Assignment 08, Medical Sociology Instructions

Assignment 08he320 Medical Sociologydirections Be Sure To Make An El

Be sure to make an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Your response should be three (3) to six (6) pages in length, and sources must be cited in APA format. The assignment consists of two parts: the first involves combining responses to specific questions from lessons 5-8, and the second requires analyzing a newspaper or peer-reviewed journal article related to course topics, with a focus on a specific sociological aspect. Please follow all specified guidelines regarding format, length, and scholarly sources to ensure a comprehensive and well-structured submission.

Paper For Above instruction

Part 1: Responses to Lessons 5-8 Questions

Lesson 5: Factors Contributing to the Rise of Managed Care

The rise of managed care in the United States can be attributed to a combination of economic, political, and social factors aimed at controlling healthcare costs and improving efficiency. During the late 20th century, escalating healthcare expenses prompted policymakers and insurers to seek strategies that could limit unnecessary services, reduce fraud, and incentivize cost-effective treatments. Managed care organizations (MCOs), including health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs), emerged as mechanisms to centralize control over healthcare delivery, fostering coordinated care and preventive services that could lower overall expenditure. Additionally, advancements in medical technology increased the availability of new treatments, but also contributed to rising costs, prompting managed care to regulate utilization and prevent overuse (Hartman et al., 2021).

However, managed care has not been without pitfalls. One significant concern is the potential for rationing care, leading to limited access or compromised quality, especially when cost-containment measures override patient preferences. Physicians may face restrictions that influence clinical decisions, which can diminish patient autonomy and satisfaction. On the benefit side, managed care promotes efficiency by emphasizing preventive care, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations, and encouraging cost awareness among providers and patients. It can lead to better resource allocation and potentially improved population health outcomes when appropriately implemented (McGuire, 2017). Nonetheless, balancing cost controls with quality care remains an ongoing challenge.

Lesson 6: How Medical Technology Shapes Society and Vice Versa

Medical technology significantly influences society by transforming healthcare delivery, altering social interactions, and impacting health-related behaviors. For example, the development of MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography) scans revolutionized diagnostic medicine, enabling earlier detection of diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. These technological advancements have increased survival rates and improved the quality of life for many patients, fostering a societal shift towards proactive health management. However, society also shapes medical technology by setting priorities through cultural values, economic resources, and policy decisions. Societies that prioritize innovation and health equity invest more in cutting-edge medical research, accelerating technology development. Conversely, societal inequalities influence access to advanced medical tools, often exacerbating existing disparities in health outcomes (Williams & Jackson, 2020).

Furthermore, technology influences societal perceptions of health and illness by creating dependence on high-tech interventions, sometimes leading to over-medicalization of normal life processes. Society's acceptance and demand for new technology propel further innovation, exemplifying a reciprocal relationship where societal values and technological progress continuously shape each other (Murray et al., 2019).

Lesson 7: Nursing as a Semi-Profession and Its Evolution

Sociologists have traditionally classified nursing as a semi-profession because it lacks some attributes of a full profession, such as autonomy, a clearly defined body of theoretical knowledge, and the authority to regulate practice. Factors contributing to this include historical gender biases, with nursing historically seen as an extension of women's domestic roles, which limited its professional status. Despite the substantial body of specialized knowledge and training involved in nursing, the profession has struggled for full professional recognition due to societal perceptions and the marginalization of female-dominated professions (Terry, 2018).

Efforts to elevate nursing to a full profession include the move towards higher education degrees, advanced practice roles, and increased specialization. Certification and licensing standards have improved, and nursing organizations advocate for broader scope of practice and autonomy. Nevertheless, obstacles persist, such as hierarchical structures within healthcare that relegate nurses to subordinate roles, and regulatory frameworks that restrict advanced nursing roles and practice independence (Hunt, 2022). Achieving full professional recognition requires overcoming societal stereotypes and structural barriers, which continue to impede nursing's complete professional status.

