HEALH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM

General Hospital

Facility where patients are hospitalized a short time (few days to a few weeks)

Provide a wide range of diagnostic, medical, surgical, and emergency services

Most small town hospitals are classified as general hospitals

Specialty Hospitals

Provide care for specific chronic illnesses

Patients are usually hospitalized for a long time.

Duke Children’s Hospital in Durham is one

Convalescent Care

Generally care for elderly people who need nursing services and personal care

Examples: nursing homes and long-term care facilities

Extended Care Facility

This health care facility functions as a bridge between hospital and home when no longer acutely ill.

Ambulatory Care / Clinics

Facilities where severalphysicians with differentspecialties combine theirpractices.

This allows the patient to have immediate care for many differentillnesses

Physician and Dental Facilities

Provides care that promotes wellness and diagnosis of illness

Services at most medical offices include examination, diagnosis, and treatments

Simple surgery, bone setting, counseling, and administration of drugs also take place here.

Optical Center

If you are having vision problems, you need to visit an optical center

Rehabilitation Centers

People who have been disabled by sickness or injury can recover many of their original abilities and relearn activities of daily living (ADLs) by seeking these services

Rehabilitation Center (continued)

Provide care for patients/ clients who require physical therapy, (hydrotherapy (treatments that use water therapy for disease or injury), and other therapies for loss of limb or organ function.

Rehabilitation Centers (continued)

They may receive prosthetics (artificial part made for the body) and learn how to use adaptive devices.

Rehabilitation Centers (continued)

Patients may stay in these facilities or be treated on an outpatient basis (patient does not require hospitalization but is under a physician’s care.)

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO’s)

Stress wellness (preventive health care) and focus on keeping a person healthy

Provide health services that include hospitalization, basic medical services, and immunizations

Home Health Care Agencies

Provide care in the home for patients who need health services but not hospitalization

Home health workers provide care for all ages

Services include: nursing, physical therapy, personal care (bathing, dressing, etc.) and homemaking (cleaning, food shopping, and preparation)

Senior Day Care

Provides care for those elderly people who are able to live at home with their families but need care when the family is away.

Provides a place where the elderly can be cared for during the day

Senior Day Care (continued)

Provides activities, rehabilitation, and contact with other people

The elderly are given their medications and are aided in mobility

World Health Organization

An international agency sponsored by the United Nations

Founded in 1948 Concerned with world health

problems and publishes health information, compiles statistics, and investigates serious health problems worldwide

Hospice care

This organization helps care for terminally ill patients (less than 6 months to live)

Most common diagnosis for these patients is cancer

Philosophy is to help the terminally ill patient live each day to the fullest - usually at home

Hospice (continued)

Patients are kept comfortable and free from pain Involves family. Families are counseled and helped in

acceptance of the impending death of a loved one. After the death, the family has continuing support for at least a year.

Hospice (continued)

These facilities usually need to sponsor fundraising activities to help with expenses.

No one is turned away due to financial reasons!

Government Agencies

The federal, state, and local governments provide health services.

These services are funded by taxes!

Veterans Administration Hospital

These hospitals are federally supported and are known as government hospitals.

Provides care for veterans who served in the armed forces

Ft. Bragg Arm Hospital is an example of a government hospital

US Public Health Department

Is a federal agency that has 6 major responsibilities:• Performing research for diseases that kill,

handicap, or cripple• Preventing & treating alcohol and drug

abuse• Preventing and controlling diseases that

are transmitted by insects, animals, air, water, and people.

US Public Health Department (continued)

FDA (Federal Drug Administration - Checks food and drugs that consumers purchase for safety

Planning more effective ways to deliver health services

Making quality care available and affordable by encouraging health personal to work in undeserved areas.

The Public Health Department

Provides services to local communities Responsible for reporting communicable diseases,

public health nursing, health education, environmental sanitation (methods used to keep the environment clean

The Public Health Department (continued)

Keeps records including immunization records, health inspections, birth records, and death statistics.

Also provides maternal and child health services

Nonprofit / Volunteer Agencies

Supported by donations, membership fees, fundraisers, and federal or state grants

Provide health services at national, state, and local levels

Most focus on specific diseases or health professionals

The American Red Cross and American Heart Association are example of this type of agency