New Zealand Healthcare Organisations

New Zealand Healthcare Organisations Introduction Health care in New Zealand is affected by a number of factors that determine the trends and demands in terms of health. How the health workers plan for, implement and evaluate health interventions greatly depends on some environmental factors, attitudinal factors, international health policy and New Zealand campaigns and policy. In this paper, these determinants and their impact, whether direct or indirect, positive or negative, on the New Zealand healthcare will be thoroughly discussed. This paper also aims to tackle the role that organisations take part in promoting health care services and each of them playing different roles in determining the supply and demand of health care services. We will also compare the obstacles that exist in the New Zealand healthcare system to that of the United States of America’s. This will be done by assessing these countries in terms of safety issues, geographical, cultural, socioeconomic and organizational barriers. 1. Environmental determinants: 1.1 Demographic distribution of populations Presently, New Zealand became a multi diverse and more culturally nation. According to Statistics New Zealand, Population Statistics Units, the number of migrants coming into the country is increasing. The study conducted last 2006 focused on five (5) major ethnicity group with the estimation of total number of individual/ group living in the country. These were the European people including the New Zealander (67%), Maori (15%), Pacific people (7%), Asian (9%) and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African (1%). (Population Estimates at 30 June 1996, 2001 and 2006, 2014). New Zealand has an ageing population. This pattern shows a decline in fertility rate (birth control is properly utilised and easily available) and increase in length of life (on-going research and new technologies used in treating diseases). Moreover, there is also a projection in increase number of aged people on the year 2031. People on 65 years and above mostly suffer from a chronic diseases that result decline on the quality of their life. As a result of this, demand for disability and health care services will also rise. (An Ageing Population, 2014). Maori and Pacific people have a younger age group as compare to European people because they have increase number of birth and death rates. The latter group prefer to have lesser number of children. Asian people also have young structure population because most of them settled in New Zealand with their family at early age. (An Ageing Population, 2014). In China, there is a law known as â€Å"one child policy† to control the increasing population of the country which can result in increased sustainability of every family. 1.2 Social Generally, population of New Zealand have been experiencing increase in living standards. Factors contributed on this were increase in employment status, high educational attainment, safe living and working environment and awareness of the healthcare services available in the community. (Dew Davis, 2005). Poor household income is the top reason of being susceptible to poor health. Among all the groups residing in New Zealand, Maori and Pacific communities usually live in a small and crowded housing environment because of lower costs and the culture of extended families. As an outcome, there will be an increase cases of communicable diseases and mental health illnesses. (Dew Davis, 2005). Moreover, these group of people have the highest number of cases of cardiovascular problems, respiratory diseases and Cancer which is associated with poor eating habit (commercialised food), insufficient physical activities, heavy alcohol intake and smoking practice (roll-your-own cigarette). (The Health of New Zealand Adult 2011/12, 2012). 1.3 Cultural New Zealand is mainly a bicultural country which consists of white-skin settlers â€Å"Pakeha† and native people, the Maori. The relationship of these two groups started upon signing of Treaty of Waitangi between Queen Victoria and indigenous Maori people. (Shaw Deed, Health Environment in Aotearoa/ New Zeland, 2010). This became the foundation of Maori health acknowledging the principles of Partnership, Participation and Protection. (The Treaty of Waitangi , 2005). In providing healthcare services to Maori people, it is important to involve their whanau in formulating plan of care and refer them specifically to the Maori health team to address the language barrier which proved to be one of the reasons why they are hesitant to consult their health concerns to the a non-Maori health practitioner. Maori and Pacific group practise bed sharing room when raising their children because they believe that it is a way of building strong relationship and protecting their child on emergency situation such as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In contrast, Western people do not agree on this belief and for them independence and autonomy are the best outcome of having an individualised room. 1.4 Political In New Zealand, the healthcare delivery system is made up of numbers of policies and legislations that promotes quality care for all its