Medical Issues

Low health literacy is commonly associated with a low socioeconomic status. This disparity accounts for the large number of individuals that do not receive vaccinations due to the lack of insurance, information, and impending cost (Bostock & Steptoe, 2012). Individuals with low health literacy due not receive care until unconditionally necessary. This then accounts for the large number of emergency room admissions due to the serious problem that has occurred (Schumacher et al., 2013).

The third episode of the video series “Rx for Survival,” focused on the hindrances in conveying the 21st century’s global health tools worldwide and was titled “Delivering the Goods.” The episode expressed the difficulty in delivering public health interventions to many of the world’s people; as a large challenge, and declared the fact that 10 million children die yearly from preventable causes “a great paradox of public health” (Rx for Survival, 2005). The video relayed some of the larger obstacles to providing care for the needy as being: geographical, information delivery, and political (Rx for Survival, 2005).

Compounding this lack of care, Haitians also lack clean drinking water and proper sanitation systems. Less than half the population has access to clean drinking water, a rate that is only surpassed by civil war-torn African nations. Even worse, half the population of Haiti can be categorized as “food insecure,” and this malnutrition has created a generation where half of all Haitian children are undersized (IFRC, 2010). In addition, this poor sanitation and hygiene, coupled with inadequate nutrition, have contributed to exceptionally high levels of individuals with chronic, yet often at best ill-treated, conditions.

These special education children have now added to the economic burden of CVD (Zazove & Doukas, 1994). Health literacy plays a major issue (Baker, 2006) in the DHOH population, as the huge cost on the economy health expenditures is relevant to low health literacy (Laureate Education, Inc, 2011). Health literacy is a term used to define the ability to act upon medical or health information independently (Laureate Education, Inc, 2011). Likewise, the ability to completely complete demographic forms, commitment to follow up appointments, comprehend basic medical procedure, and medication compliance are signs of a person with health literacy (Laureate Education, Inc, 2011). According to CDC (2011), " the degree to which an individual can obtain, communicate, process, and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions" (p. 1). Therefore, the potential health consequence of low health literacy as it associates with CVD, apart from an increase chance of accidental death, is the rise in hospitalizations (Andrus & Roth, 2002). An increase in hospitalization increases the chance of miscommunication, barriers in cultural gaps contrition, and insufficient interpreter translations, among patients and doctors. Two decades of attention in the health care accessibility rights of DHOH

“Sick Around the World”The reform about the healthcare system in the US has been debated within the government and the public for years. The need for change in the healthcare system echoed since the legislation of Medicare and Medicaid were created. US presidents have tried to push for a universal healthcare system because of its citizen’s outcry for better, quality care, for all. Surprisingly other countries have studied the US health system and reared away from its market based structure to more of a government based structure. In watching the documentary titled “Sick Around the World” I find it ironic that the most powerful rich country in the world ranks 37th when it comes to healthcare for its citizens. As a citizen of the US, I

Medical errors have adverse effect on health care organization structure because it put a question mark on health profession’s reputation. The medical error definitely can cause harm to the patient or even the death. Medical errors can happen anywhere in healthcare system: in hospitals, clinics, surgery rooms. Medical mistakes can arise from doctors, nurses, surgeons, hospital administration, and many others. Medical errors affect the health care organizational structure, culture, and social in many ways. Medication errors have severe direct and indirect effects on health care organizational structure, and culture is usually the outcome of breakdowns in a system of care. Many reasons can involve in medical errors such as, miscommunication

Some still argue that we do not have a moral obligation to save the child in the pool and therefore no obligation to save those suffering in other countries, but I argue that although a moral obligation may not exist for some people, others obligations factor into the overall decision. Most people may be influenced by their morals but others might be influenced by societal obligations and the fear of consequence or a sense of fulfillment while others may be moved by the notion that if they save someone drowning in a pool, others will do the same for them if they should ever find themselves in a dire situation. It is very hard to resist the decision to rescue a person in need. However, the decision becomes easier to ignore if more and more drowning children present

“About 29,000 children under the age of five – 21 each minute – die every day, mainly from preventable causes.” (http://www.unicef.org/mdg/childmortality.html) This means in the time it took you to read that first sentence, 2 children under the age of 5 died –likely from an avoidable cause. It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that most of these deaths occur in developing countries; however, if we value all life as equal, shouldn’t this be more unsettling? In the article “What Billionaires Should Give & What You Should Give,” the Peter Singer examines several ideas surrounding the topic of philanthropy. The author agrees that we have a natural instinct and general responsibility to help those in need; however, there is much controversy over how that looks for billionaires and the average American.

There is no doubt that the United States has the highest health care expenses across the globe. Each person in the U.S. spends, on average, approximately $8,508 a year on health care alone. This figure is more than half, and sometimes nearly three times more, than most developed countries around the world, including relatively rich European countries such as France and Sweden. The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is much larger than those compared of other countries, regardless of high health care costs. The most evident pattern within the data is that other countries, on average, have lower incomes, pay less for health care, and are living longer. There are a few explanations for this

My passion for global health stems from my experiences as a child. Growing up as a child of Mexican immigrants to the United States, I had the opportunity to visit family members in southern Mexico every few years. While I savored reconnecting with relatives, my awareness of inequalities bolstered with each visit. My relatives live in rural areas where economic adversity is persistent and access to quality healthcare is sparse. Contrasting my relatives’ experiences and opportunities with my own exemplified to me how one’s life is shaped by economic conditions, healthcare access, education systems, and one’s birthplace.

The uncollected waste in these informal settlements had become crucial and major concern for the local authorities responsible for public health. In addition, the uncollected waste made the environment filthy and dirty, which led to outbreaks of water-borne diseases and created a general deterioration of the environment (Mwaura, 1991, p.35). Houses in Armall were

It is important to understand and accept their choices about healthcare, however it would be wise to educate them about pregnancy, vaccinations, basic illnesses, as well as chronic illnesses. With proper education on these topics, they may better be able to make decisions regarding their health. If an individual in this community was trained in basic healthcare, they could then relay the information to other members. This would get the information out into the community, and these members will feel safer about making tough decisions regarding healthcare. When this population has a basic knowledge about their own health, they will be able to live a healthier lifestyle and be able to care for themselves better.

Is there a solution to this costly societal problem? The long-term solution rests in the hands of health education beginning in kindergarten and continuing throughout college. We need more community involvement with this issue. It not only affects the health illiterate but those that are very health literate. It raises the costs of health care enormously. Despite massive technological advances and that we spend twice as much per capita on healthcare in the United States, we remain one of the unhealthiest nations in the world. Low health literacy contributes to our grim future. We have high rates of infant mortality; increased mortality related to chronic, preventable disease processes; and cancer mortality could be greatly reduced by early detection.

Chronic Serious Health Condition: A serious health condition, which requires periodic visits at least twice per year for treatment by a health care provider, or by a nurse under direct supervision of a health care provider; continues over an extended period of time and may cause episodic incapacity.

As I stated above there is a lot of contention in our society when it comes to how people and some professionals react to a person with rare medical issues. When someone is approached or informed that a person has a rare diagnosis people have a tendency to become very uncomfortable. Their most common responses are changing the subject, suggesting an illogical cure all, or accusing the person of faking because their illness is not outwardly visible. Professionals such as doctors often get frustrated with the lack of information on the illness or in extreme cases refuse to treat the patient labeling them as a waste of resources. In result, those with rare disorders are often left feeling ostracized and lacking support. That or the feel they