A comparative study of the health care functions of primary health care and emergency medical assistance - Essay Example

1. A Comparative Study of the Health Care Functions of Primary Health Care and Emergency Medical Assistance 2. Problem/Background: This study shall focus on the functions of primary health care (PHC) and emergency medical assistance (EMA). While Van Damme et al (2002) pointed out that PHC and EMA are two fundamentally different strategies of delivering health care and delivered in two different situations, this research shall focus on both the unique characteristic functions as well as similarities between these two. Already, Van Damme et al (2002) established that "PHC is conceptualized as part of overall development, while EMA is delivered in disaster or emergency situations" while presenting and analyzing underlying paradigms, as well as the characteristics of care in PHC and EMA from structure, management and support systems. The study also presented the contrasts of the managerial and financial sustainability, their strategic aspects, as well as how the term accountability were used in development and disaster situations. Likewise, Van Damme et al (2002) acknowledged that, "PHC and EMA, development and disaster, are clear opposite poles, (as) many field situations in the developing world are today somewhere in-between. In such non-development, non-emergency situations, the objectives and approach will have to vary and an adapted strategy combining characteristics from PHC and EMA will have to be developed." 3. Study Questions, Objectives, whom is the Study intended for, Specific Objectives & Hypothesis Study Questions: In this research, the following shall be addressed: What are the health care functions involved in primary health care What are the health care functions involved in emergency medical assistance Objectives: The general objective of this study is to point out the unique characteristics of care functions in primary health care and emergency medical assistance to guide health care practitioners, health legislators and implementers as well as administrators. This research will further differentiate various cases of health services provided in both situations and describe outcomes as viewed in various cases to be scrutinized. In this manner, there will be clarity in both the use of the terms or phrases as well as proper health care action to be implemented. The outcome shall also be expected to guide not only health care professionals, administrators and legislators but also patients and users in seeking out the proper health care service, in an emergency or disaster, or developmental situations. 4. Methodology The methods to be applied in this research is secondary analysis that shall involve extensive research and use of existing data already collected from a prior study (Hinds et al, 1997) with an intent for another purpose. In this manner, details as well as published materials regarding primary health care case or emergency medial assistance shall be used and presented extensively with the aim to differentiate the functions of both. Likewise, prior health care issues and cases shall be collected, identified either as a primary health care case or emergency medial assistance with the enumeration and description of health care functions involved. Proper acknowledgment shall be applied in this research for all secondary materials, published or through website or internet research, and shall be cited properly in all of the contents of this research. Heaton (1998) acknowledged that: There is growing interest in re-using qualitative data, reflected in the establishment of Qualidata by the ESRC. This facilitates the archiving of data from qualitative studies (Corti and Thompson 1998, Hammersley 1997, Corti et al 1995). More generally, limited opportunities for conducting primary research and the costs of qualitative work have prompted researchers to consider maximising use of the data available to them. The advent of software to aid the coding, retrieval and analysis of qualitative data is another development which is likely to facilitate both the archiving and availability of qualitative data for secondary analytic purposes. In these respects, the impetus behind the approach is similar to the one which informed the secondary analysis of quantitative data (Procter 1993). 5. Discussion or Expected Key Points Under this research the following key points to be considered in this research are: Extensive description of emergency medical assistance and primary health care Health care functions undertaken in cited cases in both emergency medical assistance and primary health care Emphasis of the differences between emergency medical assistance and primary health care. 6. Rough Description of the Chapters of the Thesis This study shall comprise of five (5) chapters in all. The first chapter shall be the introductory phase that shall present a background on the main topics as well as an overview of the outcome. It will also discuss the aspects of the research that is of importance to the researcher and show the aims and objectives. Chapter 2 will be the Review of Related Literature with emphasis on previous studies such as that of Van Damme et al (2002) among other critical studies closely identified with the main topic. Chapter Three shall present health care cases in both emergency medical assistance and primary health care with the view to further differentiate theoretical and practical or actual variation of the situations as well as the health care provided. Chapter four shall present an analysis of both the published related literature as well as the cases cited while the final chapter will recap an overall view of the whole research or study giving rise to the personal conclusion of this researcher with regards to the health care functions involved in emergency medical assistance and primary health care. 7. Key Literature Key literature to be utilized in this research shall include Van Damme et al's (2002) presentation, and a minimum of four published cases studies involving emergency medical assistance and primary health care. Reference: Health Canada. "About Primary Health Care." October 1, 2004. Heaton, Janet. "Secondary analysis of qualitative data." University of Surrey. 1998. Hinds, P.S., Vogel, R.J., Clarke-Steffen, L. (1997) 'The possibilities and pitfalls of doing a secondary analysis of a qualitative data set', Qualitative Health Research, vol. 7(3) Van Damme, W. Primary health care vs. emergency medical assistance: a conceptual framework." Health Policy and Planning. 2002. Wikipedia. "Organization of the Emergency Medical Assistance" February 2006 Read More