...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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...source of medical care is often influenced by many factors. Perceived and evaluated need, and potential access are connected with both predisposing (immutable) and enabling (mutable) factors. Predisposing factors determining the use of health services include demographics, age, gender, race, ethnicity, education, occupation, location, health and cultural beliefs. Immutable factors cannot be changes. Immutable factors are connected with mutable beliefs regarding health values, beliefs, and knowledge. Mutable factors are enabling factors that can be changed. Enabling factors consist of personal and community factors. For example, a personal factor would be an individual s income changed, or the individual gained health insurance or lost health insurance. Community factors include health services resources, health facilities, and transportation. Location has an effect on John’s ability to utilize health care because John recently has moved to a rural community and the nearest physician is 40 minutes away. Providing a healthcare facility within John’s community he would be able to utilize healthcare on a regular basis will help John to live a healthier longer life. Factors that may affect John’s utilization of health care include transportation. Transportation has a large impact on the ability for individuals who are poor and cannot afford transportation, the elderly, working families who rely on one vehicle for transportation, and people who live in rural communities. John relies...
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...November 2000 EAST AFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL 599 East African Medical Journal Vol. 77 No. 11 November 2000 SAFE MOTHERHOOD INTERVENTION STUDIES IN AFRICA: A REVIEW M. Luck, DSc, Researcher, Centro de Malária e Outras Doenças Tropicais, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, P-1300 Lisboa, Portugal SAFE MOTHERHOOD INTERVENTION STUDIES IN AFRICA: A REVIEW M. LUCK ABSTRACT Objective: To review the findings of safe motherhood intervention studies conducted in African settings. Data sources: Published literature regarding interventions designed to reduce maternal mortality in African settings. Study selection: Studies conducted in sub-Saharan Africa to assess the effects of interventions designed to reduce maternal mortality. Data extraction: Search of Medline database for the years 1988 to 1998 with additional manual search of references cited in Medline-referenced studies. Data synthesis: Few of the 34 intervention studies identified used a double-blind, randomized controlled trial design (4/34), or outcome measures directly related to maternal mortality or maternal health (7/34). Six of the studies produced reasonably convincing evidence of a positive effect on maternal health outcomes. Of these, three showed that changes in delivery practices brought about improved maternal outcomes, two found that a combined intervention consisting of upgrading of emergency obstetric services and community education increased the number of major obstetric...
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...leadership of new CEO, Edward Murphy, M.D., the efforts of a mid-Atlantic acute-care hospital system to develop a vertically integrated clinic health system result in allegations of antitrust, excessive healthcare costs, disruption of physician referral patterns, and use of harsh collection practices, all of which cause a negative reaction in the community. Also, Dr. Murphy’s efforts to become a comprehensive vertically integrated system have continued: establishment of a medical school partnership, expansion of its facilities, and increase in number of salaried physicians by purchasing private practices. Dr. Murphy asserts that the business plan of Carilion Clinic will moderate the effects of the “broken” U.S. healthcare system by integrating services that range from primary care to comprehensive cancer treatments and remission monitoring. In 19th century, the antitrust division of the U.S. Department of Justice sought to block the merger of two medium-sized community hospitals, foreshadowing other, somewhat questionable trade practices in the Shenandoah Valley. Carilion Clinic is a major employer in Roanoke, Virginia, but members of the community base expressed serious concerns about its methods and policies. The harsh collection practices of organization caused some patients to have liens placed on their homes, economic pressures on group practices to sell or relocate due to internal referral patterns, and allegations that the high costs of care may...
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...about 1990, changes in the Medicare reimbursement system have allowed psychologists to provide services to older adults with Medicare coverage. These changes, in combination with managed care and market place changes have made older adult clients attractive as a client population to increasing numbers of psychologists and other mental health service providers. As the Baby Boomers become older adults over the next several years, one can expect both the need and the demand for mental health services to increase: Need is likely to change because Boomers have higher prevalence of depression and other mental disorders than do the GI Generation and Depression era cohorts; Demand may change because Boomers have typically been psychologically minded and relatively high consumers of mental health services. Key questions in thinking about working with older adults concern whether psychological interventions can be expected to work with older adults. If they work, are adaptations from work with younger adults necessary? In this resource page, research bearing on both of these questions is summarized. Does therapy work with older adults? Before turning to psychological interventions, which are the main focus of this resource guide, it should be noted that psychological assessment with older adults is more specialized than are interventions. The higher prevalence of the dementias in late life make some level of neuropsychological screening essential. The higher prevalence of medical disorders...
