Introduction to Health Care

by Mitchell, Joyce; Haroun, Lee

• ISBN13: 9781401891558
• ISBN10: 1401891551
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-31
• Publisher: CENGAGE Delmar Learning

Summary

Introduction to Health Care, Second Edition provides a comprehensive introduction for learners entering health care programs or for those that think they may be interested in pursuing a career in health care. Core competencies shared by all health care professions such as communication, infection control, and professionalism are provided to expose you to the reality of practice. This book emphasizes developing critical thinking skills through a five-step problem solving model that teaches you to assess a situation, consider alternatives, choose an appropriate alternative, evaluate the results, and revise as needed. This resource will demonstrate how to think like a health care professional and is a terrific first step towards a rewarding career.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
How to Use This Book	xii
Acknowledgments	xiv
UNIT 1: HEALTH CARE TODAY
Your Career in Health Care	3	(30)
Your Future in Health Care	4	(1)
Essential Qualities of Health Care Workers	5	(1)
Occupational Profiles	5	(19)
Therapeutic and Treatment Occupations	7	(11)
Diagnostic Occupations	18	(2)
Health Information Management Occupations	20	(2)
Environmental Occupations	22	(2)
Standards for Health Care Workers	24	(1)
Getting Off to a Good Start	25	(8)
Learning to Think Like a Health Care Worker	25	(1)
Using Questions in Thinking	25	(1)
Problem-Solving Process	26	(3)
Establishing Good Work Habits	29	(1)
Getting the Most from Your Studies	29	(1)
Learning for Mastery	29	(4)
Current Health Care Systems and Trends	33	(28)
The Health Care Industry Today	34	(12)
Technological Advancements	34	(1)
Specialization	34	(11)
Aging Population	45	(1)
Increasing Costs	46	(1)
Health Care Facilities and Services	46	(5)
Hospitals	47	(1)
Ambulatory Services	48	(1)
Long-Term Care Facilities	48	(1)
Home Health Care Providers	49	(1)
Hospice	50	(1)
Consolidation of Health Care Services	50	(1)
Government Health Services	50	(1)
State Health Departments	50	(1)
Local Health Departments	51	(1)
Trends in Health Care	51	(3)
Wellness	51	(1)
Complementary Therapies	52	(2)
Challenges in Health Care Today	54	(3)
Access to Health Care	55	(1)
Social Conditions	55	(1)
Maintaining the Quality of Care	55	(2)
Public Health Concerns	57	(1)
Personal Responsibility for Health	57	(1)
Implications for Health Care Workers	57	(4)
Ethical and Legal Responsibilities	61	(22)
The Purpose of Ethics	62	(1)
Ethics and Health Care	62	(3)
Professional Codes of Ethics	64	(1)
Personal Values	65	(1)
Ethics and the Law	65	(1)
Guiding Principles of Health Care Ethics	66	(11)
Preserve Life	68	(1)
Stem-Cell Research	69	(1)
Do Good	69	(1)
Respect Autonomy	69	(2)
Uphold Justice	71	(2)
Be Honest	73	(1)
Be Discreet	74	(2)
Keep Promises	76	(1)
Do No Harm	77	(1)
Good Samaritan Laws	77	(1)
Handling Ethical Dilemmas	77	(1)
Who Decides?	78	(5)
UNIT 2: THE LANGUAGE OF HEALTH CARE
Medical Terminology	83	(16)
Importance of Medical Terminology	84	(1)
The Building Blocks of Medical Language	84	(7)
Roots and Combining Forms	84	(1)
Suffixes	85	(1)
Prefixes	86	(5)
Deciphering Medical Terms	91	(2)
Spelling and Pronunciation	93	(1)
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols	93	(2)
Medical Dictionary	95	(1)
Mastering Medical Terminology	95	(4)
Medical Math	99	(24)
