Text A. Health Care in the USA

The health care system in the USA exists on three levels: the level of the family doctor, the medical institution or hospital and the United States Public Health Service.

A private doctor or a family doctor gives his patients regular examinations and inoculations. In case professional care is needed, the family doctor arranges for the patient to see a specialist or to go to a hospital. The family doctor receives pay directly from the patient. Most physicians have private practices. They make use of the hospital’s facilities whenever necessary. A family doctor either has his own private office or works with several other doctors in a so-called group practice.

Many Americans have no family doctor and they come directly to the hospital for all their medical needs. The hospital provides health care to the sick and injured. There are government-financed and private hospitals in the USA. The patients are admitted to hospitals or clinics staffed by consulting physicians, residents, interns and highly skilled nurses. The nursing staff is very important. Nurses and patients are in close contact throughout the patients’ stay in the hospital. Social services are available to the patients and families regarding personal, emotional, and financial problems that may arise from continued illness or disabilities.

Most hospitals have at least the following major departments or units: surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics and general medicine. They may also have trauma intensive care units, neurosurgical and renal care units, and a psychiatric unit. The Emergency Room (unit) is a very special area in the hospital. The emergency patients receive immediate attention.

Medical care in the USA is very expensive. Two thirds of the population have private health insurance. Some people have health insurance, life insurance (financial assistance for the relatives in case of death), disability insurance and retirement benefits at their place of employment. Most employees and their families now pay more than 50 per cent of the cost of health insurance.

The great cost of medical care in the country and the great number of people who could not pay for it forced the federal government to develop two health insurance programs – Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid, started in 1966, is a federal program providing free medical care for low-income people, the aged, the blind and for dependent children. Medicare, started in 1967, is a federal program providing free medical care for disabled and aged Americans over 65, for those who in the past had the greatest medical expenses.

The chief scientific problems facing American medicine are the same as those facing Russian medicine, they are heart disease and cancer. The chief causes of suffering and death today are cancer and cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis. Also much medical research is done on illnesses of aging, disabilities caused by arthritis, mental illness, drug addiction, and genetic problems.

8. Answer the questions using the text:

1. What levels does the health care system in the USA exist on?

2. What are the main duties of a family doctor?

3. What kinds of hospitals are there in America?

4. Who comprises the staff of hospitals or clinics in the USA?

5. What departments do American hospitals have?

6. How many people have private health insurance?

7. What kinds of health insurance do people have?

8. Why did the federal government develop two health insurance programs? What are they?

9. What is Medicare? What is Medicaid?

10. What can you say about scientific problems facing American medicine?

9. Translate word combinations into English using active vocabulary:

1. система здравоохранения Америки; 2. регулярный осмотр; 3. поступать в больницу; 4. медицинское обслуживание доступно пациентам; 5. продолжительное заболевание; 6. отделение неотложной помощи; 7. оказывать медицинскую помощь пострадавшим; 8. пенсионные выплаты; 9. место работы; 10. частное медицинское страхование; 11. включая гипертонию и инсульт; 12. нетрудоспособность, вызванная артритом

10. Tell about work of the family doctor in the USA using the following word combinations:

private doctor, family doctor, to give regular examinations, professional care, to arrange for the patient to see a specialist, to make use of hospital facilities, private office, group practice

11. Replace the word combinations in bold type with active vocabulary. Translate the sentences:

1. A private physician gives his patients regular examinations and inoculations.

2. The family doctor arranges for the patient to go to an out-patient department. 3. They make use of the hospital’s equipment and apparatus whenever necessary. 4. The hospital gives medical aid to the sick and wounded. 5. Clinics are staffed by consulting doctors, residents, interns and experienced nurses. 6. The Emergency Room is a very special area in the hospital. 7. The federal government worked out two health insurance programs. 8. The main scientific problems in America are cancer and heart diseases. 9. Medical scientific investigation is done on illness of aging, disabilities triggered by arthritis, mental illness, drug addiction, and genetic problems. 10. The emergency patients receive quick attention.

12. Agree or disagree. Use the given expressions:

Exactly. (I’m afraid) I don’t think that is Yes, I think that… correct…

I (quite) agree. (I’m afraid) I can’t agree with the fact that…

I think so. (I’m afraid) I don’t think you are right…

Certainly. I disagree (with you).

I suppose so (it is, he does). Not at all.

That’s true. On the contrary.

Quite so. Nothing of the kind.

Vice versa.

1. A private doctor should give injections. 2. Medicaid is a federal program, which provides free medical care for the poor, the aged, the blind and for children under eighteen. 3. Medicaid is a federal program, which provides free medical care for aged Americans over sixty five. 4. Most employees and their families have to pay for their health insurance. 5. Many people in America have health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance and retirement benefits at their place of work. 6. The chief scientific problems facing American medicine are cancer and cardiovascular diseases. 7. Medical research is done on pediatric illness. 8. Genetic problems, mental illness and drug addiction are studied by medical scientists.