Access to Healthcare
This
discussion addresses module outcome 2. In this module you reviewed how
medicine functions as a social institution and how inequality creates
dysfunction in the healthcare system as a social institution, and thus
across the broader society. For example, you learned about the
consequences of inequality due to race, class and gender upon healthcare
access and outcomes (e.g., life expectancy, infant mortality, disease
burden etc.). You explored the dilemma of uninsured Americans and the
creation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), as well as many of the recent
changes in how healthcare is delivered in the US. You also reviewed
how healthcare systems are structured and perform in other countries
across the world. While it is natural to view other societies’
healthcare systems, outcomes and other characteristics through an
implicit American lens, in this activity, you are to try and immerse
yourself in other societies’ conditions, making only obvious or relevant
comparisons to the US upon deeper reflection of others’ situations. In
this discussion you are to compare and contrast at least two other countries regarding structure or outcomes in their healthcare systems, particularly those from other OECD nations.
You
will want to access the Readings and Materials page for review, and you
should use data from these websites and the required materials for
information on healthcare in other countries. These are linked here
again for your consideration:
Conerly, T.R., Holmes, K., & Tamang, A.L. (2021). Chapter 19: Health and Medicine
Links to an external site.. PBS. (56 mins; first 30:31 mins required, rest optional).
Engage
Be
sure to use and cite as much supporting detail as necessary from the
required learning materials in answering the following inter-related
questions.
Briefly, which two countries’ healthcare systems did you choose to investigate and why?
Drawing
on The Commonwealth Fund’s Country Profiles and the Kurani & Wagner
analysis for the Kaiser Family Foundation, briefly summarize the
healthcare system in each country as well as some health measure
statistics/outcomes you found most compelling in them.
What might account for any differences you found in your selected countries (and implicitly back to the US as well)?
Finally,
how has your review of these other countries affected your own views of
the US healthcare system? For example, is there any structure,
practice or outcome that the US would benefit from adopting?
Your initial post should be at least 250 words and must substantively integrate the assigned readings with proper APA style formatting
Links to an external site.. In, Introduction to sociology 3e (pp. 559-577). OpenStax.
Kurani, N., & Wagner, E. (2021, September 30). How does the quality of the US health system compare to other countries?
Links to an external site. Kaiser Family Foundation.
The Commonwealth Fund. (nd). Country Profiles International Health Care System Profiles
Links to an external site.. Washington, DC: The Commonwealth Fund.
PBS. (2008, April). Sick Around the World: 5 Capitalist Democracies and How They Do It.
Links to an external site. PBS.
PBS NewsHour (2021, April 1) Critical Care: America vs. The World – A PBS NEWSHOUR Special
