Chapter 5 - Careers in the Health Industry

hospitalist

A hospitalist is a physician who provides care to hospitalized patients. The hospitalist replaces a patient's primary care physician while the patient is hospitalized. A hospitalist monitors the patient from admission to discharge and usually does not have a professional relationship with the patient before hospital admission. This new type of physician, which evolved in the 1990s, is usually a general practitioner and is becoming more popular: Because the hospitalist spends so much time in the hospital setting, he or she can provide care that is more efficient. From a hospital's viewpoint, the focus is maximization of profit, which means shorter lengths of stay, decreased complications, and increased patient satisfaction. There are approximately 457,000 hospitalists in the United States. Although they are not board certified as a specialty, they have their own medical journal, annual meetings, and association. They are considered the backbone of hospital care

Other Independent Healthcare Professionals

Dentists Pharmacists Chiropractors Optometrists Psychologists Podiatrists

Types of Health Professionals

Non-physician practitioners NPPs, which include nonphysician clinicians and mid-level practitioners, are also called physician extenders because they often are used as substitutes for physicians. They are not involved in the total care of a patient, but they collaborate closely with physicians. Categories of NPPs include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse practitioners, physician radiology practitioner assistants, and radiologist assistants. NPPs have been favorably received by patients because they tend to spend more time with patients. They play a vital role in areas that have physician shortages, such as certain urban areas, community health centers, and the managed care environment. NPPs can perform repetitive technical tasks, such as disease screenings. They may also take care of non-life-threatening cases in emergency departments, and they perform physical examinations, drug testing, and other routine activities. They are a cost-effective healthcare giver because their salaries are much less than a physician's salary. Physician assistants (PAs), a category of NPPs, provide a range of diagnostic and therapeutic services to patients. They obtain medical histories, conduct patient examinations, analyze tests, make diagnoses, and perform basic medical procedures. They can prescribe medicines in all but Kentucky. Each state has different levels of registration of prescription allowances for PAs. There are 200 accredited 2-year PA programs in the United States. Many students have previous healthcare experience, such as nursing or paramedic experience. They are required to have a state license. They may take additional education in surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, primary care, and occupational medicine. Their employment growth is expected to be 37% by 2026. The PA median annual salary is $104,600

Generalists

are also called primary care physicians. Family care practitioners are also called generalists, who are general internal medicine physicians and general pediatricians. Their focus is preventive services, such as immunizations and health examinations. They treat less severe medical problems. They often serve as a gatekeeper for a patient, which means they coordinate patient care if the patient needs to see a specialist for more complex medical problems.

Specialists

are physicians who receive certification in their area of specialization. This may require additional years of training, and board certification, or a credentialing examination. The board certification is often associated with the quality of the healthcare provider's services because board certification requires more training.

Types of Nurses

licensed practical nurses (LPNs) associate degree in Nursing (ADN) registered nurses (RNs) advanced practice nurse (APN), Nurse practitioners (NPs) Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) Certified midwives (CMs) Nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) Certified nursing assistants or nursing assistant or nursing aides (CNAs)