Health Services

Surgeon General Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin Chief health educator- improve health and reduce the risk of injury and illness Appointed by the President with the advice of the Senate Serves for 4 years

Health at the National Level National Cancer Institute (NCI)  Principle agency for cancer research Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Protecting the country’s air, water, and land Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  Works to prevent injuries and safeguard the health of workers U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  Anti-hunger effort with food stamp, school lunch, and breakfast programs Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS)  Safety of meat, poultry, and eggs products

Health at the National Level –cont. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)  Oversees more than 300 health-related programs Food and Drug Administration (FDA)  Ensures the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics National Institutes of Health (NIH)  Conduct medical research and provide funding for medical research carried out at other institutions Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)  Programs that aid substance abusers and people with mental/emotional disorders Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  Research and collect data that help to prevent the spread of diseases Federal Trade Commission (FTC)  Enforce antitrust and consumer protection laws

Healthy People 2010 A set of national standards for disease prevention and health-promoting objectives to reach by the year 2010 Increase quality and years of healthy life  Average life expectancy is 77 years  Includes physical and mental well-being and ways to respond to the environment Eliminate health disparities in the population  Gender, race/ethnicity, education/income level  Ex. – less education= less healthy

Health Care Specialists Allergist- Allergies Dermatologist- Skin Disease Gynecologist- Female reproductive system Neurologist- Nervous system problems Oncologist- Cancer Ophthalmologist- Eyes Orthodontist- Teeth, bite and jaw alignment Orthopedist- Skeletal deformities and injuries Pediatrician- Care for children Urologist- Urinary tract problems

Health Care Services Inpatient  Patient stays at the facility overnight Outpatient  Patient is treated and then sent home Private Practice  Physicians work for themselves. Patients are seen at an office and the physician is usually associated with a hospital Group Practice  Doctors share offices, equipment, and support staff Urgent Care  Staffed by primary care physicians  Patients go if their primary care physician is unavailable or don’t have one.

Health Insurance Premium- fee for coverage Out-of-pocket- patient must pay for Deductible- amount the patient pays before plan starts to reimburse Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)  Monthly premium and few or no o.o.p expenses  Some require co-pay- only physicians with HMO Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)  Monthly premium can choose provider  o.o.p. for physicians not in plan Point of Service (POS) plans  Members choose provider (in or out)  Out is usually a higher o.o.p.