Two Health Specialists
Respiratory Therapist this is a health specialist that applies scientific and theoretical knowledge to practical care of the respiratory system. Essential responsibilities of respiratory specialists include breathing treatment, pulmonary drainage procedures, oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mechanical ventilation. They work in the emergency department, neonatal, surgical, multidisciplinary nutrition team, and surgical intensive can departments (Way, 2020).
Cardiologist Technician is a health specialist that deals with equipment or materials used to detect heart complications. They also perform stress test by used of Holter monitors which measure heart rate. They also monitor hospitalized patients’ electronic printouts or EKGs to detect heart problems. They work in the emergency department, Intensive care units and patients’ ward (Perkins, 2019).
Effect to My Specialty
I’m a Critical Care Nurse, and my specialty in the field of nursing entails helping patients in critical care floors such as trauma and intensive care units. Therefore, interaction with Respiratory Therapist and Cardiologist Technician during typical workdays in the hospital had a significant impact on my specialty. First, this experience helped to understand the quality of facilities that should be in the critical healthcare units for better patients’ treatment. Also, I knew that it is illegal for Heath Care facility to perform any medical process when available facilities or personnel does not meet the standards. Finally, I learned that hospital or clinics that provide better patient treatment has a well-coordinated healthcare team that communicate, share knowledge, agree on responsibilities, and create an effective proactive care plan for effective patient’s treatment. Therefore, as a Critical Care Nurse, teamwork is vital for better patient treatment.
Effect on The Patient
During this period, hospitals or clinics that have strict regulatory measures towards better patients have critical both negative and positive effects on the patient. First, the patient is safe since facilities available and personnel performing medical processes meet the recommended standard. However, patients in critical conditions cannot be attended on when there is no legal requirement or professional caregiver to perform medical procedures. This is strictly considered to avoid lawsuits and to maintain hospital reputation and which sometimes result in the death of patients during transfer processes.
If a facility did not have a particular specialty, who would be able to take over that function?
When Cardiologist Technician is not available electrophysiological diagnostic technologist work in his/her place. Also, Informatics Nurse can work in their area since have skill and knowledge concerning technologies being used in the detection of heart problems. Whenever a Respiratory Therapist is not available, registered physician, surgeon or medical assistant can work in their place. However, the report must be submitted to the Therapist for further diagnosis (Way, 2020).
Would you be willing to be cross-trained for the function?
Yes, I’m willing to be cross-trained for the function. My specialty is closely related to Cardiologist Technician responsibilities. Therefore, this training can be an added advantage to my profession as a Critical Care Nurse. Through the training, I can also gain more knowledge on how to do handle patients with a breathing problem in ICUs.
Is there a written policy for coverage issues?
Yes, there are several written policies to cover issues that might occur during medical processes to ensure better patients’ treatment. For example, there is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) which covers issues such as patients’ information confidentiality. This ensures patients’ information is safeguarded. Also, there is the patients’ consent policy. This consent must be voluntary, informed and with capability, that is, treatment decision must be made patients, he/she must be given the complete information. He/she must be able to give consent for medical processes. All these policies are designed to ensure better patient treatment (Edemekong & Haydel, 2019)
References
Edemekong, P. F., & Haydel, M. J. (2019). Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.
Perkins, S. (2019). What Is a Cardiology Technician?. Work.chron.com. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from https://work.chron.com/cardiology-technician-11292.html.
Way, J. (2020). The Role of a Respiratory Therapist. ETSU Cardiopulmonary Science Program. Retrieved 5 May 2020, from https://www.etsu.edu/crhs/allied-health/cpsc/whatis.php.