Chapter 15

Chapter 15 Medicine and Health Care Sociology and Medicine Epidemic A widespread outbreak of a contagious disease Pandemic An outbreak of a contagious disease over a very large area or worldwide Disease A pathology that disrupts the usual functions of the body Health The capacity to satisfy role requirements Social Organization of Medicine Physicians Have the authority to diagnose, prescribe treatment Certify death or competency Prestige results in many privileges Most are specialists today Nurses Assist in medical settings under the supervision of a physician Have less education than physician Most are women Health Care Organizations Hospitals Divided authorities Physicians Administrators Multihospital systems Hospitals managed by a company HMO An insurance plan combined with a facility A “health maintenance organization” For a monthly fee, comprehensive health care is provided Social Issues in Health Social class Quality of care varies according to social class Social class is related to a healthy environment Race and ethnicity Race and class are connected Gender Male physicians less familiar with female health and medicine Cost of Health Care Physician fees Fee for service greatly increased Due to extensive testing, defensive medicine, insurance premiums Hospitals Complex facility Often profit driven Technology Increased dependence on sophisticated and costly devices Health Insurance 70% have health insurance in U.S. Co-payments common Uninsured tend to be: Racial minorities Young people Poor people Special insurance Medicare: health insurance for the elderly Medicaid: health care for poor and disabled Medicalization of Society: The growing power of medicine as an institution. Simple processes have become medically complex birth Redefinition of problems as diseases Addictions are medical problems Mental disorders Physical renewal Functionalist Perspective Medicine is functional for society People must be healthy to serve society Sickness must be treated and cured so that society will be able to continue Medicine drives scientific research People must follow social norms related to health Medicine produces great wealth so motivates people to enter those professions The Sick Role: Social Control Over Sickness Sick people are not responsible for their condition Sick people may withdraw from normal activities Sick people should want to get well Sick people should seek treatment Conflict Perspective Medical cure and care has become big business Costly and expensive Serves country poorly System perpetuates inequality Some groups lack access Intense competition Produces inefficiency Battles over power Symbolic Interaction Socialization of physicians and nurses Learning to become detached and impersonal Conflict between compassion and bureaucracy Physician-patient interaction Misunderstandings are common Disease recovery Social context can influence cure Health Today Preventive medicine Lifestyle changes have broad social effect Aging population Global view of health Cultural competence Health care must be sensitive to wide range of diverse social conditions Concept Web Medicine and Health Care Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * * Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * * Click to edit Master title style Click to edit Master subtitle style * * * Chapter 15 Medicine and Health Care Sociology and Medicine Epidemic A widespread outbreak of a contagious disease Pandemic An outbreak of a contagious disease over a very large area or worldwide Disease A pathology that disrupts the usual functions of the body Health The capacity to satisfy role requirements Social Organization of Medicine Physicians Have the authority to diagnose, prescribe treatment Certify death or competency Prestige results in many privileges Most are specialists today Nurses Assist in medical settings under the supervision of a physician Have less education than physician Most are women Health Care Organizations Hospitals Divided authorities Physicians Administrators Multihospital systems Hospitals managed by a company HMO An insurance plan combined with a facility A “health maintenance organization” For a monthly fee, comprehensive health care is provided Social Issues in Health Social class Quality of care varies according to social class Social class is related to a healthy environment Race and ethnicity Race and class are connected Gender Male physicians less familiar with female health and medicine Cost of Health Care Physician fees Fee for service greatly increased Due to extensive testing, defensive medicine, insurance premiums Hospitals Complex facility Often profit driven Technology Increased dependence on sophisticated and costly devices Health Insurance 70% have health insurance in U.S. Co-payments common Uninsured tend to be: Racial minorities Young people Poor people Special insurance Medicare: health insurance for the elderly Medicaid: health care for poor and disabled Medicalization of Society: The growing power of medicine as an institution. Simple processes have become medically complex birth Redefinition of problems as diseases Addictions are medical problems Mental disorders Physical renewal Functionalist Perspective Medicine is functional for society People must be healthy to serve society Sickness must be treated and cured so that society will be able to continue Medicine drives scientific research People must follow social norms related to health Medicine produces great wealth so motivates people to enter those professions The Sick Role: Social Control Over Sickness Sick people are not responsible for their condition Sick people may withdraw from normal activities Sick people should want to get well Sick people should seek treatment Conflict Perspective Medical cure and care has become big business Costly and expensive Serves country poorly System perpetuates inequality Some groups lack access Intense competition Produces inefficiency Battles over power Symbolic Interaction Socialization of physicians and nurses Learning to become detached and impersonal Conflict between compassion and bureaucracy Physician-patient interaction Misunderstandings are common Disease recovery Social context can influence cure Health Today Preventive medicine Lifestyle changes have broad social effect Aging population Global view of health Cultural competence Health care must be sensitive to wide range of diverse social conditions Concept Web Medicine and Health Care Chapter 15 Medicine and Health Care Sociology and Medicine Epidemic A widespread outbreak of a contagious disease Pandemic An outbreak of a contagious disease over a very large area or worldwide Disease A pathology that disrupts the usual functions of the body Health The capacity to satisfy role requirements Social Organization of Medicine Physicians Have the authority to diagnose, prescribe treatment Certify death or competency Prestige results in many privileges Most are specialists today Nurses Assist in medical settings under the supervision of a physician Have less education than physician Most are women Health Care Organizations Hospitals Divided authorities Physicians Administrators Multihospital systems Hospitals managed by a company HMO An insurance plan combined with a facility A “health maintenance organization” For a monthly fee, comprehensive health care is provided Social Issues in Health Social class Quality of care varies according to social class Social class is related to a healthy environment Race and ethnicity Race and class are connected Gender Male physicians less familiar with female health and medicine Cost of Health Care Physician fees Fee for service greatly increased Due to extensive testing, defensive medicine, insurance premiums Hospitals Complex facility Often profit driven Technology Increased dependence on sophisticated and costly devices Health Insurance 70% have health insurance in U.S. Co-payments common Uninsured tend to be: Racial minorities Young people Poor people Special insurance Medicare: health insurance for the elderly Medicaid: health care for poor and disabled Medicalization of Society: The growing power of medicine as an institution. Simple processes have become medically complex birth Redefinition of problems as diseases Addictions are medical problems Mental disorders Physical renewal Functionalist Perspective Medicine is functional for society People must be healthy to serve society Sickness must be treated and cured so that society will be able to continue Medicine drives scientific research People must follow social norms related to health Medicine produces great wealth so motivates people to enter those professions The Sick Role: Social Control Over Sickness Sick people are not responsible for their condition Sick people may withdraw from normal activities Sick people should want to get well Sick people should seek treatment Conflict Perspective Medical cure and care has become big business Costly and expensive Serves country poorly System perpetuates inequality Some groups lack access Intense competition Produces inefficiency Battles over power Symbolic Interaction Socialization of physicians and nurses Learning to become detached and impersonal Conflict between compassion and bureaucracy Physician-patient interaction Misunderstandings are common Disease recovery Social context can influence cure Health Today Preventive medicine Lifestyle changes have broad social effect Aging population Global view of health Cultural competence Health care must be sensitive to wide range of diverse social conditions CONCEPT WEB Medicine and Health Care