International healthcare systems 3620-IHS-SP-OG

Societal perceptions of what causes health and illness have changed significantly over history. These changes are embodied in our healthcare systems. We will start with this introduction and then move to the structure of healthcare systems and the delivery of healthcare through the various professions. Then we will review differences between countries in Western and Central Europe and the United States.

1. Health – what is it?
a. Mental health vs physical health
b. Health vs lack of sickness
c. Mortality trends

2. Public health vs. healthcare
a. Water, sewage
b. Community responses to pandemics
c. Regulation of food, cosmetics, drugs

3. What causes death? Changes due to healthcare improvements

4. Advances in healthcare
a. Surgery and anaesthesiology
b. Antiseptics and child birth
c. War and emergency medicine
d. Penicillin
e. Pharmaceutical advances after WWII
f. Keyhole surgery
g. Interventional cardiology
h. Interventional neurology
i. Psychiatric medicines
j. Genetically designed medicines (cancer treatment) and Covid-19
k. Diagnostic advances

i. Imaging radiology (CT Scans)
ii. MRI – magnetic resonance imaging
iii. Ultrasound
iv. PET scanners (radioisotopes)
l.

5. Morbidity and mortality amenable to healthcare

6. Healthcare trained personnel
a. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists (physical, occupational, SaLT), allied health professionals (technicians, etc)
7. Healthcare systems – hospitals, clinics, laboratories

8. Payment systems
a. National government funded
b. Regional government funded
c. Employer funded
d. Private insurance
e. Consumer payments

i. Insurance payments
ii. Co-pays
iii. Out of pocket
iv. Private pay

9. USA vs UK vs Poland