Veterans Health Care System - Term Paper Example

Veteran’s Health Care System from the Hated 60's to the Great System Today Introduction In the early 1960s, Vietnam veterans faced hard times in acquiring quality health care. Women were solely expected to care for their family’s illnesses, and doctors were only summoned in cases of serious or life threatening illnesses. During the period, medical practice combined exceedingly few scientific procedures with home remedies, without the types of credentials that they enjoy today. Many women gave birth at home and hence, midwifery was a popular profession among women. Health information was also manually recorded and stored in files, something that led to loss of much information about patient’s sickness history. There were also no medical insurance covers, but only the loyal class could afford them. This caused many deaths among the veterans, and in 1967 it was reported that about 6,798 deaths resulted from poor medical health care. The 1960s was the period of world war that saw many people suffering from mental health resulting from stress and trauma. On the other hand, many veterans were left with readjustment problems. Unfortunately medical care was not only unavailable in adequate amounts but was also of poor quality. Mental health problems also resulted from troubling war aspects, disillusionment and home experiences. Post-Vietnam Syndrome was recognized in 1980, and this resulted from activism and continued pressure. The post-Vietnam Syndrome, also called Post Traumatic Disorder (PTSD) by Statistical and diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders. The treatment methods of Vietnam Veterans against War (VVAW) formed the basis for today’s PSTD treatment (Christian 364). Therefore, the 60’s were terrible health care for Vietnam’s veterans and mental health. This paper critically analyses how the entire system has been remade to the best cutting edge system, and the significance of this in treating mental disorders from then, since today. Status of Healthcare System during the 1960s During the Walter Reed Memorial service, many veterans who had been injured were brought in wheelchairs in the chapel. The poor medical services provided in Vietnam and America in general made the veterans look like prisoners in their own country. It was in 1978 that veterans were discovered to be suffering from other related illnesses like cancer, which were linked to herbicide exposures like Agent Orange. VVAW forced the government to not only test people, but also treat and compensate them of those poisons. In 1969, Agent Orange study was mandated and in 1962, herbicide manufacturers were sued by the veterans. 200, 000 claimants were compensated $180 million by Monsanto and Dow Chemical companies (Richard 54). The veterans suffered much, in terms of receiving quality medical services, because they were seen as anti-Americans and unpatriotic. In 1960, the government was sued by the veterans for failing to study Agent Orange as ordered in 1969 by the congress (Richard 67). The study led to significant improvements in the health care system, and the effects of contaminations by herbicides were reduced. Centers for disease control were also established in many parts of Vietnam. Health care costs were also too expensive for the veterans to afford. Though health insurance plans had started operating even before World War I, very few could afford such covers. However, Henry Kaiser actively educated people on the importance of group hospitalization plans, to help them cater for their medical bills. After the World War II, health care services have seen marked improvements physical therapists, and X-ray technicians, how are able to effectively deal with mental illnesses, plus other health disorders. As much of this time was characterized by war, healthcare delivery services were also negatively affected. Doctors and nurses were also few, and not committed to health care provision. Many people, therefore, died or suffered for long from curable diseases. The greatest problem was dealing with mental health disorders. As many were stressed by the results of the Vietnam War, from loss of loved ones, they need psychological counseling, something that was hardly available. However, anti war veterans campaigned against activity to ensure that people did not die from poor medical services. Services like Medicaid and Medicare were extended to such people, especially children and the aged. This reform in the health care services saw many access such facilities, thus saving lives. Delivery of health care services and medication was also improved. After the 1975 reunification, health care quality began to fall due to budgetary constraints, introduction of charges, and health responsibility shift to provinces. Improvements in the Health Care System in Vietnam With increased urbanization in Vietnam, hospitals are also increasing in cities. Today, they are also available in rural areas, where veterans can easily access them. Doctors have increased power and authority to treat patients under one roof. As opposed to the large wards of 1960s, there are smaller private rooms for patients who can afford to pay for their higher costs. According to Richard (54), World War II yielded great expansions in medical care, medical science advancements, and increased costs of health care. Medicaid and Medicare were also initiated to assist the poor and aged access health care in Vietnam. After the hated 1960, health institutions and programs were founded by the government like Indian health Service, Drug and Food Administration, and Public Health Service for United States. Richard (54) says that the Department of Human Services and Health was also established to improve health system in Vietnam. The period between World War II and 1980 saw many doctors still independent to be compensated by fee-for-service. Through organizations like AMA, doctors were able to fight off political attempts by creating a nationalized and universal coverage health care system, just like UK, Canada, and Europe. Apparently, doctors did not notice Health Maintenance Organizations growth (HMOs). However, by 1890, the HMOs dominated health care organizations and reimbursement of resources to physicians. By 1990, health care organization was completely revolutionalised by HMOs and other organizations provoking great controversy among health care recipients and doctors, who little controlled their practices. To deal with problems of mental health disorders, there are many psychological counselors today. This emergence was provoked by presence of many mental patients, following the Vietnamese war (Christian 367). Anti war activists pushed the government to provide not only treatment, but also preventive measure such as psychological counseling. Today, this is part of medicine and is also offered in many medical schools to help mental patients. With the help of the congress, veterans against war were able to change the face of health care system in Vietnam. Since their protests, such counselors were trained and deployed in various parts of the country to help victims of the war, suffering from mental illnesses, something that is highly equipped today. The fee-for-fee medical service started fading as doctors started working for corporations which used pre-paid health care to make profits through cost reduction, carefully restricted services, and preventive healthcare services. As time went by, fee-for-service was completely replaced by the system of capitation, where doctors were paid a set fee, thus allowing all patients to access medical care from the fee, whether they were well or sick (Starr 117). This managed care system