Step 2
Description
Globalisation is often regarded as a process that leads people from around the world to share a common economic, emotional, social and cultural space from wherever they are in the world (Guidotti, 2015). Nowadays everybody is affected either directly or indirectly. As the world continues to integrate on this front, it emerges that there arises benefits and problems in equal measure because in the long run there will be a sharing of economic, cultural, political and environmental powers among many nations of the world (McMichael & Butler, 2006).
Feelings
Australia has not been left behind when it comes to matters of the health of its population and how that affects the environment (Cockerham & Cockerham, 2010). But health professional teams are said to be influential in determining that despite the continuous changes that are brought by globalisation the country will promote sustainable development.
Evaluation
It is important to recognize what modern technology has done to the Australian population concerning influence from outside on matters of health. The effect globalisation has had on the masses is beyond the understanding of health professionals, and thus it has become a challenge to them to determine or guide people to do what is good and bad for them (McMichael & Butler, 2006).
Analysis
Technology has made it practically possible for people to have easy access to information and materials that are either good or bad. And it is due to that that our society is getting Americanized so easily even if the effect of that negatively affects the population (Guidotti, 2015).
Action Plan
But it is also good to recognize the fact that globalisation has its good and bad side because people are often left to choose what is right or wrong. A lot needs to be done by health professionals to help educate the masses about their health, taking advantage of globalization to do the best they can to boost good health (McMichael & Butler, 2006).
Step 3
In the book Health and Globalization which is written by Geoffrey Cockerham and William C. Cockerham, it becomes evident that globalisation has both good and bad effects on society. On the one hand, it has led to the improvement of the health of the world by helping to transfuse medical knowledge in an effort to improve the health of humans. But on the other hand, globalisation has led to the health risks such as the rapid and uncontrollable spread of dangerous ailments such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) across borders (Cockerham & Cockerham, 2010). It is imperative to recognize how the World Health Organization has been able to monitor global access to medical information, drugs and even the delivery of healthcare. And thus, it cannot be assumed that globalisation does not have its good side (World Health Organization, 2010).
This particular resource will go a long way in helping me expand my knowledge about the positive and negative impacts globalisation has had on the world. Of course, I had my assumptions about this issue before reading this course material, but then it has helped me find tangible evidence that will back up my previous knowledge. Besides that, the resource will help in making reference to previous studies and sociological rationales that I can relate to the issue of the effects globalization has had on the healthcare industry in not only Australia but that of other countries. Particularly, close reference and comparison are drawn to Max Weber’s analysis of the world economies of his time and globalisation that has taken place in the world in recent times (Thangavel & Sridev, 2014). The transformation of society is made possible through human interaction, and the health sector is experiencing a transformation that will determine how people use available medical information and resources much to their benefit (Weber, 2003).
Step 4
Today's modern technology has become part and parcel of the diagnosis and treatment of patients thanks to improved machinery and treatment techniques. There have been better and swifter treatment and diagnosis mechanisms that have made the health sector more vibrant more than was the experience in the past. Globalisation has further made it possible for physicians and patients to access a wide range of information because a lot of information is out there thanks to the internet (Guidotti, 2015). It dawns on everybody that there is so much that needs to be done to ensure environmental sustainability as a way of improving health equity. It is on those grounds that health professionals need to acknowledge the fact that there is change as a result of globalisation both positively and negatively. These health professionals need to find a balance between the two about the expectations of society in as far as their health is concerned. In so doing, health professionals will be in a better position to determine the areas they need to capitalize on to benefit different people depending on their location, the health challenges they may be facing depending on their educational level, gender and even socioeconomic status (McMichael & Butler, 2006).
Health professionals also need to identify the link existing between globalisation and health (Pang & Guindon, 2004). Sometimes, politics plays a critical role in determining what kinds of agreements exist between different countries or regions. Health professionals need to identify those agreements that touch on the health sector and relate them to issues affecting all manner of global changes touching on the environment and the people living in it (Germov, 2014). Most of the health determinants stem from bilateral agreements arrived at by different groups of people, and health professionals have a role to play in sitting on advisory boards where health matters are discussed. To arrive at effective policies health professionals need to be involved because their support and counsel play a critical role in determining solutions to environmental of health problems. Thus, health professional teams play a vital role in providing the right information that will promote environmental sustainability (Germov, 2014).