population. Its government provides strategies to have a better health status for Maori and Non-Maori people living in the country. These includes New Zealand Health Strategy (NZHS) and New Zealand Disability Strategy (NZDS). The aims of these organizations are to decrease inequalities among its residents and communities and to improve coordination in both public and private sectors. (Statutory Framework, 2011) The New Zealand Health and Disability Strategy focuses on the primary health care which covers both promotion and prevention of the occurrence of diseases. For instance, Ministry of Health conducted campaign regarding smoking cessation and the government projected that by the year 2025, there will be no cases of smoking in the country. Preventive measures are also given to the public by means of providing support groups, counselling and reading materials. Furthermore, during the 1990, the government promulgated the Smoke-free Environments Act in New Zealand. (Smoke-free Environments Act, 2005). 1.5 Religious Maori view of good health is associated with their spiritual beliefs (wairuataga). When someone is ill, they conduct a ritual performed by tohunga also known as shamans or priests. (Shaw Deed, Health Environment in Aotearoa/ New Zeland, 2010). Same with Muslim people, they also believe that â€Å"Allah† is the one who decide on their health condition and the great healer of their sickness. Catholic group believe that genital mutilation is essential for male individual just like what Jesus Christ did in the past. In United States of America, 6 to 7 out of 10 new born babies are circumcised defending on the spiritual and cultural orientation of the family. According to this group, this procedure can lower the cases of diseases like meatitis (inflammation of the opening of the penis), urinary tract infection and sexually transmitted illness. (Circumcision: Medical Pros and Cons, 2012). On the other hand, European people generally do not engage themselves on circumcision because they believe of it is of no significance, scientifically and spiritually. Jehovah’s Witness people refuse blood transfusion because they believe that receiving blood is prohibited since it was scripted in the bible. 1.6 Values and Ethics According to Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25, everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old-age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same protection. (Preamble, 2013). In view of the above, there are numbers of legislations that support the right of each individual in the access of healthcare services available in New Zealand. For example, the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 (PHDA) provides a clear framework in improving, promoting and protecting health and well-being of its people. This law is further supported by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and Human Rights Act 1993 that deals with the discrimination of both public and private sectors. (Human Rights Legislation, 2008). Ethical values of these rights pertain to the individual equality that makes every people of New Zealand satisfied in regards to the healthcare services. There are studies of health that gender may contribute to the understanding of the factors and outcomes of inequalities. For instance, there are special needs for both men and women during treatment and rehabilitation after surgery or disability. (Shaw, White, Deed, Health, Wellbeing Environment in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2013). 1.7 Traditions Maori people believe on a traditional way of maintaining a good health and preventing illness. This holistic approach is called Te Whara Tapa Wha which ensures balance of four (4) important aspects of their health; the Te taha wairau (spiritual), Tet aha hinengaro (mind), Te taha tinana (physical) and Tet aha whanau (family). (Shaw Deed, Health Environment in Aotearoa/ New Zeland, 2010). This native people also practise the traditional way of healing through massage (Mirimiri) and herbal treatment (Rongoa). These group also believe that natural environment like forest has a therapeutic effect on their well-being. In addition, Asian countries like China and Philippines also believe in traditional healers and use medicinal plants in treating sickness. 2. Attitudinal determinants: Public attitudes 2.1 Concepts of health Public health refers to systematic measures to prevent disease, promotion of health, and prolonging life among the entire population. The public concept of what illness is the way people perceive their symptom is largely influenced by his or her cultural background which in turn influence how the person reacts. According to World Health Organisation, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well- being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. (WHO definition of Health , 2003). As defined by Oxford English Dictionary, it is the state of being free from sickness, injury, disease, bodily conditions; indicating good bodily condition. (Definition and concepts of health, n.d.). In the view of Rene Dubos, health is the state of health or disease are the expressions of the success or failure experienced by the organism in its efforts to respond adaptively to environmental changes. (Health , 2004). 