Importance of Math in Health Care	100	(1)
Math Anxiety	100	(2)
Basic Calculations	102	(7)
Whole Numbers	103	(1)
Decimals	103	(1)
Fractions	104	(2)
Percentages	106	(1)
Ratios	106	(1)
Converting Decimals, Fractions, Percentages, and Ratios	106	(1)
Rounding Numbers	106	(1)
Solving Problems with Proportions	106	(3)
Estimating	109	(1)
Military Time	109	(1)
Roman Numerals	110	(1)
Angles	111	(1)
Systems of Measurement	112	(5)
Household System	112	(1)
Metric System	113	(2)
Apothecary System	115	(1)
Converting Systems of Measurement	115	(2)
Temperature Conversion	117	(6)
UNIT 3: THE HUMAN BODY
Organization of the Human Body	123	(10)
The Basis of Life	124	(4)
Cells	124	(2)
Tissues	126	(2)
Describing the Body	128	(5)
Body Planes	128	(1)
Directional Terms	128	(1)
The Body Cavities	128	(1)
Abdominal Descriptions	129	(4)
Structure and Function of the Human Body	133	(48)
The Importance of Anatomy and Physiology	134	(1)
Genetics	135	(1)
The Systems of the Body	135	(46)
Systems for Movement and Protection	135	(10)
Systems for Providing Energy and Removing Waste	145	(14)
Systems for Sensing, Coordinating, and Controlling	159	(12)
Systems for Producing New Life	171	(10)
Growth and Development	181	(18)
Knowing Your Patient	182	(1)
Life Stages	183	(6)
Prenatal	184	(1)
Infancy	184	(1)
Toddler	185	(1)
Preschooler	186	(1)
School-Age Child	186	(1)
Adolescence	187	(1)
Young Adulthood	187	(1)
Middle Adulthood	188	(1)
Later Adulthood	188	(1)
Care Considerations	189	(2)
Future Trends	191	(1)
Death and Dying	192	(7)
UNIT 4: PERSONAL AND WORKPLACE SAFETY
Body Mechanics	199	(10)
The Importance of Prevention	200	(1)
General Guidelines	201	(3)
Back Belts	204	(1)
Computers and Ergonomics	204	(5)
Use of a Mouse as Pointing Device	205	(1)
Visual Problems	205	(4)
Infection Control	209	(34)
Importance of Infection Control in Health Care	210	(1)
Microbiology	211	(6)
Types of Microbes	212	(3)
Chain of Infection	215	(1)
Scope of the Problem	216	(1)
Regulatory Agencies	216	(1)
Prevention through Asepsis	217	(12)
Breaking the Chain of Infection	217	(1)
Standard Precautions	218	(1)
Personal Protective Equipment	218	(7)
Transmission Precautions	225	(2)
Neutropenic Precautions	227	(1)
Antiseptics, Disinfectants, and Sterilization	228	(1)
Surgical Asepsis	228	(1)
The Risks	229	(10)
Hepatitis B	231	(1)
Human Immunodeficiency Virus	231	(4)
Tuberculosis	235	(1)
Other Infectious Organisms	236	(1)
Drug-Resistant Organisms	236	(3)
Reporting Accidental Exposure	239	(4)
Environmental Safety	243	(18)
Importance of Environmental Safety in Health Care	244	(1)
General Safety Guidelines	244	(4)
Moving Safely	245	(1)
Dressing for Safety	245	(1)
Working Safely with Patients	245	(1)
Protecting Yourself and Others	245	(2)
Reporting for Safety	247	(1)
Workplace Violence	247	(1)
Fire and Electrical Hazards	248	(5)
Chemical Hazards	253	(1)
Radiation Hazards	254	(1)
Infectious Waste	254	(1)
Oxygen Precautions	254	(1)
Emergency Disaster Plan	255	(6)
Bioterrorism	255	(1)
Triage	256	(5)
UNIT 5: BEHAVIORS FOR SUCCESS
Lifestyle Management	261	(16)
Importance of a Healthy Lifestyle	262	(1)
Habits and Health	262	(1)
Components of Healthy Living	263	(3)
Maintaining a Normal Weight	263	(2)
Sufficient Exercise	265	(1)
Adequate Sleep	265	(1)
Preventive Measures	266	(1)
Stress in Modern Life	266	(5)
External and Internal Stressors	267	(1)
Dealing with Stress	267	(4)
Minimizing Health Risks	271	(2)
Smoking	271	(1)
Substance Abuse	271	(1)
Occupational Hazards	272	(1)
Safe Sex	272	(1)
Burnout	273	(1)
