes the instructions.

Most seniors prefer to obtain information in person about benefits, plan information, and the cost of healthcare provided. In-person communication is preferable since one can receive the necessary resources to make the Medicare Payer Solution decisions. Individuals can apply by phone at 1-800-772-213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or by visiting their local Social Security office (Guinan, 2022). After that, you must select your coverage by visiting Medicare.gov or working with an independent insurance broker. Traditional Medicare only provides essential benefits; however, having coverage through a private insurance company will be an added benefit.

There are many information sources to consider when making Medicare plan decisions. For instance, social networking incorporates insurance agents, governmental advisors, family and friends, and health professionals. The elderly can enroll through a third-party agent or broker. Additionally, seniors can consult with family and friends to make comparisons between the various benefits of Medicare to those of other payers such as Medicaid (Hernandez et al., 2021). Finally, they can learn more about these services using available internet resources that will necessitate using a computer or smart device with internet access and navigating to www.medicare.gov via the internet.

Lastly, an older adult can seek help from a local hospital, where a case manager is assigned to begin acquiring Medicare benefits. A case worker from Adult Protective Services (APS) or any Department of Human Services should team up with the client. They then develop a service plan, which is forwarded to the appropriate healthcare payer once the client has completed all required documentation.

References

Guinan, S. (2022). How to apply for Medicare  2 easy steps. ValuePenguin.

Rivera-Hernandez, M., Blackwood, K. L., Mercedes, M., & Moody, K. A. (2021). Seniors dont use Medicare.Gov: How do eligible beneficiaries obtain information about Medicare Advantage plans in the United States?BMC Health Services Research, 21(1), 1-10.

Payers in the health care industry. (2020). Collective Medical.

Many Americans are concerned about health because of its impact on society. It is a term that has different definitions prompting the urge to seek the most appropriate one for the American situation. The most notable definitions concerning health include those by Webster, the World Health Organization, and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).

However, the IBIM definition is more comprehensive than the others, which are scantly and only look at health in terms of illness and pain.

The general definition of health, formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being that does not only entail the absence of disability or disease (McCartney et al., 2019). However, it is not comprehensive and does not represent the American context because it does not cover the social and economic aspects of health. Webster defines health as a state where one is free from disease or pain (McCartney et al., 2019).

This definition is scanty and does not cover all aspects of health, including the social and economic elements. Therefore, health should include freedom from suffering, mobility, mental well-being, adaptability, and social fulfillment.

The American Board of Internal Medicine (IBIM) defines health in a manner that is appropriate to the American situation. It defines health as the ability to conduct life in an economically and socially rewarding manner made possible by the availability of financial and physical resources. Healthcare costs are bound to be sustainable if the populations health status allows them to conduct their social and economic activities without any physical or financial hindrances.

Healthcare becomes expensive if the population cannot undertake meaningful activities due to illnesses. More resources are needed to care for patients with chronic diseases and those undergoing acute hospital care. Health conditions that render patients unproductive bear many costs to the individual and the health care system. In America, many individuals lack health insurance leading to unequal access to quality healthcare due to affordability. The government would also be forced to spend a lot of resources on disease prevention due to the effects of debilitating diseases, which lead to unproductivity.

It is feasible for individuals to perform certain social and economic activities despite having one form of illness or another. Many disabled persons in America are productive despite their condition, which is sometimes considered an illness. A state of health that recognizes the existence of illnesses and diseases as a usual occurrence that does not necessarily affect the productivity of an individual is sound. People can undertake various rewarding activities because they have physical and financial resources. Physical strength does not mean an absence of disease but a condition that allows an individual to engage in social and economic activities that can benefit him and society.

The patients and societys responsibility is to ensure they have the necessary resources to engage in productive activities. Individuals should ensure that they maintain good healthy habits that will enhance their social and economic activities. For instance, poor eating habits and inactivity might lead to obesity, an expensive health condition to manage and treat. In America, many people suffer from obesity due to poor health behaviors and irresponsibility. Society also needs to provide the necessary environment in which people can practice good health habits, enhancing their health and reducing health-related costs (Givens et al., 2022). It can help provide public health resources and disease prevention measures to mitigate health-related issues affecting the populations productivity level.

Creating healthier communities needs efforts to bring people together by selecting various strategies to improve their health. There is also a need to bring changes that can have a lasting and positive effect on peoples lives. Policymakers need to enhance social and economic factors like education to improve the health outcomes of the people. It is important to note that educated people have longer life spans than those who are not literate. Likewise, income is also correlated with health either decreasing or increasing.