2.2 Concepts of illness The Public Concept of Illness There are two factors that determine the attitude of public towards illness; socio economic factor and cultural factor, these factors play an integral role in how a certain person reacts to his health condition. According to the World Health Organization socio economic status can greatly affect the quality of life, people living in a low socio economic quality leads to poor health practices of the people and access to quality health services is limited. Cultural beliefs are believed to be vital for peoples well-being and dignity and cultural beliefs dictate the vast majority of our effort to maintain our state of total well-being. According to Susser, illness is a subjective sense of feeling unwell; illness does not define a specific pathology but refers to person’s subjective experience of it such as discomfort, tiredness and/or general malaise. (Illness, Sickness and Disease, n.d.). As described by Kozier, it is a highly personal state in which the person’s physical, emotional, intellectual, social, developmental and spiritual functioning is thought to be diminished. (Kozier, Erb, Glenora, Berman, Snyder, 2004). 2.3 The importance the public put on health Most people think that promoting health and wellness is better than curing disease. In achieving the quality of life, most New Zealanders choose to live a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious food, adequate exercise and a work-life balance. Through this, the impact of the media and technology has influenced the importance of maintaining a better life. (Shaw Deed, Health Environment in Aotearoa/ New Zeland, 2010). Presently, people do not encourage artificial way of food consumption such as microwavable, processed and commercialised food because they are now into natural and organic process. Although, organic food is more expensive than ordinary food but the nutritional value is more likely. In addition, people engage themselves on active campaigns such as marathon, walkathon, swimming and cycling that help them to remain fit and healthy. 2.4 Public attitudes towards health and medical professionals Generally, medical professionals are treated with respect and regarded highly by the public. They are looked up to and considered lifesavers. With the Ministry of Health’s goal to extend and improve the New Zealander’s quality of life, awareness on health and health care delivery system is increased, causing the people (Maori and Pakeha alike) to demand more of the health care services. However, there are still disparities in the attitudes of the Maori and Non-Maori, as well as in their health. This represent the fact that Maori health rights are not being protected as guaranteed under the treaty and that the social, cultural, economic and political factors indicate a widening gap between Maori and non-Maori (Ellison-Loschmann, 2006). Maori still have apprehensions in getting medical consultation or health care services because of their culture and traditions and health illiteracy. They still view health problems in the spiritual realm as punishments for their sins. Some of them don’t understand that these are consequences of bad health habits. They are also adamant to get health care services from Maori health workers. However, as the importance of health is promoted by the government, the gap between the attitudes of the Maori and non-Maori may be closed soon. 3. The influence of International health policy on healthcare of New Zealand Globally the demand for attention in certain areas in health care necessitates the formulation of international health policy; the creation of Millennium Development Goals (MDG) primarily aims for logical global health policy. Global decision makers can greatly influence and shape how New Zealand prioritizes the needs of reform or how to address particular health problem of the community. (UNDP, 2013). Millennium Development Goals has been created to create has eight key areas 1. Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, 2. Achieve universal primary education, 3. Promote gender equality and empower women, 4. Reduce child mortality, 5. Improve maternal health, 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases, 7. Ensure environmental sustainability, 8. Develop a global partnership for development. The influence of international health policy to New Zealand health sector is evident through its policy prescriptions on the above mentioned eight (8) key areas. Goal number 8 sets objectives to the developed countries like New Zealand to extend relief to underdeveloped countries. (Parliament, 2011). According to New Zealand Parliament over half of New Zealand’s official development assistance (ODA) goes to the pacific region, approximately 71% of the 2011/2012 country programme expenditure is allocated to eight countries: Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tokelau and Samoa. The participation of New Zealand in achieving MDG number 8 by extending aide to the Pacific region illustrate that New Zealand has contributed in achieving best possible health to its neighbouring countries.

