Let’s face it—our lived realities, each one busy and hectic in its own particular way, sometimes prevent us from having sufficient time and resources to check on our health as often as desirable.
In the short pockets of time and the limited resources that we do get once in a while, we desire to receive medical care and treatment from someone reliable.
And by reliable, we mean someone who, aside from professional knowledge and skills in the medical field, also has the compassion and commitment to deliver quality services to its patients without hidden fees and exorbitant rates—and they come in the form of healthcare providers.
So, what is a healthcare provider?
Simply put, they are groups of people who provide medical care and treatment in accordance with established medical knowledge, medical standards, and specific patient needs.
What are the Types of Healthcare Providers?
Healthcare providers can be medical doctors (MDs) or physicians, nurses, midwives, radiologists, hospitals, care facilities, and other individuals, facilities, businesses, and organizations that deliver requested medical care, services, and products.
They can be individual or group healthcare providers and can be any of the following:
1. Physicians
Physicians are generally referred to as doctors or MDs. They are equipped with substantial educational knowledge, including four years of medical school following their bachelor’s degrees and additional training based on their chosen specializations.
2. Physician Assistants
Physician assistants work closely with MDs and are capable of providing direct patient care. They diagnose and treat common illnesses and work with minor procedures.
3. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), Registered Nurses (RNs), and Advanced Practice Nurses
LPNs in the United States are state-licensed and trained to provide basic care. RNs are also state-licensed, but they undergo a nursing program and are required to pass a state board examination, allowing them to provide more substantial care for their patients.
Nurses who receive education, experience, and training beyond the basic ones required are advanced practice nurses. Nurse Practitioners (NPs), along with Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) and Certified Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), are under the category of advanced practice nurses.
LPNs, RNs, and advanced practice nurses can be found in numerous healthcare settings, both in the public and private sectors, where their expertise is needed.
4. Licensed Pharmacists
Pharmacists prepare, process, and administer drug prescriptions from primary or specialty care providers. They are graduates from pharmacy colleges, and are experts in terms of the dosages, interactions, and side effects of medicines, ensuring that patients are using medicine safely and effectively.
5. Specialty Care Healthcare Providers
Any primary care provider may refer a patient to professionals with specializations, such as the following, among many others:
- Allergy and asthma
- Anesthesiology
- Cardiology (heart)
- Dermatology (skin)
- Endocrinology (diabetes, hormonal, and metabolic disorders)
- Gastroenterology (digestive system)
- General surgery
- Hematology (blood-related concerns)
- Immunology
- Infectious disease
- Nephrology (kidneys)
- Neurology (nervous system)
- Obstetrics/Gynecology (women’s reproductive health, including pregnancy)
- Oncology (cancer)
- Ophthalmology
- Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT)
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonary (lungs)
- Radiology
- Rheumatology (joints and musculoskeletal issues)
- Urology
However, healthcare providers are not only individuals. Some organizations and companies can also be considered as healthcare providers owing to their role of interacting and cooperating with healthcare professionals to provide healthcare services.
They can be:
- Accountable care organizations (ACOs) are groups of healthcare professionals that are common in the United States. They voluntarily work for their Medicare patients.
- Integrated delivery networks (IDNs) are groups of hospitals, physicians, and other providers who offer coordinated, high-quality care.
- Ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) are also common in the United States and can be either for-profit or non-profit
- Physician-Hospital Organizations
- Patient-Centered Medical Homes, which follow a type of primary care model that has been common in the United States since the Affordable Care Act of 2010.
- Academic Health Science Centers
- Military hospitals
- Direct primary care firms
What Does it Mean to ‘Provide a Health Service?’
“Bona diagnosis, bona curatio” is among the many medical Latin phrases that healthcare professionals live by, directly translating to “good diagnosis, good cure.”
It is essentially the primary point of providing a health service. You may have heard a story or two about healthcare in hospitals and clinics going awry either through misdiagnosis, improper prescriptions, or broadly just overall medical negligence. That is what the provision of health service must not be.
An accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective healthcare, and this is achieved through a healthcare provider’s meticulous regard to a patient’s medical history, examination methods, diagnostic processes, personalized treatment plans, and support for the patient in need.
For the most committed and competent healthcare providers and companies, the provision of a health service does not start with a patient’s consultation and certainly does not end with a doctor’s written prescription.
A health service, meaning the delivery of medical care to maintain, improve, or restore health, is considered “provided” if the healthcare provider is able to successfully give patients their healthcare needs while also empowering them with the tools and knowledge necessary to lead healthy lives.
What is the Importance of Healthcare Services?
Our lives are increasingly becoming busier and more engaged with the daily demands of living, and we use so much of our time, energy, health, and resources to respond to these demands.
As we race against the clock for our work, family, and personal lives, it has become a normal—and unfortunate—occurrence for our health to be shoved under the rug, only ever being brought out whenever health emergencies arise.
However, understanding what a healthcare provider is and the role they play can help us see the broader value of healthcare services.
Healthcare services do not only respond to such emerging health emergencies but are also available to enable and empower us to manage the health risks that come with such busy routines.
Even though some individuals do not necessarily live out hectic schedules, the normal impacts of aging, dietary habits, physical fitness, mental conditions, and environmental factors, among many others, contribute significantly to the list of healthcare considerations we must watch out for.
The point is, no matter who you are or what kind of life you lead, our bodies age and mature, so healthcare services must sit at the upper portion of the list of our priorities. It ensures that we can maintain our health, prevent any health issues from developing or worsening, and restore our health to a good condition when health issues do arise.
What Is The Goal Of Primary Health Care?
The goal of primary health care is simple—it goes beyond tackling specific diseases for specific organs and systems and extends itself to the holistic health and well-being of the entire individual.
Rather than being reactive, which is an unencouraged but common reaction to illness, primary health care aims to be proactive in preventing diseases and illnesses through optimal health maintenance and disease prevention. When a disease or illness is indeed present in a patient, primary health care looks to make medical care accessible and reliable.
Why You Need A Healthcare Plan
The vast (and growing) range of healthcare services from hospitals, clinics, primary care providers, specialized medical services, mental health services, dental care, rehabilitation, home healthcare, telemedicine, and public health services, along with the multitude of procedures, treatments, care options, examinations, assessments, and other processes readily available for people, make it difficult to decide on where to look first.
Anyone who is overwhelmed with the list of all possible major and minor health concerns and issues may go frantic and spend excessive amounts of money for procedures and treatments that would otherwise be more affordable and impactful if planned with a competent and astute healthcare provider.
A healthcare plan is needed by any individual regardless of health status in order to be equipped with healthcare exigencies and the costs that come with it. Recall the unanticipated COVID-19 pandemic, where much could have been saved by due preparedness and proper planning, which very few were able to do because of the sudden nature of the health crisis.
Anyone who has the opportunity to access a healthcare plan is now at an advantage to plan properly for himself/herself/themselves and his/her/their loved ones. A healthcare plan:
- Ensures the wise and protected use of money
- Establishes access to a wide range and network of healthcare providers and facilities
- Facilitates preventive care, such as vaccinations, examinations, screenings, and general health checks
- Ascertains the management of chronic diseases
- Offers assurance and peace of mind for yourself and the people you care about
Take Control of Your Health Today with Craft Concierge
The need to know what a healthcare provider is and the importance of healthcare is becoming more apparent daily, and this widespread consciousness has become a potent ground for dubious healthcare insurance offerings and “healthcare providers” who take advantage of your health concerns and use them to impose surprise fees and expensive charges.
By selecting a reliable healthcare provider, you are placing yourself and your loved ones’ safety and future in good hands.
Not only should your selected healthcare provider be equipped with standard medical knowledge, care, and facilities, but they must also be able to fine-tune your health plans to your unique needs.
At Craft Concierge, your health takes the top spot in the priority list of a wide range of specialists, facilities, and support services who are committed to ensuring the foundation for your long-term wellness and peace of mind. Contact us today to start your journey toward proactive, personalized healthcare!