3 levels of health care and promotion

Healthcare is the provision of medical and health services to individuals. Healthcare includes preventive measures, personal care, treatment of illness or injury, and rehabilitation done by health professionals to maintain and improve the health of individuals and populations. Healthcare services are delivered through individual or group practices, hospitals, clinics, or other settings. The provision and financing of healthcare services are traditionally the responsibility of governments and the private sector. However, in some countries, certain healthcare services are considered a fundamental human right, and it is delivered through a public sector system.

Due to many factors, the healthcare industry is large and growing, including an aging population, increased cases of chronic diseases, and technological advances in medicine. Socioeconomic and health policy factors determine the accessibility of health services by individuals. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), a well-functioning health care system requires a well-trained and adequately compensated workforce, a financing mechanism, reliable data to determine decisions and guide policies, and well-maintained health facilities capable of delivering quality care to service users.

Levels Of Health care

There are three levels of health care based on the level of care a patient requires, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO). They are primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Primary Healthcare

Providing primary health care is critical to ensuring that all individuals have access to the essential health services they need to maintain their health and well-being. It also helps to promote the early identification and management of health problems and disease prevention. Primary healthcare is a critical sector in the overall effort to promote and protect human health to prevent diseases. There are many essential aspects to primary healthcare, but its preventative nature is one of the most important. By providing regular check-ups and screenings, primary healthcare providers can help patients detect health problems before they become serious. This saves lives and helps control costs by preventing the need for expensive and invasive treatments later on. Unfortunately, many countries worldwide face major challenges in providing primary care.

Primary health care is an important part of the healthcare system as it is the first point of contact for people with health problems, and it provides essential health care services to people in the community. It is delivered by health care professionals such as family doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. It includes a range of preventive care, treatment of common illnesses, and referrals to specialist services. It also involves working with communities to create healthy environments where people can live, learn, work, and play. Primary prevention focuses on keeping people healthy. Activities for good health include promoting good nutrition (healthy eating) and physical activity, hygiene, helping people quit smoking, and providing access to healthcare.

Elements of Primary Health Care

Primary health care varies depending on the needs of a specific community. However, some essential components should be included in any primary health care system.

Accessibility

Most healthcare service users often experience barriers when trying to access primary healthcare. These barriers can be physical, communication-based, or attitudinal. Physical barriers may include inaccessible buildings and lack of wheelchair access. Communication-based barriers can include health professionals who are not familiar with sign language or do not have the resources to communicate effectively with patients with a disability. Attitudinal barriers can include health professionals who do not believe that older people or those with disabilities can take care of themselves and view them as a burden on the healthcare system. Physical barriers can be addressed through barrier-free design, including making buildings and equipment accessible for all individuals. Communication-based barriers can be addressed by training health professionals to communicate with patients effectively. Attitudinal barriers can be addressed through education and awareness-raising campaigns, which can help to change how society views different types of people.

Affordability

The affordability of primary healthcare is a critical issue that affects people worldwide. In some cases, people must choose between paying for healthcare and other essentials like food and shelter. The high cost of care has resulted in families and individuals foregoing necessary medical treatments and medications. It has also led to large numbers of people becoming uninsured or underinsured. There are several ways to make primary healthcare more affordable. Governments can invest in public health programs, insurers can offer lower rates, and doctors can charge less. Ultimately, it is important to ensure that everyone has access to quality healthcare regardless of their income level.

Acceptability

Generally, most people lack knowledge and understanding regarding the acceptability of seeking health services in primary healthcare. Several factors influence decisions by service users on whether or not to seek help. These include culture and ethnicity, age, gender, and level of education. Individuals from minority ethnic backgrounds are less likely to find it acceptable for a research study to be conducted without their consent. They are more likely to mistrust the research community, which can often be guilty of perpetuating racial bias. Healthcare providers need to consider perceived need, cultural appropriateness, and feasibility of conducting particular interventions. This can impact uptake and adherence to healthcare provision.

Appropriateness

Inappropriate behavior by health professionals can seriously impact patients, their families, and the broader community. Negative behavior can also damage the reputation of the profession and the health system. Everyone involved in primary health care must understand and follow appropriate behavior principles. This includes general practitioners, staff, other health professionals, and volunteers. Appropriate behavior includes

Treating patients with respect and courtesy
Communicating effectively and honestly
Sharing information on treatment with patients in a way they can understand
Keeping patients informed about their care and treatment,
Sharing decisions about treatments and care plans with patients
Working collaboratively with other health professionals to provide the best care

Quality

The quality of care provided in the primary health care setting is a crucial determinant of health outcomes. Levels of training and experience of the healthcare providers, the availability of resources, and the structure and organization of the healthcare system are the main determinants. One crucial factor affecting the quality of care is the patient population that a healthcare facility serves. Suppose a healthcare facility is serving a population with complex health needs. In that case, it will be more demanding on the staff and resources than a facility that serves a population with more specific needs. The geographical location of the clinic will also affect the health outcomes of patients. Clinics located in rural areas, for example, may have fewer resources and less access to specialists than clinics located in urban areas. The political and economic climate of the region may lead to a shortage of funds available for healthcare, which will likely have a negative impact on the quality of care. In addition, the quality of care is also affected by the attitudes and behaviors of the health care providers.

Secondary Healthcare

Secondary healthcare is an optional type of care received after primary healthcare. It includes more specialized treatments for more severe illnesses or injuries. Secondary prevention aims to detect and address health problems early on before developing into more severe issues. This may involve screening for cancer or other diseases or providing education on how to identify early signs of health problems. Primary healthcare professionals refer individuals to secondary medical care providers after assessing conditions. Secondary prevention focuses on preventative methods like screening and encouraging early detection and management before the progress of any underlying disease. This is different from primary prevention, which focuses more on preventing or decreasing the disease’s probability from preceding while promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Tertiary Healthcare

Tertiary healthcare, also known as specialized or advanced healthcare, is a medical care level provided after primary and secondary care. It is delivered by physicians and surgeons who have completed additional training and are experts in a particular field of medicine. Tertiary healthcare is often delivered in hospitals but may also be provided in dedicated clinics or health facilities. It is usually more expensive than other levels of care and is rarely covered by insurance plans. Tertiary Healthcare services are vital for the overall health and well-being of individuals. The care focuses on helping people manage existing health conditions and preventing them from worsening. This may involve therapies such as medication or surgery and lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. They provide highly skilled, complex, and specialized services that support people with serious, long-term, and life-threatening illnesses.

Conclusion

This Essay informs readers of the three levels of providing health and how nurses work toward ensuring patients receive optimum care. Primary healthcare helps to promote the early identification and management of health problems and disease prevention. It is a critical sector in the overall effort to promote and protect human health to prevent diseases by working with communities to create healthy environments where people can live, learn, work, and play. Healthcare services are vital for the overall health and well-being of individuals. Nurses need to be familiar with different ways of preventing and promoting healthier lifestyles. The Essay above has illustrated the different types of prevention, their effects, and what nurses and health care providers can do to influence healthy lifestyles.

3 Levels of Health care Essay