NAME:AYOOLA TESTIMONY AYOOLUWA
MATRIC NO:22/0066
DEPARTMENT:NURSING
COURSE:INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIOLOGY(SOC201)
LECTURER:MRS AJAYI BOLANLE
ASSIGMENT ON:HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
According to the World Health Organisation a
health system consists of all organisations,
people and actions whose primary intent is to
promote, restore or maintain health. This
includes efforts to influence determinants of
health as well as more direct activities that
improve health. A health system is, therefore,
more than the pyramid of publicly owned
facilities that deliver personal health services
but include the institutions, people and
resources involved in delivering health care to
individuals for example;
a) A mother caring for a sick child at home;
b) A child receiving rehabilitation services
within the school setting;
c) An individual access vocational rehabilitation
services within the work place;
d) Private providers, behaviour change
programmes, such as vector-control
campaigns.
e) Health insurance organisations,
occupational health and safety legislation
which includes inter-sectoral action by health
staff, for example, encouraging the ministry of
education to promote female education, a well-
known
determinant of better health.
Rehabilitation is an essential health
service, alongside prevention, promotion,
treatment and palliation.
[1] In a comprehensive health system,
rehabilitation is one of the key services at both
the community- and hospital level.
[2] The integration of rehabilitation in health
systems (across the continuum of care, at all
stages of life, and for a range of health
conditions) is expected to result in improved
coordination with medical and other health
services, accountability, quality assurance and
sustainability.In the medium- and long-term,
this integrated approach will result in
strengthened delivery of rehabilitation services,
better workforce allocation, and adequate
financing.
However, there is evidence that
rehabilitation is not yet effectively integrated
into many health systems globally.
In many countries, individuals do not have
access to the rehabilitation services they need.
The best way to ensure that rehabilitation
services reach all those who need them is by
integrating rehabilitation across all levels of the
health system, as part of universal health
coverage.
A well-functioning health system working
in harmony is built on having trained and
motivated health workers, a well-maintained
infrastructure, and a reliable supply of
medicines and technologies, backed by
adequate funding, strong health plans and
evidence-based policies. Health Care Systems
differ from nation to nation depending upon the
level of economic development and the political
system in place. Health care is a priority and
source of concern worldwide. Every country
irrespective of its private, public or mixed
health care system faces challenges with
regard to quality, delivery and cost of services.
Health care is conventionally regarded as
an important determinant in promoting the
general physical, mental and social well-being
of people around the world and can contribute
to a significant part of a country's economy,
development and industrialisation when
efficient. An example of this was the
declaration by the World Health Organization
(WHO) of worldwide eradication of smallpox
eradication in 1980, the first disease in human
history to be completely eliminated by
deliberate health care
interventions.Recognising the value of
rehabilitation and its impact on individuals,
families, and communities, the allocation of
resources to rehabilitation services should be
seen as an investment, rather than a cost.
CHAPTER 2
TYPES OF HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
There are three types of health care system in
Nigeria:
1)Primary health care
2) Secondary health care
3) Tertiary health care
What is Primary Care?
Primary care is the first and most frequent
level of care for medical concerns, illnesses,
conditions, symptoms or non-life-threatening
emergencies. Many people recognize and
understand primary care, often as a family
doctor or general practitioner, and you go to
them when you're sick or are experiencing
healthcare issues. Primary care providers
(PCP) assess your general health during
annual physicals or scheduled visits to
diagnose common conditions and illnesses and
handle other personal healthcare concerns
like:
•Skin rashes
•Broken bones
•Colds
•Flu
•Allergies
•Weight control issues
•Virus or bacteria illnesses
•Reproductive health
•Wellness screenings
•Immunizations
•Preventative care
•Stress management
•Sleep and exercise concerns
•Disease prevention and maintenance
Primary health care providers are
important because they often offer improved
access to healthcare services, increased
education about well-being and often decrease
the number of emergency room visits or
hospitalizations in a community. They also help
coordinate your care with specialists or higher
levels of care when needed, typically through
referrals. Primary care physicians treat minor
illnesses, perform health checkups and routine
tests, answer your medical questions and keep
records related to your overall health and
wellness. PCPs are general healthcare
professionals or those who specifically care for
a certain group of people and can include:
~Doctors
~Pediatricians
~Geriatricians
~Obstetrician
~Gynecologist
~Internal medicine physicians
~Nurses
~Nurse practitioners
~Physician assistants
Many health insurance companies require
you to have a primary health provider for basic
healthcare needs. Because there are so many
types of doctors who offer different types and
levels of care, you most often see a primary
care provider first to assess and review a
medical concern before being recommended to
relevant doctors or specialists.
What is secondary care?
