Chapter 4 Health Science

Professional Organization Benefits

Promotes the profession, ensures professionals have necessary knowledge and skills, provides continuing education, networking opportunities, and supports healthcare legislation.

Ways to Participate in a Professional Organization

Serve on committees, volunteer, or run for office.

Benefits of Active Involvement in a Professional Organization

Work toward common goals, meet established professionals, gain career advice, find role models, stay current, develop management skills, and receive peer support.

Definition of Lifelong Learning

All purposeful learning activities that occur throughout life, both formal and informal.

Importance of Lifelong Learning

Knowledge becomes outdated quickly due to technology; continued learning is required to stay competent.

Why Lifelong Learning Is Important in Healthcare

Healthcare changes constantly—continued learning ensures professionals remain skilled and knowledgeable.

Acute Care Facility

Provides short-term treatment for sudden illness or injury (e.g., ER, ICU).

Behavioral or Mental Health Facility

Treats emotional, mental, and behavioral issues.

Ambulatory Care Facility

Provides outpatient care such as clinics, urgent care, and same-day surgery.

Home Care

Delivers medical or supportive services in a patient's home.

Long-Term Care

Provides ongoing medical or personal care for chronic conditions.

Nursing Home

24-hour skilled care for elderly or chronically ill patients.

Assisted Living Facility

Provides independent living with help for daily activities.

Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)

Offers short-term rehabilitation or specialized care after hospital discharge.

Hospice Care

Provides comfort care for terminally ill patients and support for their families.

Optical Centers

Provide eye exams and vision correction services.

Emergency Care Services

Offer immediate treatment for accidents or injuries; can be attached to or separate from a hospital.

Stand-Alone Emergency Room

Independent 24/7 medical facility offering emergency care, imaging, and lab tests; not for severe cases like heart attacks or strokes.

Dental Services

Provide preventive and restorative dental care such as checkups, cleanings, and fillings.

Cosmetic Surgery Centers

Perform elective procedures to enhance appearance.

Orthodontics

Dental specialty focused on correcting teeth and jaw alignment.

Pulmonology Centers

Diagnose and treat respiratory system diseases.

Surgical Centers

Perform same-day surgical procedures such as cataract removal, hernia repair, and minor cosmetic surgery.

Inpatient Care

Patients stay overnight in a hospital and receive continuous monitoring (e.g., major surgery, severe illness).

Outpatient Care

Patients receive care and go home the same day (e.g., routine checkups, minor procedures).

Emergency Department (ED) Classification

The ED is considered outpatient care.

Government Health Services

Supported by taxpayers; conduct research, regulation, and education in healthcare.

Examples of Federal Health Agencies

NIH, CDC, OSHA, FDA.

Functions of State Health Departments

License healthcare personnel and facilities, monitor diseases, provide lab services, emergency medical services, data systems, and mental health services.

Functions of Local Health Departments

Collect vital statistics, conduct sanitary inspections, provide health education, disease screening, insect control, immunizations, and mental health/substance abuse counseling.

Hospital Organizational Structure

Defines hierarchy and chain of command within a hospital for efficient management.

Purpose of Hospital Organizational Structure

Clarifies roles, reporting lines, and ensures efficiency.

Hospital Board of Directors Composition

Community leaders, business executives, and medical professionals.

Hospital Board of Directors Responsibilities

Set hospital policies, make financial decisions, oversee operations.

Five Major Hospital Service Areas

Administrative, Information, Therapeutic, Diagnostic, and Support Services.

Importance of Hospital Structure

Promotes efficient management and teamwork for quality patient care.

Health Science Career Pathways

Categories of healthcare careers: Support Services, Information Services, Therapeutic Services, Diagnostic Services, Biotechnology & Research.

Therapeutic Services Pathway

Focus on improving a patient’s health status over time; includes direct care like nursing and therapy.

Diagnostic Services Pathway

Use tests and evaluations to identify diseases and monitor patient progress (e.g., imaging, lab work).

Health Informatics Pathway

Combines healthcare and data management; includes roles like health informatics analyst and medical records specialist.

Support Services Pathway

Maintains clean, safe, and therapeutic environments (e.g., food service, maintenance, housekeeping).

Biotechnology Research & Development Pathway

Applies bioscience to human health through research, device creation, and diagnostics (e.g., lab technicians, biochemists, biomedical engineers).

Admissions Department

Registers patients for hospital admission and outpatient tests; collects demographic and billing information.

Human Resources Department

Manages recruitment, benefits, payroll, training, and employee relations.

Central Supply Department

Receives, sterilizes, and distributes medical supplies and equipment to units.

Finance Department

Handles billing, budgeting, and financial management; assists patients with payment options.

Maintenance Department

Ensures building systems and equipment function safely and efficiently.

Food Services Department

Prepares and delivers food for patients, staff, and visitors.

Nutrition and Dietetics Department

Assesses nutritional needs, creates therapeutic diet plans, and works with food service to implement them.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Provides out-of-hospital emergency care and transports patients to healthcare facilities.

Anesthesia Department

Administers anesthesia and monitors patients before, during, and after surgery.

Pediatrics Department

Provides medical care for infants, children, and adolescents.

Cardiology Department

Diagnoses and treats diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Respiratory/Pulmonology Department

Treats conditions of the lungs and respiratory system, such as asthma or COPD.

Radiology Department

Uses imaging technologies like CT, MRI, and X-ray for diagnosis and treatment.

Cardiac Catheterization Lab

Performs minimally invasive, image-guided procedures for heart and vascular conditions.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Department (OB/GYN)

Focuses on women’s reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Labor and Delivery Unit

Provides clinical care for mothers during childbirth and immediate postpartum care for newborns.

Neonatology Department

Cares for premature and critically ill newborn infants.

Gastroenterology Department

Diagnoses and treats digestive system diseases.

Audiology Department

Focuses on hearing and balance disorders.

Critical Care/Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Provides life support and intensive monitoring for critically ill or injured patients.

Nursing Services

Provide direct patient care, medication administration, wound care, and leadership in patient safety.

Emergency Department (ER/ED)

Offers 24/7 immediate care for life-threatening conditions such as trauma, heart attacks, and strokes.

Pre-Surgical Testing (Pre-Op)

Assesses patient health before surgery with exams, labs, and diagnostics.

Surgical Services Department (Operating Room)

Performs surgical procedures in a sterile, controlled environment.

Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

Provides recovery care for patients immediately before or after surgery.

Rehabilitation Department

Helps patients regain function and independence through therapies.

Renal Dialysis Department

Provides hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis for kidney failure patients.

Neurology Department

Diagnoses and treats brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders.

Orthopedics Department

Treats musculoskeletal injuries and conditions involving bones, joints, and muscles.

Laboratory/Pathology Department

Analyzes specimens and tissues for disease detection and diagnosis.

Medical/Surgical (Med-Surg) Department

Cares for adult patients before/after surgery and those with acute or chronic illnesses.

Purpose of Grouping Hospital Departments

Promotes efficiency by organizing departments with similar duties together (e.g., diagnostics, ancillary services).

Ancillary Departments Examples

Laboratory, respiratory therapy, X-ray, home health, occupational therapy.