Chapter 3 Careers in Health care

What % of the American workforce are in health care?

13% of workforce

What is driving the growth of the health care industry

1. Population growth

2. Aging population
   

3.  Increase life expectancy

Where are most health jobs located?

Hospitals, nursing facilities, and physician offices.

Define demographic.

Statistical study of human population.

What is affordable care act?

An act that aimed to provide health coverage to all Americans and to prevent health care cost.

What does the ACA emphasize

It emphasizes prevention and primary care.

What are examples of chronic diseases?

Heart disease, obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and diabetes.

What are examples of acute diseases?

Pnuemonia, diarrhoeal, neonatal, tuberculosis, Hiv, malaria, maternal.

What is the role of physicians?

Evaluate, diagnose, treat.

How are physicians licensed?

Md (allopathic) or DO (osteopathic)

What is allopathic medicine?

A system of medical practice that emphasizes diagnosing and treating via conventional methods. (drugs and surgery)

What is Osteopathic medicine?

Holistic and comprehensive, utilizes musculoskeletal manipulation.

What does NBME stand for?

National Board of Medical Examiners.

What does NBOME stand for?

Nation Board of Osteopathic examiners.

How long are internships and residencies?

2-6 years

What do MD’s focus on?

Allopathic, disease-focused, counteractive treatment.

What do DO’s focus on?

Musculoskeletal focus, holistic, prevention, diet/environment.

Who are more likely to be generalists?

DO’s are more likely than MDs.

What are examples of generalists?

Family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics.

How do referrals work?

Generalists refer patients (who are consulted by a primary care provider) to specialists.

What does PCP mean?

Primary Care Provider

What do hospitalists focus on?

Inpatient medicine, hospital based care.

What are the roles of hospitalists?

Manage care during hospitalization.

How are hospitalists trained?

Often from internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics.

What is gatekeeping?

Primary care controls access to specialty care.

What does longitudinal mean?

It involves the repeated observation over time

What does episodic mean?

It occurs at irregular intervals

What do primary doctors focus on?

Whole patient, comorbidites

What do specialists focus on?

Disease or organ system

What does comorbidity mean?

It exists simultaneously with another conditions.

What are the different work settings for physicians?

Hospitals, public sectors, private practice.

What does public sector mean?

Part of economy controlled by government

What are ambulatory visits?

To be able to walk around while visiting.

How are physicians maldistributed?

There are 767,100 physicians and women make up 31% of the workforce.

What does maldistribution mean?

Undesirable inequality

Where do most doctors cluster?

Metro/suburban areas.

Why does the U.S. have more specialists than primary care providers?

Because more people become specialists to pay off debt from school.

What are the consequences of having more specialists than primary care providers?

Higher costs, invasive services, less effective care with primary screening, underserved populations most affected.

What does reimbursement mean?

To pay some back.

What are underserved populations?

Populations with less doctors.

What are orthodontics?

Braces.

What is periodontics?

Diseases of gum and teeth.

What are prosthodontics?

Replace chipped or missing teeth.

What are endodontics?

Diseases of dental pulp.

What does pathology mean?

Study of disease.

What is the role of a pharmacist?

To give out/dispense medications.

What type of education do pharmacists need?

PharD (6 years) + licensure exam.

What are nuclear pharmacists?

Specialized pharmacist that make radioactive drugs used in diagnostic imaging for cancer and thyroid diseases.

Where do pharmacists work?

Retail, hospitals, internet/wholesome, physician offices.

How is the traditional role of pharmacists expanding?

Drug education, drug interactions, prescribing authority.

What are optometrists?

Doctors who work with vision exams.

What are psychologists?

Doctors who work with mental health.

What are podiatrists?

Doctors who work with foot conditions.

What are chiropractors?

Doctors who work with manual manipulation.

What is the largest group of health care workers?

Nurses.

What is the role of nurses?

Physical, emotional, and mental patient care.

What are two types of nurses?

RN and LPN

What is a physician assistant?

An assistant of a physician supervised by MD/DO, who perform exams, treat, and prescribe.

What is a nurse practitioner?

An expanded RN role, who focus on education and prevention.

What is a certified nurse midwife?

Maternal/obstetric care.

What are the values of midwives?

They improve access in underserved areas, high patient satisfaction, cost-effective.

What are some barriers to being a midwife?

Legal restrictions, reimbursement issues, physician oversight.

What percentage of the health care workforce are allied health professionals

60%

What are the two categories of allied health professionals?

Technicians/assistants and Technologists/therapists

What are technologists and therapists?

PT assistants, lab techs, radiology techs.

What are technicians and therapists?

PTs, OTs, dietitians, audiologists, speech therapists, social workers.

What are the focus of public health officials?

Community focus.

What areas do public health officials focus on?

Biostatistics, epidemiology, health services admin, health education, and environmental health.

What is biostatistics?

Statistics in regarding to health.

What is epidemiology?

Study of public health and disease.

Who employs public health officials?

Schools of public health, government agencies, NGOs

What are NGOs.

Nongovernmental organization.

What are health service administrators?

a profession who oversees and manages the operations of health care organizations.

What are top-level health service administrators?

Strategic leadership, long-term success. (IT, finance, Board runs, CEO)

What are mid-level health service administrators?

Manage major service centers/departments. (day to day management)

What are entry-level health service administrators?

Support, assist managers. (Front desk)