In America, chronic and acute diseases have been the leading causes of disability and death. Moreover, these diseases affect human welfare and treatment costs, accounting for about 75% of US health spending (Schmidt, 2016). Chronic diseases impact health budgets, economies, and employee productivity.

The leading causes of chronic illness include poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, alcohol, and tobacco use.

In America, 33% of the population is obese and overweight.

The most appropriate health measures Americans should undertake must involve modifying risk factors to prevent suffering and early death. These risk factors must be reduced through prevention and health prevention policies focusing on lifestyle and individual health behaviors. There is a need to conduct health promotion discussions implicitly and explicitly and should not be confined to medical concepts only.

They should involve moral concepts such as personal responsibility in societys customary frameworks.

Moreover, the government should also use taxes and other means to eradicate poverty and improve health. It should be noted that individual irresponsibility has become an enormous burden to the healthcare system. The focus must be on information campaigns and education to sensitize and empower people to behave responsibly. Policies adopting equitable resource distribution are essential for improving community health and reducing costs (McCartney et al., 2019). These policies help provide sufficient disposable income, equal opportunities to exercise, healthy foods, and affordable healthcare services.

In conclusion, health should be regarded as a condition allowing an individual to function normally and engage in social and economic activities without hindrances. In America, health is usually affected by many factors, including cost, lack of personal responsibility, and adverse health behaviors that lead to disability and death. Society must adopt specific interventions to prevent the harm caused by ill health.

Such measures should begin with creating awareness to help individuals take responsibility for their health.

References

Schmidt, H. (2016). Chronic disease prevention and health promotion. Public health ethics: Cases spanning the globe, 137-176.

Givens, M., Bergam, A. & Willems Van Dijk, J. (2022). What Works? Social and Economic Opportunities to Improve Health for All. Retrieved from: What Works? Social and Economic Opportunities to Improve Health for All | County Health Rankings & Roadmaps.

McCartney, G., Popham, F., McMaster, R., & Cumbers, A. (2019). Defining health and health inequalities. Public health, 172, 22-30.

The community health nursing course is a crucial part of the prelicensure baccalaureate nursing (BSN) program, and it requires the application of multiple educational strategies. The learners usually represent different cultures, age groups, and working experiences, therefore the studying must implement various approaches to gather knowledge (Rozendo et al., 2017). The course dedicated to the nurses role in promoting community health includes effective learning strategies such as simulation, case studies, and concept mapping. This paper aims to discuss how these methods address learners diverse needs and, based on the case-studying example, describe how to implement them effectively.

Learning strategies that involve multiple skills and force students to improve their critical thinking and apply the theoretical knowledge can dominate the community health nursing course. It is necessary to maintain the interest, address the learners diverse needs, and develop solid values and decision-making approaches (George et al., 2018). Indeed, simulation is an example of an educational method that utilizes hypothetical experiences with an artificial patient with no ultimate solution (Herron et al., 2019). If that strategy is applied in a classroom, students can fulfill their need to identify strengths and weak points by comparing their courses of action in a given simulation to the others (Herron et al., 2019). Moreover, simulation is crucial to develop and memorize practical tactics to apply in emergencies, which the students must know regardless of their age or experience.

Another active education strategy for community health nursing courses applicable to students with diverse needs is the case study. The approach is especially suitable for the BSN program as real occasions can be revised and discussed among the classmates, revealing the influence of their diverse backgrounds on the solutions they offer (George et al., 2018). Case studies address various students needs, such as understanding the nurses role in community health promotion, evaluating the jobs responsibilities, and developing decision-making approaches.

Concept mapping is an effective method to organize the gathered knowledge and develop practical solutions based on a learned topic. The strategys crucial advantage is that it addresses diverse learning styles like visual or logical, thus it needs to be applied in classes where the students represent multiple age groups and experience backgrounds. Yue et al. (2017) claim that concept mapping could affect the critical thinking affective dispositions and critical thinking cognitive skills (p. 92). Moreover, concept mapping outlined in the program can help educators present theoretical part about community health nursing promotion in a way convenient to perceive by various students.