The Influenza and Pneumonia Epidemic of 1918-1919 Essay -- American Am

The Influenza and Pneumonia Epidemic of 1918-1919 In the ten months between September 1918 and June 1919, 675,000 Americans died of influenza and pneumonia. When compared to the number of Americans killed in combat in World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam combined- 423,000- it becomes apparent that the influenza epidemic of 1918-1919 was far more deadly than the war which it accompanied. (Crosby, 206-207) The United States and the rest of the world had been exposed to such epidemics in the past, but never at such a severe cost in human life. The influenza epidemic came in two waves. The first wave, in the spring of 1918, took far fewer victims than the second. Americans stricken with the flu that spring wondered at the intensity of its symptoms and its incredible contagion. Doctors noticed that the virus seemed to spread more quickly than it ever had before that year, but did not realize how quickly it would reach epidemic proportion. As summer approached, the disease appeared to have satisfied its appetite for new victims. However, the second, deadlier wave of influenza was just about ready to unleash itself on the world, and it did so quickly. By August 1918, the Surgeon General of the Army reported that the death rate from disease for American soldiers was almost 2/3 lower than the annual rate for civilian males of the same age. At the end of the month, the Spanish influenza virus mutated, and "epidemics of unprecedented virulence" exploded in the same week in three port cities thousands of miles apart: Freetown, Sierra Leone, Brest, Belgium, and Boston, Massachusetts. (Crosby, 37) It is still unknown whether this was the result of three appearances of a single mutation or three different simultaneous mutatio... ...wed that it had learned from its experience in 1918. Flu epidemics in the thirties and the fifties never approached the magnitude of the 1918-1919 disaster. Research across the world eventually isolated and identified the virus which causes influenza and the microorganisms which so often accompany it and cause deadly complications like pneumonia and strep and staph infections. The American public health system is one of, if not the, best in the world today at educating its citizens and preventing the spread of communicable disease. Historians can only speculate about what would have happened if people had applied the knowledge of today to the devastating epidemic of so many years ago. Â   Â   WORKS CITED Crosby, Alfred W., Jr. Epidemic and Peace, 1918. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1976. Hoehling, A.A. The Great Epidemic. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1961.

Leaving the Nest Essay

When children graduate from high school and move away to college, it can be devastating for parents. The children leave to gain independence from their parents. They feel they are going on with a new adventure in their lives and gaining a new experience as an adult in the world. They are in a parent’s life for so many years that they cannot imagine life without them in the house. They become sad at the thought of not hearing the laughter or tears every day. Two poems that pick up on this experience are â€Å"On a Daughter’s Leaving Home† and â€Å"At the San Francisco Airport†. These are not just poems about children leaving home but about the emotions all parents go through and the worry they take on when they do. In the poem, â€Å"On a daughter’s leaving home†, the daughter sees her life as a joy. She is excitingly, going off on her own to experience being independent. The daughter is on her bicycle â€Å"pumping, pumping. † She goes on with her life â€Å"screaming with laughter. † The daughter sees her life as something adventurous and fun. The mother is nervous to see her daughter go down a â€Å"curved path of the park†. This â€Å"curved path† represents life with all its twists and turns. It is a symbol of life as unpredictable. It does not go in one straight line. The mother is afraid of the dangers that her daughter will encounter on her adventures in the world. The daughter’s â€Å"hair flapping† is a symbol of the daughter waving goodbye. It is like a handkerchief that one waves when he/she is seeing someone off on his/her travels. This makes the parent sad. She feels left behind. In the poem, the mother is worrying and panicking about the daughter getting hurt. She keeps â€Å"waiting for a thud of crash †. In her eyes, she sees her daughter as fragile. Her daughter is â€Å"smaller, more breakable†. In the poem, â€Å"At the San Francisco Airport†, the father is saying goodbye to his daughter. This letting go is exceedingly difficult for him. He is hurting, and it is extremely painful for him. He does not want to let her go, but he knows he must. The daughter also feels sad. She sees her father’s pain. She knows though that she must do what needs to be done