Health service class one

Course Overview and Expectations

• Discussion questions due: January 24th

• First assignment due date: February 5th

• Course aims to provide a framework for understanding health care, billing, and insurance.

Health Care System Overview

• Basic Understanding:

  • Physicians are not paid unless they provide services that generate billing.

  • Common surprise bills often stem from poor communication in the healthcare system.

  • Conceptualizes health care as a system of interdependent parts working towards a common goal.

• US Health Care Perception:

  • Despite being labeled as the best health care system, it lacks efficiency and has numerous issues.

  • Different perceptions of the system arise when students first enter class.

Disease Conceptualization

• Western Medicine:

  • Views diseases as caused by pathogens (viruses, bacteria) or trauma.

  • Treatment typically involves drugs or surgical procedures.

  • Health is defined as the absence of disease.

• Eastern Medicine (Traditional Chinese Medicine):

  • Approaches health through balance (e.g., Yin and Yang).

  • Treatments can seem unorthodox (e.g., acupuncture for conditions not related to the treated area) but have historical significance.

Health Coverage and Experiences

• Insurance Issues:

  • High variability in perceived health coverage based on individual experiences with healthcare providers.

  • Instances of different opinions received from multiple medical professionals leading to confusion.

• Real-Life Examples:

  • Patients’ experiences can vary drastically (e.g., one dentist finds an issue, another says everything is fine).

  • Insurance claim denials can lead to greater scrutiny of the healthcare system.

Universal Health Care Discussion

• Describes universal health care as a system where access is provided to all citizens, often through high taxation (example: Sweden).

• In contrast, US spending (25% of income taxes) leads to widespread financial variances in healthcare services.

• World Health Organization's Definition of Health:

  • Specifies health as complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease.

Factors Influencing Health Behavior

• Impact of Environment:

  • College environments can impact health (e.g., flu spread in dorms).

• Family History:

  • Genetic predispositions may influence health but are often overlooked by young adults.

Life Expectancy Insights

• Global Comparison:

  • Monaco as a leading country for life expectancy at birth (89 years for male).

  • Average life expectancy for US men is 74.5 and for women 80 years.

  • Factors affecting lifespan include healthcare access, behavioral choices, and social determinants.

Characteristics of the US Health Care System

• Health Care Systems' Nature:

  • US health system operates on a bucket model, heavily influenced by private sectors rather than a centralized social model.

• Technology and Market Driven:

  • Acute care focus over preventive care leads to expensive, crisis-oriented healthcare systems.

• Imperfect Market Conditions:

  • Consumers face uncertainties when seeking healthcare without sufficient information.

• Multiple Decision-Making Entities:

  • Power dynamics between various stakeholders (physicians, insurance companies, government) adjust constantly within the health care marketplace.

Conclusion and Future Sessions

• Focus on understanding the intricate components of the US healthcare landscape.

• Future classes will expand on these themes with more detailed discussions.

• Students are encouraged to bring questions and engagement to upcoming sessions.