Brandie Killgore
DeVry University
HSM 310
November 12, 2013
Dr. Becky Foster
Introduction
Health care has become significant news recently, especially in the US with passing of Obamacare and costs have escalated dramatically over the recent years. Examining two health care systems, the United States and Australia’s, shows how they compare to each other. The United States and Australia share some similarities, but one considerable contrast: Australia has had a universal national health care system since 1984. Looking at the two systems strengths and weaknesses will show how each health care system benefits the citizens of each country. Showing how …show more content…
National coverage for all citizens, changed the system to a private pay system, then reverted back to a national system in 1984. The country was formed in 1901with a federation of six states. The 1950’s following the post war years, brought about great changes of culture in the 1960’s. "Australia’s national public health insurance scheme, called Medicare, provides universal health coverage for citizens and permanent residents, as well as visitors and people on temporary visas from other countries that have reciprocal arrangements with Australia," (Hall, 2011). Australia’s public health system is designed to give access to free or low cost medical, optometric and hospital care. Australia wants to make sure that its citizens and permanent residents have access to health care regardless of their personal circumstances. The health care system is financed through general taxation revenue. People can also take out private health insurance to go with the public health system as the system only provides subsidized medical services, subsidized pharmaceuticals, and free hospital treatment as a public …show more content…
Australia has good general practice who can work together with patients to improve health and ensure illness and risk factors are detected and dealt with early on. We must build on this strength by ensuring that there are enough general practices to care for patients when and where they need it, and that Medicare supports general practices working with other health professionals to improve patient care. General practice is not just about doctors any more, they are supported by practice nurses, allied health and preventive health care providers to ensure that they build on the strengths of Australia’s primary care network. The weakness in Australia’s health system is the uncertain state of information technology. Patients get tests from their general practices, and these tests are duplicated by a hospital; also medication can be prescribed by different doctors in different settings. With the duplication mistakes can be made, so there needs to be improved communication systems that can significantly reduce the number of duplication and