Chapter 2; Health Science Theory Notes

  • by the year 2026, health care employment is expected to increase by 11.6 million jobs to more than 28.1 million workers.

  • a hospital is an institution that provides medical or surgical care and treatment for the sick or injured. Examples include:
    - general hospitals → wide range = conditions, ages, diagnostic, medical, surgical, emergency.
    - specialty hospitals → special conditions/ages
    - government hospitals → federal/state/local
    - university or college medical centers → hospitals that provide research, education, services.

  • long-term care facilities: mainly provide assistance and care for elderly patients, usually called residents. also known as nursing homes = physical, emotional, ADL.
    - residential care facilities
    - extended care of skilled care facilities (subacute): prepares residents to return to natural home.
    - independent living facilities and assisted living facilities (55 and up)
    - independent living facilities: allow individuals who can care for themselves to rent or purchase an apartment in the facility
    - assisted living facilities: provide services such as meals. housekeeping, laundry, transportation, social events, and basic medical care.

  • medical offices: vary from offices that are privately owned by one physician to large complexes that operate as corporations and employ many physicians and other health care professionals.
    - services include: diagnosis, treatment, examination, basic lab testing, minor surgery.
    - may offer general or specialized care.

  • concierge medicine: type of personalized health care, also known as retainer medicine.
    - annual or monthly fee paid to primary care provider for enhanced level of care.

  • dental offices: vary in size from offices that are privately owned by one or more dentists to dental clinics that employ a group of dentists
    - services include general care for all ages and specialized care for certain groups or dental conditions.

  • clinics: also called satellite clinics or ambulatory centers, are health care facilities found in many types of health care
    - surgical clinics: performs minor surgical procedures/cosmetics (pts are sent home)
    - urgent, walk in, or emergency care clinics: first aide/ emergency care = acute ill/injured.
    - rehabilitation clinics: pt, ot, speech/
    - substance abuse clinics
    - specialty clinics: care for specific diseases. oncology
    - outpatient or ambulatory clinics: operated by hospitals or medical groups, out pt care.
    - health department clinics: pedi care, stds, respiratory disease, immunizations, others
    - medical center clinics: in colleges & universities, various health conditions, learning experience.

  • optical centers: can be individually owned by an ophthalmologist or optometrist or they can be part of a large chain of stores.
    - they provide eye exams and prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, and check for the presence of eye diseases

  • emergency care services: provide special care of accidents (critically ill) or sudden (acute) illness. (private or government.)
    - ambulance services
    - rescue squads
    - emergency care clinics
    - helicopter or airplane emergency services

  • laboratories: are often part of other facilities but can operate seperate.

  • home health care: any type of health care provided in a patients home. pt, ot, speech, respiratory.

  • hospice: agencies provide care for people who are terminally ill and usually have life expectancies of 6 months or less.
    - provide in home or facility
    - palliative care as well as psych, social, spiritual, financial counseling to pt family.

  • mental health facilities: treat pts who have mental disorders or diseases.
    - guidance centers: need to be independent.
    - psychiatric clinics and hospitals: all mental health disorders.
    - chemical abuse treatment: 12 step program
    - physical abuse centers: shelters.

  • genetic counseling centers: can be independent facilities, or can be located in another facility such as a hospital, clinic, or physicians office.
    - prenatal screening for couples or individuals who are pregnant or considering pregnancy
    - check for genetic abnormalities and birth defects, explain results and options.

  • rehab facilities: located in hospitals, clinics, and/or private centers
    - care for patients with physical or mental disabilities
    - services include physical, occupational, recreational, speech, and hearing therapies

  • health maintenance organizations: are both health care delivery systems and a type of health insurance
    - directed toward preventative health care for a fee that is usually fixed and prepaid
    - services include exams, basic medical services, health education, hospitalization, and rehabilitation (all covered.)

  • industrial health care centers: also called occupational health clinics are found in large companies or industries
    - services include basic examinations, accident prevention and safety training, and providing emergency care.

  • school health services: found in schools and colleges
    - provide emergency care in case of accident or illness
    - perform tests for health conditions, promote health education; mild health conditions.

  • pharmaceutical services: also called pharmacies, chemists, or drug stores, link health science with chemical science
    - prepare and dispense medications
    - provide expertise on drug therapy
    - hospitals, community, stores, clinics, nursing homes, and online.

    GOVERNMENT HEALTH AGENCIES

  • government services are tax supported

  • WHO: compiles stats & disease info
    - publishes health information
    - investigates serious health problems in the world.

  • U.S.: National agency that deals with the health problems in the united states: their goal = protect health of all Americans. they provide grant money.

  • NIH: A division of USDHHS; researching disease and conducting scientific studies

  • CDC: a division of the USDHHS; concerned with the causes, spread, and control of diseases in populations

  • FDA: responsible for regulating food and drug products sold to the public. also regulated medical devices, cosmetics, and cell phones.

  • AHRQ: federal agency established to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of healthcare for Americans.

  • OSHA: establishes and enforces the standards that protect workers from job-related injuries and illnesses: chemical, radiation, exposure, PPE.

  • ONC: build a private and secure nationwide health information exchange. goal = improving health info exchange.

  • Public health systems/health departments: provide health services as directed by the U.S. department of health and human services. (USDHHS)
    - complex network, public vs. private, national, state, local.
    - pandemics & health threat mandates, immunization mandate for disease control.

  • Veterans Administration: Provide health care for vets and their families
    - Americas largest integrative healthcare system
    - serves 9 million vets each year.
    - hospitals, med centers, out patient.

VOLUNTARY OR NONPROFIT AGENCIES

  • Voluntary agencies, frequently called non profit agencies.
    - supported by donations, membership fees, fundraisers, or state grants.
    - they provide health services at the national, state, and local level.

  • The Joint Commission: a nonprofit, U.S- based organization that was created to ensure that pts receive the safest, highest quality care in any health care setting.

  • Examples include:
    - American Cancer Society
    - American Heart Association
    - American Respiratory Disease Association
    - American Diabetes Association
    - National Mental Health Association
    - Alzheimer’s Association
    - National Kidney Foundation
    - Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
    - March of Dimes Foundation
    - American Red Cross
    - Autism Speaks

  • Organizations often focus on specific diseases
    - study of disease
    - research funding
    - education
    - Providing special services to those with the disease
    (staffed by healthcare workers or volunteers)

  • Organizational Structure: a line of authority or chain of command that indicates areas of responsibility and lead to the efficient operation of a facility
    - should indicate areas of responsibility and lead to the most efficient operation of the facility
    - lines of authority must be clearly indicated in any organizational structure
    - workers must identify and understand their position in the structure
    - workers must take problems, reports, and questions to their immediate supervisor.