Health Care System in the USA

The second meeting of Dr.Nelson and his colleagues with the teachers and students of the Medical Faculty was devoted (была посвящена) to problems of medical service of the USA.

Dr.Nelson: Dear colleagues, it is a great pleasure for all of us to meet you for the second time. Today we’ll speak about medical service in our country. As for the health care system in my country, it is organized in three levels: family doctor, the medical institution or hospital and the US Public Health Service.

Dr.Kruglov: Would you tell us do many Americans seek medical help from private doctors?

Dr.Haddow: Not many, I should say. A private doctor, we call him a family doctor, gives his patients regular examinations and vaccination. In case professional service and care is needed the family doctor arranges for the specialist or a hospital for his patient. The family doctor receives pay directly from the patient. Most physicians have private practices. They make use of the hospital facilities whenever necessary. A family doctor either has his own private office or works with several other doctors.

Sasha Nikiforov: Dr.Haddow, what is peculiar about American hospitals? Do all patients pay for their treatment at hospitals?

Dr.Haddow: I should like to point out first that 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. We have government financed and private hospitals. 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 are in close contact with patients as long as they are in the hospital. Social services are available to the patients and families in personal, emotional, financial problems that may arise from continued illness or disabilities. In some hospitals, for instance in Toledo, Ohio Hospital, pastoral care is available, and pastors visit their parishioners at any time. Most hospitals have at least the following medical departments or units: surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and general medicine. They may also have trauma and intensive care unit, neurological, renal care unit and psychiatric unit. Emergency units are very special areas in the hospital. The Emergency patients are served immediately.

Dr.Nelson: We must not forget about the high cost of medical care in our country. Most of the population have private health insurance. Approximately 75 per cent of the population have their health insurance, life insurance, disability protection benefits at their place of employment. Most employers now pay more than 50 % of the costs of health insurance.

Dr.Kruglov: Dr.Kendall, what are the scientific problems facing American medicine?

Dr.Kendall: Well, in my opinion, the chief scientific problems facing American medicine are the same as those facing Russian medicine, they are heart diseases and cancer. The chief causes of suffering and death today are cancer and diseases of the heart and blood vessels, including hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis. Also of major importance in America are illnesses of aging and disabilities caused by arthritis, mental diseases, drug addiction and genetic problems. We must seek new knowledge about the causes and cure of these diseases.

The Dean of the Faculty: Dear colleagues, you’ve given us a clear picture of the American health care system. We all want to thank you and wish you the best of luck in your work.

Ex.9 Choose the right form of the verb:

1.The health care system (is organized, organizes, organized) in three levels. 2. A private doctor (to give, is given, gives) medical advice to his patient. 3. The family doctor (was arranged, arranged, to arrange) for the specialist in the hospital. 4. Residents and interns (works, work, are worked) at the hospital. 5. The nursing staff (be, is, are) very important. 6. Financial problems (arise, arises, to arise) from continued illness. 7. Employers (pays, pay, will pay) more than 50% of the costs of health insurance. 8. You (has given, have given, will be given) us a clear picture of the American health care system.

Ex.10 Make questions to the following sentences:

1. The chief causes of death are cancer and heart diseases. 2 Pastors visit their parishioners at any time. 3. Hospitals may have intensive care units and trauma units. 4. Nurses are in close contact with the patients. 5. Clinics are staffed with consulting physicians.

Ex.11 Answer the following questions:

1. Can a private doctor arrange for a specialist at the hospital?

2. May a private doctor make use of the hospital facilities?

3. How are hospitals financed?

4. When social services are available?

5. May pastors visit their parishioners at hospital?

6. In what unit may a casualty with a trauma be served?

7. Is the cost of medical care in the USA high or low?

8. What are the chief causes of suffering and death today?

Диалог по теме «Здравоохранение США»:

- Здравствуйте, чем могу быть полезен?

- Здравствуйте. Меня зовут ….

- Сколько вам лет?

- Мне 27 лет.

- Из какой вы страны?

- Я из России, но живу в Америке уже полгода.

- Вы работаете?

- Да, но мой доход очень низкий, а мне нужна медицинская помощь.

- Вы пользуетесь (make use of) услугами какой-нибудь федеральной программы?

- Нет, я ничего не слышал о федеральных программах.

- Если ваш доход ниже определенного уровня, Медикейд обеспечит вас бесплатным лечением. Заполните эти документы.

Ex.12 Match as many adjectives with the nouns as possible:

Patient, income, resident, unit

Ex.13 Expressyour opinion about the US health system using phrases from exercise 8.