to grow up. She has to learn to be on her own and out of her father’s shadow. The poet uses much repetition in her writing style in â€Å"On a Daughter’s Leaving Home†. An indication can be found in the line, pumping, pumping /for your life†. Another contrast between both poems is that one is hopeful for his daughter’s future and is aware that he must let her go. The other poem has a mother who is afraid to let go. In both, there is vivid symbolism. The airport represents a farewell, as does the handkerchief. What unites both poems is the symbolism of a journey of daughters. In Pastan’s poem, the mother is afraid to let go. She is worrying about her daughter and the dangers that come with growing up and being on her own. However in Winters’ poem the father is sad that his daughter is leaving but not afraid for her. He is hopeful for her and her future. He sees it as a bright light. Both poems show a parent’s love for his/her children. Both parents want the best for them as they leave home. Both children are happily taking the next steps into adulthood. They are leaving their parents’ shadows. While all parents worry about not being able to protect their children anymore, not all parents will react in the same way. Some may look back on how they raised their child or the memories that were shared in their lifetime. Some though may look to the future instead. The parent understands that he/she has to let go, albeit hesitantly, and trust in the responsibility of his/her child. In the end, it comes down to a balance of both sides of the coin; look back at the cherished memories but look to the future and trust in each person to make the right decisions. It is not an easy road to take but something that must be done if children are to thrive and blossom vibrantly into adulthood.

Of Salesmen and False Beliefs - 915 Words

Too often people’s values are based on superficial Ideas, as well as unreal goals that our consumer driven society showcases as the ultimate show of success. In the play The Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller illustrates a society where ethics are based solely around becoming wealthy and obtaining the American dream, through the use of looks and popularity. The main character Willy Loman spends his entire life in fallacy starving for this success. The Death of a Salesman portrays a specific view of the values, dreams, and goals in a consumer driven society. Much like the play our society is driven by ideals of wealth, popularity, and attractiveness and we are faced with falseness of these ideal daily. Plenty of individuals in society†¦show more content†¦Just like Willy in this play, people’s behavior, goals and values reflect a major lack of wisdom and knowledge. I too have witnessed, the stress put on success, looks and popularity that drive our society. Everywhere you look the enormous value being put on image everyday in the world of business can be seen. Sad but true, that many employers hire first off based on what that candidate looks like as they walk up to the interview room. Image without substance; what ever happened to what that individuals brain was capable of and not how pretty they are. Almost every large corporation has a department for â€Å"public relations†. This field is important as it ensures and maintains an appropriate public image for businesses. It is important for marketing as people place so much emphasis on preferred image. We can learn from both the play and our experiences in day to day life that society operates around consumerism. Not only in the world of sales, but everywhere the importance of property, appearance and wealth can be seen. We must be cautious of becoming a servant to advertisers and public opinion. One must steer away from pursuing materialistic dreams as that will lead to failure no matter what. It is important to avoid attaining unwise goals and dreams because they will lead to disappointment and unhappiness.. We all know money does not buyShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Willy Loman And The American Dream1553 Words   |  7 Pageseveryone. Throughout the play, Willy Loman had been betrayed many times by the American Dream, but every time when he gets betrayed; he gets back up and fall for it again. At the end Willy Loman committed suicide and never got to see the truth, that his belief was just a lie. Willy’s entire life has been promise by his family, friends, and at last the American Dream; but the only thing Willy’s realize at the end is how each one of those promises betrayed him. In Act one â€Å"Death of a Salesman†, it beginsRead MoreThe Tragedy in Death of a Salesman Essay932 Words   |  4 Pagescompany, his pride is ruined and he feels as though he has failed his family â€Å"(about Linda) the woman has waited and suffered†Ã‚ ¹Ã¢  °. Willy lived by his phrase â€Å"be liked and you will never want†Ã‚ ³ and it blinded him. He became a salesman to follow this belief and live out