Introduction to Health Care

Cover
Contents
Preface
Dedication
About the Authors
Acknowledgments
About This Book
Unit 1: Health Care Today
Chapter 1: Your Career in Health Care
Your Future in Health Care
Getting Off to a Good Start
Learning to Think Like a Health Care Professional
Making a Career Decision
Occupational Profiles
Chapter 2: Health Care Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow
The History of Western
Trends and Issues in Health
Variety of Approaches to Health Care
The Future of Health Care
Challenges in Health Care Today
Health Care Facilities and Services
Chapter 3: Ethical and Legal Responsibilities
The Purpose of Ethics
Ethics and the Law
Ethics and Health Care
Guiding Principles of Health Care Ethics
Patient Rights
Handling Ethical Dilemmas
Who Decides?
Unit 2: The Language of Health Care
Chapter 4: Medical Terminology
Importance of Medical Terminology
The Building Blocks of Medical Language
Deciphering Medical Terms
Eponyms
Words with Special Meanings in Medicine
Names of Drugs
Spelling and Pronunciation
Medical Abbreviations and Symbols
Medical Dictionary
Mastering Medical Terminology
Chapter 5: Medical Math
Importance of Math in Health Care
Math Anxiety
Basic Calculations
Estimating
Statistics
Military Time
Roman Numerals
Angles
Systems of Measurement
Medication Safety
Temperature Conversion
Unit 3: The Human Body
Chapter 6: Organization of the Human Body
The Basis of Life
Describing the Body
Chapter 7: Structure and Function of the Human Body
The Importance of Anatomy and Physiology
Genetics
The Systems of the Body
Systems for Movement and Protection
Systems for Providing Energy and Removing Waste
Systems for Sensing, Coordinating, and Controlling
Systems for Producing New Life
Chapter 8: Growth and Development
Knowing Your Patient
Life Stages
Care Considerations
Other Developmental Theories
Future Trends
Death and Dying
Unit 4: Personal and Workplace Safety
Chapter 9: Body Mechanics
The Importance of Prevention
Repetitive Motion Injuries
Exertion Injuries
Treatment of Musculoskeletal and Nerve Injuries
Back Belts
Chapter 10: Infection Control
Importance of Infection Control in Health Care
Microorganisms
Defense Mechanisms
How Infections Spread
Preventing Infection
The Challenges
Reporting Accidental Exposure
Chapter 11: Environmental Safety
Importance of Environmental Safety in Health Care
General Safety Guidelines
Workplace Violence
Fire and Electrical Hazards
Chemical Hazards
Radiation Hazards
Infectious Waste
Oxygen Hazards
Bioterrorism
Emergency Code System
Emergency Preparedness Plan
Unit 5: Behaviors for Success
Chapter 12: Lifestyle Management
Importance of a Healthy Lifestyle
Diet and Nutrition
Healthy Eating
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Eating Disorders
Physical Activity
Sleep
Preventive Measures
Stress in Modern Life
Minimizing Health Risks
Helping Patients Develop Healthy Lifestyles
Chapter 13: Professionalism
The Meaning of Professionalism
Professional Leadership
Chapter 14: Professional Development and Lifelong Learning
Professional Development
Professional Organizations
Importance of Lifelong Learning
Continuing Education Units
Self-Directed Learning
Career Ladders
Unit 6: Communication in the Health Care Setting
Chapter 15: The Patient as an Individual
Patients as Individuals
The Meaning of Culture
Health Care Beliefs
Human Needs
Defense Mechanisms
Dealing with Loss
Treating Patients as Individuals
Chapter 16: The Communication Process
Importance of Communication in Health Care
The Communication Process
Communication through the Life Span
Overcoming Communication Barriers
Special Applications of Communication Skills
Chapter 17: Written Communication
Written Communication: A Vital Link in Health Care
The Components of Good Writing
Business Letters
Memos
Meeting Agendas
Minutes of Meetings
Patient Education Materials
Confidentiality of Written Materials
Proofreading Written Work
Chapter 18: Computers and Technology in Health Care
Computers in Health Care
Using Computers Effectively
Computer Security
Maintaining the Human Touch
Learning More about Computers
Chapter 19: Documentation and Medical Records
Medical Documentation and Recordkeeping
Contents of the Medical Record
Electronic Health Recordkeeping
Personal Health Record
Safeguarding Health Records
Unit 7: Health Care Skills
Chapter 20: Physical Assessment
General Assessment
Vital Signs
Height and Weight
Chapter 21: Emergency Procedures
Emergency Situations
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
First Aid Procedures
Unit 8: Business of Caring
Chapter 22: Paying for Health Care
The Rising Costs of Health Care
Health Care Institutions
History of Health Care Reimbursement
Health Care Payment Methods
Government Programs
Managed Care
Providing Affordable
Controlling Organizational Costs
Health Care Professionals' Impact on Costs
Chapter 23: Quality Control and Customer Service
Quality of Care
Quality Improvement
Reducing Medical Errors
Customer Service
Unit 9: Securing and Maintaining Employment
Chapter 24: Job Leads and the Resume
Overview of the Job Search
Finding Job Leads
The Resume
Cover Letters
Chapter 25: Interview, Portfolio, and Application
The Job Interview
Accepting the Job
Declining the Job
Dealing with Rejection
Filling out Applications
Chapter 26: Successful Employment Strategies
Getting Off to a Good Start
Guidelines for Workplace Success
Employment Laws
Tracking Your Progress
Moving Up
Moving On
If You Are Fired
Appendix 1: Health Care Professional Organizations
Appendix 2: Useful Spanish Expressions for Health Care Professionals
Glossary
References
Index