The term “health” encompasses an individual’s physical, mental, and social well-being. Health issues are of great concern in the modern world. Public health is a major global concern. It is estimated that 1.3 billion people still lack access to clean drinking water. The United Nations has estimated that 60 million people die prematurely each year because of the conditions in which they live. At least seven million people die from preventable or treatable diseases. Many of these deaths could be prevented or treated.
And to prevent or treat these diseases, we need health professionals to ensure our well-being.
What is a health professional?
A health professional is defined as a person who has completed the requirements of an accredited program and is licensed by the state to provide health care services to patients in various environments. They are trained individuals who provide medical or other care to help people with their health needs. They may offer services in a community, in a hospital, at a clinic, or in a doctor’s office.
Health professionals have different responsibilities and roles. Some health professionals offer direct care to patients, some assist patients in managing their care, and some provide advice to patients and their families. There are many types of health professionals. For example, there are doctors, nurse practitioners, nutritionists, pharmacists, and many other health professionals.
Types of health professionals:
Physicians
Physicians are health professionals who have specialized in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and sometimes the study of diseases. They are also sometimes known as doctors. Physicians diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. They often specialize in a particular field, such as pediatrics, obstetrics, or psychiatry.
They are qualified by medical school and specialty training to diagnose, treat and manage illness and injuries, prescribe medicines, and order or perform surgeries. Physicians are the most popular type of health profession.
Nurses
Nurses are the largest group of health professionals. They are the most visible health workers and therefore play a major role in promoting and maintaining good health. Nursing specialties may provide care to patients in a community, in a hospital, at a clinic, or in a doctor’s office. Nurses are trained to identify and treat illnesses and injuries. They often specialize in a particular area, such as pediatrics, oncology, or geriatrics.
They provide care and assist in the recovery of ill or injured patients. They often work to ensure the patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.
Veterinarians
Veterinarians are medical professionals trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in animals. These are health professionals who have completed medical school and are licensed by the state to practice veterinary medicine. They are also sometimes known as vets.
They can work in various settings, including animal hospitals, animal clinics, and farms. They study anatomy, physiology, genetics, and other aspects of animal health. They provide treatment for animals similar to the services a physician provides to humans.
Dentists
Dentists are health professionals who specialize in diagnosing, preventing, and treating diseases and abnormalities of the oral and dental tissues. Dentists, dental surgeons, and dental hygienists are health professionals who provide oral health care. They are most often found in dental clinics.
They are authorized to treat both human and animal teeth. They are trained in diagnosing and treating teeth, mouth, and gums disorders which they provide at a general dental practice or a hospital, a clinic, or a veterinary clinic.
Midwives
Midwives are health professionals who specialize in caring for women and their babies during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They are sometimes referred to as obstetricians and gynecologists (ob-gyns) in the United States. However, midwives often have additional training to provide care for women and their babies in other areas, such as pediatrics and OB/GYN. For example, a midwife may have additional training in OB/GYN that qualifies her to provide care to pregnant women who have complications, such as high blood pressure.
They are not physicians, but they are licensed to practice medicine in the home. Midwives can provide most of the same services as physicians, except surgery. They work with their clients to help them make health care decisions, including the choice to deliver their babies at home or in a hospital. They are also sometimes known as doulas, childbirth educators, or childbirth assistants.
Radiographers
Radiographers are health professionals who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the body using radiation. They take X-rays, CT scans, and other forms of radiation to help make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
The radiographer must be a physician, radiologist, or healthcare professional in the same specialty area as the radiographic examination. They supervise the radiographer technician, interpret the images, and report the findings to the physician or other common healthcare occupations. They provide diagnostic services, such as X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds, and therapeutic services, such as administering vaccines and giving anesthesia.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists are health professionals who practice a health care profession concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries, health problems, and disabilities of the neuromuscular system. They are also sometimes known as physical therapists and occupational therapists.
They specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the body using physical therapy, manual therapy, and exercise. The physiotherapist works with individuals who have had an injury, illness, or disability, such as arthritis, to improve mobility and decrease pain.
Optometrists
Optometrists are health professionals who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases, injuries, and disorders of the eye and ocular structures using optical diagnostic equipment. They check vision, diagnose and treat the eye and the optic nerve disorders, and provide treatment for eye injuries.
They are sometimes referred to as ophthalmologists. Optometrists work with their clients to provide eye examinations, vision tests, and treatments, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Operating department practitioners
Operating department practitioners (ODPs) are health professionals who function primarily in the operating room or the preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative settings.
They are professionals who specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the body using surgery. To improve health, they provide surgical therapies, including surgery, such as removing a cyst. They have training in anatomy and pathology and surgical techniques and are trained to use medical devices to perform procedures such as wound repair, suturing, and blood transfusion.
Conclusion
Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
In today’s society, we face the risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health conditions. We need to develop a clear understanding of the importance of health to develop healthier lifestyles.
Author’s Bio
Tanisha is a blogger and journalism student and writes on technology and health related topics. She has good experience across technology, consulting and marketing. She has written for Online Doctor Consultation – LivLong Protection & Wellness Solutions Limited.
