Public Health Achievements & Challenges

Health Care Coverage and Costs

• The federal government will cover a significant portion of healthcare costs for the delivery of care from 2014 to 2016.
• Insurance companies cannot refuse health insurance to individuals with pre-existing conditions.
• One of the main goals pursued between 1936 and 1954 in healthcare was to ensure access to affordable health care for all Americans.
• Diseases such as tuberculosis and measles have significantly decreased in the 20th century due to advancements in medicine and public health initiatives.
• The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) helps cover uninsured children under their parents' insurance until the age of 19.

Contemporary Health Challenges

• The text highlights the growing issues of chronic diseases, rising healthcare costs, and disparities in access to care.
• All companies with 50 or more employees are required to provide health insurance.
• The overarching goals of Healthy People 2020 are to improve the quality of life and keep individuals free from preventable diseases.

Health Improvement and Promotion

• Term: Health promotion | Description: Focuses on increasing one's optimal level of wellness through healthy behaviors and preventative measures.
• Term: Disease prevention | Description: Actions taken to prevent illness or injury.
• Term: Health Education | Description: The process of providing information and skills to individuals to make informed choices about their health.
• Term: Managed Care | Description: A system that coordinates healthcare services to control costs and improve quality.
• Term: Primary Care Provider (PCP) | Description: The first point of contact for receiving healthcare services.
• Term: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) | Description: Manage health care service delivery by integrating financing and delivery of health services, taking on financial risk for the health of enrollees.
• Term: Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) | Description: Operate by contracting with healthcare providers to offer services at a discounted rate to their members.
• Term: World Health Organization (WHO) | Description: A specialized agency of the United Nations concerned with worldwide health promotion.
• Term: Healthy People 2020 | Description: A national initiative with a 10-year agenda for improving health in the United States.
• Term: State Health Care Exchange Programs | Description: Responsible for overseeing and facilitating access to health insurance plans within their respective states.
• Term: Immunizations | Description: A form of secondary prevention, aiming to prevent or reduce the severity of diseases.

Vaccination Recommendations

• Certain preventive health services are offered to families at no cost, including immunizations.
• The eradication of infectious diseases is due to factors such as improved sanitation, access to clean water, and widespread immunizations.
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions are generally recommended to receive vaccinations due to increased vulnerability to infection.
• Infants, children, and pregnant women are recommended to receive specific vaccines depending on age and health status.
• Those who live in close quarters or are in close contact with vulnerable populations (like infants, and older adults), are often recommended to receive vaccinations.  

Nursing Roles and Responsibilities

• Practical nurses work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, and community health organizations.
• Practical nurses should promote healthy behaviors such as physical activity and a balanced diet.
• One of the major goals of Healthy People 2020 is to increase the number of individuals who have a regular source of healthcare.
• Practical nurses have a responsibility to advocate for their clients, ensuring they receive the best possible care.
• Practical nurses play a crucial role in educating clients, families, and communities about health promotion and disease prevention.
• Promoting changes in lifestyle or personal habits is essential for achieving optimal health.

Anxiety and Stress

• Mild anxiety can actually facilitate learning by increasing alertness and motivation.
• Severe anxiety can hinder learning by interfering with memory, focus, and problem-solving abilities.
• High levels of anxiety can manifest physically through symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, muscle tension, and difficulty breathing.
• The panic level of anxiety is characterized by confusion, a sense of doom, and disorganized thinking.
• Stress in childhood can be triggered by various factors, including changes in family structure, bullying, and academic pressures.
• The protest phase of separation anxiety is characterized by crying, clinging, and resisting separation from the caregiver. The other phases include despair and detachment.

Maternal Anxiety

• A young mother experiencing severe anxiety while driving might exhibit emotional responses like fear, trembling, or difficulty concentrating.