US Healthcare System: History, Structure, and Future Trends

What type of industry is U.S. health care primarily considered?

A private industry that receives subsidies through government financing.

Which programs finance health care for specific eligible groups in the U.S.?

Medicaid, Indian Health Service, Medicare, and veterans' programs.

What is a major paradox of the U.S. health care system?

Despite having the highest health care standards and expenditures, there are high rates of medical errors and disparities in access.

What does PPP stand for in the context of health care?

Purchasing Power Parity.

Name a historical factor that has shaped the U.S. health care delivery system.

Cultural beliefs and values, social changes, technological advances, economic constraints, political opportunism, or ecological forces.

What was the first hospital plan in the U.S.?

Blue Cross.

What is the significance of the 1980s in U.S. health care?

It marked the Corporate Era characterized by corporatization, information revolution, and globalization.

What is telemedicine?

The integration of telecommunication systems into distant caregiving.

What does E-health refer to?

The provision of information and services over the Internet.

What is the role of the APhA founded in 1852?

It was the first pharmacy professional organization, establishing a code of ethics.

What major change in pharmacy education occurred in 1984?

The proposal for a 6-year Pharm.D. curriculum for all new students.

What is the Bowl of Hygeia?

A symbol of pharmacy associated with hygiene, dating back to at least 1796.

What does the term 'provider recognition' refer to in the context of the ACA?

It refers to the acknowledgment of pharmacists and their advanced duties in health care.

What are some advanced duties that pharmacists can perform today?

Immunizations, medication therapy management (MTM), and testing.

What has been a significant trend in pharmacy education?

The standardization of the Pharm.D. degree.

What does the term 'brain drain' refer to in health care?

The migration of health professionals to other countries for better opportunities.

What is the impact of artificial intelligence in health care?

It is used for improving patient care and operational efficiency.

What does the term 'medical tourism' mean?

Obtaining health care abroad, often for cost savings or specialized services.

What is the significance of the Flexner Report in 1910?

It impacted medical education and highlighted the need for higher academic standards.

What are some challenges faced by retail pharmacies today?

Closures, chain mergers, and shifts in education standards.

What is the role of the NABP in pharmacy?

It oversees licensure and standards for pharmacy practice.

What does the term 'integrated delivery systems' refer to?

Health care systems that consolidate purchasing power and services.

What is the significance of the 1932 ACPE establishment?

It set standards in pharmacy education, adopting a 4-year degree as the norm.

What is the Pestle and Mortar associated with?

The historical preparation of medicines in pharmacy.