While all the three strategies included in the community health nursing course outline and address the students with diverse backgrounds needs, the case study one was chosen for the more detailed exploration. That active learning style is based on observing, revising, discussing, and summarizing hypothetical or real scenarios from work. Case studies implemented in the course help engage the students, identify and address their needs, and force them to apply the new knowledge combined with experience (Pilcher, 2018). The course that teaches about the BSN nurses role in promoting community health can include case-studying for each new topic and be applied to evaluate students progress.

Moreover, one of the first lessons might include a case study practice to identify the learners diverse needs and help educators address them later. For example, a discussion part of the process will reveal the students who need oral expression to learn better and find it crucial to apply problem-solving strategies. Younger learners can compare their values and job expectations to the older and more experienced ones and address the necessity to develop particular views towards community health nursing (George et al., 2018). A case study can also be applied as an assessment task concluding the important or broad topics to evaluate how well the students learned them.

The needs and preferred educating styles can vary among the students, and case study is the strategy that involves multiple types of learning to engage the whole classroom in the process. Observation, analysis, discussion, and implementation require visual, verbal, auditory, logical, and interpersonal approaches to work on a task (Pilcher, 2018). Based on how case studies are being deliberated, the logic-based style is predominant and addresses students needs who are better at critical thinking.

The case study is a profound learning strategy to develop clinical reasoning and self-reflection skills towards the students. The demand for observing and analyzing events forces learners to retrieve their theoretical knowledge, combine it with the given information, generate different approaches, and selecting the optimal one (George et al., 2018). Besides, case studies help students work out the skills necessary for clinical reasoning, such as critical thinking and evidence assessment. Self-reflection is involved in that learning strategy as the discussion part can give the basis to compare the level of knowledge among the learners and help them discover weak points.

Community health promotion is crucial for society, and the nurses role in it cannot be underestimated as such responsibility requires developed analytical, clinical thinking, and self-reflection and skills. Students who attend a course for the BSN program might have diverse backgrounds, needs, and learning styles, therefore the studying process must be organized in various ways. The program outline can include simulation to show practical solutions, case studies to engage students in the discussion, develop their critical thinking, and concept mapping to properly gather the theoretical information.

References

George, T. P., DeCristofaro, C., Murphy, P. F., & Remle, C. R. (2018). Knowledge, attitudes, and experience with advance directives among prelicensure nursing students.Journal of Nursing Education, 57(1), 35-39. Web.

Herron, E. K., Powers, K., Mullen, L., & Burkhart, B. (2019). Effect of case study versus video simulation on nursing students satisfaction, self-confidence, and knowledge: A quasi-experimental study. Nurse Education Today, 79, 129-134. Web.

Pilcher, J. (2018). Promoting learning using case-based strategies in nursing professional development. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 34(4), 199-205. Web.

Rozendo, C. A., Salas, A. S., & Cameron, B. (2017). A critical review of social and health inequalities in the nursing curriculum. Nurse Education Today, 50, 62-71. Web.

Yue, M., Zhang, M., Zhang, C., & Jin, C. (2017). The effectiveness of concept mapping on development of critical thinking in nursing education: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today, 52, 87-94. Web.

There is no place where social media has not had an effect. In modern times, people choose social media to tell stories about their health, share experience, ask different questions, and seek advice. Healthcare is in no way excluded from this. Marketing is currently spread throughout the system of healthcare institutions, such as hospitals, orbital clinics, and healthcare organizations (Berkowitz, 2018). Some doctors also use social networks to search for necessary information on a medical topic. The impact of social media needs to be studied, as it has its solid advantages and significant disadvantages, which together can influence people.

Social media marketing is necessary in order for medical brands to be more recognizable and contribute to strengthening patient trust, which is essential in forming strong relationships and loyalty among patients. Patients who work with a medical company through social networks and trust them are likely to turn to representatives of this organization with a great desire if they need its services. People search for the information they need on medical issues on social networks, and organizations can help them find the necessary information by providing them with recommendations and advice in this area. Medical institutions can exchange experience and information in the field of medicine and educate the population, give correct knowledge on various topics, including sending recommendations, for example, on disease prevention.

Social networks of medical institutions can increase the loyalty of patients to this organization and the entire healthcare system. Cordos et al. (2017) claim that patients and consumers of medical services use social networks to use information related to healthcare, which will allow them to find new interactive tools for attracting and social media channels. Expert opinion of specialists will give patients an understanding that they consult with real experts in their field, with extensive work experience. The interaction of colleagues in the field of medicine will allow creating a solid business partnership and open the door to new joint projects.