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...approach health education. Here are three that are used Social Marketing, Medical and Community development approach. Social Marketing Is widely use to influence health behaviour by using a range of health communication strategies based on a mass media. Social marketing uses marketing methods and places like clinics to get their messages across. Social marketing targets a large group of people, by spreading their messages around and not just keeping them local. Social marketing aim at a certain target audience and they do all their research and campaigns around them. However they try to get as many people to look and understand their messages. Although they don’t just use a communication approach. Their main approach is to change peoples behaviour. This approach can last for a long time and some last for years the change for life campaign has got a 3 year plan based on this approach. Change for life is a campaign based in England to stop obesity and help people change their diets to eat healthier. This campaign is using a three year plan that is based on the social marketing approach. (Example Change4Life) Medical Approach The medical approach focuses on activity which aims to reduce morbidity and premature mortality. This is targeted towards whole populations of high risk groups. Their aim is to increase medical interventions which will prevent ill health and premature death. The medical approach is popular because, it can help find prevention and early detection...
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...legislation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (referred to as the IOM or IOM report hereafter) did a study, the results of which were released in 2010. In order to accommodate the influx of new patients into the healthcare system, sweeping changes are going to be needed. In order to accomplish what is called for in the PPACA, “major changes in the U.S health care system and practice environments will require equally profound changes in education of nurse both before and after they receive their licenses.” (IOM, 2010, p. 164). Newly licensed nurses need to be able to move from academia to the real world keeping patient safety foremost. This should include “a range of practice environments with an increased emphasis on community and public health settings.” (IOM, 2010, p. 164). Nurses will also need to be allowed to practice to the full extent that their education and experience allow. Leadership, communication skills and collaboration with all medical, administrative and governmental levels are going to be necessary to ensure that the public gets safe and reliable medical care wherever they are. The nursing educational system must be prepared to increase the number of baccalaureate and more highly educated nurses. According the IOM report, there needs to be in place a vehicle which easily allows the flow from ADN and diploma nurses to baccalaureate and above as...
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...psychological effects of HIV and AIDS on a couple that has HIV discordant results June 2011 0772 286 311 HIV discordant couples are those in which one of the couples has HIV negative and the other has HIV positive. Such couples definitely suffer from psychological effects which may range from mild to severe. Psychological effects are those thoughts, feelings and emotions that affect the mental well being of the affected and infected persons. The one living with HIV/AIDS is referred to as the infected while the partner who is HIV negative is referred to as the affected. The following is a list of the most common psychological effects faced by a couple that has HIV discordant results. When a wife or husband tested HIV positive will need to develop new coping patterns and this may trigger a variety of reactions from others such as family members, partner, employees, co-workers, counselors and other helping professionals. • Fear • Loss • Grief • Guilt • Denial • Anger • Anxiety • Low self esteem • Depression • Suicidal behavior • Feelings of isolation The psychological effects vary from individual to individual and not everyone experience all the emotional responses because HIV/AIDS situation is as unique as the people involved. There is usually change in behavior in both the affected and infected persons and therefore resulting in changes in personal...
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...R Medical Imaging Radiation The impact of technology in today’s society has increased overtime. Different forms of technology have changed dramatically over the years, the way we now use technology is different to the way it was used before. Everything we do in our days has technology involved in it whether it is in school, work, health and work. People’s view towards the amount of technology that is now involved in our daily lives is different from others and its consequences. Some it’s good but others argue saying it ruins life’s and our perspective towards things. Medical imaging has effects on radiation in the human body which is brought up by the change of technology. Medical imaging such as CT scans, X-rays, ultra sounds and MRI scans which are used in procedures to view the different types of areas in the human body and provide important information for specialists. These procedures present both benefits and risks of using medical imaging; they have helped improve diagnoses and treatments of different types of medical issues. Before there was not much technology in our society meaning there were not such machines, now that technology has grown and brought different type of medical imaging doctors are now able to dictate and have a open understanding of the diagnoses. Studies and researched information have shown that medical imaging is causing radiation to our body ‘The Research Established of the Australian Atomic Energy Commission...
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...proper English language and writing had become beneficial in her life. In turn, Perri Klass article, “Learning the Language" reveals how in the medical field or community there is a certain language that is used between co-workers that only they understand. Bell Hooks article “Teaching New Worlds/ New Words” there is the cultural background that is discussed, how the white culture was pushed upon the blacks in order to fit into their standards. It is apparent by these three texts that there is an apparent similarity in how language can be beneficial to some but when pushed into a culture change some are more willing to go against. When it comes to Klass and the article "Learning the Language", it seems as if it should be very easy to relate to any type work in any type of field. It is not just the medical fiels that has its own jargon between workers. Knowing the language and the slang of your surrondings is very important. Compare this to Mellixs' article and how she was able to change her language depending where she was and whom she was with. When working in such a fast pace environment it is easy to shorten a conversation when you might not have the time to stand and chat. Klass uses the way medical students have to work their way into the lingo of things and describes how in the "community" of medical students, learning the medical jargon, there is a sense of belonging. Being able to converse with other staff members in the language that is the norm makes it easier. Being...
