1.What are diagnostics? How is this related to the health sciences?
Diagnostics: The identifications of diseases, illnesses, and other conditions and the process by which the identification is made. When you are sick and visit the doctor, you may receive a diagnosis of your illness through the process of tests, describing your symptoms, and the doctor’s knowledge of illnesses, and heal sciences are involved in all areas of diagnostics.
2.What is trepanation? Why was this used?
Trepanation: Involved drilling a hole into the skull of the patient in order to release intracranial pressure or for other reasons. Cave paintings and other Neolithic evidence suggests that trepanation was used in an attempt to help people suffering from migraines, epilepsy, mental disorders, and head injuries.
3.Describe three ways that healthcare is funded.
- Government healthcare: May serve populations that cannot afford the healthcare costs at other healthcare sites.
- Medicare: Is an example of a social insurance program.
- Nonprofit institutions: Does not make a profit above the costs of running the healthcare site.
- Private healthcare: Owned by a for-profit company and the funding comes from patient and insurance payment.
- Public healthcare: Funded by a variety of sources and open to anyone.
- Public healthcare sites: Facilities often associated with teaching hospitals where medical and nursing students receive hands-on training and experience.
4.What are private healthcare sites? What are their characteristics?
Private healthcare sites, such as private hospitals, may provide more specialized services, and they may have more funding for equipment and staff members. However, these services may cost more at private hospitals than they would at other types of hospitals.
5.What is patient-centered care?
At the immediate level, this may mean taking into account not only the patient’s illness, but also his or her lifestyle and family factors when making decisions about treatments.
Critical Thinking Questions
1.Private health insurance is a common form of healthcare payment in the United States. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of private health insurance?
Private insurance is purchased by individuals; you could discuss the cost to individuals of buying the insurance. Advantages: it covers you if you get sick or injured (Hopefully), insurance companies may pay for part of the medical expenses.
2.What was healthcare in the ancient world like? How did it provide the foundations for modern healthcare?
Although many ancient beliefs about illness and death were wrapped up in superstition and religion, people began to learn more about the body, illness, and death. The earliest known surgery took place in ancient Egypt in 2750 BCE. The Edwin Smith Papyrus, discovered by Egyptologist Edwin Smith, is an ancient medical text dating to about 1500 BCE. The papyrus details over forty cases of injuries, examination processes, and treatments. Some of the treatments discussed include sutures (stitches), bandages, and using honey to combat infection. The papyrus also shows some understanding about how injuries could affect other areas, such as brain injuries causing paralysis.
3.How has technology affected the health sciences?
Computers can be used to make it easier to learn about medical issues and electronic patient records can make it easier for healthcare professionals to collaborate on treatment plans.
4.One of the changes in the informatics area of the health sciences is the use of electronic medical records. Some individuals have expressed concern about this. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of electronic medical records? Why might some people be concerned about them?
Informatics: Involves the acquisition, organization and storage of information. Some advantages would be the fact that the doctor doesn’t have to rely on you to tell them your history of events. The bad thing is the fact that there are hackers that can hack in and take all of the information that is on there and use it. Another bad thing is that if the internet crashes then you wouldn’t be able to get your medical record to the doctor.
5.What responsibilities do consumers and patients have in the health science field?
Some responsibilities that consumers and patients have would be paying for their care, being honest about symptoms or information, or seeking help when they need it. They also have the responsibility of following advice given to them.