What Are the Different Types of Medical Services?
People need many different types of medical services. Depending on the situation an individual may need emergency medical assistance, hospital care, a consultation with a doctor or a clear record of medical bills. Hospitals, private practices and clinics generally provide these services to patients.
Emergency medical services, often in the form of an ambulance with trained health care technicians, are usually dispatched to help people who need urgent care, such as people who have suffered a stroke or have been in a car crash. Additionally, teams of emergency physicians are usually stationed at hospitals or other medical centers to treat such critically ill or injured patients upon arrival. Depending on the distance between the hospital and the person in need, emergency medical services may require the use of helicopters or boats for transporting sick people. These services are designed to provide immediate medical help to victims, and transport them to doctors as quickly as possible.
The emergency department (ED) of a hospital usually provides urgent treatment to patients with immediate medical needs, like those with serious or life-threatening conditions. People with the most severe injuries or illnesses are most commonly treated first. These patients may require emergency surgery or hospitalization, but in some cases can be released after treatment. Most emergency departments operate day and night because of the critical nature of the services provided.
Outpatient medical services may take place at a doctor's private office, a clinic or hospital. These usually include a visit, or consultation, with a physician in order to discuss a patient's health. A person can also sometimes undergo minor surgery and be sent home on the same day. Such surgery can include suturing a wound, removing moles and warts, or treating varicose veins. Outpatient surgery is usually less costly than that which requires a hospital stay, and allows patients to recover at home.
If a person is suffering from an injury or illness that prevents him from traveling, a physician may make a home visit, or house call. In a case like this, a doctor typically examines the patient and may administer medication or provide another type of treatment. Nurses or other healthcare professionals may also visit patients at home to monitor symptoms or progress.
Medical transcription is another type of medical service. This process generally involves converting a doctor's voice recordings, or audio patient records, into text format. Medical transcriptionists (MTs), who may be hospital employees or independent contractors, typically listen to recordings and type the information into a computer database. Medical transcripts allow physicians to easily access a patient’s health record and insure proper care.
Medical services often also extend to medical billing, which is the record of a patient’s healthcare expenses for the treatment he or she received. It is the responsibility of a professional medical biller to determine the amount of money needed to reimburse the physician or hospital for services. The methods of payment can vary, and sometimes depend on the type of insurance a patient has, if any.
Written by S. Zaimov
