...HEALTH RISKS & COSTS The Effects Of Obesity, Smoking, And Drinking On Medical Problems And Costs Obesity outranks both smoking and drinking in its deleterious effects on health and health costs. by Roland Sturm ABSTRACT: This paper compares the effects of obesity, overweight, smoking, and problem drinking on health care use and health status based on national survey data. Obesity has roughly the same association with chronic health conditions as does twenty years’ aging; this greatly exceeds the associations of smoking or problem drinking. Utilization effects mirrors the health effects. Obesity is associated with a 36 percent increase in inpatient and outpatient spending and a 77 percent increase in medications, compared with a 21 percent increase in inpatient and outpatient spending and a 28 percent increase in medications for current smokers and smaller effects for problem drinkers. Nevertheless, the latter two groups have received more consistent attention in recent decades in clinical practice and public health policy. M a n y b e h a v i o r a l r i s k f a c t o r s , chief among them smoking, heavy drinking, and obesity, are known causes of chronic health conditions. Chronic health conditions, like cancer, diabetes, or heart disease, in turn are primary drivers of health care spending, disability, and death. This paper compares the associations of smoking, problem drinking, and obesity with health care use and chronic conditions....
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...Introduction 3 Population of Mentally Ill Inmates in the Correctional Facilities 3 Mentally ill inmates: The Cost 4 The Treatment of Mentally Ill Inmates 6 Selection Process for Mentally Ill Inmates 7 Isolation and Restraints 9 Conclusion 11 References 12 Introduction When a person thinks about a correction facility many only think that there is only regular criminals that are perfectly well, but what they neglect to know is that it is also housed with mentally ill inmates as well. Many of the people has been brained washed by media and movies that prisoners are to be normal criminals who have done things wrong in which has lead into a correction facility but what the fail to publicize is that they are also house by people who are not mentally stable, and who may receive different treatment from regular inmates. Correctional facilities have many types of inmates and undergo various dilemmas therefore they must try to deal with the cost of the inmates, provide different treatment and must undergo special screening in order to determine if they are ill or not. Population of Mentally Ill Inmates in the Correctional Facilities The country that has the greatest rate of adult imprisonment is the United States; it has 2.2 million presently in the correctional facilities (Annaceri, 2007). Individuals with psychological problems have been progressively more imprisoned within the last three decades, most likely the consequence of the deinstitutionalization of the state psychological...
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...RAND > Published Research > Research Briefs > RB-9336 > Invisible Wounds Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America’s Returning Veterans RESEARCHHIGHLIGHTS View the print-friendly version: PDF (0.2 MB) Key findings: * Approximately 18.5 percent of U.S. servicemembers who have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq currently have post-traumatic stress disorder or depression; and 19.5 percent report experiencing a traumatic brain injury during deployment. * Roughly half of those who need treatment for these conditions seek it, but only slightly more than half who receive treatment get minimally adequate care. * Improving access to high-quality care(i.e., treatment supported by scientific evidence) can be cost-effective and improve recovery rates. | Since October 2001, approximately 1.64 million U.S. troops have deployed to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many have been exposed for prolonged periods to combat-related stress or traumatic events. Safeguarding the mental health of these servicemembers and veterans is an important part of ensuring the future readiness of our military force and compensating and honoring those who have served our nation. In the wake of recent reports and media attention, public concern about the care of the war wounded is high. In response, several task forces, independent review groups, and a Presidential Commission have examined the care of the war wounded and recommended improvements. Policy changes and funding shifts...
