Health Unit Coordinator Unit II Q2/Reflection Paper

BHA 3401, Health Unit Coordination 1

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit II Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

1. Define health care team.

2. Identify clinical professions that could be a part of health care team.

3. Identify nonclinical professions that could be part of a health care team.

4. Explain the benefits of a diverse health care team.

5. Explain three systems used to deliver patient care.

6. Discuss the importance of the patient care systems.

Reading Assignment Chapter 3: Health Care Team Chapter 4: Patient Care Delivery Systems

Unit Lesson The health care team is comprised of several clinical and non-clinical members with the health unit coordinator occupying a very important role on that team. The health unit coordinator’s role on the health care team is to perform the communication, reception, clerical, and coordination of tasks for the nursing unit, thus providing clinical staff more time to perform hands-on tasks directly related to patient care. Most of you who will be working as a health unit coordinator will work within a health care system that has undergone several changes over the past decade. Today’s hospital can be seen as a health team, a center for community education regarding health related matters, a place for laboratory services, an educational institution, and a source of hope and strength for the community; it is the overall provider of an array of many different types of very important services. The health care team approach has received an increasing amount of attention as our health care system is overhauled to provide more consistent positive outcomes while reducing the nation’s overall health care costs. Many professionals performing a variety of specialized tasks, all geared toward meeting the emotional, psychological and physical needs of the patient, is the primary goal of the health care team approach. I recall several years ago as my father underwent cardiovascular treatment, being introduced to an array of non-MD providers. At times it was overwhelming, but as the providers introduced themselves to my family and explained their specific roles in caring for my father, I became more confident about the care that he was receiving. As I observed the team and their interactions, it was clear that each member prioritized a collaborative approach as their working relationships evolved. It seemed that their mutual respect and understanding of each health care professional’s scope of practice, credentials, and function as a member of the health care team supported the collaboration needed to successfully treat my father’s condition. Although my evaluation of my father’s health care team would be a score of superior, the nation has a more streamline approach to evaluating health care systems. Health care systems are evaluated on a continuous basis. Health care system evaluations are reviewed by case managers, peers, and various accreditation

UNIT II STUDY GUIDE

The Health Care Team and Its Impact on the Patient Care Delivery System

BHA 3401, Health Unit Coordination 2

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

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agencies pursuing a relentless mission to ensure that patients receive the best possible care, through the best health care system available, at the most prudent cost. As we review the business side of health care, we must be mindful that hospitals have changed their view of service and have become more business-wise. In response to extremely high health care costs, the government, employers, and insurance companies have placed enormous pressure on hospitals and doctors to provide health care in the most cost effective manner. Not only has hospital admission and discharge processes changed but as we move toward embracing a more streamline approach to patient care, we have increased the use of case management. Case management is the process of monitoring a patient’s hospital stay and the services they receive to ensure that the services are medically necessary and appropriate. The role of the case manager is to review the records of patients that are currently admitted to be sure that the level of care is appropriate for the care the patient is receiving and the criteria is met for acute hospital stay. Most insurance companies will not authorize continued hospitalization or payment of the patient’s bill if the care received is found to be medically outside the criteria for care. As you engage in the process of understanding the health care team approach and the patient care delivery systems introduced in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 of the textbook, you should, upon completion, be able to define the health care team; identify clinical and non-clinical members of the health care team and their roles; and understand the benefits of diversity within the health care team. Additionally, three patient care systems will be introduced to you, and you will gain an understanding of the importance of the patient care delivery system.

Learning Activities (Non-Graded) Click here to access the BHA 3401 Glossary. Please review the glossary before attempting the Unit II Assessment. Non-graded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit them. If you have questions contact your instructor for further guidance and information.