produced significant changes in the role of consumer in healthcare. Consumer choice, preventive medicine, and consumer accountability for their own health were greatly emphasized. Starr (231) explains that communication advancements like World Wide Web and internet added to healthcare information that is easily available to consumers, in 1990. Consumer interest also grew during this time through provision f alternative medicine, for example vitamin therapies, herbal preparations, and acupuncture. These interests were seen like reactions against the complexity in the medical industry. Advancements in computer and communications have also allowed practices like telemedicine, a system that uses the internet to diagnose and treat patients at a distance by a physician. According to Starr (2750, technology promises of the 21st century have continued to change the nature costs and complexity in the healthcare system not only in Vietnam, but also in the wider world. With increased knowledge on mental disorders, and other illnesses, patients are now able to prevent themselves from contracting such diseases, as well as accessing quality and affordable treatment. Increased knowledge on genetic disease bases has helped the healthcare system to extensively make use of gene therapies, thus developing ways of preventing genetic diseases. Just like technological impacts of x-rays, vaccines, antibiotics, and medical advancements that saw greater changes in the twentieth century, medicine scientifically and socially, medical and scientific innovations, and realities of economic and social movements continue to shape healthcare system and medicine. Use of sophisticated supply management system and information technology has improved health care system today. This has made Vietnam to deliver more productive and better equipped health services to all patients. This is in honor of those who sacrificed their lives and served Vietnamese for their country’s freedom. Today, the government strongly believes that it has to stand for those who strongly stood for it, by fulfilling their wishes, especially in health care system (Starr 74). These obligations are continuously being met in private and public institutions by professionals in medicine, who really understand the values that made their country strong. Though 1960s was hated most by veterans because of deaths that resulted from poor medical services in the health care system, the government has ensured marked improvements in the health sector to reduce such deaths in the future. The introduction of group funding for settling their medical bills can be associated with today’s developments and growth in health insurance plans. Though they started before the First World War, they were significantly recognized during the Vietnam War. Today, they are accessible to many people in all parts of the world. People contribute monthly fee, which caters for the medical bills of its members. This has made many people able to access quality medical services, especially from private health institutions. In addition, department of defense workers are also ready to dedicate their lives are incorporated in this initiative of delivering quality health care services. Vietnamese Health Care System Today Today, the overall health quality in Vietnam is considered to be good, with a life expectancy of 72 years for men and 76 years for women. The rate of infant mortality has also reduced and is now 1.2%, from 7.9% during the hated 1960s. However, cases of malnutrition are also high, and in 2001, the government spent 0.9% of its total GDP on healthcare. Health care expenses were also covered by government subsidies by 20, while the remaining 80% came from pockets of individuals. Mark (74) asserts that by 2009, 85% of Vietnamese population could easily access improved water sources. However, the 2009 statistics showed that Vietnam was short of midwives and nurses, and hospital beds because of insufficient funding. Though mental disorders are still prevalent, their levels are highly controlled through counseling and provision of basic necessities. There are also many psychiatrists, who take care of those who are mentally disturbed. Vietnam, has also achieved major progress in combating killer diseases like malaria through introduction of ant malarial treatment and drugs. Unfortunately, cases of tuberculosis are still on the rise, with 56 deaths per day, as reported in May 2004. With better hygiene, intensified vaccination programs, foreign assistance and better hygiene, cases of TB are expected to decline sharply. Cases of HIV and AIDS infections are also high, with 101,291 cases diagnosed in 2005 (Mark 32). New infections are also reported to be high, ranging between 40 and 50 per day. Modern developments in science and technology have contributed to major developments in Vietnamese health care system. Incorporation of IT system into the system has made provision of medical services efficient. Introduction of insurance health covers has also made health service accessibility affordable, through cost sharing. Patients can now access quality health care, where bills are covered by insurance companies. Mental health care services are now improved, like CT scans, and a large number of Neuron-Surgeons, who deal with mental health illnesses (Mark 53). The developments in the health care system that Vietnamese enjoy today are owed to veterans, who underwent great sufferings in the 1960s. The pain led them into persistent fight for human health rights, whose results are evident to date (Christian 365). Conclusion The 1960s were hated moments by veterans in Vietnam, in reference to the health care system (Christian 395). Mental health disorders were very evident, yet accessibility to treatment was rare. However, the Vietnamese veterans against war protested against such sufferings, forcing the government to undertake major reforms in the health care system. After the hated 1960, health institutions and programs were founded by the government like Indian health Service, Drug and Food Administration, and Public Health Service for United States. Department of human services and health was also established to improve health system in Vietnam. The period between World War II and 1980 saw many doctors still independent to be compensated by fee-for-service. Through organizations like AMA, doctors were able to fight off political attempts by creating a nationalized and universal coverage health care system, just like UK, Canada, and Europe. Apparently, doctors did not notice Health Maintenance Organizations growth (HMOs). However, by 1890, the HMOs dominated health care organizations and reimbursement of resources to physicians (Richard 64). By 1990, health care organization was completely revolutionalised by HMOs and other organizations provoking great controversy among health care recipients and doctors, who little controlled their practices. Just like technological impacts of x-rays, vaccines, antibiotics, and medical advancements that saw greater changes in the twentieth century, medicine scientifically and socially, medical and scientific innovations, and realities of economic and social movements continue to shape healthcare system and medicine. References Christian, Appy. Patriots: The Vietnam War Remembered from All Sides. Penguin, 2004. Mark, David. Impacts of New Technologies In Health Care and Medicine.: A Global Theme. Journal of American Medical Association, (17th Nov, 1999). Richard, Stacewicz. Winter Soldiers: An Oral History of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, pg 253. Twayne Publishers, 1997. Starr, Paul. The Social Transformations of American Medicine. New York: Basic Books, 1982. Read More