In addition to the advantages of social networks for healthcare, there are disadvantages. For example, there is information in social networks that may already be irrelevant. By studying it, people can get information that will have a less practical effect on their health than more modern methods or medicines. In addition, while self-medicating, people can find information on social networks that is unsuitable for a proper diagnosis, which can only be made by a professional.

There is a genuine ethical concern that doctors who have relationships with clients on social media may gain access to confidential information that is not created for them. There is also the issue of personal privacy in terms of what other people can get. When there are concerns about privacy and the dissemination of false data, social networks can be used by people in any area of the medical sector for various purposes.

Having discovered an illness, people tend to turn to the Internet and social networks to search for information. They can find something similar to their symptoms and diagnose themselves without having special education and choose a treatment based on other peoples advice. This can have a detrimental effect on the body; as a result, people can get a new disease and not be cured of the previous one.

In conclusion, despite the many benefits of social networks for healthcare, there are still significant disadvantages and a lack of privacy. From an ethical and regulatory point of view, organizations that work in social networks should closely monitor the disclosure of patients personal data. Nevertheless, it is convenient for people to receive information from specialists and apply their advice and in-depth experience to prevent some health-related situations.

References

Berkowitz, E. (2018). Health care market strategy: From planning to action. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Cordos, A., Bolboac, S., and Drugan, C. (2017). Social media usage for patients and healthcare consumers: A literature review.Publications, 5(9), 1-10.

Introduction

According to the hypotheses of the work, the sample will include people with and without higher education living in certain zip codes. It will also measure the number of people who started studying at a higher institution but never graduated. Moreover, since the study examines the impact of geographical particularities and zip codes on human health the number of requests for medical care will be studied.

Sample Frame

Each member of the population has a sampling frame, which is a summary of all those members. During the study, a special list with personal information about the group will be made (Lohr, 2019). The sampling frame will have a list of households enumerated in the population census in the city and rural areas. People living in Florida and their zip codes, for example, could be included in the population. Anything from Julians Album to Claire Zappas name would be on the frame, and so would the zip codes.

Units of Analysis

The study will use a p-probability sample, in which each element of the population has the opportunity to be selected. This method will allow calculating how correctly the sample reflects the general population from which it is isolated. Thus, if the selected area has about one hundred houses, then every second or every third house will be selected for the study to form sampling. Therefore, after receiving consent, the history of their diseases will be studied to have reliable data on health indicators as well as to gather information on their level of education. Also, the access of rural area inhabitants to mental health facilities will be tested to evaluate the rates of mental unwellness.

Selection of the target audience

The very first step in the sampling process is to identify the target population. As mentioned earlier, a specific rural and urban area in Florida will be chosen where people will be included considering their level of education and health-related problems. The time frame for the analysis will include the last two-three years.

Specifying the sampling frame

Once a researcher has defined the population, the next step is to select a sampling frame. Keeping with the impact on society of zip code on wellness, a database with each individuals household would be an ideal sampling frame. The sampling frame will include between 30-50 households to give a substantial amount of evidence and information on the topic of the research.

Choosing a sample

Subjects have an equal probability of being chosen, regardless of who or what else has been or will be selected. The names of the population are in a p-hat and arrange in the formation of the list of words that will be implemented as it is an easy procedure to follow. The advantage of this method is the presence of different people in the list in approximately the same proportions.

Determination of sample size

The size of the sample has a significant impact on the sampling process. Fix or sequential sampling is of primary importance, and whether the reasoning is focused on conventional or Bayesian methods used, these are both worth mentioning. As already mentioned, the sample will be about 30 households. Each of them will undergo a specific questionnaire survey, which will include 20 questions based on the hypothesis of the paper.

Specifying the sampling plan

This step outlines the research process implementation specifications and decisions. The city blocks would be the sampling units, and the people who live there would be the sample elements.

Picking the sample

This is the last procedure in the sample selection, and it is at this time, the sample fundamentals are selected. At this point, interrogators need to observe the guidelines laid out to facilitate a seamless market research implementation.

References

Etikan, Ilker, and Kabiru Bala. 2017. Sampling and Sampling Methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics International Journal 5(6).

Lohr, Sharon. 2019. Sampling: Design and Analysis. Boca Raton: Chapman and Hall/CRC.