There is a lot that health professional teams can do in as far as helping put in place policies that can ensure better management of health impacts of globalization and the environment. It is imperative to recognize that globalization is natural and happens all the time. No one can control the path it takes at any given time (McMichael & Butler, 2006). As a social force, it may have been created and controlled by human beings, but can take different directions in a blink of an eye. Health professional teams are expected to be vigilant and ready to offer their much-needed advice all the time. In order to favour the interests of a majority of the population, wise counsel is needed so that hasty decisions cannot be made on health matters by people who are not well versed with the daily happenings of popular culture (Pang & Guindon, 2004). To ensure no one is favoured or disadvantaged, it is imperative to recognize that these teams have to take a professional stand when it comes to making decisions that will affect a the entire world population. The health of the word is expected to be socially and environmentally sustainable and it is for that reason that a lot of consideration needs to be done to ensure globalisation is beneficial to everyone in the country.
In recent years, there have been social, economic and environmental factors that jeopardized health (Germov, 2014). There are large transnational companies that keep influencing global health through the goods and services they offer. The food industry is touted to be one of the leading forces affecting world health (McMichael & Butler, 2006). If only health professional teams could offer the general population the right information on how to go about the kinds of food to eat, when and how to eat them; then many people will be saved from many lifestyle diseases that are on the rise today (Megan, 2006). Today, popular culture has a huge influence on the lifestyles many people lead. Globalization is shaping consumer behaviours across the globe, and it is not surprising that many people are becoming Americanized by virtue of borrowing American lifestyles (Pang & Guindon, 2004). Health professional bodies can come in handy and offer the right information about how people should live so that they can avoid the consequences of bad lifestyle habits.
There has been growing concern to incorporate social and environmental needs into healthcare. That is where health professional teams come in for they will help in developing health plans that will integrate emerging social determinants of health with the already existing ones. It is only right that everybody understands that most of these social determinants of health play a critical role in shaping health outcomes at all levels (Megan, 2006). It is imperative to note that there exist different health care plans that different people embrace depending on their socioeconomic statuses. Therefore, the already existing health professional teams will play a critical role in integrating acknowledged workable plans that will effectively benefit the people of Australia. That includes offering both clinical and nonclinical help to deserving persons depending on their health needs.
Step 5
The graduate attribute that best suits this question states, “recognize the responsibility to the common good, the environment and society”.
Answering this question has enabled me to recognize the roles of health professional teams in determining the general wellbeing of all Australian citizens. The choices these teams make and the policies they help formulate go a long way in ensuring the common good of all citizens, the protection of the environment, as well as the society. They recognize the effects of modern technology and what globalization can do to influence personal choices and decisions of all citizens. Therefore, they serve as advisory bodies that give the public the right information that can go a long way in helping them make better life choices.
It is also imperative to note that answering this question has enabled me to recognize the fact that everyone is mandated to get involved and personal effort goes a long way into ensuring that the ethics and values of our society are kept (McMichael & Butler, 2006). Globalisation has made it possible for all of us to access all manner of health information by the use of computers and the internet (). But then not all the information at our disposal is the right one. It takes a person who is more knowledgeable than another to offer directions and guidance to others so that they can decipher what is good and bad for them to make the right choices. Communal responsibility needs to be taken so that everyone benefits from the knowledge members of our society possess. That is where these health professionals come in, and their valuable input can go a long way in ensuring our society is well informed on good health practices that will guarantee their safety.
References
Cockerham, G.B., & Cockerham, W.C. (2010). In Health and Globalization. Cambridge, UK: Polity Press
Germov, J. (2014). Second Opinion: An Introduction to Health Sociology 5th ed. South Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.
Gibb’s (1998) Reflective Cycle. Web. Retrieved on 3rd April 2016 http://www.cumbria.ac.uk/public/liss/documents/skillsatcumbria/reflectivecyclegibbs.pdf
Guidotti, T. L. (2015). Health and Sustainability: An Introduction. New York: OUP.
McMichael, A. J. & Butler C. (2006). Emerging Health Issues: The Widening Challenge for Population Health Promotion. Oxford Journals. Web. Retrieved on 22nd March 2016. http://heapro.oxfordjournals.org/content/21/suppl_1/15.full
Megan, L. (2006). Environment, Health and Sustainable Development. Berkshire: Open University Press.
Pang, T. & Guindon, G. E. (2004). Globalization and Risks to Health. EMBO. Web. Retrieved on 22nd March 2016. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1299207/
Thangavel, P. & Sridev I, G. (2014). Environmental Sustainability: Role of Green Technologies. New York: Springer.
Weber, Max. (2003). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. New York: Dover Publication.
World Health Organization. (2010). “Telemedicine: Opportunities and Development in Member States.” Report on the Second Global Survey Report. Web. Retrieved on 4th April 2010 http://www.who.int/goe/publications/goe_telemedicine_2010.pdf
