Posted by Roni Alessandro on January 15, 1998 at 16:02:34:
1. Fortunately I have been blessed with good health and have not had a major illness experience. I am, however, currently dealing with family illness. The onset began on Christmas Eve morning when my father blacked out on the kitchen floor. His heart was beating faster than a drum role, he was dizzy, couldn’t stand up and felt like he was going to faint. Dad has had heart problems in the past and usually is in denial when he starts to show symptoms, so when he said, “CALL 9-1-1. DO IT NOW.” I knew it was serious. He has never let us call an ambulance in the past. He was diagnosed as having severe ventricular tachycardia. The paramedic told us his heart was beating nearly 300 bpm. The physician assistant who was covering for my Dad’s cardiologist told him that they call what he had “sudden death” and said most people die from it. She informed him that he needs a transplant. Upon hearing this news he again blacked out. He became very depressed and it was very hard on the family especially during the holidays. When he finally came to terms with how sick he was and accepted the fact that he cannot live very well or very long with his heart, his doctor came back from vacation and told him that the P.A. was wrong and he is not a candidate for a transplant because of other problems he has. He again became depressed and he looked like he was giving in to his illness. When he looked like he was getting better and they started to take him off his IV medications he had a third attack. Most of my family flew in and I think that seeing his children gave him a reason to want to live. Recovery will be a long road. He is only 57 years old and his lifestyle has changed drastically. He cannot do simple things that at one time were taken for granted. His diet has completely changed and his fluids are restricted. He is having a hard time keeping his balance. He has fallen twice in the last two days. His hands shake so much now he cut his neck shaving and it bled for two days. He has his good days and he has his bad days, but I am thankful for every day that he has with us.
2. The definition of health differs from the definition of health status in that health status includes a more holistic aspect of well-being which includes vocation, environment, culture, lifestyle, genetic makeup and access to health care, while health is limited to a state of physical, mental and social well-being.
3. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy have become very big in recent years. I think that some changes in health care have led to this in part and the fact they make a very good living helps draw students into these fields. Another emerging profession that I have noticed is massage therapy.
4. I think health care skills standards are a necessity. They are needed to protect the public. They help to avoid lawsuits. They are a benefit to hospitals and employers. Health care professionals can feel confident in their skills and the client can feel confident that their health care dollar is being better spent.