Table of Contents

Lessons 1. Systems Theory GoGo 2. National Health Care Systems GoGo

Table of Contents  System – A group of individual parts that work together to form a unified whole.  Systems Theory – A way of studying a system as one unit, instead of individual parts.

Table of Contents  Input  Throughput  Output  Feedback Loop  Controls  Environment  Goals  Mission

Table of Contents  Input – Anything that enters a system, including money, resources, materials, or effort.  Throughput – A process that converts the input into a final product or service.  Output – The final product of service that is provided by a system.

Table of Contents  Feedback Loop – A process of monitoring outputs to determine whether or not the system is working.  Feedback should be evaluated and then put back into the system to improve future outputs.

Table of Contents  Controls – Anything that pinpoints problems in a system before the output is complete.  Environment – The circumstance in which the system exists. The system relies on the environment for resources.

Table of Contents  Goals – A measurable activity that must be completed to ensure that the mission is accomplished.  Mission – The specific, stated purpose of a system.

Table of Contents  The key to evaluating a system is to determine if the mission is fulfilled.  To evaluate a system, look at the “big picture.”

Table of Contents  Nearly every industrialized country has a national health care system.  Some countries have public health care systems, and other countries have private health care systems.

Table of Contents  Mainly funded by taxes and social security insurance.  Advantage – Every citizen is guaranteed health care regardless of economic status.  Disadvantages – Health care is not always comprehensive, and taxes may be higher.  Norway, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada

Table of Contents  Funded mainly by private insurance agencies and out-of-pocket payments.  Advantages – Coverage is often comprehensive, taxes may be lower, and economic growth is stimulated.  Disadvantage – Not every citizen is guaranteed health care.  United States and Switzerland

Table of Contents  Few countries contain a purely public system or a purely private system.  Most countries create a mixed system by using various funding sources to cover health care expenses.  Example: Canada and the United States

Table of Contents  Three goals for national health care systems: ▫To provide quality health care to the entire population. ▫To be responsive to the citizens’ expectations. ▫To ensure financial protection and fair distribution of financing.  These goals must be considered when evaluating any national health care system.

Table of Contents Evaluate the USA:  Does the private system provide quality health care to the entire population?  Is the private system responsive to the citizens’ expectations?  Does the private system ensure financial protection and fair distribution of financing?

Table of Contents Evaluate Canada:  Does the public system provide quality health care to the entire population?  Is the public system responsive to the citizens’ expectations?  Does the public system ensure financial protection and fair distribution of financing?

Table of Contents  Neither the private system nor the public system is perfect.  All systems must be flexible and able to adapt to the changing needs of a society.  Health care providers within a system must do their part to ensure that every patient receives the best care possible.