Unit 1: Health Assisting Lesson 2: Facilities

Lesson 2 – Facilities Health care facilities Medical offices Hospitals Subacute centers Nursing facilities Community health clinics Home health care agencies Mental health facilities Hospice Health Care Facilities A health care facility is an establishment that provides health care services to patients. There are many types of health care facilities, including:    Medical offices    Hospitals    Subacute centers    Nursing facilities    Community health clinics    Home health care agencies    Mental health facilities    Hospice The roles and responsibilities of health care workers can vary depending on the facilities in which they work.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Medical office services Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders Physical examinations Basic medical tests Minor procedures and surgery Medical Offices One type of health care facility is a medical office. Medical offices provide care to patients who have minor or routine health problems. These services can be obtained in medical offices:    Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders    Physical examinations    Basic medical tests    Minor procedures and surgery

Lesson 2 – Facilities Medical offices vary Ownership Conditions Age groups Medical Offices Medical offices vary in ownership, conditions, and age groups.    Ownership: Some medical offices are owned by just one or two physicians. Other medical offices are made of large groups of physicians.    Conditions: Some medical offices provide care for a wide range of conditions. Other medical offices specialize in a specific type of condition. For example, obstetric medical offices care for pregnant women.    Age groups: Some medical offices offer care to all age groups. Other medical offices specialize in a specific age group. For example, pediatric medical offices care for infants and children.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Hospital services Emergency medical services Diagnostic services Procedures and surgery Nursing services Therapeutic services Hospitals Hospitals provide outpatient and short-term care to patients. They provide the following of services:    Emergency medical services    Diagnostic services    Procedures and surgery    Nursing services    Therapeutic services

Lesson 2 – Facilities Hospitals vary Services Ownership Conditions Age groups Hospitals Hospitals vary in services, ownership, conditions, and age groups.    Services: Some hospitals are small and provide basic needs for a community. Other hospitals are large and offer a wide range of services. These services include treatment, education, and research.    Ownership: Many hospitals are classified as proprietary, which means that they earn a profit from their services. Proprietary hospitals are usually privately-owned facilities. Hospitals that do not receive a profit from their services are called nonprofit or voluntary. Other forms of hospital ownership include government hospitals and religious hospitals.    Conditions: General hospitals treat a variety of conditions. Specialty hospitals provide services for certain conditions. For example, oncology hospitals treat individuals with cancer.    Age groups: Some hospitals offer care to all age groups. Other hospitals specialize in a specific age group. For example, geriatric hospitals care for the elderly.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Short-term care provided by hospitals Acute health problems Subacute health problems Chronic health problems Terminal health problems Hospitals may provide short-term care to patients who have acute, subacute, chronic, and terminal health problems.    Acute health problems begin suddenly. There is a cure, and most patients recover.    Subacute health problems are ones in which a patient's condition is stable, but medical or therapeutic care is needed. Most patients recover. Some patients need long-term care.    Chronic health problems begin slowly. There is no known cure. It is ongoing, but the problem can be controlled.    Terminal health problems have no cure. Most patients do not recover.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Subacute facilities Short-term care Medical or therapeutic care Subacute Facilities Subacute facilities provide short-term care to patients who are recovering and need medical or therapeutic care. For example, patients may need wound care or rehabilitation.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Nursing facilities Short and long-term care for people who cannot care for themselves Rehabilitation Social activities Nursing Facilities Nursing facilities provide short and long-term care to people who cannot care for themselves. These people include the elderly as well as people with disabilities and chronic health problems. Nursing facilities also provide rehabilitation and social activities.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Community health clinics Medical office services for disadvantaged people Family planning Tobacco prevention and cessation Alcohol and drug abuse counseling Domestic abuse counseling STD prevention HIV/AIDS counseling Children and youth programs Senior programs Community Health Clinics Like medical offices, community health clinics provide care to patients who have minor or routine health problems. Community health clinics often serve disadvantaged people, such as offering free or reduced-cost care to those who cannot afford health care and providing care to those who cannot speak English. These services can be obtained in community health clinics:    Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases and disorders    Physical examinations    Basic medical tests    Minor procedures Community health clinics may also provide the following services:     Family planning    Tobacco prevention and cessation    Alcohol and drug abuse counseling    Domestic abuse counseling    Sexually transmitted disease prevention    HIV/AIDS counseling    Children and youth programs    Senior programs

Lesson 2 – Facilities Home health care agencies In home short and long- term care for people who cannot care for themselves Meal preparation Housekeeping and laundry Shopping Rehabilitation Home Health Care Agencies Like nursing facilities, home health care agencies provide short and long-term care to people who cannot care for themselves. Home health care agencies, though, provide nursing care within patients' homes. Home health care agencies may also prepare meals, do housekeeping and laundry, shop for groceries and household items, and provide rehabilitation.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Mental health facilities Mental diseases and disorders care Alcohol and drug abuse counseling Domestic abuse counseling Outpatient, short- term and long-term care Mental Health Facilities Some mental health facilities provide care to patients with mental diseases and disorders. Other mental health facilities provide counseling to people with alcohol and drug abuse problems. And other mental health facilities provide counseling to victims of domestic abuse. Mental health facilities may offer outpatient care, short-term care, or long-term care.

Lesson 2 – Facilities Hospice agencies Care and counseling to patients with terminal health problems and their families Physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual care Available in hospice facilities, hospitals, nursing facilities and patient’s home Hospice Agencies Hospice agencies provide care and counseling to patients with terminal health problems and their families. Hospice care provides physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual care. Physical care is aimed at pain relief and symptom control. Overall, hospice care helps people die in comfort and with dignity. Hospice care may be available in hospice facilities, hospitals, nursing facilities, home health care agencies, and the patient's home.