What Are the Duties of Patient Care?
What Are the Duties of Patient Care?
Patient Care involves the care of patients that are in the acute care of hospitals or health care centers. This care takes place in settings such as hospitals, primary care facilities, outpatient clinics, social service programs, military hospitals and nursing homes. Patient care includes assessment, prevention and treatment of medical conditions, such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, surgery, and trauma. It also involves the care of patients with disabilities, old age, and immunocompromising conditions.
Healthcare delivery is the care or management of health through the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, or cure of illness, disease, injury, or other bodily and mental impairments sustained by people through negligence on the part of health care professionals or other allied health professions. Patient care includes direct patient care by licensed health care providers and nurses under the supervision of physicians. There are also some other health care professionals such as medical assistants, x-ray technicians, laboratory workers, receptionists, and administrative personnel.
The major components of patient care services include emergency department visits, primary and pediatric care, hospital stays, psychosocial care, hospice, and psychological services. Emergency departments deal with major injuries and critical illnesses. Pediatric services give treatment to babies and children. Hospital stays include those in the acute-care category such as organ transplant, invasive procedures, cardiac care, and treatment for diseases or conditions causing permanent disabilities.
Ethical issues concerning patient care have been gaining attention in recent years because of the rising number of medical treatments and associated deaths. Although the mortality rate has declined in recent years, there are still many poor and distressed patients who do not receive the best possible care. Many people suffering from serious and debilitating diseases and injuries do not receive the medical attention they need because the institutions they visit refuse to adhere to patient rights-based approaches. These institutions also refuse to acknowledge their responsibility to promote health awareness and implement preventative measures.
Under the law, patient care involves a number of fundamental rights that protect patients’ legal rights to receive a quality healthcare system. Patients have the right to adequate information about their condition and procedures. They have the right to privacy when it comes to their medical records and information. They have the right to be informed about the risks and side effects of their procedure and care. Moreover, patients have the right to adequate compensation for undergoing medically unnecessary treatments.
This is how patient care helps people maintain their dignity and self respect. There are different types of patient care practices that address these issues. In the United States, most people are familiar with hospitals. However, there are actually private and government institutions that provide patient care. Such examples include rehabilitation centers, hospices, nursing homes, and various different types of assisted living communities.