The nursing practice has evolved in various ways allowing for role diversification that has enhanced care provision in underserved and remote areas. One notable change that has improved care provision at convenient locations is the introduction of mobile health clinics and home-based care systems (Dols et al., 2021). Mobile health clinics enhance the accessibility of healthcare services since they are not limited geographically. This means that people in underserved areas can receive quality care services without traveling far (Dols et al., 2021). Similarly, home-based care is safe because it reduces the patients susceptibility to get hospital-acquired infections.

Some obstacles to these changes include security issues for mobile clinics situated at dangerous places, such as areas that report a high number of bandit attacks. In addition, nurses may experience unprecedented situations such as domestic violence for home-based care, which may jeopardize their safety (Dols et al., 2021). Solutions to these issues include liaising with the government security agents to enhance security where nurses are stationed, to maintain their safety.

Protocols are regulations of practice that guide nursing practices at the facility. For instance, the American Nurse Association (ANA) codes of ethics provide principles of ethics such as autonomy for nurses to follow to provide quality care (Dols et al., 2021). On the other hand, standards of care are diagnosis and treatment procedures validated to be used by clinicians to treat different ailments. The policy of practice addresses the welfare of nurses and patients by advocating for safe working environments for healthcare providers and a healing environment for patients. The patients perception of the healthcare delivery system is based on quality. Adequate access to services and responsiveness by health workers improves the overall perception of the system.

Reference

Dols, J. D., DiLeo, H. A., & Beckmann-Mendez, D. (2021). Nurse-managed health centers: Financial sustainability, community benefit, and stakeholders. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners 17(6), 712-717.

The effects of the lingering threat and fear that the coronavirus has created have affected a range of areas. As the story shared by Tyrone Hampton and Frank de Jesus shows, bus drivers in New York are torn between their passion for the job and the fear for their health and safety. By describing the meticulous ways of introducing precaution measures, such as taping the bus driver seat, the interviewees convey the tragedy of the situation (Hampton & de Jesus, 2020). Therefore, the story hints at the mental health challenges such as anxiety and the related issues as key effects of the coronavirus, which is crucial for understanding its threat.

Along with the COVID-19 threat, the pandemic and the forced lockdown have created additional threats to the well-being of vulnerable groups. Dr. DaSilva-Ibru (2020) mentions a shadow pandemic, namely, a stark increase in the levels of domestic violence, particularly, violence against girls and women. However, her response toward the subject matter, namely, the creation of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), might not work properly in the local setting due to the lack of connectivity between WARIF and local communities.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic may entail additional long-term effects. For instance, reluctance to attend healthcare facilities out of fear of the coronavirus may cause people to develop conditions that may reach a chronic stage. Moreover, some conditions may aggravate to the point where no further treatment is possible (Chen & McGeorge, 2020).

Given the likelihood of a rise in domestic violence rates, other adverse health outcomes are also expected to occur. For instance, suicidal ideations in violence victims and the resulting surge in suicide attempts are expected, as the recent statistics showing 4241 instances of suicide attempts in domestic violence victims in March 2020 shows (Melillo, 2021). Therefore, an increase in fatal outcomes and severe health conditions caused by suicide attempts are to be expected.

References

Chen, J., & McGeorge, R. (2020). Spillover effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could drive long-term health consequences for non-COVID-19 patients. HealthAffairs.org.

Hampton, T., & de Jesus, F. d. (2020). We have a drivers heart: New York City bus operators on work and loss during COVID-19.StoryCorps.

Melillo, G. (2021). Increased rates of ED visits for suicide, violence, mental health and overdoses seen throughout pandemic.AJMC.

Introduction

Medical healthcare is a complex system with different methods of organizing the inner system. It uses different ways to collect information and focus on actions. All hospitals use a specific indexing system to organize the patient database and divide care into levels. At the same time, organizations may have different approaches to work, methods of verification of documents and contracts, and pricing policy, depending on the type of enterprise.

The Uses of Diagnosis and Procedure Indexes

In medicine, many indicators are used that influence all subsequent decisions about patient treatment and medical research. Examples might include the diagnosis index and the procedural index. The most common purpose of the disease index is to collect and identify data from residents who have a specific disease or diagnosis. The procedural index is a record of the patients course of treatment and all the results of the work of the medical staff (Lintz, 2020). These indexes help organize patient data and make it easier to find and process information.

The Difference Between Regulation and Accreditation

The regulation includes a set of mandatory rules that are designed to protect citizens from risks. This system is more state or provincial oriented; includes indemnity insurance programs and various trends to improve public health. Accreditation is a more flexible system that is usually involved at a more local level and refers to individual medical institutions and organizations (Fortune&Nicklin, 2017). It is a system that helps to understand if an organization meets all industry standards.

