Introduction of the source
This paper is aimed at discussing the website maintained by California Pacific Medical Center. This organization provides information about the impact of Myasthenia Gravis on different stakeholders representing the community. In particular, one can speak about the article written by Jonathan Katz (2014) who examines various aspects of this disease, including its economic effects on the society. Overall, one can say that this site can be of great interest and use to students who want to learn about the long-term implications of this particular disorder. The information is presented in a coherent and logical manner and although there are some limitations, these data appear to be quite credible. Thus, it can be used by practitioners. These are the main points that should be examined more closely.
The costs associated with Myasthenia Gravis
Overall, this information resource can throw light some on the costs associated with the treatment of Myasthenia Gravis. In particular, according to the estimations of medical workers, it is necessary to spend $ 25.000 annually in order to provide appropriate medical services to every patient who has been diagnosed with this disease (Katz, 2014). In this case, one can speak about the perspectives of the health system, community and society because the interests of these stakeholders are closely interconnected. To a great extent, these costs can be explained by the increasing use of intravenous immunoglobulin or IVIG (Katz, 2014).
The development, production, and improvement of this medication account for about 85 percent of the pharmacy costs (Katz, 2014). It should be mentioned that the prevalence of this disease is not very high. In particular, it can affect from 2 to 18 people per every 100.000 residents (Spillane et al., 2013). Thus, one can argue that this disease leads to considerable healthcare expenditures for the community. These expenditures influence such stakeholders as insurance companies and tax-payers. Jonathan Katz (2014) argues that the selection of the most effective treatment options can be critical for minimizing the costs associated with Myasthenia Gravis. These are some of the main aspects that can be distinguished since they are important for understanding the factors influencing the financial costs of this disease.
It should be mentioned that the financial costs for an individual patient are more difficult to estimate. People, who represent different age groups, can be exposed to the risks of this disease. Therefore, the indirect costs of this disease can affect professional career of a person, his/her education, and income level. Additionally, it is important to remember that the cases of Myasthenia Gravis can differ significantly from one another. For instance, the costs of this disease can increase significantly if a patient requires assisted ventilation (Weiner, Goetz, & Shin, 2010). So, there are many independent variables that cannot be always accurately measured or controlled. These are some of the main aspects that can be distinguished. These examples indicate that it is rather difficult to make generalizations while discussing the costs that a separate patient can incur. This question is not sufficiently discussed by Jonathan Katz, and this limitation should not be disregarded by the readers.
Critique of the information source
Overall, the data presented at this website does not seem to be inflated or deflated. Researchers confirm that the use of IVIG can be one of the possible therapies (Sathasivam, 2014, p. 12). Moreover, scholars note that IVIG is more expensive than other forms of treatment (Weiner et al., 2010, p. 80). The only limitation is that this website does not throw light on how the costs of treating Myasthenia Gravis differ across various age groups. Moreover, it does not show how different co-morbidities can affect the financial impact of this disease.
Thus, one can say that these data may not be fully representative. However, these omissions do not invalidate the data provided at this website. Additionally, the readers can learn more about the sources used by the author. In particular, it is possible to speak about empirical studies and governmental reports. Furthermore, the majority of these articles have been published within last three years, and they can still be of great benefit to practitioners. Thus, one can say that this information is relevant and up-to-date. These are some of the main strengths that can be identified.
On the whole, it is possible to say that Myasthenia Gravis presents considerable challenges for an individual and the community, in general. In particular, one can mention the costs associated with the use of certain medications that can be helpful for mitigating the effects of this chronic illness. The source, which has been analyzed in this paper, can be valuable for evaluating the financial aspects of this disease. In particular, it can illustrate the expenses which are needed for the treatment of this disorder. This source should be taken into account by healthcare professionals. Admittedly, there are some important details that have been omitted, but the information provided by the author appears to be quite trustworthy. These are the main arguments that can be advanced.
Reference List
Katz, J. (2014). Myasthenia Gravis. Web.
Sathasivam, S. (2014). Diagnosis and management of myasthenia gravis. Progress in Neurology and Psychiatry, 18(1), 6-14.
Spillane, J., Hayward, M., Hirsch, N. P., Taylor, C., Kullmann, D. M., & Howard, R. S. (2013). Thymectomy: role in the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Journal of neurology, 260(7), 1798-1801.
Weiner, W., Goetz, C., & Shin, R. (2010). Neurology for the Non-neurologist. New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.