The healthcare environment Flashcards
(60 cards)
What can patients become overwhelmed with in health care?
Various types of offices, specialties, and choices
This complexity can lead to confusion and stress for patients.
What is a key responsibility of health care professionals when interacting with patients?
Helping them navigate through the maze of labs, outpatient care, and hospital departments
This includes explaining plan requirements clearly.
How can health care professionals create a positive experience for patients?
By explaining their plan requirements with cheerfulness and patience
A supportive interaction can enhance patient comfort.
What role did office secretaries play in medical practice until the early 1900s?
Handled administrative duties
Physicians often managed their own administrative tasks.
What significant change occurred during World War II regarding medical secretaries?
Physicians began to train their secretaries to perform functions previously done by nurses or physicians
This led to the evolution of the medical assistant role.
What responsibilities do medical assistants have today?
Perform both administrative and clinical duties
They support the medical practice, allowing physicians to focus on patient care.
How has the role of medical assistants changed in recent years?
They have greater responsibility and more authority
This is due to the increasing number of patients and paperwork.
What are the global influences on health care?
Cultural, environmental, political, and socioeconomic factors
These influences affect health care access and delivery worldwide.
What impact did the recent worldwide pandemic have on health care?
Affected how individuals access medical care and respond to potential illness
It also influenced work and social interactions.
What influences health care practices according to cultural beliefs?
Health, illness, and healing beliefs influenced by culture, religion, and ethnicity
These beliefs affect communication, health care seeking, and treatment adherence.
What environmental factors influence health?
Job security, workplace safety, and perceived work value
Work-related injuries can affect long-term employee health.
How does climate impact health?
Over-exposure to the sun, frostbite, pneumonia, and vitamin D deficiency
Different climates pose various health risks.
What is a consequence of air pollution?
Increases the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
Environmental quality plays a significant role in public health.
What political forces affect health care?
Government regulations and state laws
These can include smoking bans and health awareness campaigns.
True or False: Government campaigns against drinking and driving aim to improve public health.
True
These initiatives are examples of political efforts to enhance community health.
What does socioeconomic status (SES) describe?
SES describes income, educational attainment, occupational prestige, perceptions of social status and social class, quality of life, and opportunities afforded to people within society.
SES is a complex web of factors that influence health and well-being.
How can financial factors affect housing decisions?
Financial factors can affect housing decisions, food and meal decisions, essential utilities affordability, and ability to exercise.
Limited resources can lead to poor living conditions and unhealthy choices.
What are the consequences of unsteady employment on health?
Unsteady employment can lead to uninsured or under-insured families, greater health risks, and challenges.
This situation can perpetuate a cycle of poverty and poor health.
What is the impact of feeling safe and secure on health?
People are healthiest when they feel safe and secure, supported, and connected to family, workplace, and community.
Emotional and social support plays a crucial role in physical and mental well-being.
What advancements contributed to increased life expectancy?
Advancements included life support measures, quicker and better resuscitation, feeding tubes, respirators, and new drugs.
These advancements allowed individuals to live longer, including premature babies who previously had low survival rates.
What trend was observed in health care costs?
Health care costs increased due to high demand for medical services and advancements in technology.
Increased expectations for medical care regardless of ability to pay also contributed.
How did the role of insurance companies evolve in health care?
Insurance companies emerged to help pay for health care as costs began to rise.
This marked a shift from direct payments to third-party reimbursements.
What challenges do physicians face today?
Physicians face increased demands on their time, declining health care reimbursement, and rising costs of living and operating a medical practice.
High rents, malpractice rates, and the cost of electronic health systems contribute to these challenges.
Fill in the blank: Women make ______% of the medical decisions in non-emergency cases.
85%
This statistic indicates the significant influence women have in health care decision-making.