Secondary care is a more specialized
level of care, often by doctors who have certain
expertise. This can be for a specific part or
system of the body or a specific disease,
illness or condition. For example, oncologists
are doctors with a trained specialty in treating
cancers, and many have further specialties in a
specific type of cancer, like breast cancer, lung
cancer or skin cancer. Cardiologists practice
exclusively on heart conditions and
abnormalities. And dermatologists work with
various skin issues, like acne, psoriasis,
eczema and other conditions. Other examples
of secondary care doctors include:
1.Allergists: Allergists treat allergic diseases
and conditions, like hives, asthma or medicinal
allergies.
2.Infectious disease doctors: Infectious disease
doctors specialize in the treatment of
contagious diseases like pneumonia, cellulitis,
influenza and post-surgery infections.
3.Ophthalmologists: Ophthalmologists are
doctors who specialize in vision and eye care,
including routine eye exams, eye surgeries and
eye conditions or diseases.
4.Endocrinologists: Endocrinologists focus on
the endocrine system of hormones and glands
to treat things like thyroid conditions, infertility
or hormonal imbalances.
5.Gastroenterologists: Gastroenterologists
treat the digestive system, including the
esophagus, pancreas, colon, gallbladder,
intestine, stomach and liver.
6.Nephrologists: Nephrologists care for kidneys
and kidney conditions like renal failure, lupus,
kidney stones, hypertension and more. They
also perform dialysis and transplants.
7.Neurologists: Neurologists are doctors who
specialize in conditions of the spine, nerves
and brain, often performing surgery and
treating conditions like migraines, stroke,
epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's
and Alzheimer's diseases.
8.Urologists: Urologists focus on urinary tract
health, including reproductive health and
infertility issues.
9.Pulmonologists: Pulmonologists care for the
lungs and heart as they relate to breathing.
They handle ventilation procedures and treat
lung conditions and breathing disorders.
10.Otolaryngologists: Otolaryngologists are
doctors who treat the ear, nose and throat
(ENT), including sinus, tonsils and throat.
11 Psychiatrists: Psychiatrists are doctors who
treat mental health conditions through
medication, counseling and hospital treatment.
Some focus further on specific areas like
substance abuse and addiction medicine or
adolescent mental health.
12.Radiologists: Radiologists diagnose and
treat medical conditions through image tests
like X-rays, mammograms, ultrasounds,
computed tomography (CT) scans and
magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI).
13.Rheumatologists: Rheumatologists
diagnose and treat rheumatic diseases and
autoimmune conditions of the joints, bones and
muscles like gout, psoriatic arthritis,
rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
General surgeons: General surgeons care for a
patient 14.before, during and after general
surgery, mostly for organs like the stomach,
skin, breast and endocrine or gastrointestinal
systems.
15.Orthopedic surgeons: Orthopedic surgeons
specialize in performing surgery for bone
tumors, broken bones, sports injuries,
carpal tunnel syndrome or osteoporosis.
16.Cardiac surgeons: Cardiac surgeons
perform intricate and specialized heart
surgeries, like valve repair or replacement,
aortic dissections, bypass and stents.
17.Anesthesiologists: Anesthesiologists assist
before, during and after all surgeries,
monitoring a person's vital signs and
administering anesthesia to put a person to
sleep for procedures and surgeries. They also
assist with pain medication following surgery.
Doctors at both primary and secondary
levels of care can prescribe medication and
suggest treatment plans. People often have a
secondary care review when a medical
condition requires more attention than a
primary care provider can give. To see a
specialist, patients often need a
recommendation, or referral, from their primary
care provider. Patients being treated by a
secondary care provider, or by multiple
secondary care providers, often keep their
primary care provider involved to help
coordinate total care and ensure all medical
professionals are aware of what the other is
treating and recommending.
What is tertiary care?
Tertiary care in the medical industry is
typically hospitalization, requiring advanced
equipment and expertise because of a severe
or unusual medical situation. It's the third point
of contact for some patients, after first seeing a
primary care provider then a secondary care
specialist. Sometimes tertiary care requires
transferring a patient to larger metropolitan
medical centers or those that specialize in
emergent or advanced treatment and care.
Examples of tertiary care can include:
Aortic dissections
Renal or hemodialysis
Coronary artery bypass
Neurosurgery
Severe burn treatments
Some plastic surgeries
Dialysis
Most patients can expect to use primary
and secondary care within their lifetime, though
some may experience tertiary care. Depending
on the condition or medical situation, a patient
may receive tertiary care more than once, too.
Those undergoing tertiary care again often stay
connected with their primary care provider
throughout the process to ensure best
practices and outcomes for long-term and
continued care or self-management for chronic
conditions and ailments.
CHAPTER 3
Factors affecting utilizations of primary
health care
1.Range of medical services offered:
A hospital may be a small healthcare clinic or a
multi-specialty hospital. But the range of the
medical services offered by the hospital
determine its quality of healthcare services.
For instance, patients seeking treatment for
critical ailment like cardiac or pulmonary
disorders always expect the hospital to be
equipped with the latest diagnostic and
scanning equipment like ultrasound, X-ray, CT
scan, etc. This is because they hardly have the
time or the frame of mind to go from one place
to another for canning when they are already in
trauma. So, patients generally prefer hospital
possessing a complete range of diagnostic and
therapeutic services.
