A health care professional is a person who provides proper health care to any individual in need of health care services in a systematic and professional manner. They include Physicians, Nurses, and Dentists, Physician assistants, Pharmacists, Therapists, Psychologists, support staff and other such individuals who are licensed to deliver health care of any kind. Although physicians’ services are the most needed in providing health care, the duties of others cannot be under estimated. To understand the value of each of their services we need to learn about them.
A Physician – also known as Doctor or a Medical Practitioner is a person who practices the Profession of Medicine and hence helps to maintain health. He is the one who makes the diagnosis and treatment for any disease or injury. A Physician needs to be highly competent and possess a detailed knowledge about the science of medicine. The physician is bound to do what is right by himself. Medical practitioners hold a medical degree from the Universities from which they graduate. Mostly they specialize in a particular field. They also need the permission from the government in order to practice.
A Nurse is generally a person who completes nursing education and undertakes training in the diagnosis and treatment of some common and a few complex medical conditions. They are licensed to provide a varied range of services.
The study and practice of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth, the face and the maxilla is called Dentistry. Dental health is very important for overall health of a person. Dentist is a person who practices dentistry. It also includes the services of Dental Assistants, Technicians and Therapists.
A Physician Assistant is a Professional who is licensed to provide a broad range of services under the supervision of a licensed physician. He conducts physical examination, orders and interprets tests, assists in surgery and also prescribes medicines.
Health care system can be either managed by governments or by private institutions. It is the responsibility of these organizations to ensure that these providers are giving valuable service and unlicensed practitioners are punished severely. Stress in workplace is quite common among health care professionals. It may be due to long working hours, exposure to diseases, constant exposure to death, inadequate staff etc. Depression and anxiety are the results of such elevated levels of stress.