Thinking Questions and Case-Based Scenarios
primary prevention - Preventative measures that prevent the onset of ilness or injury
before the disease process begins
For example: immunization and taking regular excersise
Secondary prevention - preventive measures that lead to an early diagnosis and prompt
treatment of a disease, illness or injury to prevent more severe problems developing. Here
health educators such as health extension practitioners can help individuals acquire the skills of
detecting diseases in their early stages.
Example: screening for high blood pressure and breast self-examinations
tertiary prevention - preventive measures aimed at rehabilitation following significant
illness. At this level health services workers can workers can work to retrain, re-educate and
rehabilitate people who have already developed an impairment or disability.
Health care - Is an organized way of medical care concerned with the maintenance of the
health of the whole body. Is mainly influenced by the social, economic conditions & health
policies of the place and various different countries, individuals, groups etc.
health care providers - Professionals in various fields include a pharmacy, nursing,
medicine, dentistry, psychology, physicians
interdisciplinary team - a group of health care professionals with varied medical
educations, backgrounds, and experiences who work together to deliver the best possible care
for each patient
Primary health care - Emphasize health promotion and included prenatal and well-baby
care, family planning, nutrition counseling, and disease control. Sustained partnership between
clients and providers. Example uncles office or clinical visits, community health centers, and
scheduled school-or work- centered screenings (vision, hearing, obesity)
Continuity - we perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones,
patients usually prefer to consult the same practitioner for routine check ups and preventive
, care, health education, and every time they require an initial consultation about a new health
problem.
The international classified of primary care (ICPC) - Is a standardized tool for
understanding and analyzing information on interventions in primary care based on the reason
for the patients visit.
Common chronic diseases treated in primary care - Hypertension, diabetes, asthma,
COPD, depression and anxiety, back pain, arthritis, thyroid dysfunction
They also include basic maternal and child health care services, such as family planning services
and vaccinations
Secondary health care - Includes diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and injury.
Examples include care in hospital settings (inpatient and emergency departments), diagnostic
centers and emergent care centers
allied health professionals - Healthcare professionals who support the work of physicians
and perform specific services ordered by the physician. include nurses, technologists,
technicians, therapists, and others.
Tertiary health care - Acute care, involves the provision of specialized and highly technical
care.
Examples: intensive care, oncology centers and burn centers
Restorative health care - involves intermediate follow-up care for restoring health.
examples include home health care, rehab centers, and skilled nursing facilities
Continuing health care - addresses long-term or chronic health care needs over a period
of time. Examples include end of life care, hospice, adult day care, assisted living and in-home
respite care.
quaternary care - Extremely specialized services (e.g. burn units and transplant surgery)
available typically only on a regional basis. Sometimes used as an extension of tertiary care,
experimental quaternary.
Home and Community Care - Food safety surveillance, distribution of condoms and
needle-exchange programs for the prevention of transmissible diseases.
Privately funded health care plans - Managed care organizations (MCOs), preferred
provider organizations (PPOs), exclusive provider organizations (EPOs), and long term insurance
care are examples of this