Text B. Medical Service in the USA

In the USA there are three levels of organization of medical service: the private doctor, the medical institution or hospital and the United State Public Health Service.

The average American has a doctor of his own, whom he calls his “family doctor”. This doctor either has his own private office or works with several other doctors (the so-called “group practice”). This doctor gives the patient regular examinations, vaccinations and medical advice. This doctor generally receives pay directly from the patient.

Each hospital has an “Emergency Room” which serves cases that need immediate attention. The broader questions of medicine such as vaccination of school children and studies of epidemics come under the control of the Public Health Service.

The great cost of medical care in the country and a great number of people who cannot pay for it have led to the development of two new programmes by the Federal Government - Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare provides free medical care for all the Americans over 65. Medicaid provides free medical care for all those whose income is below a certain level and who are not able to pay for medical aid.

CLASS ASSIGNMENTS

V. Translate the sentences paying attention to the words in bold type:

Most cases of cancer are considered incurable. 2. He is a well trained medical adviser and can give qualified medical aid to the patient. 3. Thanks to the great achievements of medicine many infectious diseases have become curable. 4. It is advisable that the patient with peptic ulcer should follow a definite diet.

VI. Express the following definitions in one word:

A physician who treats the diseases of the nervous system; 2) a specialist who treats the diseases of the inner organs; 3) a medical adviser who makes X-ray examinations and describes X-ray films; 4) a doctor who treats our teeth; 5) a doctor who treats mental disturbances; 6) a medical specialist who works in the field of infectious diseases; 7) a physician who treats cardiac diseases; 8) a surgeon who operates on the heart; 9) a scientist who works in the fieldof physiology; 10) a researcher who investigates the life of microorganisms.

VII. In Text B find English equivalents to the following word combinations:

Медицинское обслуживание; 2) домашний врач; 3) частный кабинет; 4) обслуживать больных; 5) находиться под контролем; 6) бесплатный медицинский уход; 7) ниже определенного уровня.

VIII. Combine the pairs of sentences choosing the necessary conjunctions. Translate the sentences:

You may go to the polyclinic. You need medical advice (provided, though). 2. The patient must be admitted to the emergency room. He needs immediate surgical operation (if, after). 3. Many diseases are cured successfully. The medicine has achieved great progress (since, before). 4. In the USA many people have no family doctors. Private medical service is very expensive (until, as).

IX. Read Text C. Speak about your impressions upon the courage of Russian doctors in the Great Patriotic War.

Text C. The doctors in the Great Patriotic War

Our country suffered from bitter trials during the Great Patriotic War against nazi Germany. The State Public Health system withstood trials honourably¹. The people of the noble profession “soldiers of life” had made a great contribution to our victory.

Over 200,000 doctors and 0,5 millions of medical personnel worked in the front and rear². They had to give medical aid in the difficult conditions.

Operations, dressings and evacuation of the wounded continued for many hours, days and nights. They did not think about danger, sleep or rest.

During the Great Patriotic War over 72% of the wounded and 90% of the sick officers and soldiers were returned to the army.

One of the participants of the storm of Sapun-Hill wrote: “I am a witness³ of heroism of medical people in the front. They are heroes twice.”

The greate contribution to the victory over the agressor was made by medical scientists. In 1944 a decision was taken to organize a single medical reseach centre - The Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR. Academician N.N. Burdenko, the outstanding scientist and the chief surgeon of the Soviet Army, became its first President. For the first time in the history of the war there were no epidemic outbreaks on the territory of the Soviet Union.