Introduction to the United States Health Care System

Healthcare often evokes images of doctors, nurses, hospitals, and nursing homes.
Key questions in healthcare:
- Who are the major employers in healthcare?
- How many health care workers are employed?
- What is the spending on healthcare services?

Medical Model: Focuses on diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Wellness Model: Emphasizes disease prevention and maintenance of overall well-being.
- Health: Defined as optimal functioning of mind, body, and spirit.

Demographic Data (2013): 316,100,000 residents in the U.S.
- Age, gender, and ethnicity are important but do not fully illustrate health circumstances.
- Current life expectancy: 78.8 years.
- Baby boomers (aged 65 and older) projected to be 66.7 million by 2030.
Effects of Aging Population:
- Increased demand for home health and long-term care.
- Rise in importance of quality of life, preventive health care, and information on healthy living (exercise and diet).
Gender Differences:
- Women often require more healthcare (reproductive health).
- Women tend to live longer than men but also disproportionately make up single-head households in poverty.

Among whites in 2010, 2% identified as biracial.
The Hispanic population has nearly doubled since 1990 and is notably younger than the overall population.

Epidemiology: Study of disease causes, control, and frequency.
- The CDC collects interprets health statistics and data.
- Health report (2014) indicates Americans are generally in good health.
Factors influencing health:
- Education and family income correlate with better health outcomes.
- 5.4 ext{%} of Americans report not receiving care due to cost.

Morbidity and mortality rates of leading diseases have declined approximately by 50 ext{%} due to healthier lifestyles and vaccination programs.
Vaccines have virtually eradicated diseases like measles and whooping cough.

Investment in Healthcare: 2013 U.S. spending on healthcare was 2,900,000,000,000 (or 17.4 ext{%} of GDP).
- Majority allocated to hospital care and physician services.
Healthcare Job Forecast:
- Half of all new jobs from 2012-2022 expected in health services due to:
1. Aging population
2. Advancement in medical technology
3. Increased focus on cost management.

Mental illnesses often classified as chronic lifetime conditions.
Surveys (2013): Nearly 20 ext{%} of adults reported experiencing a mental health issue.

Aims to address access, quality, and cost of healthcare services.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (March 2010):
- Expands access to insurance and healthcare.
- Implements cost-containment mandates.
- Includes strategies to enhance healthcare delivery quality.

Payments can be made directly by patients or through insurance.
Managed care integrates healthcare delivery with service provision.
- Focused on ensuring necessary services while managing costs.
All industries, including healthcare, function within a competitive market economy.

Healthcare is a delivery system meeting the needs of those requiring health services.
- Consists of interrelated businesses that must operate profitably.
Core Encounter: Interaction between patient and healthcare provider.
- Encounters occur in various settings based on service requirements.
Influencing Entities:
- Pharmaceuticals, research, and medical technology.

Patient-Provider Dynamics:
- Physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.
Settings and Delivery Systems:
- Offices, hospitals, long-term care, mental health, and public health.
Third-Party Payments:
- Private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.
Other Participants:
- Involvement of pharmaceuticals, medical research, and technology in healthcare.