In the 8th Edition it is Chapter11–Public Health and the Role of Government in Health Care
Answer the following questions on Public Health Services:
- The Public Health Service originated in 1798 as the Marine Hospital Service. Identify two (2) motivating factors that prompted that development.
- Why, in the 1960s, were the health-related programs of Medicare, Medicaid, and Neighborhood Health Centers assigned to non-health federal agencies instead of the Public Health Service? Please provide two (2) examples.
- Public health efforts and those of private medicine complement each other and together serve the spectrum of health service needs of American society. Why, then, has their relationship been sometimes contentious and have they not consistently worked together proactively to improve the health status of Americans? Please provide two (2) examples.
- Contrast the population-based orientation of public health with the individual-centered focus of private health practitioners. Provide two (2) examples.
- Deaths in the United States that result from preventable causes total approximately 40% of all deaths each year. Deaths result from tobacco use, poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles. What additional two (2) actions should/could the U.S. health care system use to combat the factors that contribute to preventable deaths or incentivize more healthy living lifestyles among the most at-risk populations?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: Public health is an important aspect of healthcare that aims to improve the health of communities and populations. As a medical professor, it is crucial to educate students on the role of public health services in promoting health and preventing diseases. In this assignment, we will answer questions related to public health services.
1. The Public Health Service originated in 1798 as the Marine Hospital Service. Identify two (2) motivating factors that prompted that development.
Answer: The two motivating factors that prompted the development of the Marine Hospital Service were the need to care for sick and disabled seamen and to protect the public from infectious diseases brought by ships from other countries.
2. Why, in the 1960s, were the health-related programs of Medicare, Medicaid, and Neighborhood Health Centers assigned to non-health federal agencies instead of the Public Health Service? Please provide two (2) examples.
Answer: The health-related programs of Medicare, Medicaid, and Neighborhood Health Centers were assigned to non-health federal agencies in the 1960s because these programs were seen as social welfare programs rather than public health programs. An example of this is Medicaid being administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, while the Department of Labor administers the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which ensures safe and healthy working conditions for employees.
3. Public health efforts and those of private medicine complement each other and together serve the spectrum of health service needs of American society. Why, then, has their relationship been sometimes contentious and have they not consistently worked together proactively to improve the health status of Americans? Please provide two (2) examples.
Answer: The relationship between public health and private medicine has been contentious due to the different priorities and objectives of the two systems. Private medicine is focused on individual patient care, while public health is focused on population health. An example of this is when private practitioners resist public health regulations, such as vaccination requirements. Another example is when public health officials criticize the high cost and inefficiencies of the private healthcare system.
4. Contrast the population-based orientation of public health with the individual-centered focus of private health practitioners. Provide two (2) examples.
Answer: Public health has a population-based orientation, focusing on improving the health of entire populations through preventative measures, such as vaccinations and health education. On the other hand, private healthcare practitioners have an individual-centered focus, providing medical care to individual patients to address specific health concerns. An example of public health measures include programs promoting physical activity and healthy eating habits while private focus on patient-oriented measures such as surgeries and prescription medicines.
5. Deaths in the United States that result from preventable causes total approximately 40% of all deaths each year. Deaths result from tobacco use, poor dietary habits, and sedentary lifestyles. What additional two (2) actions should/could the U.S. health care system use to combat the factors that contribute to preventable deaths or incentivize more healthy living lifestyles among the most at-risk populations?
Answer: Two additional actions that the U.S. healthcare system can take to combat preventable deaths and incentivize healthy lifestyles include increasing funding for public health campaigns that promote healthy living, and providing financial incentives for individuals who engage in healthy behaviors, such as exercise and smoking cessation. Additionally, increasing access to healthy foods and reducing the availability of tobacco products could be effective measures to improve population health.
#discuation
