4 questions | Applied Sciences homework help

1. The patient has a basic right to have available adequate health care. Physicians, along with the rest of society, should continue to work toward this goal. Fulfillment of this right is dependent on society providing resources so that no patient is deprived of necessary care because of an inability to pay for the care. Physicians should continue their traditional assumption of part of the responsibility for the medical care of those who cannot afford essential health care. Physicians should advocate for patients in dealing with third parties when appropriate.

AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (1993)23 Fundamental elements oF the Patient-Physician RelationshiP Part Two Health-Care Approaches74 sheets for this purpose. If these are not available, ask questions about office hours, days off, coverage, house calls, and hospital affiliation. Knowing the hospital af- filiation is important because, in an emergency, unless instructed differently, ambulance drivers usually take patients to the nearest hospital, where your doctor(s) may not have staff privileges. Insured persons should also have a clear understanding of any rules related to specialist consultations, emergency department visits, or other matters that may affect whether a service is covered. Emergency Care In an emergency, try to phone the doctor immediately rather than just showing up at the hospital emergency department. Advance notice may enable one’s doctor to provide the necessary service. It also will enable the doctor to alert the emergency department personnel so that they may begin treatment or arrange for necessary tests. Should an emergency arise before a doctor has been selected, the best bet is to go to the emergency depart- ment of the nearest accredited hospital. If a private practitioner is preferred, some emergency departments and medical societies maintain a roster of doctors who are on call 24 hours a day. If an ambulance is needed, one can be obtained by dialing 911 (or other community emergency number), contacting the police, or calling an ambulance company listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory. Many cities have freestanding emergency centers, where fees are in between those of office practitioners and hospital emergency departments. The advantages and disadvantages of using such facilities are discussed in Chapter 22. Elderly or ailing individuals who live alone can wear or install special devices for emergen- cies; by pressing a button they can use these devices to signal that help is urgently needed. Finding a Doctor Abroad Americans traveling in foreign countries can locate suitable treatment facilities through the International As- sociation for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT). Established in 1960, IAMAT is a voluntary organization of hospitals, health-care centers, and physicians who pledge to provide travelers with physicians who speak their language, meet IAMAT standards, and adhere to a fixed fee schedule similar to that in the United States. When medical assistance is needed, the traveler can tele- phone the nearest center listed in the IAMAT directory to obtain a list of local physicians. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site (www.cdc. gov/travel) provides information on required vaccina- tions, prevention of foodborne diseases, and other tips for travelers.25 Advice from Remote Sources Advice is also available by telephone, by mail, and through the Internet. Many trustworthy agencies and groups operate toll-free hotlines and/or Web sites through which callers can obtain information or pose questions to knowledgeable parties. Some hospitals, organiza- tions, and individual practitioners sponsor phone lines through which consumers can select tape recordings on various topics. Several managed-care companies offer phone-based counseling performed by nurses, access to prerecorded information, or self-help publications. A few commercial services that are accessible through the Internet provide direct contact with physi- cians, pharmacists, or others who answer questions. The charges for such services are then billed to a credit card account or to one’s phone bill. Critics have warned that such advice has limited value because the person giv- ing it is unable to physically examine the caller. These services may provide useful information, but they are not suitable for personal diagnosis. Scientific studies concerning their quality and cost-effectiveness have not been published. √ Consumer Tip Emergency Information Persons who are subject to epilepsy, severe allergies, diabetes, or other ailments that may require urgent at- tention should wear a bracelet identifying the condition or carry an emergency medical identification card that lists the person’s name, next of kin, medical problems, medications taken, and doctor’s name. The technology now exists for posting detailed medical records on password-protected pages. Micro- soft Health Vault (www.healthvault.com) offers this service free of charge. The information can include the patient’s medical history, current medications, and hospital discharge summaries, as well as graphic images such as electrocardiograms and x-ray pictures. This in- formation could prove handy in an emergency or when a traveler is admitted to a hospital far from home.24 The access information can be carried in one’s wallet or on a bracelet. Chapter Five Science-Based Health Care 75 BaSic Medical care The belief that people should have regular health exami- nations has been popularized by the medical profession, and a large segment of the public in the United States regards an annual examination as advisable. The tradi- tional assumption has been that routine examinations can detect diseases in their early stages so that treatment can prevent suffering and save lives. However, complete annual examinations of symptom-free adults are not cost-effective. Consumers Union’s medical consultants26 have stated that a screening test should satisfy three basic requirements: 1. It should be able to detect a serious or potentially serious disease before symptoms make the individual aware that something is wrong.