1. Health Service Professionals:
Physicians

3. Learning Objectives
Recognize the different types of health service professionals
Differentiate between primary and specialty care, and the causes for imbalance between the two in the U.S.

4. Health Care Industry
The US health care industry is the largest and most powerful employer
3% of the total labor force
16% of the Gross Domestic Product in 2005
Health professionals among most educated and diverse
Look at Table 4-1, page 118
Health care will continue to grow due to:
1) growth in population
2) aging of the population

5. Health Services Professionals
Types of professionals:
Physicians
Nurses
Dentists
Pharmacists
Optometrists
Psychologists
Podiatrists
Chiropractors
Nonphysician practitioners
Health administrators
Allied health professionals
Therapists
Social Workers
Educators

6. Work Places Work places Hospitals Managed Care Organizations
Nursing Homes
Mental health facilities
Insurance firms
Pharmaceutical Companies
Outpatient
Community Health Centers
Mental Health Centers
School Clinics
Many others – you name a few

7. Employment Distribution
42.6% employed by hospitals
13% by nursing and personal care facilities
11.4% physician offices and clinics

8. Physicians Physicians Play a central role in evaluating the patient
States require licensure
Graduate from an accredited medical school
Pass licensure
Complete residency
Paid graduate medical education
3-7 years
Number of active physicians increased
Look at Table 4-2, page 120

9. Types of Physicians Two types: MD - Doctor of Medicine
View medical treatment as active intervention to counter reaction or neutralize the effects of disease
Most are specialists
DO – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Emphasize the musculoskeletal system of the body and correcting the misalignment of bones & joints
Most are generalists

10. Differences Between Types
MDs and DOs
Both use accepted methods of treatment
(i.e. drugs, surgery)
They differ in their:
Philosophies and approach to medicine

11. Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic medicine Practiced by DO’s
Stresses preventative medicine
Diet, environment, other factors
Takes a holistic approach
Fewer than 6% of physicians are osteopaths although their numbers are increasing

12. Physicians: Generalists
Primary Care Physicians (Primary Care Provider) / Generalists
Train in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics
Provide preventative medicine
Exams, immunizations, mammograms, pap smears)
Patients problems less severe and occur less frequently
General Practitioner/Family Practice accounts for greatest proportion of ambulatory care visits

13. Physicians: Specialists
Physicians in nonprimary care specialties
Must seek certification in a medical specialization
Usually require more years of advanced residence training
Specialists include:
Cardiology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Surgery, Pathology, Psychiatry
Look at Exh 4-1, page 122
Look at Tbl 4-3, page 123

14. Primary Care
Differs according to time, focus and scope of service to patients
5 Areas of Distinction:
First contact to the health care system
In managed care, primary care providers are “gate-keepers”
Primary care is longitudinal, they follow up in treatment and coordinate care
Serve as patient advisors and advocates
Focus is on the whole person
Holistic, integrates
Spend much time in ambulatory care settings

15. Specialty Care 5 Areas of Distinction:
Typically seen after patient has seen a General Practitioner
Requires referral from a Primary Care Provider to see a patient
Episodic, more focused and intense
Limited to an illness episode
Deal with specific disease or body organs
Time spent in inpatient hospitals, using state-of art technology

16. Summary
The U.S. health care industry is a large industry with a lot of power.
There are many different types of health care workers and employers.
A physician may be an M.D. or D.O.
Physicians are generalists or specialists.
Click Topic 3 within Lesson 4 to continue.