Section review
Distinguish between the role of a primary-care physician and the role of a specialist.
List the names of four allied health careers. Describe the types of work done in each of these careers.
What are the advantages of outpatient care compared with the advantages of inpatient care?
How do convalescent centres and hospices differ? WHAT DO YOU THINK?
What kind of facility would you choose in order to obtain a routine chest x-ray? Why?
Evaluating your doctor
Does the doctor answer your questions fully in terms you can understand?
Does the doctor perform a careful and complete physical examination?
Does the doctor keep accurate written records that he or she refers to?
Does the doctor explain reasons for medical tests?
Does the doctor explain the reasons for medicines and give clear directions for taking medicines?
Do you feel the doctor is listening to what you are saying?
Does the doctor have after hour and weekend care for emergencies?
Is the doctor willing to consult with or refer you to other physicians for special health problems?
A PATIENT'S RIGHTS
the right to considerate and respectful care.
the right to refuse or withdraw from care and to be informed of the medical consequences of such action.
the right to obtain from your doctor information concerning your diagnosis and treatment in terms that you can understand.
the right to expect that all information concerning your records will be kept confidential.
the right to review your medical records.
the right to be informed if the hospital engages in or performs human experimentation affecting your care or treatment.
COMPUTER-ASSISTED DIAGNOSIS
Computers soon will assist doctors in diagnosing their patients' ailments.
Using a personal computer, a phone link and a computer programme, doctors can gain access to medical databanks around the country. A doctor simply enters a symptoms, age, sex and medical history into the computer. The computer then scan the databank and responds with a short list of likely diagnoses.
The computer programmes are useful in double-checking a diagnosis. They are especially useful with rare illnesses a doctor may never have seen before. Because the databanks are updated regularly they include the most recent information about various diseases and their symptoms.
These programmes, however, will never replace a doctor's years training and experience. The computer's responses are only as good as the information the doctor provides.
PAYING FOR HEALTH CARE
At some point of their life people have to pay for their health care. They can select the method of paying for their health costs that is best for them.
One way is to pay for each health care service. This is called out-of pocket payment. Another way is through health insurance.
Health insurance is a health-care payment plan that pays for a major part of and individual's medical expenses. Most people buy health insurance because it pays for large medical bills that otherwise would be a financial burden.
There are several types of health-insurance plans that provide coverage for health-related expenses other than medical and hospital expenses. Dental expenses, for example, is becoming increasingly common. Disability insurance provides for the replacement of any income lost during a long recuperation from illness or injury.
Private health insurance may be offered as individual or group plans.
Under individual plans, the person who wants insurance coverage pays an annual fee called a premium to the insurance company. For the premium, the insurance corppany guarantees to pay the person's medical expenses for the year within the limits set in the insurance plan. The premium may be paid at the beginning of the coverage year or in periodic payments throughout the year. Individual plans are much more expensive than group plans.
In a group plan, the cost of the insurance is spread among many people. The most common kind of group-insurance plan is one covering the employees of a certain company.
The company often pays part or all the premium as a job benefit. This can be an important benefit for employees whose families are also covered by the insurance plan. People who cannot get employee group- insurance sometimes can obtain it through professional or retirement organizations.
PREVENTING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
When you are in good health, your body's defenses against disease are at their best. Here some guidelines for keeping your body healthy and free of infectious diseases:
-Eat well-balanced meals. Choose nutritious foods for snacks. Do not skip meals.
-Get at least eight hours of sleep each night.
-Spend some time every day relaxing.
-Exercise aerobically for at least 30 minutes three or more times a week.
-Avoid stress if you can, and get help to cope if stress cannot be avoided.
- Stay away from people who have an infectious disease.
-Wash your hands before eating, and keep your hands out of your eyes and mouth.
-Do not share a toothbrush, hairbrush, comb, bath towel, eating utensils, drinking straw, or drink container with another person.
-Keep your body clean, and wash your hands several times a day.
-Have regular physical and dental checkups.
-Make sure that your vaccinations against infectious disease are complete and up-to-date.
If you become ill, you can protect others from infectious disease if you stay at home for the first day or two of an infectious disease; cover your mouth and nose whenever you cough or sneeze; dispose of used tissues properly; and wash your hands frequently.
If a person becomes sick today, a doctor may prescribe a certain medication to treat the illness. This medication, and the hundreds of other medicines that are now available to doctors and their patients, represents years of hard work by pharmacologists.
Pharmacologists develop new drugs to treat or prevent human diseases. Pharmacologists work in research laboratories and must understand both chemistry and biology. Their work progresses slowly
because the drugs they develop must be tested carefully for effectiveness and safety.
A pharmacist dispenses medicines that have been prescribed by doctors. They also advise people on the use of nonprescription medications.
If you do get an infectious disease, you can help your body to recover by going to bed and resting. This treatment and well-balanced meals are all that you need to recover from mild infection. But, what if your infection is not mild? An extremely sore throat, an earache, vomiting or diarrhea, or a very high temperature require a doctor if they last more than two days.
You also need to see a doctor if you have difficulty breathing; if you have severe pain anywhere; or if you have a cut or scrape that does not seem to be healing as it should. If your illness lasts longer than usual. Or you are worried about your health for any reason, see your doctor and discuss your concerns with him or her.
WHAT DO YOU THINK
More people get flu during the winter months than at any other time of the year. Why?
Why do you think some infectious diseases are more common in young people than in older people?
There has been a flood in your town. Why has the department of public health advised people to boil tap water for five minutes before using it for drinking?
You are taking a trip to India. Will you need more vaccinations first? Why or why not?
Call your doctor's office and ask to see your immunization record - the list of vaccinations you have received in your life. Which disease have you been vaccinated against? When are you due to receive your next booster doses?
EATING FOR HEALTH
Do you ever feel that your parents continually nag you to eat a well- balanced diet? Frustrating as this may be, there is a reason for it. Since nutrition is so important, you need to make wise food choices for yourself.
You may have heard it said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Unfortunately, in many homes, breakfast is neglected in the morning rush.
In fact, most nutritionists believe that breakfast really is the most important meal. Your stomach is empty after a night without food, and breakfast should provide one-fourth to one-third of your food needs for the day ahead. When your breakfast is inadequate, you are likely to eat high - calorie, low - nutrient -density snacks to give you energy.
For a balanced breakfast you may try cottage cheese, fruit, or tuna on toast one day and a toasted cheese sandwich and tomato juice another day.
Perhaps more than at any other meal, at lunch you are in control of the foods you eat. Many school cafeterias even offer nutritious snacks, salads, and special diet food and vegetables. Since lunch makes up another third of your food needs for the day, you may want to choose a high-protein sandwich, such as chicken on wheat bread, a piece of fruit or a salad, and a carton of milk.
Dinner is frequently the heaviest meal of the day. Since you may be less physically active after this meal, it should not account for more than the final third of your calorie needs for the day. Use the dinner meal to make up for the nutrients you did not choose at breakfast and lunch.
Snacks are not necessarily bad for you if you choose them wisely, but it is possible to become poorly nourished from snacking. Frequent snacking may result in unnecessary weight gain because snack foods are often high in calories.