When I compare my volunteering experiences, and the other hospital and healthcare related activities I have participated in throughout my life, I have come to realize a trend. Those who don't have sufficient access to proper healthcare tend to wait longer to seek attention for the medical problems, or forego treatment altogether. Now, when I say those who lack sufficient access, this is predominantly those who live in poverty, and those who live in medically underserved areas. Patients in poverty will tend to wait until more advanced stages in illness, driving up both the cost of treatment, and decreasing the likelihood that treatments will be as effective. This ends up driving medical costs higher for this population in our community, and thus propagates a cycle of inability to afford proper treatments.
The solution for this is not simple, and requires a major investment from our medical community. Our ever expanding fields of medical technology and research are critical in discovering better, more cost effective methods of detection and treatment. Community health initiatives and preventative care are some of the most effective ways in reducing costs to underserved families. One prominent example of this is heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. Some statistics report that around 90% of these cases are preventable. Proper education and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the cost of healthcare to our country, and as I said in a previous blog, would allow us to reallocate the savings to assist those who cannot afford sufficient care, and into research and development of more effective medical technologies.
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