By Amr A. Abd-Elghany, Ph.D. Health Care RSMI: 241

Health is one of our most precious possessions Definition of Health One person may consider himself to be healthy whenever he is not physically ill, while another may consider himself to be healthy only when he is emotionally and physically "at his best. we will define health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well- being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Total Health 1.Social health. A sense of responsibility for the health and welfare of others. 2. Mental health. A mind that grows, reasons, and adjusts to life situations. 3. Emotional health. Feelings and actions that bring one satisfaction. 4. Spiritual health. Inner peace and security in one's spiritual faith. Basic concepts of health care

Today health care delivery system In earlier generations, illnesses were cared for at home. Prevention is an important approach of health care because it is more affordable than the costs of treating disease. Prevention includes good nutrition and exercise, avoid bad habits as smoking and the use of recreational drugs. Illness are treated promptly, before they become chronic or life-threatening. Crisis intervention is another approach. Therefore Health care is defined as: is the treatment and prevention of illness.

Health illness continuum: it is a line graph drawn between optimum health and fatal illness.

Health care insurance systems Social health insurance: is where a nation's entire population is eligible for health care coverage, and this coverage and the services provided are regulated. In almost every country, state or municipality with a government health care system a parallel private, and usually for-profit, system is allowed to operate. 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. Health care systems are composed of individuals and organizations that aim to meet the health care needs of target populations.

The Healthcare System of Saudi Arabia -The Ministry of Health is responsible for the supervision of healthcare and hospitals in both the public and private sectors. -The system offers universal healthcare coverage. -The healthcare system has two tiers. 1.One is a network of primary healthcare centers and clinics that provide preventive, prenatal, emergency, and basic services, as well as mobile clinics for remote rural areas. 2.The second tier is represented by the hospitals and specialized treatment facilities located in urban areas.

In 1970, there were 74 hospitals with 9,039 beds; by 2005, there were 350 hospitals with nearly 48,000 beds. The Ministry of Health operates 62% of the hospitals and 53% of the clinics and centers; the remaining facilities are operated by government agencies, including the Ministry of Defense, the National Guard, the Ministry of the Interior, and several other ministries, as well as by private entities.

The breakdown of facilities is as follows: 1. Ministry of Health Facilities These serve the general public and are located in both the large cities and the small towns throughout Saudi Arabia. 2. Military Hospitals These serve members of the Saudi Arabia armed forces and members of their families, according to the branch of the military in which the individual serves. Military hospital in Riyadh

Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) SANG is the branch of the military that is involved with defense against external threats and internal threats. SANG has four hospitals which provide care to the soldiers of the Saudi Arabian National Guard and their dependents: King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh (650 beds, formerly the King Fahad National Guard Hospital); King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah (350 beds, formerly the King Khalid National Guard Hospital); King Abdulaziz Medical City – Dammam (100 beds); King Abdulaziz Medical City – Al Ahsa (300 beds); The Saudi Arabian National Guard also operates clinics in Riyadh and Taif.

Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation (MODA) MODA provides defense against primarily external threats. It includes the Saudi Arabian Army, the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the Royal Saudi Air Force and Royal Saudi Air Defense. MODA operates nine hospitals which provide care to the soldiers of MODA and their dependents: Riyadh Military Hospital Al Kharj, Riyadh (1,000+ beds); Prince Sultan Cardiac Center, Riyadh (150+ beds); North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk (350 beds); King Fahd Military Medical Complex, Dhahran (316 beds); Armed Forces Hospital at King AbdulAziz Airbase, Al Khobar (280 beds); King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah (200+ beds); King Faisal/King Fahad Hospital, Khamis Mushayt (total 258 beds); Al Hada Hospital, Taif (500+ beds); Hafr Al-Batin Armed Forces Hospital, Hafr Al-Batin (300 beds); Wadi Al-Dawassir Hospital, Wadi Al-Dawassir (100 beds).

3. Ministry of the Interior This serves members the ministry of the interior, including the police and customs collectors. Security Forces Hospital, Riyadh (500 beds), serves the Ministry of Interior personnel. 4. Referral Hospitals Every citizen is eligible to go to the referral hospitals for specialized care. These facilities include: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre- Riyadh Site (700 beds); King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre- Jeddah Site (250 beds); King Khalid Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh (360 beds); Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Humanitarian City, Riyadh (300 rehabilitation beds).

5. Private Facilities Here are just a few of the private facilities in Saudi Arabia: For-Profit: Saudi German Hospital, Jeddah; Dr. Erfan & Bagedo Hospital, Jeddah; Kingdom Hospital, Riyadh Saudi ARAMCO Hospital, Dhahran (480 beds); serves employees of the oil company Saudi ARAMCO, and their family members Social Insurance Hospital, Riyadh (GOSI) (300 beds) Royal Commission Hospitals, which serve employees and their family members of the Industrial cities located at: Jubail, on the east coast of Saudi Arabia; Yanbu, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia SAAD Medical Centre, Al Khobar Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah (800 beds, and the largest private hospital in Saudi Arabia; it is contracted to Saudi ARAMCO)

The health care team Patients the most important people in the health care community. Referring physicians many patients are sent to the hospital by a doctor known as the referring physician who may serve as attending physician. Attending physician is responsible for assessing the patient needs and prescribing يشرع therapeutic procedures to promote health. He determines the expertise of one or more specialists would be helpful in the patient diagnosis or treatment. Intern recent الإمتياز medical school graduates gaining practical experience. Fellow زمالة licensed physicians receiving advanced training. Residents licensed physicians in an educational program to become certified in a specialty area. Nursing Pharmacists

Nursing Professionals /Nurses Nurses or nursing professionals are vital cogs of any health care team, providing care and treatment to a patient. Registered nurses manage and provide general nursing care for patients. Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are directly assigned to a particular patient and work under the supervision of registered nurses or generally assist the registered nurses. Pharmacists Pharmacists fill prescriptions, prepare and dispense medications and other drugs in consultation with the attending physicians and nurses. They also provide general advice to patients about drugs reactions, food allergies and general information about medicines

Dietitians Dietitians or nutritionists carry out a comprehensive assessment of a patient's nutritional needs and prepare a diet program to support the healing process or recovery program. They also advise on diets and nutritional intake for the immediate post-discharge or overall recovery period. Mental Health Professionals and/or Therapists Depending on the nature of an illness or a treatment of a particular patient, a mental health professional or a therapist becomes part of the health care team. Mental health professionals gently and in a calibrated manner help patients and families cope with depression, stress and anxiety. Physical therapists step in to evaluate functional skills and treat physical and developmental problems of patients recovering from a cardiac arrest or open-heart surgery.

Abbreviated table of medical specialties (physicians) Radiologist specializes in diagnosis by means of medical imaging. Internist specializes in diseases of internal organ. Oncologist specializes in tumor identification and treatment. Gynecologist specializes in diseases of female reproductive system. Neurologists specializes in functions and disorders of nervous system. Pulmonologist specializes in diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases. Emergency department physicians specializes in trauma and emergency situations. Pathologistمختبرات specializes in the scientific study of the alterations in the body caused by diseases and death. Intensivist specialist often a pulmonologist who treats patients in the intensive care unit. Ophthalmologist specializes in diagnosis and treatment of eyes.