Health Care Issues in the United States

A number of reports as well as statistical data indicate social behavior, economic status, and social structure are important determinants of health. According to Williams and Torrens, tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use are all examples of personal decision making and patterns of behavior that have a tremendous adverse effect on personal health and on the nation’s economy (Williams & Torrens, 2010). Excessive alcohol use creates cirrhosis of the liver, if alcohol is consumed while driving or prior to driving it causes vehicular accidents and work related injuries if consumed prior to or during work. These actions affect our society because they can create an increase in violent crimes and an increase in homicide and violence incidence. Cigarette use is another behavior that is associated with numerous illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and oral cancer. The Government has developed interventions to help reduced smoking and pipe smoking, by raising taxes on the purchases. Economic status also plays a role in one’s health because many discrepancies continue to exist due to ethnicity and socio-economic status. Those who live in poor communities often suffer from greater ill health while those living in deprived areas are often without access to the best health care. This lack of prevention stems from poor education often received in those areas and the culture that often permeates within them. It’s like the more money you have the better your chances are to live longer. And if someone has insurance then they have higher co-pay. As we see these all the effect of health on person behavior, economic and social structure.
Describe the three stages of medical technology development.
The three stages of medical technology are review by regulatory agencies, technology assessments by insurance carriers, and review by purchasers, clinicians, and consumers. Review by regulatory agencies is the most recognized of the three stages and... [continues]

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