Health Care Facilities
Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in the US Employs more than 17 million people in 200 different health career choices
By 2020, health care employment is expected to increase by 5.6 million jobs to more than 22.1 million workers.
There are three main types of health care facilities 1. Health care systems 2. Government agencies 3. Non-profits
Health care systems 1. Hospitals - could be private (for profit) proprietary (for profit) religious (funded by grants and contributions) or government (receive tax dollars from federal, state and local governments) Additionally, they can be general, specialty, or university
2. Long-term care facilities - residential care facilities (nursing homes) provide basic physical & emotional care, extended care facilities (provide skilled nursing care & rehab), or independent living or assisted living which provide help with meals, transportation, & basic medical care for people who can still care for themselves -the need for these facilities has increased because of the aging population
3. Medical offices - single dr s or groups can diagnose, treat, examine, perform basic laboratory tests and perform minor surgery 4. Concierge medicine - retainer medicine, where you pay a fee & get personalized care A private doctor, on call, 24/7
5. Dental offices - single dentist or groups Can be part of a retail chain Can provide general service or specialize for different age groups
6. Clinics or satellite centers - surgical centers (perform minor surgery), urgent care (1st aid or emergency med), rehab clinics (physical, occupational, speech therapies), substance abuse clinics, outpatient clinics (or specialty clinics like dialysis or cancer care centers), health departments (for pediatric health care, immunizations, flu shots, etc.)
7. Optical centers - single dr. or a group Could also be part of a retail chain store Perform vision exams, prescribe eyeglasses and contacts, check for eye disease
8. Emergency care services - ambulance services, rescue squads, emergency care clinics, emergency departments at hospitals, helicopter/airplane emergency services 9. Laboratories - medical and dental labs Medical labs perform diagnostic blood and urine tests Dental labs make dentures and devices to repair or replace teeth
10. Pharmacies - retail, hospital (clinical or staff), long-term care facilities, ambulatory care (VA, Coumadin clinics, Dr. offices), compounding, mail-order Prepare and dispense medication and provides expertise on drug therapy, counsels patients, give flu shots
11. Home health care - can be offered by health departments, hospitals, private agencies and government agencies includes nursing care, personal care, therapy (respiratory, speech, occupational, physical), homemaking (food prep, cleaning, companion)
12. Hospice - care for terminally ill patients with less than 6 months to live Provides palliative care - care that provides support and comfort and allows a patient to die with dignity Also helps support the family after a patient s death
13 - Mental health facilities - guidance or counseling centers, psych clinics and hospitals, chemical abuse treatment centers, physical abuse treatment centers
14. Genetic counseling centers - perform prenatal screening tests, checks for genetic abnormalities & birth defects, explain test results, identify medical options when birth defects are present, provide counseling and support Generally recommended for older women who are pregnant or have a family history of genetic disease (Down s syndrome, cystic
15. Rehabilitation facilities - provide care to help patients with physical or mental disabilities obtain maximum self care and function includes physical, occupational, recreational, speech and hearing therapy
16 - Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) - provide total health care services directed at prevention for a fixed, prepaid fee Exams, basic medical services, health education, hospital services, rehab
17. Industrial health care centers - occupational health clinics provide care for employees of a business Exams, accident prevention & safety Some also provide health care to visitors (ex. Disney)
18. School health services - provide emergency care for sudden illness, perform tests for speech, vision & hearing, promote health education, provide counseling
For each of the above health care systems, there is an organizational structure in place to show the chain of command or line of authority within the facility