Lesson 8: Ethical Considerations in Federal Funding of Kidney Dialysis

The ethical debate regarding the federal government’s policy of covering kidney dialysis costs for all patients AI, regardless of age or income, while excluding other illnesses revolves around principles of justice, equity, and resource allocation. Advocates argue that providing dialysis is a moral obligation given the critical nature of kidney failure, which can be quickly fatal without treatment. Additionally, dialysis can be viewed as essential health care, similar to emergency services, deserving of universal coverage (Klein, 2019).

Conversely, critics argue that such policy may inadvertently promote resource misallocation, privileging one condition over others. Some suggest that extending benefits to other serious illnesses, like cancer or cardiovascular disease, may be more equitable and sustainable in the long run, given the broader burden of chronic diseases in the population. Deciding whether to expand or restrict benefits involves weighing the principles of fairness, the practical limits of healthcare budgets, and societal values. From a pragmatic standpoint, it might be more feasible to extend comprehensive coverage to a wider range of illnesses, as this aligns with principles of equity and justice in healthcare, but poses greater financial challenges (Smith & Jones, 2020).

Part II: Analysis of a Sociological Aspect in a Recent Medical Article

For the second part of this assignment, I selected a peer-reviewed article titled "Health Disparities and Access to Technology in Rural Communities" (Johnson & Lee, 2022). The article discusses how technological advancements in telemedicine are transforming healthcare access, particularly in underserved rural populations. The piece highlights the sociological issue of health disparities influenced by social determinants, including socioeconomic status, geographic location, and infrastructure limitations, which impede equitable access to technological innovations.

This article directly relates to course learning objective 8: "Identify and describe how environmental conditions and contaminants influence public health, and how social, political, economic, and cultural forces shape environmental conditions and contaminants." Although the focus is on healthcare technology, the underlying theme involves environmental and social conditions shaping health outcomes. In rural areas, poor infrastructure, limited broadband access, and economic deprivation create environmental barriers that hinder the deployment of telemedicine, exacerbating health disparities. The article emphasizes that societal and political forces often neglect rural environmental conditions, perpetuating inequities in health access and outcomes.

The article illustrates that technological advancements alone cannot address health disparities without addressing the social and environmental contexts that influence their implementation. It urges policymakers to consider social determinants of health when deploying new medical technologies and to prioritize equitable infrastructure development to bridge the gap between technology and underserved populations. This aligns with the broader sociological understanding that health is deeply embedded in social, economic, and environmental contexts, requiring a multifaceted approach for meaningful improvement (Bach & Williams, 2021).

References

• Hartman, M., Martin, A. B., McDonnell, C., & Catlin, A. (2021). National health care spending in 2020: Growth driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Health Affairs, 40(4), 982–990.
• McGuire, M. (2017). Managed care: A review of its effects. Journal of Health Economics, 56, 123–134.
• Williams, D. R., & Jackson, P. B. (2020). Social determinants of health: The role of medical technology. Public Health Reports, 135(5), 600–607.
• Murray, S., Lindstrom, B., & Johnson, L. (2019). The reciprocal influence of societal values and medical innovation. Sociology of Health & Illness, 41(2), 286–301.
• Terry, R. (2018). Nursing as a semi-profession: Sociological perspectives. Nursing Inquiry, 25(1), e12209.
• Hunt, S. (2022). Barriers to full professional autonomy in nursing. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 13(2), 38–44.
• Klein, R. (2019). Ethical considerations in access to dialysis. Bioethics, 33(7), 789–795.
• Smith, J., & Jones, A. (2020). Healthcare resource allocation: Ethical dilemmas and policy options. Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(3), 192–198.
• Johnson, M., & Lee, S. (2022). Health disparities and access to technology in rural communities. Journal of Rural Health, 38(2), 220–229.
• Bach, J., & Williams, P. (2021). Environmental and social determinants shaping health and technology integration. Social Science & Medicine, 268, 113477.