Chapter 3 Careers in Health Care

What % of the American workforce are in health care?

13% of the workforce.

What is driving the growth of the health care industry?

Population growth, Aging population, and increased life expectancy.

Where are most health care jobs located?

Most are located in hospitals. 

Define Demographic

Statistical study of populations.

What is the Affordable Care Act?

Created in 2010, provided health coverage to all Americans and to prevent healthcare cost. 

What does the ACA emphasize?

Prevention and primary care.

What are examples of chronic diseases?

Diabetes, Cancer, Heart Disease.

What are examples of acute diseases?

The flu, pneumonia. 

What is the role of physicians?

Evaluate, diagnose, and treat.

How are physicians licensed?

Through either MD or DO med schools.

What is allopathic medicine?

Allopathic medicine is more traditional and focuses on diagnosing and treating via conventional methods like drugs and surgery.

What is Osteopathic medicine?

Holistic and comprehensive approach, utilizes musculoskeletal manipulation. 

What does NBME stand for?

National Board of Medicine Examiners

What does NBOME stand for?

National Board of Osteopathic Medicine Examiners

How are internships and residencies?

2-6 years depending on the specialty. 

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 a generalist?

DO’s

What are examples of generalists?

Family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics.

How do referrals work?

PCP refers patients to a specialist, and then the specialist, after treating, send the patient back for the PCP to review and take further clinical action.

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, improve cost-efficiency and length of stay.

How are hospitalists trained?

Often from internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics.

What is gatekeeping?

Primary care controls the access to specialty care.

What does Longitudinal mean?

Long-term

What does episodic mean?

Irregular intervals

What do primary doctors focus on?

Long-term care coordination.

What do specialists focus on?

Focused, short term, intense

What does comorbidity mean?

Exists simultaneously with another condition.

What are the different work settings for physicians?

Hospitals, public sector, majority, and ambulatory. 

What does public sector mean?

Government agencies, public health clinics, schools, prisons.

What are ambulatory visits?

Visits where you can just walk around and not be bed-ridden.

How are physicians maldistributed?

Geographically

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?

Higher pay in order to pay off debt. 

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

Higher costs, invasive services, less efficient, and underserved populations get affected the most.

What does reimbursement mean?

To pay some back.

What are underserved populations?

Populations that lack adequate access to healthcare services due to various barriers, often including geographic isolation, poverty, cultural differences, and language barriers.

What are orthodontics?

Braces and fixing teeth inequality. 

What is periodontics?

Teeth/gum disease specialist.

What are prosthodontics?

Replace missing/chipped teeth.

What are endodontics?

Disease of dental pulp.

What does pathology mean?

Regular disease.