Helping Patients Develop Healthy Lifestyles	273	(4)
Professionalism	277	(8)
The Meaning of Professionalism	278	(4)
Professional Attitude	278	(1)
Professional Behaviors	279	(1)
Professional Health Care Skills	280	(1)
Professional Appearance	280	(1)
Professional Distance	281	(1)
Professional Handling of Difficult Situations	281	(1)
Professional Acceptance of Criticism	281	(1)
Professional Organizations	282	(1)
Professional Leadership	282	(3)
Lifelong Learning	285	(10)
Importance of Lifelong Learning	286	(2)
Keeping Up with Changes in Health Care	286	(2)
Continuing Education Units	288	(2)
Ways to Earn CEUs	288	(2)
Self-Directed Learning	290	(5)
UNIT 6: COMMUNICATION IN THE HEALTH CARE SETTING
The Patient as an Individual	295	(16)
Patients as Individuals	296	(1)
Philosophy of Individual Worth	296	(1)
Dealing with Prejudice	297	(1)
The Meaning of Culture	297	(3)
Individuals and Culture	298	(1)
Dominant Culture	299	(1)
Health Care Beliefs	300	(2)
Religious Beliefs and Health	300	(1)
Harmony and Health	301	(1)
Herbs and Plant Medicines	301	(1)
Determining Individual Needs	302	(1)
Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs	303	(4)
Patient Needs	304	(3)
Defense Mechanisms	307	(1)
Dealing with Loss	307	(4)
The Communication Process	311	(20)
Importance of Communication in Health Care	312	(1)
Communication and Patient Well-Being	313	(1)
The Communication Process	313	(9)
The Six Steps of the Communication Process	314	(8)
Patients with Special Needs	322	(3)
Patients Who Are Terminally Ill	322	(1)
Patients Who Are in Pain, Medicated, Confused, or Disoriented	322	(1)
Patients Who Have Hearing, Visual, or Speech Impairments	323	(1)
Patients Who Are Angry	324	(1)
Patients Who Do Not Speak English	324	(1)
Special Applications of Communication Skills	325	(6)
Telephone Communication	325	(1)
Patient Education	325	(1)
Group Presentations	326	(1)
Handling Gossip	327	(4)
Written Communication	331	(20)
Written Communication: A Vital Link in Health Care	332	(8)
The Components of Good Writing	333	(1)
Organizing Content	333	(7)
Business Letters	340	(1)
Using Form Letters	340	(1)
Writing Effective Letters	340	(1)
Business Letter Formats	340	(1)
Preparing Letters for Mailing	341	(1)
Memos	341	(1)
Meeting Agendas	341	(5)
Minutes of Meetings	346	(1)
Patient Education Materials	347	(1)
Confidentiality of Written Materials	347	(1)
Proofreading Written Work	347	(4)
Computers in Health Care	351	(22)
Computers in Health Care	352	(14)
Information Management	353	(3)
Creation of Documents	356	(1)
Spreadsheets	356	(2)
Integration of Operations	358	(1)
Diagnostics	358	(2)
Treatment	360	(1)
Patient Monitoring	361	(1)
Research	361	(1)
Education	362	(1)
Communication	363	(3)
Computer Basics	366	(1)
Computer Hardware	366	(1)
Storage of Information	367	(1)
Computer Software	367	(1)
Using Computers Effectively	367	(1)
Computer Security	368	(1)
Maintaining the Human Touch	369	(1)
Learning More about Computers	369	(4)
Documentation and Medical Records	373	(12)
Medical Documentation	374	(11)
Purposes of Medical Documentation	374	(1)
Characteristics of Good Medical Documentation	375	(1)
Making Corrections on Medical Documentation	376	(1)
Contents of the Medical Record	376	(2)
Progress Notes	378	(7)
Unit 7: HEALTH CARE SKILLS
Physical Assessment	385	(26)
General Assessment	386	(5)
Noting Variances from Normal	387	(1)
General Survey	387	(1)
Psychosocial Assessment	388	(1)
Physical Assessment	388	(2)
Pain Assessment	390	(1)
ADL Assessment	391	(1)
Vital Signs	391	(15)
