Spheres of Practice

Spheres of practice

emerging concept; area of practice that corresponds to and meets the health care needs of segments of population; can apply in variety of settings

scope: health and wellness

general healthy people who only require basic health care needs- largest group, lowest expenditure

scope: acute and restorative care

unexpected injury or illness that requires serious care- small segment of the population

scope: chronic disease management

people who have one or more chronic illness requiring ongoing care- very large segment; complex conditions

scope: palliative care

holistic approach to health care- needed across the lifespan

attributes and criteria

• represents population need

• lifespan and diverse population groups

• wellness-illness continuum

  • interprofessional practice

drivers of change

• improved health outcomes

• cost containment

  • system efficiencies

educations and workforce development

• need for intentional integration in all spheres

• understanding of where the spheres overlap is essential

areas of focus

• population health and health promotion

• acute and restorative care

• chronic disease management

• palliative care

economics

• increased focus on wellness and preventive care will save money

• goal: keep more people healthier longer

changing trends where care is delivered

• shift to care within the home

• shift to telehealth for many services

• particularly helpful for managing chronic diseases

• shift to large regional acute care

interrelated concepts

• population health

• palliative care

• health promotion

• care coordination

• collaboration

• public health emergencies

featured exemplars

• emergency departments

• ambulatory and outpatient surgery centers

• home health care

• hospitals