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...Assignment 3 Silvia Thomas Instructor: Cristina Russu Ph. D Psychology 105 – Intro to Psychology December 4, 2011 This paper will discuss the mental disorder of phobias, and the available treatment options. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. There are many specific phobias. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. You may be able to ski the world's tallest mountains but be unable to go above the 5th floor of an office building. Agoraphobia is a fear of public places, and claustrophobia is a fear of closed-in places. If you become anxious and extremely self-conscious in everyday social situations, you could have a social phobia. Other common phobias involve tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, animals and blood. People with phobias try to avoid what they are afraid of. If they cannot, they may experience panic and fear, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, and a strong desire to get away. Treatment helps most people with phobias. Treatment options include medicines, therapy or both. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/phobias.html A phobia is defined as the unrelenting fear of a situation, activity, or thing that causes one to want to avoid it. The three types of phobias are social phobia (fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or other social situations), agoraphobia (fear of being outside), and specific phobias (fear of particular items or situations)...
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...humans normally involves four separate phases, each with a unique goal in determining the safety and efficacy of a novel medical intervention. These steps are intended to guarantee that potential therapies are thoroughly evaluated before being released to the general public. Phase 1: Safety The primary goal of phase 1 studies is to evaluate the safety of the experimental treatment on a small sample of healthy volunteers, typically ranging from 20 to 100. Researchers want to know the maximum...
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...healing they might only associate the word with physical healing. However, when a Nurse hears the word healing they consider not only the physical person, but their spiritual and emotional wellbeing. Until recent years the Medical community has focused on healing the body and neglected other aspects of a person’s health and wellbeing. Thanks to organizations like Healthy People 2010 a better understanding has occurred, in which now the importance of treating the person as a whole is understood. Efforts to make changes in which a patient is treated are in full effect thanks to this better understanding. However, with all these changes coming to the forefront all at once it has become challenging for the Medical Community. The Purpose of this paper is to illustrate the components of a Healing Hospital and the challenges that come along with implementing those components. Supporting the Physical as well as Emotional Wellbeing Practitioners main focus when treating a patient is to acquire a diagnosis, and then treat or cure that diagnosis then send the patient home. This is all well and good however, they could be potentially leaving out treating the emotional wellbeing of a person. Which could lead to the patient recovering but later on returning for medical attention because either the issue has returned or become worse. For example, a young man in college comes to the emergency room complaining of chest pain, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath. After a cardiac workup...
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...Demographic Demographics are the result of statistics from data retrieved over a certain population that provide information on age, gender, race, education, employment, and income. The demographic range stretches from the categories of global, national, state, county, city, to town jurisdiction. The aging demographic in Alaska is categorized as state. Demographics can stay the same for decades and can change very rapidly. With this constant there are a number of concerns that arise along with this change. There is a large concern regarding the prices in health care based on the nation’s economy and the imminent change of national demographics. The state demographics within Alaska are impacted by this through the costs of health care and now more so than ever with the change of local demographics of aging adults. The general impact of fluxuating demographics on health care can be summed up with a general idea, however, the general impact does not always apply to all regions and therefore an unwanted result should be prepared for financially. In general, when a demographic changes, and in this case with the aging population, the health care industry must be able to accommodate the...
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...Change and Culture Case Study 1 The struggling economy, the emergence of new technology and the government’s healthcare reform is pushing hospitals to seek refuge in another resulting in a merger. A merger is the consolidation of two establishments into a single legal entity (Hayford, 2012). In the health care industry, mergers are rising in numbers. Mergers transpire due to a variety of reasons; to increase in size to gain better negotiation power with managed care providers who tend to bypass smaller organizations, to penetrate new markets to attract additional customers, to improve efficiency evolving from centralized administrative practices, and to express overall value of promoting readily available comprehensive care by shoring up smaller community-based facilities, keeping them from closure (Liebler & McConnell, 2008). Despite the reason for the merger, when two health care organizations merge, the organizational dynamics change considerably from the leaders in the board room to the medical staff on the hospital floors, and the impact has a short and long-term ripple effect throughout the newly formed organization as performance, mission, values, and culture will be restructured. The restructure of a new organization resulting from a merger and the role of the middle manager in developing an environment that the combined staff can work on will be analyzed further. Additionally, a description of the newly formed organization from the merger in terms of system and shape...
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