Careers in Healthcare

Careers in Healthcare

What % of the American workforce are in health science?

13%

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?

hospitals, nursing facilities, physician offices

Define Demographic

the statistical study of human population

What is the Affordable Care Act?

Aimed to provide health coverage to all americans and to prevent healthcare costs

What does the ACA emphasize?

prevention and primary care

What are examples of chronic diseases?

heart disease, lung disease, cancer, diabetes

What are examples of acute diseases?

pneumonia, diarrhoeal, tuberculosis

What is the role of physicians?

to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients

How are physicians licensed?

MD(allopathic) or DO(ostepathic)

What is Allopathic medicine?

a system of medical practice that emphasizes diagnosing and treating via conventional methods[drugs & surgery] 

What is Osteopathic medicine?

holistic and comprehensive approach and utilizes musculoskeletal manipulation

What does NBME stand for?

National Board of Medical Examiners

What does NBOME stand for?

National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners

How long are internships & residencies?

2-6 years

How 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

What are examples of generalists?

family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics

How do referrals work?

PCP to Specialists back to PCP

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 & length of stay

How are hospitalists trained?

often from internal medicine, family practice, or pediatrics

What is gatekeeping?

primary care controls access to specialty care (esp. in managed care)

What does longitudinal mean?

involving the repeated observation over time

What does episodic mean?

occur at irregular intervals

What do primary doctors focus on?

whole patient, comorbidities

What do specialists focus on?

disease or organ system

What does comorbidity mean?

exists simultaneously with another condition

What are the different work settings for physicians?

hospitals, public sectors

What does public sector mean?

part of economy controlled by government

What are ambulatory visits?

to be able to walk around

How are physicians maldistribution?

Some are only located in 1 area such as a city, and none around rural areas.

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?

tech advances, higher reimbursement, prestige & work-life balance

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

higher cost, invasive services, less effective care without primary screening, underserved populations most affected

What does reimbursement mean?

to pay someone back

What are underserved populations?

areas that don’t have doctors close by

What are orthodontics?

braces

What is periodontics?

diseases of gums & teeth

What are prosthodontics? 

replace missing teeth

What are endodontics?

disease of dental pulp

What does pathology mean?

the study of disease

What is the role of a pharmacist?

dispense medications

What type of education do pharmacists need?

pharmD(6 years) + licensure exam

What are nuclear pharmacists?

specialized pharmacist that make radioactive drugs used in diagnostic imaging for concerns, thyroid diseases

Where do pharmacists work?

retail(largest), hospitals, internet/wholesale, physician offices. (ex.CVS, Walgreens)

How is the traditional role of pharmacists expanding?

drug education, drug interactions, prescribing authority(in some states)

What are optometrists?

vision exams, OD degree

What are psychologists?

mental health, PhD/PsyD

What are podiatrists?

food conditions, DPM

What are chiropractors?

manual manipulation, DC degree

What is the largest group of health care workers?

Nurses

What is the role of nurses?

physical, emotional, mental patient care

What are the two types of nurses?

RN and LPN/LVN

What is a physician Assistant?

supervised by MD/DO, preform exams, treat, prescribe

What is a nurse practioner?

expanded RN role, focus on education & prevention

What is a certified nurse midwife?

maternal/obstetric care

What are the values of midwives?

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/therapies

What are technologists and therapists?

advanced training, evaluation, planning

What are technicians and assistants?

less than 2 yrs education, supervised)

What are the focus of public health professionals?

community focus (not individual)

What areas do public health officials focus on?

biostatistics, epidemiology, health services admin, health education, 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, NGO’s

What are NGO’s?

Non-Governmental Organization

What are health service administrators?

IT, Finance, Board Runs, CEO

What top-level health service administrators?

strategic leadership, long-term success

What are mid-level health services administrators?

manage major service centers/departments

What are entry-level health service administrators?

support, assistant managers.