HCS/305 Version 2 / 1
Weekly Overview
Week Three
Overview
This week you will look at various health care professionals and the structures in which they function. You will learn theirroles and responsibilities. This knowledge will help you understand how your role fits within the overall health care structure. As an insurance billing specialist, for example, understanding the difference between a general practitioner and a physician’s assistant can help you avoid billing errors, such as billing for service codes that can only be provided by a licensed practitioner. There are also many support roles within health care. Insurance billing specialists, practitioners, assistants, X-ray technicians, administrators, and others all play a vital role in delivering health care.
This week also gives you the chance to identify various health care employers, industries, and opportunities in your community. Whether you are interested in clinical work, long-term care, home health, sales, insurance, therapy, or administration, you are certain to have a better understanding of these opportunities after this week.Keep track of these resources for use in future classes.
What you will cover
1.Health Care Career Opportunities
- Identify the career spectrum within the health care industry.
1)Unlicensed health care team members
2)Licensed team members
3)Leadership roles
4)Industries that support health care delivery
a)Health care manufacturing
(1)Stryker Corp., 3M, Johnson &Johnson, Baxter International
b)Insurance/managed care
(1)UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, Universal American Corp., Health Net, Coventry Health Care
c)Pharmaceuticals
(1)Abbott Laboratories, GlaxoSmithKline, Wyeth, Pfizer
d)Waste management
(1)Waste Management, Healthcare Waste Management, World Health Organization (WHO), Aramark
e)Facility design
(1)Environments for Aging (EFA)
(2)Health Care Institute, Center for Health Design
f)Sustainability
(1)Kaiser Permanente, Geisinger Health System, Inova Health System, Advocate Health Care
g)Food service
(1)Association for Healthcare Foodservice, Nisonger Associates Inc.
h)Wellness centers
(1)Spas, longevity wellness centers
i)Information systems and technology
(1)Verizon Wireless, GlobalMed, CareFusion Corp., Phillips, McKesson Corp.
j)Civic and social organizations can be used for volunteer or mentoring/career exposure experiences
(1)American Heart Association
(2)Wounded Warrior Project and other military support organizations
(3)American Cancer Society
(4)National Parkinson Foundation
(5)Alzheimer’s Association
(6)Special needs organizations
(7)Local hospitals and nursing homes
(8)Adult day care
(9)American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE–University of Phoenix has student and faculty rates for this organization)
(10)Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
(11)American Health Care Association (AHCA)
- Differentiate between roles of health care professionals.
1)Some health care professionals do not provide direct patient care
a)Medical lab technologists
b)Health educators
c)Administrative personnel (professionals who deal with the daily business operations of a facility)
(1)Directors deal with the overall performance and compliance, direction, and business success of the hospital.
(2)Department managers manage staff and departmental issues in the hospital.
(3)Shift managers deal with the situations and issues that arise during an assigned shift.
(4)Social workers are trained specialists who assist people with various social and economic issues, such as unemployment, terminal illness, abuse situations, or addiction.
(5)Billing personnel are responsible for accurate accounting, billing, and collecting funds owed to the hospital.
(6)Health information systems personnel deal with the electronic storage and accessibility of medical information and take care of computer network issues.
d)Manufacturing
(1)Medical manufacturing
(2)Research and development
(a)Designers or developers design and develop medical devices and equipment.
(b)Researchers research the implementation and effectiveness of medical devices or equipment.
(3)Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
e)Insurance
f)Medical product distribution centers
g)Health care product retailers
h)Federal and state health regulators
i)Photographers and illustrators
j)Transcriptionists
k)Medical record technician
l)Entry-level positions: Clerks, hospital admission clerks, ward clerks, medical coders, sterilization technicians, data analysts, front office staff, sales representatives, etc.
2)Some health care professionals provide direct patient care.
a)Medical doctors: physicians who diagnosis and treat diseases
b)General practitioners: physicians who provide medical care to all types of patients
c)Surgeons: physicians who provide surgical services for patients
d)Cardiologists: physicians who specialize in heart diseases
e)Gerontologists: physicians who specialize in providing health care for older adults
f)Radiologists: physicians who specialize in reading X-rays and in treating diseases with radiological interventions
g)Nurses: professionals who treat patients, educate patients and the public about health issues, and act as the patient’s advocate in the health care system
h)Advance practice nurses: registered nurses who possess a graduate degree with specialized training and licensure
i)Physician assistants: professionals who work under the supervision of a physician and who diagnose and treat diseases
j)Pharmacists: professionals who advise the medical profession and the public about the proper selection and use of medications
k)Emergency medical technicians and paramedics: certified technicians who provide on-the-scene emergency care for patients involved in accidents or trauma who require immediate medical attention
l)Therapists
m)Dentists:provide oral care
n)Dieticians
o)Optometrists
p)Speech-language pathologists an audiologists
q)Social workers
r)Psychologists
s)Athletic trainers
t)Veterinarians
- Identify various health care employers and industries in your local communities.
1)Hospitals
2)Long-term care facilities
3)Doctors’ offices
4)Pharmacies
5)Laboratories
6)Clinics
7)Insurance agencies
8)Distribution companies of health-related products
9)Manufacturers of health products
10)Therapists
11)Retailers or distribution centers
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