Temperature	391	(5)
Pulse	396	(4)
Respirations	400	(1)
Blood Pressure	401	(5)
Height and Weight	406	(5)
Emergency Procedures	411	(40)
Emergency Situations	412	(2)
When an Emergency Occurs	413	(1)
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)	414	(1)
First Aid Procedures	415	(36)
Allergic Reactions	415	(1)
Bleeding and Wounds	415	(7)
Bone, Joint, and Muscle Injuries	422	(1)
Injuries to Facial Structures	422	(1)
Burns	422	(9)
Drug Abuse	431	(1)
Poisoning	431	(1)
Temperature-Related Illness	432	(4)
Other Conditions	436	(7)
Bandaging	443	(8)
Unit 8: BUSINESS OF CARING
Controlling Health Care Costs	451	(10)
Paying for Health Care	452	(4)
Managed Care	452	(2)
Government Programs	454	(2)
Controlling Organizational Costs	456	(1)
Health Care Workers' Impact on Costs	456	(5)
Personal Efficiency	458	(1)
Acting with Thought	459	(2)
Performance Improvement and Customer Service	461	(16)
Quality of Care	462	(1)
Quality Improvement	463	(3)
Customer Service	466	(11)
Customer Satisfaction	468	(1)
Internal Customers	469	(8)
Unit 9: SECURING AND MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT
Job Leads and the Resume	477	(20)
Overview of the Job Search	478	(2)
What Do You Have to Offer?	478	(1)
What Are Your Expectations?	479	(1)
Organizing Your Time	479	(1)
Organizing Your Space	480	(1)
Projecting a Professional Image	480	(1)
Finding Job Leads	480	(4)
Career Service Center	480	(1)
Networking	481	(1)
Clinical Experience	482	(1)
Job Fairs and Orientations	482	(1)
Help Wanted Ads	483	(1)
Cold Calls and Visits	483	(1)
Telephone Joblines	484	(1)
Internet	484	(1)
The Resume	484	(6)
Resume Contents	485	(2)
Formatting the Resume	487	(3)
Important Resume Guidelines	490	(1)
Recent Resume Trends	490	(1)
Cover Letters	490	(7)
Writing Good Cover Letters	494	(3)
Interview, Portfolio, and Application	497	(14)
The Job Interview	498	(10)
The Importance of Proper Preparation	498	(7)
Starting Off on the Right Foot	505	(1)
After the Interview	506	(2)
Additional Requirements	508	(1)
Accepting the Job	508	(1)
Declining the Job	508	(1)
Dealing with Rejection	508	(1)
Filling Out Applications	509	(2)
Successful Employment Strategies	511	(16)
Getting Off to a Good Start	512	(2)
Learning about the Job	512	(1)
Policies and Procedures	512	(2)
Probationary Period	514	(1)
Guidelines for Workplace Success	514	(4)
Act with Integrity	514	(1)
Demonstrate Loyalty	515	(1)
Observe the Chain of Command	515	(1)
Give a Full Day's Work	516	(1)
Become Part of the Team	516	(1)
Go Beyond the Minimum	517	(1)
Learn from Role Models and Mentors	518	(1)
Employment Laws	518	(3)
Grievances	520	(1)
Sexual Harassment	520	(1)
Tracking Your Progress	521	(1)
Moving On	522	(2)
If You Are Fired	524	(1)
Professional Development	524	(3)
Appendix 1 Health Care Professional Organizations	527	(6)
Therapeutic and Treating Occupations	527	(2)
Dental Occupations	527	(1)
Emergency Medical Occupations	527	(1)
Medical Office Occupations	527	(1)
Mental Health Occupations	528	(1)
Nursing	528	(1)
Occupational Therapy	528	(1)
Pharmacy	528	(1)
Physical Therapy	528	(1)
Respiratory Therapy	529	(1)
Surgical	529	(1)
Vision Care	529	(1)
Diagnostic Occupations	529	(1)
Biometrics	529	(1)
Medical Laboratory	529	(1)
Radiology	530	(1)
Health Information Management Occupations	530	(1)
Environmental Occupations	530	(3)
Dietary Services	530	(1)
Biomedical Engineering	531	(2)
Appendix 2 Useful Spanish Expressions for Health Care Workers	533	(2)
Glossary	535	(12)
References	547	(4)
Index	551