The Difference Between Healthcare, Health Care, and Sick Care

There is a common misunderstanding in nomenclature when it comes to describing the health and medical treatment of people.

While healthcare is a fundamental word for the medical care and practices used to treat individuals in a community, (for example, the “healthcare system”) the one-word term is often misconstrued as health care (two words), which describes the measures one takes to focus on, protect, or improve their overall health.

Sometimes, “healthcare” or “health care” are used in place of the term “sick care”, which is more accurate depending on the context.

Sick care is when a person seeks treatment only after they’ve become sick or injured – this is what traditional healthcare focuses on. The unfortunate irony is that the U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other nation and is consistently among the least healthy. Perhaps that is due in part to the reactive nature of sick care, or maybe it’s something else, as Dr. Austin Mennen at Sycamore Integrated Health illustrates.

“Ideal healthcare would look at the direct, underlying cause rather than just the symptom,” Dr. Mennen said. “On top of that, health care should focus on all areas of your life including your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.”

In effect, sick care really only focuses on one or a few aspects of overall health care, which are not all proactive practices. To establish and maintain good overall health, we can take many proactive – or preventative – steps such as exercise, a healthy diet, and reducing or eliminating the consumption of harmful substances. Integrated medicine practices can go a long way in improving overall health, as well.

“A focus on prevention does not mean there will be no disease or symptoms,” says Dr. Mennen. “But it embraces the idea of extending the disease-free lifespan of each individual. More emphasis on health promotion is a great place to start.”

While healthcare will always remain a vital system and concern in our lives, reducing or preventing the need for sick care can improve health overall – for everyone. This is one way in which the two terms work symbiotically.

“If your current healthcare isn’t focused on prevention, then it’s sick care, not health care!”

For any questions on determining the type of care required to address various physical ailments, visit www.sycamoreintegratedhealth.com or call 815-895-3354.

Sycamore Integrated Health

920 W Prairie Dr STE J

Sycamore, IL 60178