Text 3. MEDICINE AND HEALTH CARE IN THE USA

In the final decades of the 20th century, Americans increasingly view good health as something to which they have a right. Self-employed private physicians who charge a fee for each patient visit are the foundation of medical practice in the United States. Most physicians have a contractual relationship with one or more hospitals in the community. They send their patients to this hospital, which usually charges patients according to the number of days they stay and the facilities — operating room, tests, medicines — that they use. Some hospitals belong to a city, a state or, in the case of veteran's hospitals, a federal government agency. Others are operated by religious orders or other non-profit groups. Still others operate for profit.

Some medical doctors are on salary. Salaried physicians may work as hospital staff members, or residents, who often are still in training. They may teach in medical schools, be hired by corporations to care for their workers or work for the federal government's Public Health Service.

Physicians are among the best paid professionals in the United States. In the 1980th, it is not uncommon for medical doctors to earn incomes of more than $100.000 a year. Specialists, particularly surgeons might earn several times that amount. Physicians list many reasons why they deserve to be so well rewarded for their work. One reason is the long and expensive preparation required to become a physician in the US. Most would be physicians first attend college for four years, which can cost more than $12.000 annually at one of the best private institutions. Prospective physicians then attend medical school for four years. Tuition alone can exceed $410.000 a year. By the time they have obtained their medical degrees, many young physicians are deeply in debt. They still face three to five year of residency in a hospital, the first year as an intern, an apprentice physician. The hours are long and the pay is relatively low.

Setting up a medical practice is expensive, too. Sometimes several physicians will decide to establish a group practice, so they can share the expense of maintaining an office and buying equipment. These physicians also take care of each other's patients in emergencies.

Physicians work long hours and must accept a great deal of responsibility. Many medical procedures, even quite routine ones, involve

risk. It is understandable that physicians want to be well rewarded for making decisions which can mean the difference between life and death.

Can you answer the following question?

1. What does good health mean to Americans?

2. Whom is medical practice based on in America?

3. How are the patients charged in hospitals?

4. What do salaried physicians do?

5. What are the incomes of medical doctors?

6. What are the reasons for physicians to be so well rewarded?

7. What does a "group practice" mean?

8. What responsibility do physicians accept?

Give English equivalents to the following word combinations:

получать плату за каждого больного; частные врачи; медицинский институт; получить степень; пребывание в больнице; молодые врачи; отношения, основанные на контракте; плата сравнительно низкая; покупать оборудование; посещать колледж; федеральное правительство; стать врачом; принимать решение; большинство будущих специалистов.

Дополнительный материал: Готовимся к экзамену!!!

Сопоставьте информацию из текста с данными о вашей семье.

MY FAMILY

I am Alex Dymov. Alex is my first name and Dymov is my surname. I am seventeen years old. My family is large. I have got a mother, a father, a sister, a brother and a grandmother. There are six of us in the family.

First of all a few words about my parents. My mother is a teacher of biology. She works in a college. She likes her profession. She is a good-looking blue-eyed woman with brown hair. She is forty-four but she looks much younger. She is tall and slim.

My father is a computer programmer. He is very experienced. He is a broad-shouldered, tall man with fair hair and grey eyes. He is forty-six. My father sings very well, so when we are at home and have some free time, I play the guitar and we sing to­gether. My father knows all about new radio sets and likes to repair old ones. He is also handy with many things. When he was small, he liked to take everything to pieces. My grandmother told me a story that once my father tried to "repair" their kitchen clock. He managed to put all the wheels and screws back again — but the clock did not work. They had to give it to a repairman. But that happened a long time ago. Now he can fix almost everything: a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a fridge and what not. He's got a few shelves where he keeps everything he needs. On the table there is always a radio in pieces.

My parents have been married for twenty-six years. They have much in common, but they have different views on music, books, films, sports. For example, my father likes horror films and my mother likes "soap operas". My father is fond of tennis. My mother doesn't go in for sports. But my parents have the same opinion about my education and upbringing.

They are hard-working people. My mother keeps house and takes care of me and my father. She is very good at cooking and she is clever with her hands. She is very practical. My father and I try to help her with the housework. I wash the dishes, go shopping and tidy our flat. My grandmother is a pensioner. She lives with us and helps to run the house. She is fond of knitting. My sister Helen is twenty-four. She is married and has a family of her own. She works as an accountant for a joint venture company. Her husband is a scientist. They have got twins: a daughter and a son. They go to a nursery school.

My brother Boris is eleven. He is a schoolboy. He wants to become a doctor but he is not sure yet. Three months ago he dreamed of being a cosmonaut.

I want to become a student. I'd like to learn foreign languages. I think I take after my father because I'm tall, fair-haired and even-tempered. I always try to be in a good mood.

We have got a lot of relatives. We are deeply attached to each other and we get on very well.

Ответьте на вопросы о вашей семье и подготовьте тему к экзамену:

1. What is your first name? What is your surname?

2. How old are you?

3. When is your birthday?

4. Is your family large? Howmany are you in the family?

5. Have you got any brothers or sisters?

6. What are your parents? Where do they work?

7. How long have your parents been married? g. Do they have much in common?

8. Do you spend a lot of time with your family?

9. What sort of things do you do together?

10. Do you go out with your parents?

11. Who runs the house in your family?

12. What are your household duties?

13. What is your father's hobby?

14. Can you describe your mother?

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