Chapter 2 - Healthcare Delivery Systems Flashcards
chiropractor
someone who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system; they primarily focus on physical therapy; some people consider them alternative medicine practitioners and not actual doctors
optometrist
a doctor who focuses on vision and visual systems and is trained to prescribe and fit lenses to improve vision
osteopathy
a type of alternative medicine that emphasizes physical manipulation of the body’s muscle tissue and bones
ophthalmology
a branch of medicine and surgery that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the eye
optometrist vs ophthalmologist
an optometrist provides general eye care but cannot do surgery; the ophthalmologist is trained to do surgery; they also go to different schools
osteopath
one who practices osteopathy
hospitalist
a physician who specializes exclusively in the care of inpatient hospital patients; they oversee the patient’s care until discharge; then the patient returns to the care of their primary care physician
physician assistant
a healthcare professional who can diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and may also serve as a principal healthcare provider; but, they must be under the supervision of a physician
registered nurse (RN)
a nurse that typically has 2-4 years of education (associates or bachelor’s)
nurse practitioner
an advanced nurse who can assess patient needs, order and interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests, diagnose disease, formulate and prescribe treatment plans; must have a master’s degree at least
licensed practical nurse (LPN)
a nurse who provides more basic care and who is subordinate to a registered nurse (RN); also called licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
nurse anesthetist
a nurse who administers anesthesia for surgery or other medical procedures
nurse
a person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital, and subordinate to the medical doctor
ancillary
(adjective) providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system
(adjective) of lower or secondary class or rank
ancillary care
the wide range of healthcare services provided to support the work of a primary physician
ASAHP
acronym for: Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions; an organization that promotes allied health education
allied health professional
health professionals (other than registered nurses, physicians, and physician assistants) who have received a certificate, an associate degree, a bachelor degree, a master’s degree, a doctorate, or postdoctoral training in a healthcare-related science
audiology
the branch of science that studies hearing, balance, and related disorders. Audiologists treat those with hearing loss and proactively prevent related damage.
clinical laboratory technician
people who perform a wide array of tests on body fluids, tissues, and cells to assist in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and illnesses
anatomic pathology
laboratory work that deals with human tissues and provides surgical pathology, autopsy, and cytology services
clinical pathology
laboratory work that involves the analysis of body fluids—principally blood, but also urine, gastric contents, and cerebrospinal fluid
cytology
the branch of biology concerned with the structure and function of plant and animal cells
pathologist
a physician who specializes in performing and interpreting the results of pathology tests
diagnostic medical sonography
the use of imaging by medical ultrasound for medical diagnosis