Abstract
Access to health care majorly varies across states, individuals and groups and it is greatly influenced by both economic and social conditions and at times political influences. This paper is about my interview with people of different age groups discussing various ways in which they have access to healthcare. I interviewed them in order to know the various ways in which they have access to healthcare and how this process has changed over time. I interviewed four people to represent the vast majority of persons that access healthcare. Among these are; (an aged man of 70 years, my mother, my cousin and my neighbor who is 5 years old). Below is my interview with each one of them.
Me: Hello Mr. George, could you have some time so I can ask you a number of questions regarding access to health care?
George: Sure, I do go ahead.
Me: Now that you are quite advanced in age than me, I would like you to tell me about your past experiences with health care, how you had access to it and how it has changed over time.
George: Well, I happen to be privileged enough to taste different health care services with the different regimes. A while ago we relied on autonomous physicians to act as our agents. There was no advanced technology and health centers operated manually. In addition to that, physicians and other health professionals were very few and it was an uphill task reaching them for services. Patients moreover received complex care nonprofit and independent hospital though they were just a few. There was no insurance and therefore insurers never intervened in any decisions whether medical or personal (Herod, 2008, p. 115). Access to health care was quite an uphill task but things have gradually changed. To start, technology has played a major role in improving health care. Today when I go to the health center for checkups or treatment, it takes me a fraction of the time I used to spend in the 80’s. In general, I admit that change is what I see in hospitals and in health centers. Advancement in technology particularly in computers has caused a great impact on health care today. Today there are ambulances, organ Transplants, Medical Imagery such as scans and x-rays and other important discoveries including Polio Vaccine and Birth Control Pills.
Me: That’s quite detailed sir. Could you tell me what you find fascinating today with health care?
George: That’s a good question. I am proud today that advancement in technology and physicians’ knowhow is saving lives, unlike 50 years ago when people suffering from dreaded diseases died from lack of medicines to treat them. Access to health care today is easy, cheap and accessible. I love the gradual transformation.
Me: Hello mum, how is health care today? Now that you are a doctor what do you find interesting with the gradual changes?
Mum: Well, there is quite a lot I can say has changed since I stepped into office in the 1985. To start with, health care has over the last 50 years improved drastically. Some of the changes include; increases in mortality rate as cures and preventions are now affordable and easily accessible, also today, general information and patient records are stored efficiently in databases.
Me: What about cost? What does give credit for with the new system?
Mum: In the past around 1970’s, health care cost $3000 on average, per person. Ten years ago, this figure has risen to $4800 per person and today it is at $8000. There have been stunning innovations in health care. This increase means that the government has invested much in healthcare in an effort to see that everyone has access to health care anytime without discrimination and al low cost. In addition to that, technological innovations have accelerated and I am proud to posit that health disparities are on the increase and this is to the benefit of everyone whether rich or poor, old or young, black or white.
Me: Thank you so much for your time that has been very informative.
Mum: You are most welcome.
Me: Hi Martin, how is health care today in your own point of view?
Martin: There has been a drastic change in the way I access health care. For instance, since the Affordable Care Act signed into law in 2010, I now have the privilege of accessing high-quality and affordable health coverage. Two years ago, I did not have health insurance and accessing health care even in small health centers was not easy. Today with the act, I am insured and only have to use my card whenever I am going to the hospital for my checkups thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Secondly, with this new type of insurance, there has been a great improvement to the quality of coverage which is offered on the exchanges.
Me: Alright, so you like the fact that you since you do not have a job and that you are still in school you have access to health care like any other citizen.
Martin: To a great extent, my health care coverage has recently been extended and I am happy with the move by the government to consider the youth who desperately need affordable health care
Me: That is great Martin. Thank you for your time. I appreciate.
Martin: Thank you too, and have a great day.
Me: Hello Angie, how do you like the gradual change with access to health care?
Angie: Hello too, there is quite a lot I can attribute to the changes to health care. One factor is time. When I was younger, my mum used to take me for checkups to the hospital and we used to queue for long before we were attended. However, today all this has changed; I spend very little time at the hospital and this saves me time. Secondly, some years ago, I used to be treated through injections which were quite painful. Today all this has changed, when I go for treatment, the doctor engages with me pretty well and he treats me through play, repetition with fun activities and disguising therapy. Although some of these exercises are painful, the doctor makes me feel at ease (Laschinger, 2004, p. 78).
My interview with these all these people was a success. I acquired a lot of information from each one of them. There were a lot of similarities with these generations particularly on the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare system today. All of them admitted that they are thrilled with the advanced technology in the centers and hospitals which saves time and cost. However, the major difference was particularly with the way in which all these groups access health care. The old man for instance often goes for checkups weekly and therefore he gets to use his insurance card always. Healthcare has greatly improved and this has benefited a lot of people who years ago had difficulties accessing it.
References
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