Information AboutHealth Care |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HEALTH CARE | |
| healthcare | |
| public services | |
| healthcare by countryhealthcare | |
| public services | |
| healthcare by country | |
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HEALTHCARE AS AN INDUSTRY The healthcare industry is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries. Consuming over 10 percent of of the United States , the largest of any country in the world. In 2001, for the OECD countries the average was 8.4 percent {Link without Title} with the United States (13.9%), Switzerland (10.9%), and Germany (10.7%) being the top three. The healthcare industry includes the delivery of health services by Doctors and other Allied Health Providers . Usually such services receive payment from the Patient or from the patient's Insurance company; although they may be government-financed (such as the National Health Service in the United Kingdom ) or delivered by Charities or Volunteer s, particularly in poorer countries. MEDICAL AND SOCIAL MODELS OF HEALTHCARE A traditional view is that improvements in health result from advancements in Medical science. The medical model of health focuses on the eradication of Illness through Diagnosis and effective treatment. In contrast, the social model of health places emphasis on changes that can be made in society and in people's own lifestyles to make the population healthier. It defines illness from the point of view of the individual's functioning within their society rather than by monitoring for changes in Biological or Physiological signs. The term ''underserved'' is used to refer to populations which are disadvantaged with regard to health care due to their ability to pay for care, ability to access care, ability to access comprehensive health care or that suffer health disparity for reasons of race, religion, language group or social status. ''See also Medical Model Of Disability , Social Model Of Disability , Preventive Medicine .'' SEE ALSO
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