U.S. Healthcare System: An Analysis
Healthcare System: An Analysis
The United States healthcare system is far more than simply a health insurance system with multiple contributors, neither is the government solely responsible for funding the system -- thus it is a hybrid health insurance system. The funding pattern depicts the system aptly, in the year 2010, 12% of funding came from local and state coffers, 38% from the federal government and 50% from private funds. Regardless of the source of funding, most people seek care from private health facilities (Dorning, 2014).
Primary Care
Individuals seek primary care for almost all the health concerns they encounter, for instance, one may look for primary care even for common afflictions such as viral fever, bacterial infection or influenza. Individuals also look for primary care if they think they have broken a bone; have skin rash or a sore muscle. Primary care providers (PCPs) could be physicians, physician assistants and NPs (Nursing Practitioners). Primary care is also about coordinating care, such as different kinds of health advice and referrals to the next level of care.
Secondary Care
At the secondary care level, the patient is taken care of by a more specialized professional of the medical problem, usually suggested by a primary care provider. Such an individual is referred to as a...
Such 'Specialists' could be oncologists who deal with cancers or cardiologists who specialize on heart problems. A patient will be referred to secondary care only when primary care level cannot provide the required solution adequately. Functionally, it is crucial for primary care specialists to coordinate patient care if they are seeing disparate specialists simultaneously.
Tertiary Care
This is the highest level of specialty care in health care facilities. Individuals approach this level if their cases require a level of specialization beyond both primary and secondary care specialists. The devices and equipment used at this level of care are highly specialized and quite expensive. The individuals working at this level have years of experience and exposure. they possess the acumen to conduct complicated procedures or interventions such as neurosurgeries and heart surgeries (Torrey, 2016).
Is U.S. Health Care Universal?
The U.S. health care is not universal. In other words, it doesn't guarantee basic healthcare for its citizens. Health in the U.S. is treated as a commercial product (only available for those who are well-off) and not as a public or social good. In the largely insurance covered healthcare system in the U.S., over forty million citizens (that cannot buy a healthcare insurance cover) are deprived of healthcare at various levels…
