We hope this introduction to the way health care works in the U.S. and at Cornell will help you feel comfortable accessing care when you need it and making health care choices that are right for you.

General philosophy of western medicine

Western medicine takes primarily an analytical approach toward identifying the biomedical cause of health problems. By using the objective results of medical tests (laboratory and/or x-ray) and your description of the symptoms experienced, the health care provider works to identify the specific biomedical cause of your health problem.  Once a diagnosis is made (often through a process of ruling out other causes), a treatment is prescribed to address the problem area.

Prevention first

Since there are many ways to reduce the incidence of some health problems from occurring, western medicine and culture also place a good deal of emphasis on preventive care and taking certain precautions to protect your health through exercise, diet, healthy sleep practices, routine screening for certain illnesses or conditions, personal hygiene, immunizations, public sanitation, and other health promotion practices. Gannett’s providers also know that for most illnesses and injuries the sooner you receive health care after noticing symptoms of illness, the more quickly you can recover; and the less likely you will be to develop complications or more severe health conditions. 

Levels of care

In the US, there are several levels of health care available for your assistance, depending upon the nature and severity of your health concern or problem, these include:

1. Primary Care: For most illnesses, injuries and preventive health care, people usually go first to their primary care provider. Gannett is your primary care provider. Gannett provides many of the same services that a health practitioner or family doctor in your home country offered. Read more about health care for spouses/partners and children.
   
2. Specialized Care: Gannett provides some specialty medical services on site (such as physical therapy, travel services, sexual health care, laboratory and x-ray, allergy shots, and a full-service pharmacy); helps you access specialists (such as dermatologists, obstetricians, orthopedic physicians), and resources in the community when you require this level of health care.
3. After-hours Urgent Care: When urgent health concerns arise after Gannett’s regular working hours, students may call Gannett at 607 255-5155 for consultation, advice, and if needed, referral for care in the community. Learn about the Convenient Care Center, which provides outpatient care for illnesses and injuries for people in the Ithaca area, including students and their families.
   
4. Emergency Care: For life-threatening health problems (such as heart attack, serious traumatic injuries, breathing problems, high fever, serious burns, or alcohol poisoning), you can go directly to the Emergency Department of Cayuga Medical Center. An ambulance should only be used when emergency medical procedures may be required in route to the hospital. The fee charged for an ambulance may be several hundred dollars, and will be covered by health insurance only for a serious health problem. For urgent, but non-life-threatening health problems, there are less expensive forms of transportation available if you do not have access to a car. 
5.  Hospitalization: Cayuga Medical Center offers a variety of inpatient and outpatient services including: surgery; behavioral health (mental health) services; child birth options, comfort management for mothers and new babies; pediatric care for sick children; and a medical rehabilitation unit for people recovering from major trauma, head injury, and stroke. Outpatient services are offered in two locations (the Medical Center and the Convenient Care Center) and include outpatient or same-day surgery, comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation services, and diagnostic radiological testing, from routine x-rays to MRI.

The cost of health care

Unlike countries with nationalized health care, fees are charged for all health services in the U.S. Generally speaking, the most reasonable or least expensive way to receive high quality health care is through your primary health care provider (e.g., Gannett). The cost of health care provided at each level up from that increases incrementally with “emergency care and hospital care” being the most costly. Having health insurance is essential for students, their spouses/partners, and their children to help cover these costs and to protect your financial security. For more information, see “Understanding Health Insurance.”