Ch 4 - Health Care Providers and Professionals Flashcards
Health Care Providers and Professionals
The U.S. health care industry is the largest and most powerful employer in the nation.
It employs more than 13% of the total labor force in the United States.
The growth of health care services is closely linked to the demand for health services professionals.
The health care sector continues to grow due to:
Growth in population, mainly due to immigration
Aging of the population
Expansion of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), leading to greater utilization of health care services
Physicians
All states require physicians to be licensed to practice.
The licensure requirements include:
Graduation from an accredited medical school: A doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO)
Successful completion of a licensing examination governed by either the National Board of Medical Examiners or the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
Completion of a supervised internship/residency program
Similarities and Differences between MDs and DOs
Both MDs and DOs use traditionally accepted methods of treatment, including drugs and surgery.
Osteopathic medicine, practiced by DOs, emphasizes the musculoskeletal system, such as correction of joint tissues.
MDs are trained in allopathic medicine, which views medical treatment as active intervention to produce a counteracting reaction in an attempt to neutralize the effects of disease.
Generalists
Physicians trained in family medicine/general practice, general internal medicine, and general pediatrics; primary care physicians
Specialists
Must seek certification in an area of medical specialization. This requires additional years of advanced residency training, followed by several years of practice in the specialty.
Require referral from primary care physicians
Episodic care that focuses on a particular disease, process, or organ system
Training in hospitals using advanced technology
Primary Care:
First-contact care, gatekeepers in managed care
Longitudinal care, focus on patient as a whole
Training in ambulatory care settings for various conditions
Dentists
The major role of dentists is to diagnose and treat problems related to teeth, gums, and tissues of the mouth.
All dentists must be licensed to practice.
Some states require dentists to obtain a specialty license before practicing as a specialist in that state.
Dental Specialities
Orthodontics (straightening teeth)
Oral and maxillofacial surgery (operating on the mouth and jaws)
Pediatric dentistry (dental care for children)
Periodontics (treating gums)
Prosthodontics (making artificial teeth or dentures)
Endodontics (root canal therapy)
Public health dentistry (community dental health)
Oral pathology (diseases of the mouth)
Pharmacists
The role of pharmacists has expanded from the preparation and dispensing of prescriptions to include:
Drug product education
Serving as experts on specific drugs, drug interaction, and generic drug substitution
Pharmacy Specialities
Pharmacotherapists: specialize in drug therapy and work closely with physicians
Nutrition-support pharmacists: determine and prepare drugs needed for nutritional therapy
Radiopharmacists or nuclear pharmacists: produce radioactive drugs used for patient diagnosis and therapy
Other Doctoral-Level Health Professionals
Psychologists: provide patients with mental health care
Podiatrists: treat patients with:
Disease or deformities of the feet, including surgical operations
Medications and corrective devices
Physiotherapy
Chiropractors: Provide treatment to patients through:
Chiropractic manipulation
Physiotherapy
Dietary counseling
Nurses
Nurses are the major caregivers of sick and injured patients. They address patients’ physical, mental, and emotional needs.
All states require nurses to be licensed to practice.
Nurses work in a variety of settings, including: Hospitals Nursing homes Private practice Ambulatory care centers. Community Migrant health centers
Nursing Specialities
There are four areas of specialization for Advanced-Practice Nurses (APNs):
Clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
Certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA)
Nurse practitioner (NP)
Certified nurse-midwife (CNM)
Nurse Shortage
Demand for more nurses has increased due to:
Increased patient-to-nurse staffing ratios needed to treat much sicker patients who necessitate more intensive care
Growth in new opportunities for nursing employment in alternative settings and roles such as case management, utilization review, quality assurance, and prevention counseling
Non-Physician Practitioners (NPP)
NPPs receive less advanced training than physicians but more training than registered nurses (RN).
They do not:
Engage in the entire range of primary care
Deal with cases requiring the expertise of a physician
Studies have:
Confirmed the efficacy of NPPs as health care providers
Demonstrated that NPPs can provide both high-quality and cost-effective medical care
NPPs:
Show greater personal interest in patients
Cost less
Issues that need to be resolved before NPPs can be used to their full potential are:
Legal restrictions on practice
Reimbursement policies
Relationships with physicians