Every hospital should offer at least the
minimum range of clinical service required for
diagnosing and treating the patients it serves.
This includes blood pathology lab, X-ray,
ultrasound, EEG, ECG, CT scan facilities,
pharmacy, etc.
2. Clinical competence of the hospital staff:
To assess the quality of healthcare services in
a hospital, all
one has to do is go for a general out-patient
consultation or for a blood test. The expertise
of the duty doctor in attending to you or the lab
technician in taking your blood
ample painlessly will give an indication of the
clinical competence of the hospital staff.
Patients come to the hospital to seek clinical
help for their ailments and the first thing they
expect is clinical competence from the hospital
staff. Every staff member of the hospital should
be clinically trained and deployed for handling
patient only on ascertaining their professional
efficiency. The quality of healthcare services of
a hospital lies in the competence of its staff to
a large extent.
3. Physical ambience of the hospital:
Patients are in pain and trauma when they
enter a hospital. So, the moment they enter the
hospital, they should feel relaxed and
reassured. This is possible only when the
hospital has a clean, hygienic, and pleasing
ambience. The interiors of the hospital should
be spotless, the décor should be inviting, the
furniture should be comfortable, and the
atmosphere must be sweet-smelling. There
should be no noise or commotion in the
hospital and everything should function
seamlessly. Such a hospital is said to have top
quality of healthcare services.
4. Amenities provided by the hospital:
A hospital is considered to possess the best
quality of healthcare services if it provides all
the amenities required by the patients in full
measure. This includes lifts, cafeteria, free Wi-
Fi, etc. Apart from such physical amenities,
facilities like online appointment scheduling
and tracking, video consultation, etc also
elevate the quality of the healthcare services
provided by the hospital to the premium range.
5. Expertise of the physicians:
A hospital is a home for recuperation and relief.
So, the main thing patient expect from a
hospital is swift relief and
recovery from their ailments. This depends
largely on the expertise of its physicians.
A hospital however richly furnished or
equipped, will lose its purpose and reputation if
it lacks physicians with ample expertise. This is
why hospitals should enlist highly qualified and
skilled physicians and specialists to maintain
the quality of the healthcare services.
6. Behaviour of the staff:
A pleasing, considerate and helping staff is
what every successful hospital requires.
Hospitals must train their staff with the help of
expert healthcare consulting firm to make them
improve patient satisfaction.
Such a courteous staff will be the asset to the
hospital and increase its quality of the
healthcare services.
7. In-patient experience:
The experience of a patient in the hospital
denotes the quality of the healthcare services.
Factors like the waiting time of the patient at
the hospital, the friendliness of the staff, the
comfort and convenience of the patient wards,
the number of visits required to complete the
treatment, the follow-up from the hospital on
the patient's condition, the way the patient's
need and complaint are addressed- all these
contribute to the in-patient experience at the
hospital.
8. Patient satisfaction:
Patient satisfaction mirrors the quality of the
healthcare services offered by the hospital.
Right from the moment the patient enters the
hospital to his final exit, every need of the
patient should be addressed by the hospital.
Only then can the hospital ensure 100%
satisfaction from the patient.
Hospitals can enhance the quality of their
healthcare
services by becoming more patient-centric and
efficiency-driven. They can seek the guidance
of expert healthcare consultants to improve the
quality of their healthcare services and enrich
their reputation.
CHAPTER 4
Benefits of health care system
1. Access to medical treatment
2. Preventive care
3. Disease management
4. Emergency care
5. Health education
6. Maternal and child health services
7. Mental health support
8. Immunizations
9. Chronic disease management
10. Rehabilitation services
11. Palliative care
12. Access to medications
13. Health screenings
14. Health promotion programs
15. Access to specialists
16. Affordable care
17. Health insurance coverage
18. Public health initiatives
19. Community health programs
20. Improved overall health and well-being
Conclusion
Inadequate healthcare is prevalent globally in
all countries, and no country has a perfect
healthcare system. Health is a basic human
right, and improvements in healthcare should
be
a goal of every country.Healthcare systems
present in different countries are strongly
influenced by the norms and values prevalent
with the respective societies, and often reflect
deeply rooted social and cultural expectations
and norms. Although these fundamental values
are generated outside the formal structure of
the healthcare system, they often define its
overall character.The concerns faced by each
country when attempting to construct a system
for health care delivery can be very different
based on their needs impacted by a wide
variety of factors including economics, climate,
population size etc. No health care system is
completely alike, and none are completely free
of problems and as such a method that works
for one country will not be completely
transferrable to another due to different health
concerns, priorities, and mindsets.
Health is a basic human right, and care that
improves the lives of all citizens will improve a
country as a whole. As such improvements in
healthcare and a sustainable healthcare
system will provide quality care to all citizens.
should be a primary goal of every country.