Four Levels of Medical Care

There are four levels of medical care in the health care system, depending on the severity of the disease and the specialist required for treatment. The primary level refers to minor ailments and general practitioners; it can be a visit to the doctor for a routine eye exam. Secondary care physicians might be in charge of X-rays or additional examinations of heart murmurs. Tertiary health care means the highest level of complexity and the need for the intervention of a highly qualified specialist. It applies to cancer treatment, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and other serious procedures. Quaternary care is a more complex level of tertiary care that requires more specific intervention (Lenjani, Baftiu, Rashiti, et al., 2020). This stage is suitable for people with complex or rare diseases.

The Difference Between Proprietary and Voluntary Hospitals

There are several types of organizations in the health care system. Proprietary hospitals are medical facilities owned and operated by individuals, partnerships, or corporations for a profit. Voluntary non-profit organizations can be sponsored by a church, community, or state. Private facilities are taxed by the government; volunteer organizations are tax-free (Hong&Cho, 2018). The main reference points of such organizations are altruism, charity, and social contributions to the community.

The Difference Between Electronic and Digital Signature

Digital and electronic signature are terms often used together, but there is a significant difference between them. Electronic signatures are commonly used for routine document verification. They are not authorized and have fewer security features. Digital signatures are used to enhance the security of documents; they are regulated by certification authorities (Saha, 2016). An electrical signature is equivalent to a written one, while a digital signature is a notarized power of attorney.

Conclusion

The health care system has many factors and patterns that affect its internal work processes. All information is subject to a system of indicators; providing medical care is divided into four levels. Institutions can be voluntary or proprietary, but they are all subject to regulation and accreditation laws. Document verification can be done in different ways, but the most effective and secure is a digital signature.

References

Cho, N. & Hong, K. (2018). A kitchen with too many cooks: factors associated with hospital profitability. Sustainability, 10(2).

Lenjany, B., Baftiu, N., & Rashiti, P., (2020). Reference system from health levels to emergency clinic center in Kosovo. Health Clinic Journal, 14(3):722. Web.

Lintz, J. (2020). Identification of master patient index record challenges from healthcare professionals perspectives.European Journal of Public Health, 30(5).

Nicklin, W., Fortune, T., & Van Ostenberg, P. (2017). Leveraging the full value and impact of accreditation.International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 29(2), 310312.

Saha, P. (2016). A comprehensive study on digital signature for internet security. ACCENTS Transactions on Information Security, 1(1), 16.

Introduction

Health disparities occur in every state in the United States as they arise from social, economic, and environmental differences prevalent throughout the country. A health disparity can be defined as preventable differences in the burden of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). This post will consider health disparities and initiatives to address them in the state of Pennsylvania.

Health Disparities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a large state with several urban and rural counties and a high population density. The primary health disparities in the state relate to geographic, economic, and racial/ethnic factors that restrict access to health care for different populations (Henderson, 2021). According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health (2018), African American, non-Hispanic adults are more likely to develop arthritis, hypertension, and diabetes due to limited access to health care. In addition, access to health care is restricted for the citizens of the state living in rural areas, where there are fewer health care facilities (Henderson, 2021). Several initiatives are aimed at addressing health disparities between different populations in Pennsylvania. For example, in 2021, the program to create Regional Accountable Health Councils across the state was announced. The councils will address health disparities in the state and promote health equity, identifying and targeting regional social determinants of health (Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, 2021). However, it is unclear how disparities in different populations will be addressed as the priority areas for the programs have not been established.

Conclusion

In summary, numerous health disparities in Pennsylvania need urgent tackling. They stem from the social differences between populations, leading to economic and racial/ethnic disparities in health outcomes as well as the geographical factor and lack of health care facilities in rural areas. Nevertheless, initiatives to tackle health disparities are being developed every year to identify the most problematic areas in the state of Pennsylvania and address them to ensure better outcomes for underprivileged populations.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Health disparities. Web.

Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania. (2021). DHS initiative to address health disparities across PA. HAP. Web.

Henderson, E. (2021). Health disparities in Pennsylvania have become more pronounced during COVID-19, shows report. News-Medical.net. Web.

Pennsylvania Department of Health. (2018). Minority health disparities in Pennsylvania. Web.