Chapter 10 SLAM

This chapter is all about diversity and the strengths in it. The fedreal government has recently categorized the U.S population into five racial groups...American Indian or Alaska Native, Aian, black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacifi Islander, and white...and two ethnic groups (Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic or Latino). The reporting of accurate and complete raceand ethnicity data provides esssential information to target and evaluate publi health inventions aimed at minority populations. All cultural and ethnic groups hold concepts related to health and illness and associated practices for maintaining well-being or providing treatment when it is indicated.
Socioeconomic status has been considered the most influential single contributor to premature morbidity and mrotality by many public health researchers. Research in the llast couple of decades indicates that the relationship between SES and health occurs at every socioeconomic level and for a broad range of SES indicators. This relationship between SES and health can be described as a gradient.

Chapter 15

There are both natural and human-made hazards that threaten habitats, climates, and the health of individuals or communities of organisms. As people, we can’t control the natural hazards which happen throughout the world, but we can try to be prepared for them in case something would happen. As a country, during hazards such as Hurricane Katrina, etc, many people and organizations really did all they could to help victims. Even though we can’t control natural hazards, we can control the human-made hazards which are the most disturbing to me as a person. We should want to preserve these areas to keep these animals around as long as possible.
Also, another thing that bothered us is how much pollution happening throughout the world. We need to do a better job of carpooling, not littering, saving water, etc. Like we went over in class on Monday, it takes a little bit of effort from everyone to make a difference. For example, if every single person tries to do their part in the world, our world will be a lot more of a clean place to live. Both of these issues about our environment need to be controlled or some really bad things will happen, if not.

Chapter 14

The first thing that jumped off the page in chapter 14 was the part in the beginning when it talks about the fact that Whites' or Caucasians' actually are more likely to receive health care services at a higher level than those of a minority. It is very racist and it shouldn't be tolerated or accepted as a fact of life. Another interesting part of the chapter seemed to uncover one of the major flaws in the U.S health care structure; the millions of people who have jobs and keep their families barely above the poverty line yet cannot afford to pay for Medicaid and the middle class families who can't afford health care/insurance. One of the steps to improving U.S Health care would be filling these gaps and finding a way to get these people proper health care that can be paid for. Also,m making the payment system a simpler one might entice those who have never sought proper health care to do so. Right now paying for the care one needs comes from to many different levels. The book puts it in perspective pretty well when it says, "Most Americans pay three or four times for health care: 'we pay once through taxes, a second time through insurance premiums and co-payments, a third time through supplemental insurance, and a fourth time through the cost of products we buy.'" This is actually talking about those fortunate enough to possess adequate health insurance; so one can imagine why people like the 'working poor' are unable or uninterested in obtaining proper health care.

Chapter 14

Chapter 14 discusses the health care system here in America. We provide two major health care insurance programs in the United States which are Medicare and Medicaid. The majority of Americans are covered by some form of managed care; however there are issues of concerns that pertain to this system, the cost, access, and quality triangle. This leads to barriers to access health care because there is a lack of health insurance, insufficient insurance, and poverty within our population. The United States is the only developed country without national health insurance. We must reform our Health Care because it has only gotten worse and worse. I am not sure what works for Canada, and other countries will work for us, but we need to do something different because what we are doing is not working well or efficiently. This is a problem many people are afraid to discuss, we just need to get out in the open and start solving it.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 covered the structure of our Health Care System. Since the health care system has been created, it has evolved tremendously. Back to when it first was present, the primary care was an independent country doctor who made house calls; it has now evolved into a complex trillion dollar industry. The health care system can be broken down into four domains of practice- population-based public health practice, medical practice, long-term practice, and end-of-life practice. These practices correlate appropriately to the severity of the illness. These services are performed in many different settings, including practitioners’ offices, clinics, hospitals, rehab centers, ambulances, and long-term care facilities. Although our health care system provides adequate help for those who need it, I think it might be a little too complex. It could be thought of by some people overwhelming causing them to stay away from these services; however, it is pretty amazing to see how far the health care system has evolved over time.