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...campaign, President Obama argued for health care reform by saying that health care is a right. In the outcome of healthcare reform, Americans ask the question; how can we pay for healthcare reform? This is a continuous debate on the Senate floor, and American politicians have many differences and if not solved it will continue to hinder the progress of healthcare reform. Both republicans and democrats are at debate over quality of healthcare. Many think American government is trying to take over. Health care is an incredibly intense industry. Every patient contact, care experience, and outcome must be documented in an accurate way. Accrediting bodies such as Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations review documentation to assess compliance with standards of care for a quality assurance. If a hospital is not accredited by Joint Commission Accreditation Healthcare organization it cannot receive healthcare which means healthcare record keeping is crucial. Patient record keeping is complex and complicated. Methods of organizing patient information require teamwork and the ability to track patient encounters from the time the patient is admitted until the patient is discharged. Healthcare quality may be defined in many diverse ways with differing implications for healthcare providers, providers, patients, third party payers policy makers, and other stakeholders. First high quality health services should accomplish desired health outcomes for individuals, matching...
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...Associations Among Health Literacy and Outcomes in Pregnancy: A Systematic Literature Review Pregnancy and childbirth is often a woman’s first adult encounter with the health care system (Ferguson, 2008). Pregnant women need to have the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitude to best interact with the complex health care system. Outcomes such as low birth weight, premature delivery and breastfeeding rates have significant influence on a child’s health as well as increased cost to the system. The medical cost of a preterm birth is approximately three times more than a term birth. In 2005, the estimated cost associated with preterm birth was $26.2 billion when accounting for medical, educational and lost productivity costs (Institute of Medicine,...
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...Risks of Mental Health Drugs for Our Youth Rapa Barsel Prof. Stephen Webber ENG 215048VA016-1142-001 February 15, 2014 Although there is a considerable amount of children with mental health disorders, more research and stricter regulations are necessary to investigate the diagnoses and the overuse of prescribing mental health drugs to our children. In our current age of advanced technology, medicine is also advancing. Although, these advances can detect many illnesses earlier on, they may not be an accurate diagnosis for minors. Thousands of children are prescribed antipsychotic drugs without proper medical assessments. I have a two and half year old son and I would not be willing to put him on any mental health drug unless I was absolutely certain it was necessary. These mental health drugs can cause suicidal thinking and behavior. It can also lead to an altered personality, or lack thereof. These drugs can be harmful to brain and physical development in younger children. According to the U.S. Surgeon General (2000), as many as 1 in 10 American children and adolescents a year have “significant functional impairment” as a result of a mental health disorder. The trends in administering psychotropic medication to young children are on a rise in the U.S. Since psychotropic medications are substances that affect brain chemicals related to mood and behavior (NIMH, 2009). These trends have caused a great deal of debate. All parties without an economic agenda agree...
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...Research Proposal Use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPNDS) with mothers of different cultural backgrounds within Butetown in Cardiff Introduction Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (SCPHN) are increasingly expected to adopt evidence based practice, utilising research findings to base actions and decisions on that are clinically appropriate, cost effective and result in positive outcomes for clients (Polit and Beck, 2004). Through implementing research based evidence into practice and evaluating its effects, the SCPHN is able to meet standards of proficiency and improve client care (NMC, 2004; Robothom and Frost, 2005). Some women have a much more severe change in mood after the birth of their child and may be assessed as experiencing postnatal depression (PND). The symptoms of (PND) may include anxiety, depressed mood, lack of interest or pleasure in activities, changes in appetite, sleep dysregulation, agitation, irritability, fatigue, malaise, feeling worthless or guilty, unable to concentrate or make decisions as well as thoughts of death and suicide (Driscoll, 2006). The condition is often assessed by a health visitor using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPNDS) (Appendix 1). A number of studies indicate that 10-15 per cent of new mothers will experience PND (Chung et al, 2008). A health visitor sees the mother at home and has a preventive role in relation to both maternal and child health. Women routinely have a postnatal check at 6...
