American Healthcare System
Instructor:
Karen Kmetik, PhD
Director, Clinical Performance Evaluation
American Medical Association
Description:
This course presented an introduction to elements of the American Health care system including the provider components, the financing of health care, the basic structure of public policy making and public health systems, comparative analysis of the American system to the health care systems of other countries, and the legal and regulatory framework within which the American health care system functions. In addition to the structural components of the system, the course examined some of the current issues within the American health care system including research, public health, preparedness, quality of health care, pay for performance, and consumerism.
Student Goals:
The goals for the course are to:
Acquire a working knowledge of the key facts about our health care system;
Understand the perspectives of each of the entities within the American health care system and how they view their roles within the system; and
Develop a framework for understanding major health care issues.
Desired Course Outcomes
Knowledge of major aspects of US Healthcare system
Knowledge of major healthcare issues within our HC system
The perspectives of the entities within the American healthcare system, and how they view their roles within the system
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Artifacts
FINAL_DTC Group Paper.doc
DTC_final.ppt
US health Insur.ppt
Single Payer Health Insurance.doc
The direct to consumer advertising document and PowerPoint presentation artifacts covers some of the important pharmaceutical issues within our healthcare system. The single payer health insurance document and power point examines the financial side of healthcare and who the main players are. Health insurance and drug coverage are two major issues in healthcare reform.. There is no bigger topic in healthcare today than health care reform and both these studies go to the heart of the problem. Both studies look at the primary stakeholders in healthcare and evaluate how they are affected by proposals. The studies look at insurance coverage for all Americans, safe delivery of care, and more efficient provision of care and healthcare expenditures.
Although nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens* (California Health Care Foundation. Health Care Costs 101 -- 2005. 02 March 20)
Main Take-Away
The United States has some of the best medical technology in the world but compared to other industrialized countries we pay more, get less, and not every American gets the basic health care they need. The population is aging and healthcare reform must be a top priority.
Areas of Strength
Working knowledge of the key facts about our health care system
U.S. healthcare operations compared to other countries
The Financing of the American Health Care Delivery System
Health Care Federal Legislation and Legal and Regulatory Issues
Areas for Development
Public Health Decision/Policy Making –Infection control, influenza Pandemics