his dream, instead of being a carpenter, a profession in which he would have been happy and good at, yet he thought it to be lowly. He expressed that â€Å"even your grandfather was better than a carpenter†Ã¢  ¹. This is also the same reason WillyRead More Illusion and Reality in Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman Essay785 Words   |  4 Pagesthe real world comes crashing through, ruining the false reality he had created for himself and his family. Throughout the play, Willy Loman uses the concept of being well liked to build a false image of realit y, as shown through his teachings to his son, what he considers successful, and his reasoning for committing suicide. Willy teaches Biff the concept of being well-liked, reinforcing his own belief in the ideology and furthering his false sense of reality. Willy Loman subscribes to thisRead MorePolitical Cartoons937 Words   |  4 Pagesthe image that the politician will hold for the rest of his life. When a political scandal is shown to be false, the reputation and the future of the individual are at stake. Where there is a problem, the individual, and the party will need to determine their future in politics (Wiid, Pitt, amp; Engstrom, 2011). Because politics is just another product being sold to the public by salesmen who sometimes pander to the majority. According to the Journal of Public Affairs van Dijk (1998), stated thatRead MoreSymbols Of Good Country People By Flannery O Connor921 Words   |  4 Pageswithout the wooden leg the story would not be as interesting or meaningful. Flannery O’Connor also states â€Å"Early in the story, we’re presented with the fact that the Ph D, is spiritually as well as physically crippled. She believes in nothing but her own belief in nothing, and we perceive that there is a wooden part of her soul that corresponds to her wooden leg.† (O’Connor 209), which means Hulga basically went to college for no reason, because she cannot do anything with her disabilities. Hulga has yetRead MoreSuccess in Death Of A Salesman Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieves education is not important for his sons future. Although Biff is failing his math course and Bernard is passing Willy still accepts the fact that his son will achieve success. Being handsome, popular, and excellent in sports adds to this belief. Willy does not realize that an individual must work hard to accomplish success. He also feels he is higher in status than Bernards father Charley because Charley is not-liked. Hes liked, but hes not-well liked. (1257) Even though he feelsRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller1285 Words   |  6 Pagesbelieves education is not important for his son s future. Although Biff is failing his math course and Bernard is passing Willy still accepts the fact that his son will achieve success. Being handsome, popular, and excellent in sports adds to this belief. Willy does not realize that an individual must work hard to accomplish success. He also feels he is higher in status than Bernard s father Charley because Charley is not-liked. He s liked, but he s not-well liked. (1257) Even though he feelsRead MoreAnalysis of Organizational Behaviors in Glengarry Glen Ross Essay3217 Words   |  13 Pagesfilm adaptation of a play by David Mamet. The film depicts four salesmen pressed to sell the Glengarry Highlands and Glen Ross Farms real estate properties. It is assumed that Mitch and Murray, the unseen business owners, are unhappy with the sales performance of the office, as they send a motivational speaker, named Blake. Blake (played by Alec Baldwin) is sent to challenge the staff. Blake is merciless in his criticism of the salesmen. Blake holds a stack of cards containing contact informationRead MoreThe Jungle by Upton Sinclair The story â€Å"The Jungle† by Upton Sinclair is somewhat of a declaration900 Words   |  4 Pagesand the hypocrisy of the â€Å"American Dream.’ The cans which are shiny, with attractive surfaces are filled with rancid rotten meat unfit for human consumption which in a way American capitalism presents an attractive allurement to immigrants with its false advertising of the ‘dream,’ and find out that the America they dreamed of is completely spoiled rotten corrupt! The story presumably exploits the struggles and hardships of immigrants in America. Jurgis and co. come to America believing the promisesRead MoreDeath Of A Salesman By Arthur Miller964 Words   |  4 Pagesteaches his sons that to be successful you have to be a well-liked person. Throughout the play the reader can see that being a salesman is not the job Willy is qualified for which does not help his family’s financial deficit. In the play, Death of a Salesmen, Arthur Miller uses the characters, symbolism, and the structure of the play represents the theme of lacking awareness of reality. Miller uses the element of the characters to presents the theme of lacking awareness of reality. A main contributor