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...Health Care Research In looking at the definition of research, it is pretty much defined the same no matter what resource you are looking at. Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003) defines research as: 1) careful or diligent search; 2) studious inquiry or examination; investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws; 3) the collecting of information about a particular subject. Research may mean different things to different people but research to me means to participate in research and to search for information on a subject or a particular problem. Research is an important part of Ashford Academics. “Health care organizations have become extremely complex hence health care management has also taken on a complexity of its own. Health care managers must therefore be very versatile in management skills while being very knowledgeable in health care issues. One cannot expect to be fully prepared for a lifetime career of health care management by an academic program alone. Further growth and professional development are demanded in a highly dynamic environment such as health care” (Isaac, 1995). As a leader in health care, research is important because either it justifies a point being made or it allows you to interpret...
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...senior citizens and answering the question why the United States has a epidemic of obesity and how we can stop it. Today, the health care systems have advanced by prolonging life expectancy and quality of life. Though, providing health care is not cheap and easy to do. Cost, accessibility, and quality is a challenge that they face in order to provide the people with healthcare. Learning and being aware of disease trends can provides us with invaluable knowledge in treating our elderly and preventing obesity in today's society.. The major tend that will influence healthcare in the future of the United States is when the generation known as the"baby boomers", who are the the fastest growing age groups and adults born between (1946 and 1964) will turn 65 in 2011.(1) This group of seniors will also have chronic health conditions as they age that will be the major cause of illness, disability, and death in the United States. The nations population is estimated to increase to to increase to 392 million by 2050 because life expectancy is projected to increase from 76.0 years in 1993 to 82.6 years in 2050. In 2050, life expectancy in the low assumption would be 75.3 years and in the high assumption would be 87.5 years. “About 30 percent of the population in 1994 were born during the Baby Boom. As this population ages, the median age will rise. People born during the Baby Boom will be between 36 and 54 years old at the turn of the century....
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...women and 15+ drinks for men, in a 1-week span), and any consumption of alcohol by women who know they are pregnant or any person 20 years old or younger (detriment to growth and development). These components focus not only on the patterns of consumption, more so the volume of alcohol consumption in a time frame. The volume and patterns of alcohol consumption indicate health-risk behaviors,...
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...Epidemiology/Health Services/Psychosocial Research O R I G I N A L A R T I C L E Out-of-Pocket Costs and Diabetes Preventive Services The Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) study ANDREW J. KARTER, PHD1 MARK R. STEVENS, MSPH, MA2 WILLIAM H. HERMAN, MD, MPH3 SUSAN ETTNER, PHD4 DAVID G. MARRERO, PHD5 MONIKA M. SAFFORD, MD6 MICHAEL M. ENGELGAU, MD, MS2 J. DAVID CURB, MD, MPH7 ARLEEN F. BROWN, MD, PHD4 THE TRIAD STUDY GROUP* OBJECTIVE — Despite the increased shifting of health care costs to consumers, little is known about the impact of financial barriers on health care utilization. This study investigated the effect of out-of-pocket expenditures on the utilization of recommended diabetes preventive services. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS — This was a survey-based observational study (2000 –2001) in 10 managed care health plans and 68 provider groups across the U.S. serving ϳ180,000 patients with diabetes. From 11,922 diabetic survey respondents, we studied the occurrence of self-reported annual dilated eye exams and diabetes health education and among insulin users, daily self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). Conditional probabilities were estimated for outcomes at each level of self-reported out-of-pocket expenditure by using hierarchical logistic regression models with random intercepts. RESULTS — Conditional probabilities of utilization (95% CI) varied by expenditure for dilated eye exam [no cost 78% (75– 82), copay 79% (75–...
