Posts Tagged ‘health care’
Health treatments and philosophies in 10 countries
Perhaps it’s the interest sparked by the ongoing debate in Washington, but I’ve been stumbling across a number of health care-related articles these days and several of them delve into the intersection of policy and national culture. There was a recent story in the NY Times about T.R. Reid’s new book, The Healing of America, in which [...]
From doctors to shamans
It’s no secret that culture plays a role in health care, from our systems of medicine to our personal decisions. When a person receives health care in his or her home country, there are unlikely to be many clashes over culture because it’s a medical system that he or she knows and understand well. The United States is not a [...]
How culture affects even health care policy
One of the big debates going on in Washington and around the U.S. these days, of course, revolves around the nation’s health care programs. I’m no policy wonk, so I’m not going to wade into a debate about issues here, but rather point out that even health care is related to national culture and values. [...]
Hispanics may agonize over cultural values and elder care decisions
As we talk about differences in cultures around the world, it’s easy to forget that there are also many cultures and worldviews residing all around us. Among the various racial and ethnic groups in the United States, there are of course different foods, music and traditions, but there are also different ways in which people perceive the world [...]
Medical tourism highlights disparities in heath care
I’ve posted previously on the topic of medical tourism, that growing health care field where people travel to a country such as India or Thailand for medical treatments because the care is both excellent and inexpensive. But while it’s a great deal for Westerners or others who get quality care for less than it would cost [...]
Cultural miscues in health care
A new study is out with evidence that cultural differences and misunderstandings often lead to disparities in medical outcomes. According to this story in the NY Times, patients and doctors who have different cultural backgrounds are often on different wavelengths when it comes to dispensing and following medical advice. … a new study of diabetes patients has found [...]
Outsourced pregnancies
Well, almost everything else is being outsourced these days, why not pregnancies? According to this Associated Press story, there is apparently a growing industry in India for commercial surrogacy, with local women serving as surrogate mothers for women in other countries who have been unable to conceive a child. Although surrogate pregnancies take place and are legal [...]
The other side of medical tourism
The topic of medical tourism has gained quite a bit of coverage during the past year or so, as the media has become aware of the increasing numbers of Americans who are opting to go overseas for medical care and surgery because they can’t afford the same procedures in the U.S. Now comes a glimpse of the other side [...]
Elderly Americans outsourced to India?
Sure, everyone knows about outsourcing technical and telemarketing services to India, but outsourcing nursing home care? That was the grudging decision made by Steve Herzfeld when, running short of money and energy after three years of nonstop caring for his ailing parents, he moved with them to India and arranged for all-day medical and nursing home [...]
More medical tourism
I’ve written about medical tourism before, and the topic seems to receiving increased attention these days. There was an article about it in the NY Times Sunday travel section. In the story, Joshua Kurlantzick discussed his experiences with medical care in Thailand. Finishing my lunch at an open-air restaurant in downtown Bangkok, I felt slightly queasy. But by [...]
Cross-cultural health care
A simple conversation between a doctor and a patient can often cause problems when the two individuals are from different cultures. Due to a growing awareness of such challenges, some efforts are now underway to improve the cultural competence of health care providers. One such program has been launched in Maryland and was recently profiled in this [...]
The perils of childbirth in Iraq
With all of the news reports about car bombings, sectarian violence and politics in Iraq, sometimes what is lost amid the headlines is the simple fact of how difficult daily life has become for many Iraqis. The Washington Post has a heartbreaking story today about the challenges of childbirth in parts of the country. Giving birth [...]
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