The Medical System

1. The Medical System

2. The Health Care System • This includes all available medical services, the ways in which individuals pay for medical care, and aimed at preventing disease and disability. • What things can you think of that might fall into this category?

3. EMS: Emergency Medical Technician • EMTs are usually the first on the scene of an accident and are crucial in the chain of saving lives. • EMTs must be CPR and AED certified, at least 16 years of age, have a high school degree, and complete the EMT training course for their township or city. • Why are EMTs important in the medical system?

4. Primary Care Physician • Routine medical needs • Specialized in: family practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics. • Need to be licensed by the state before they can diagnose, provide treatment, and write prescriptions.

5. Medical Specialists • A doctor who received additional training in a particular branch of medicine. • Neurologists, dermatologists, oncologists, allergists, pediatricians, orthopedic surgeons, ophthalmologists

6. Nurses • Licensed health care providers who work in collaboration with doctors. • Registered Nurse (RN)- observe and assess patient symptoms, plan the best approach to recovery, and evaluate progress • Registered nurse practitioners- Perform many tasks that only doctors used to perform. • Take medical histories, perform physical exams, order tests, treat routine medical problems, and prescribe medicine.

7. Other Health Care Providers • Physicians assistant- Work under the supervision of a doctor and performs routine tasks. • Physical Therapists- Rehabilitate people from injury. It is hands on and physical with little medicine. • Registered dietitians- Sets up and supervises food services for large institutions. Also can provide individualized nutrition counseling.

8. Health Care Facilities • Doctor Offices- Most frequently used facility. Routine examinations and tests are preformed to diagnose and treat minor illnesses and injuries. Minor surgery such as removal of a wart can also be done. • Clinics- When medical tests or procedures cannot be performed at a doctor’s office the person may have to go to an outpatient clinic. The price of a clinic is much less then a hospital stay. • EX: Cataract surgery

9. Secondary Health Care • Hospitals- This is where serious illnesses are treated and advanced procedures are done. • Most have emergency sections as well. • Hospitals can provide over night stay for inpatients. • Hospitals can be general hospitals or can be specialized hospitals. • Ex: Teaching hospitals, children's hospitals • Care provided in specialty hospitals and teaching hospitals is called tertiary care.

10. Long-Term Care Skilled Nursing Facilities: Recover from serious illness, surgery or injury and require basic needs Assisted Living Facilities: For people who can no longer live by themselves, but do not need constant nursing care. Facility helps with preparing meals, housekeeping and medications. Nursing Homes: Tale care of elderly or chronically ill who cannot take care of themselves.

11. Home-Health Care: A nurse travels to the patients home to help provide care for this person. • Hospice: Usually given in the home and is for patients who are terminally ill. The focus is to have a dying patient live as comfortably as possible.