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... February 5, 2012 Chris Garwick-Foley Alzheimer ’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes a gradual and irreversible decline of cognitive abilities (Feldman, 2010, p. 325). Informally known as “old timers” disease, it strikes more than half of the elderly community greater than age 85 (Feldman, 2010). In addition to the loss of memory there are also major neurological, functional, and behavioral changes as well. There are a few risk factors including age, family history, and head injuries. There is no definitive way of predicting that a person will get Alzheimer’s, but there are genetic markers and neurological tests that can signify a person’s chances at acquiring Alzheimer’s later in life (Association, 2012). Although there is no cure at this time there are methods to treating symptoms, and leading a healthy lifestyle, eating right, and staying fit both mentally and physically can help with prevention. Defining Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is neurological and affects short-term memory, behavior, the ability to match words with familiar objects, and attention span. The disease is degenerative with the gradual loss of neurological function. Alzheimer’s is distinguished from other dementias by the presence of beta-amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (Swaminathan, 2011). These create a disruption in the synapses responsible for critical thinking and changes in the medial temporal lobe limbic structures, causing...
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...r k p la ce m eetin g tH e c H Al l en g e about the publication this publication is an adjunct to Health Advocate’s recent webinar “Stress in the Workplace: meeting the challenge” co-sponsored by the national Women’s Health Resource center, the leading independent health information source for women. this white paper offers comprehensive research about the causes and impact of workplace stress, its role in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs and includes the effects of job stress on women workers. the research also reviews successful organizational and individual strategies to help manage stress and reduce costs. Following these strategies can help reduce absenteeism and turnover, help employees better balance work/life responsibilities, and also reduce healthcare costs. about health aDVocate™, inc. Health Advocate, inc., the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide, providing more than 15 million Americans with personalized help to resolve healthcare and insurance-related issues. the company offers a spectrum of advocacy, Wellness, Pricing decision Support and Human Resources solutions to help save time and money. the company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent ®, to individuals who are not part of groups. For more information, contact Health Advocate (toll-free) at: 1-866-385-8033, prompt #2 or via email at info@HealthAdvocate.com. st r e ss...
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...r k p la ce m eetin g tH e c H Al l en g e about the publication this publication is an adjunct to Health Advocate’s recent webinar “Stress in the Workplace: meeting the challenge” co-sponsored by the national Women’s Health Resource center, the leading independent health information source for women. this white paper offers comprehensive research about the causes and impact of workplace stress, its role in lost productivity and higher healthcare costs and includes the effects of job stress on women workers. the research also reviews successful organizational and individual strategies to help manage stress and reduce costs. Following these strategies can help reduce absenteeism and turnover, help employees better balance work/life responsibilities, and also reduce healthcare costs. about health aDVocate™, inc. Health Advocate, inc., the nation’s leading independent healthcare advocacy and assistance company, serves more than 5,000 clients nationwide, providing more than 15 million Americans with personalized help to resolve healthcare and insurance-related issues. the company offers a spectrum of advocacy, Wellness, Pricing decision Support and Human Resources solutions to help save time and money. the company also offers a direct-to-consumer advocacy service, called Health Proponent ®, to individuals who are not part of groups. For more information, contact Health Advocate (toll-free) at: 1-866-385-8033, prompt #2 or via email at info@HealthAdvocate.com. st r e ss...
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...HIV/AIDS & HOMELESSNESS Recommendations for Clinical Practice and Public Policy Developed for The Bureau of Primary Health Care and The HIV/AIDS Bureau Health Resources and Services Administration by John Song, M.D., M.P.H., M.A.T. November 1999 Financial and other support for the development and distribution of this paper were provided by the Bureau of Primary Health Care and the HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Resources Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services, to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc., and its subsidiary, the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians’ Network. The views presented in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the United States government or of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Nothing in this paper should be construed as providing authoritative guidelines for the practice of medicine or for treatment of medical conditions. This paper may be reproduced in whole or in part with appropriate recognition to the author, John Y. Song, MD, and the publisher, the Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians’ Network, National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc. Second Printing February, 2000 National Health Care for the Homeless Council Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians’ Network Post Office Box 60427 Nashville TN 37206-0427 Phone 615/226-2292 Fax 615/226-1656 council@nhchc.org or network@nhchc.org http://www.nhchc.org i PREFACE HIV/AIDS...
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