Posted by Jonathan Hollander on January 12, 1998 at 23:29:46:
Question 1. Using the four stages of the illness experience (onset, diagnosis, patient status, recovery), relate an illness expericne you had and give examples of how you responded in each of the four stages. Answer: Approximately a year ago, I was mowing my lawn with an old beat-up lawn mower. While mowing, I experience an flying object striking my left eye. Immediately, I felt a sharp pain and my left eye began to tear. This was the first stage of ONSET. The tearing and irritating feeling continued to the morning. I continued to hope that it would go away and that I would feel better soon. The next morning, I managed to drive to work, but continue to experience discomfort. About 10:00 A.M., I decided to go to the Emergency Room and see a physician. After my eyes were examined, I was told that I had a corneal abrasion and would need to wear a patch and instill these eye antibiotics and go home. I had just entered the 2nd stage of DIAGNOSIS. I was told what the problem was. I was quite relieved that it was something very serious. At the same time, I was angry that this was going to require me to go home. I entered the 3rd stage of PATIENT STATUS. I resigned myself to the fact that I was to go home with a patch over my left eye and take the medicine as ordered an keep my right eye closed as much as possible. I had to be driven home due to the injury. I couldn't believed how this was such an inconvience. I followed the orders as given and in 24 hours was able to remove the patch. I entered the stage of RECOVERY. I was quite happy to be over the hump and felt lucky for the injury to not be as severe. I vowed to be more careful next time and get a new lawn mower. Question number 2. How does the definition of health differ from health status. Answer: Reviewing the two definitions carefully, I was able to determine that the real difference is whether the individual has a disease process or not. Health is complete physical, mental and social well-being. Health Status is the holisitc well being which may not necessary mean total freedome from disease. Question number 3. What new and emerging health professions have you noticed in the past several years and why do you think they have become established? Answer: I believe Home Health Aides have grown quite rapidly in the last few years. I think there are two main reasons for their sudden rapid growth. First, the demand for basic care. Second, to provide this care at the lowest cost possible. Home Health Aides fits the bill. Therefore, due to the lower cost and the demand for greater care, this group has grown rapidly. Question number 4. Do you feel there is a need for the Health Care Skill Standard? Yes, I do feel this important. I have three main reasons for this. First, I think it is important for the Professionals to have an understanding of what is expected of them and to be able to measure themselves against such a standard. Second, I strongly believed that such standards allow a profession to claim that as a profession they have standards in which they measure themselves. Failure to have standards, make it difficult to claim a profession is truly a profession. Third and final, such standards allow a profession to differentiate itself from other professions that may seem to do similar jobs. Particularly in the healthcare field where so many jobs interlink with each other.