The following paper has been written with a view to sensitize the audience regarding the healthcare system and how they are responsible for the well being of the people. Apart from that the paper also aims to understand the sociological aspect of healthcare system and how health and illness are affected by various factors including the socio-economic factors. Furthermore an relation between these factors and policies is established.
Sociology of Health and Illness
Medical sociology has evolved over the years as importance is being attached to the proper functioning of this sector. A medical team consists of varied people playing different roles. Each person has exclusive role which needs to be performed accurately in order to ensure dispatching of medical practices. Every role played requires appropriate education along with suitable skills. Some of the main personnel in medical team consist of a Medical Doctor (MD), a Physician Assistant (PA) and a Nurse practitioner (NP). The salary structure differs according to the job duties, with MD’s earning the most considering their greater responsibilities while at job. Nurse practitioners are not as much trained and thus receive lesser pay. A NP does not receive as much training and is thus underpaid.
The perception of medical team has changed a great deal with MDs being viewed as medical partners. PAs are also associated as much importance due to their extensive clinical training. NPs are regarded as good care takers and most patients and families feel comforted in their presence. Health care system has undergone many radical changes making it a dynamic industry.
In today’s stressful conditions, many factors contribute to deteriorating health. Some of the major causes affecting health of individuals include major life events having negative impact such as death in the family or unemployment, rising costs, illness etc. all these are major causes for mental stress which leads to deterioration of physical health. Studies suggest socio-economic conditions are one of the major causes of death. Work-related stress which keeps increasing can have adverse mental as well as physical consequences. Decrease in social status caused due to rising inflation and inadequate income causes stress thus leading to health issues.
Health care policies are usually formulated to assist the general population while suffering from illnesses, but the recent policy that mandates insurance policy for all is in fact unjust. Those living in poor socio economic state are unable to buy such Medicaid insurance. When poor people are unable to pay for their healthcare insurance or pay penalty, it is difficult such policies to work. Thus it is important to reduce inequalities amongst the classes and instead promote fair chance for all in order to promote better health system of the nation.
References:
1. Raikhel E. (2010). 50 Years of Medical Sociology. 26 December 2010. Retrieved from web. http://somatosphere.net/2010/12/50-years-of-medical-sociology.html
2. Yin S. (2007). Gender disparities in health and mortality. November 2007. Retrieved from web. http://www.prb.org/Articles/2007/genderdisparities.aspx
3. Epstein S. (2012). Sociology of health, illness and Biomedicine. Winter 2012. Retrieved from web. http://www.sociology.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/documents/Soc476Syllabus-HealthandBiomedicine-2012Winter.pdf
