The following research paper will discuss the following topics of access to healthcare, preventive care, and utilization of services available to the population of the United States throughout their life span. Access to healthcare in the United States is an important topic being discussed in the medical arena today. Hospitals, clinics, and emergency centers are showing everywhere in the larger communities.
So what is the problem with access? It begins with the ability to pay (obtain insurance or the money to pay), physical access to the medical facilities, and the knowledge of what services are available. A new mother residing in a small community does not have public or private transportation to the newborn clinic that is over 15 miles away. Her child is now placed in the position of not receiving “available” and necessary newborn care. Infant mortality is affected by prenatal care as well as postnatal follow up care. It is defined by “…the number of deaths under the age of one year among children born alive” (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 30). The deaths may be due to illness or injury. The following ranking was chosen because without access to healthcare, prevention, and utilization of available services is not possible. The least important of the three factors contributing to the reduction of infant mortality is prevention of disease or injury. Prevention is a key activity to avoid disease or injury, but without access to healthcare or consistent utilization of health care it is the least important contribution to the reduction of infant mortality. Diseases and injuries are treated in emergency departments or walk-in clinics with little or no follow-up. This is common because some insurance/welfare programs will provide one hundred percent payment for emergent or urgent care but do not cover one hundred percent of the payment for preventative care or urgent care services provided in a doctor’s office. This type of medical care does not allow for consistent care by a primary care physician (Kovner & Jones, 2011). The second least important factor contributing to the reduction of infant mortality is utilization of health care services. Utilization of health care services is accepting or understanding that the health care is available, necessary, and accessible (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 36-37). The patient may have a medical office next door to her residence, but she is unable to understand the language and does not realize the close proximity she is to getting the assistance she requires. Cultural and ethical beliefs may also present a barrier to utilization. Alternative therapies may be common in her culture and she may not understand or accept United States traditional health care services and therefore will not utilize prenatal and postnatal services available. When difficulties arise, care is sought in emergency departments and care becomes inconsistent and fragmented. Health care is available and accessible, but not utilized (Kovner & Jonas, 2011). Access to health care service is the …show more content…
Contributing factors to a longer life expectancy is having access to health care, preventative as well as consistent quality treatment for illnesses before they become disabling or life threatening (Kovner & Jonas, 2011). The United States leads the world in life expectancy after the age of eighty years only. This may be due to better access to high technology for those who can afford this type of care (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 4). Many poor Americans have shorter life expectancies because they are unable to read. This may be due to a language barrier or they simply can not read. The lack of knowledge of good health practices or how to access the services available contributes to having minor problems that become chronic serious ones (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 5). The ranking of the three factors (prevention, utilization, and access to health care) would be the same as previously stated for infant mortality. Prevention is of least importance if the patient does not utilize or have access to healthcare services. Health care insurance is not always available in adequate amounts to cover preventative or chronic care, especially medications. Newly retired adults may be forced to choose between buying food or paying rent over medications or expensive treatments not covered by insurance. They also may have to resort to using walk-in clinics in place of a primary care physician because of the nation wide decrease in the number of primary care physicians (Lee &
So what is the problem with access? It begins with the ability to pay (obtain insurance or the money to pay), physical access to the medical facilities, and the knowledge of what services are available. A new mother residing in a small community does not have public or private transportation to the newborn clinic that is over 15 miles away. Her child is now placed in the position of not receiving “available” and necessary newborn care. Infant mortality is affected by prenatal care as well as postnatal follow up care. It is defined by “…the number of deaths under the age of one year among children born alive” (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 30). The deaths may be due to illness or injury. The following ranking was chosen because without access to healthcare, prevention, and utilization of available services is not possible. The least important of the three factors contributing to the reduction of infant mortality is prevention of disease or injury. Prevention is a key activity to avoid disease or injury, but without access to healthcare or consistent utilization of health care it is the least important contribution to the reduction of infant mortality. Diseases and injuries are treated in emergency departments or walk-in clinics with little or no follow-up. This is common because some insurance/welfare programs will provide one hundred percent payment for emergent or urgent care but do not cover one hundred percent of the payment for preventative care or urgent care services provided in a doctor’s office. This type of medical care does not allow for consistent care by a primary care physician (Kovner & Jones, 2011). The second least important factor contributing to the reduction of infant mortality is utilization of health care services. Utilization of health care services is accepting or understanding that the health care is available, necessary, and accessible (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 36-37). The patient may have a medical office next door to her residence, but she is unable to understand the language and does not realize the close proximity she is to getting the assistance she requires. Cultural and ethical beliefs may also present a barrier to utilization. Alternative therapies may be common in her culture and she may not understand or accept United States traditional health care services and therefore will not utilize prenatal and postnatal services available. When difficulties arise, care is sought in emergency departments and care becomes inconsistent and fragmented. Health care is available and accessible, but not utilized (Kovner & Jonas, 2011). Access to health care service is the …show more content…
Contributing factors to a longer life expectancy is having access to health care, preventative as well as consistent quality treatment for illnesses before they become disabling or life threatening (Kovner & Jonas, 2011). The United States leads the world in life expectancy after the age of eighty years only. This may be due to better access to high technology for those who can afford this type of care (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 4). Many poor Americans have shorter life expectancies because they are unable to read. This may be due to a language barrier or they simply can not read. The lack of knowledge of good health practices or how to access the services available contributes to having minor problems that become chronic serious ones (Kovner & Jonas, 2011, p. 5). The ranking of the three factors (prevention, utilization, and access to health care) would be the same as previously stated for infant mortality. Prevention is of least importance if the patient does not utilize or have access to healthcare services. Health care insurance is not always available in adequate amounts to cover preventative or chronic care, especially medications. Newly retired adults may be forced to choose between buying food or paying rent over medications or expensive treatments not covered by insurance. They also may have to resort to using walk-in clinics in place of a primary care physician because of the nation wide decrease in the number of primary care physicians (Lee &