U3AOS2 Flashcards
why are death rates declining
Decline in death rates can be attributed to: - Control of infectious disease - Better hygiene - Improved nutrition - Better understanding about dehydration Improved sanitation
old public health
- Focus on biomedical system and cure
- Management of infectious diseases- production of vaccination
- Focus on infrastructure- hospitals, water quality, sanitation & hygiene
Biomedical approach to health
Focusses on the physical aspects of disease and illness. It is a model practiced by doctors and health professionals and is associated with the diagnosis , treatment, and cure of disease.
Referred to as the “band-aid’ approach, as it treats the illness but does not look at the causes of it.
Aim: to return the patient to their ‘pre-illness’ health
Strengths of biomedical approach
LE extended and quality of life improved
Leads to significant advances in medical technology and research
Most people and conditions are cured
Limitations of the biomedical approach to health
The ‘fix-it’ approach does not promote good health
Costly
Not all conditions can be treated or cured.
The new public health system
Distinguished by its extensive understanding of the ways in which lifestyles and living conditions determine health status, and a recognition of the need to have equity in access to resources.
The world health organisation has played a leading role in the promotion of new public health and current public health practice in Australia.
It is all about health promotion and prevention of disease
Social model of health
An approach to health care that recognises that improvements in health and wellbeing can only be achieved by directing effort towards addressing the physical, socio-cultural, and environmental factors of health that have an impact on individuals and population groups.
Principles of the social model of health
- Addresses the broader determinants of health
- Acts to reduce social inequities
- Empowers individuals and communities
- Acts to enable access to healthcare
- Involves intersectional collaboration
Strengths of the social model
Aimed at a population level, therefore more cost effective
Encourages good health through disease prevention
Health messages can be passed down to future generations
Can be targeted to vulnerable population groups
Limitations of the social model
May be ignored
Not all conditions can be prevented (eg genetic conditions)
Doesn’t assist those who are already sick
Priority action areas for the ottawa charter
Build healthy public policy
Create supportive environments
Strengthen community action
Develop personal skills
Reorient health services
Define medicare
A universal healthcare system which aims to provide free or little cost for healthcare in Australia and other eligible countries.
Objectives of medicare
- To make healthcare more affordable for all Australians
- To give all Australians access to healthcare services with priority according to clinical need
To provide a quality of care
- To give all Australians access to healthcare services with priority according to clinical need
How is medicare funded?
Through the Australian government
Medicare levy: 2% tax on taxpayers- low income people are exempt
Define out of pocket costs
Practitioners may elect to charge more than the schedule fee which means the patient will have to pay out of pocket costs
Define bulk billing
billing means that the doctor does not charge any out of pocket costs so the fee is entirely covered by Medicare.
Define the medicare levy surcharge
High income earners who do not take out private health insurance will be charged extra.
What is covered by medicare?
- Free or subsidised treatment by health professionals such as doctors consultation fees as often as needed.
- Tests and examinations that are needed to treat illness, including x-rays and pathology tests
- Optometrists eye tests
- Most procedures performed by GPs
Treatment and accommodation as a public patient in a public hospital
What is not covered by medicare?
- Most dental examinations and treatments
- Ambulance services
- Home nursing
- Most allied health services, such as physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, chiropractic services
Hearing aids, contact lenses and glasses
advantages of medicare
- Choice of doctor in out of hospital services
- Available to all Australians
- Covers doctor’s fees, tests, examinations and some procedures
- Low to no monthly premiums
- Promotes healthy living for all Australians
Doesn’t tax people who earn less than $18,000 a year
Disadvantages of medicare
- No choice of doctor for in hospital services
- Waiting lists
- No cover for alternative medicines
- Often does not cover full costs of doctors (possible out of pocket expenses)
- No vision, dental or hearing cover
- Doesn’t cover home nursing
No choice of when or where treatment occurs
how medicare reflects sustainability
- Medicare is expensive to fund, however it is hoped that by reducing or removing the cost of healthcare for individuals, they will access healthcare sooner- leading to improved health outcomes.
Aims to provide care that is deemed medically necessary without incurring additional expenses, helping to meet the health needs of the current generation as well as financially supporting the health of future generations
How medicare reflects access
- The individual being able to make use of particular services without barriers such as location, knowledge, time or cost.
Improving access to healthcare means more people will seek assistance, improving health outcomes
How medicare reflects equity
It is about ensuring that we all are on an even playing field by providing extra support for people in need so that they can have the same opportunities in life as everyone else.
Define the pharmaceutical benefits scheme
an Australian government program that provides subsidised prescription medication to Australian residents.
What is the cost of medication subsidised under PBS?
Approximately $38.80
On concession it costs $6.30
How PBS reflects sustainability
- Only adds medications that are more efficient at treating conditions than existing treatments.
Ensuring that only reliable medications are added to the PBS, promotes sustainability as reliable medications help to meet the needs of the current generation, and improving the health of the current generation will also help improve health in the future, as people will be less likely to need ongoing treatment.
How PBS reflects access
- PBS allows people to go to their local pharmacies and get subsidised medications, this means less travel for people and thus an increase in the people using the medications.
Making medications more affordable means they are more financially accessible
How PBS reflects equity
Indigenous australians only have to pay the concession rate
Provides support to the most disadvantaged population groups in Aus
Is available to all australians and does not discriminate against age, race, location or income
What is the NDIS
National Disability Insurance Scheme
What is the national disability insurance scheme
The commonwealth governments new way of providing support for Australian’s with disability, their families and carers.
How is the NDIS funded?
Through all levels of government
How NDIS reflects sustainability
Assists in promoting the health of those with a disability over the long term.
How NDIS reflects access
NDIS aims to ensure that Australians with a disability receive the reasonable and necessary funded support in order to improve access to services that assist people to live a normal life
How NDIS reflects equity
More resources are being provided to support those who need help the most
Define health promotion
The process of enabling people to increase control over, and improve their health
How has health promotion assisted with the issue of smoking?
- Changes to laws, policy and taxation
- QUIT Victoria and the wide range of initiatives it has implemented
- the National Tobacco campaign, Quitnow, and a range of initiatives it has implemented, such as a national media campaign, the My QuitBuddy app, the Quit for You – Quit for Two app and iCanQuit Calculator.
Smoking program
QUIT
Explain the difference in mortality rates since 1900s
- Decrease in infectious disease rates
Infectious disease rates used to be one of the major causes of mortality, now they have declined to the point where they are not as much a concern as they used to be.
- Decline in death rates from CVD, however still remain as one of the leading causes of death
- Cancer death rates peaked in the 1980’s however have been gradually falling
- Respiratory disease rates overall have decreased, apart from the Spanish Influenza pandemic
- Injury and poisoning rates have more than halved. suicide rates have remained fairly consistent
