1. Health Care Settings and the Health Care Team
Chapter 2
Health Care Settings and the Health Care Team

2. Ambulatory Health Care Settings
Individual and group medical practices
Individual practices
Also called solo practice
One primary provider sees and treats patients
One provider responsible for all costs

3. Ambulatory Health Care Settings
Individual and group medical practices
Group practices
Two or more providers share costs
Providers consult each other
Patients may request same provider for all appointments
Ensures there is always provider on call
Most medical practices groups of three or four providers

4. Ambulatory Health Care Settings
Urgent care centers
Usually private, for-profit centers
Provide services for primary care, routine injuries and illnesses, and minor surgery
Providers often salaried employees
Certain retail chain stores have entered this market
See higher volume of patients, usually for lower cost than hospital emergency room

5. Ambulatory Health Care Settings
Managed care operations
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) provide full range of services under one roof
HMOs without walls is network of participating providers within defined geographic area
Preferred provider organization (PPO) is a physician’s network
Independent physician association (IPA) treats patients for agreed-upon fee

6. Ambulatory Health Care Settings
Boutique or concierge medical practice
Sought by patients discouraged with insurance reimbursement
Provides immediate access to provider 24/7
Convenient, unhurried same-day appointments
Unlimited , fax, phone consultations
Home/work visits as needed
Coordination of specialist referrals
Set monthly or yearly fee for exclusive service

7. The Health Care Team Primary care provider Specialists
Allied health professionals
Complementary and/or alternative medical (CAM) care

8. The Title “Doctor”
Physicians have earned a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD)
Other medical degrees
Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS)
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC)
Doctor of Naturopathy (ND)

9. The Title “Doctor” Nonmedical disciplines Doctor of Education (EdD)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

10. Health Care Professionals
Doctors of Medicine (MD)
4 years of medical school after bachelor’s degree
3–7 years of residency training
Must have state license
Must receive continuing medical education (CME)
Doctors of Osteopathy (DO)
Can work in specialty area with 2–6 years additional training
Maintain currency in education

11. Alternative Health Care Practitioners
Many carry title doctor
Training highly specialized and specific
When licensed, these professionals allowed to diagnose and treat medical conditions

12. Alternative Health Care Practitioners
Doctors of Chiropractic (DC)
Complete 4–5 years of chiropractic college
Special attention to physiological and biochemical aspects of body structure
Adjust and manipulate tissues of body, particularly spinal column
Nonsurgical science; does not include pharmaceuticals or surgery
Licensed in all 50 states

13. Alternative Health Care Practitioners
Doctors of Naturopathy (ND)
Often referred to as “natural medicine”
Remove underlying cause of disease and stimulate natural healing process
2 years of science courses; 2 years of clinical work at naturopathy college
Licensed in 15 states, 4 Canadian provinces, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands
May practice independently and unlicensed, or practice under direction of physician

14. Alternative Health Care Practitioners
Oriental medicine and acupuncture
Acupuncture, Chinese herbology and bodywork, dietary therapy, and exercise
Attempts to restore the energy flow in body’s meridians
Minimum of 2-year undergraduate education and 3 years of specialty training
Nearly all states regulate practice of acupuncture and Oriental medicine

15. The Role of the Medical Assistant
Administrative functions
Receptionist, secretary, office manager, bookkeeper, patient educator, insurance coder and biller, transcriptionist, patient educator, clinical assistant
Clinical functions
Administer injections, perform venipuncture, prepare patients for examinations, assist with examinations and special procedures, and perform electrocardiography and various laboratory tests

16. The Role of the Medical Assistant
Perform only within scope of training and personal capabilities
Function within ethical and legal boundaries and state statutes
Positive attitude important
Excellent communicators
Project professional image of themselves and their employer

17. Other Allied Health Professionals
Health unit coordinator (HUC)
Medical laboratory technologist (MLT)
MLT performing blood analysis >>
[FIGURE 2-2]

18. Other Allied Health Professionals
Registered dietitian (RD)
Pharmacist (RPh)
Pharmacy technician
Pharm tech working with the pharmacist >>
[FIGURE 2-3]

19. Other Allied Health Professionals
Phlebotomist
Physical therapist (PT)
Physical therapy assistant (PTA)
Nurse
PT working with a patient >>
[FIGURE 2-4]

20. Physician Assistant
Provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services delegated by supervision of providers or surgeons
May prescribe some medications; can supervise technicians and medical assistants
Must complete accredited formal education and pass Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination

21. The Value of the Medical Assistant
Valued ambulatory health care team member
As communicator and liaison between provider and hospital staff, and provider and allied and other health professionals
First to come in contact with patient
Directs, informs, and guides patient care