HEALTHCARE FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Nursing Homes

Rehabilitation Center

Hospice Homes
Clinic and Medical Offices

Birthing Centers

Imaging and Radiologic Centers

Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Telehealth / Telemedicine
Dialysis Center

Blood Banks

Addiction treatment center

Mental Health Center

Diabetes and Education Center

Health Care Team Members in the United States of America

● Doctors ● Medical Technologists

● Nurses ● Therapists
● Dentists ● Technicians
● Pharmacists

Doctors

Doctors play an essential role in society since they are the primary care providers.
To assure efficient and effective medical services, the country's system has evolved to
produce the finest doctors of all times, which is why the United States of America is
known for having the best doctors in the world. This country has produced a lot of
award-winning and world-famous doctors which include:

· Denton Cooley - a surgeon known for performing the first artificial heart
implantation

· Alfred Blalock - a surgeon known for his work on the Tetralogy of Fallot

· Charles R. Drew - is known for his extensive research on blood transfusions

· Virginia Apgar - is known for her work in anesthesiology and teratology.

Types of doctors in the United States of America

• Family Physician • Orthopedic Physicians

• Emergency Physicians • Nephrologists

• Psychiatrists • Rheumatologists

• Obstetricians and Gynecologists • Urologists

• Neurologists • Intensivist/Critical Care Physician

• Radiologists • Geriatrician

• Anesthesiologists • Gastroenterologists

• Pediatrician • Hematologists and Oncologists

• Cardiologists • Otolaryngologists

• Ophthalmologists • Allergists/Immunologists etc.

• Dermatologists

Nurses

In the United States, the roles of the nurses are divided into three categories
depending on the responsibilities they undertake.

● Registered Nurses

They form the backbone of health care providers in the United States.

● Advanced Practice Registered Nurses

They hold at least a Master’s degree, in addition to the initial nursing

education and licensing required for all RNs.

● Licensed Practical Nurses

Also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). They support the core
health care team and work under the supervision of an RN, APRN, or MD.

Dentists
 Plays an essential role as a part of the health care team in the country, United
States. They provide oral care to patients. It includes diagnosing oral diseases and
maintaining and restoring the oral health of patients.

Some of the best dentists and dentist schools are found in the United States. The
country has a good dental care quality which is why it is in the top 10 list of the countries
with the best dentists, specifically, 9th place on the global list.

● Dental Assistant

Helps dentists in dental work. They help with infection control by sterilizing
and disinfecting instruments, setting up instrument trays, preparing materials,
and assisting with dental procedures. They also assist dentists in managing
medical and dental emergencies when necessary.

Pharmacists

Play a vital role as a part of the country's health care team. In an annual survey
conducted by Gallup, an American research-based, global-performance-management
consulting company, pharmacists were ranked second as one of the most trusted
professionals in the United States regarding honesty and ethical standards.

Medical Technologists

Medical technologists assist medical professionals to diagnose, treat, and

prevent diseases by analyzing biological samples such as blood, urine, saliva, etc.

Therapists

A type of doctor who specializes in therapy. A medical professional who is

skilled in methods of treatment and rehabilitation instead of using medicines and
performing surgeries.

● Speech Therapists ● Occupational Therapists

● Physical Therapists ● Respiratory Therapists etc.
Technicians

A Medical Technician is a medical professional who plays a vital part in the

healthcare industry by providing support for physicians and hospitals; for doctors to
make educated decisions about treatment plans. They are employed to look after
technical equipment or do practical work in a laboratory.

● Radiology Technician
● Pharmacists Technician
● Psychiatric Technicians
● Emergency Medical Technicians/Paramedic
● Surgical Technologists/Operating Room Technicians etc.

A Brief History of Pharmacy in the US

18th and 19th century

During the 18th and 19th century America’s first licensed pharmacist was Louis Dufilho, Jr., who
opened a pharmacy in New Orleans in the early 1800s. It features displays of medications
common during that time. These medications were often based on Louisiana Voodoo culture,
which has its roots in West Africa and was furthered by Haitian immigrants to New Orleans,
USA.

The United States Pharmacopeia was formed in 1820 by physicians concerned about the poor
quality of medicines in America. The USP is one of the most widely respected standards
organizations in the world for medications, foods, and supplements. Standards have now
expanded to include practice standards, like USP 797 on the compounding of sterile
preparations.

U.S. pharmacy, from the 20th century to today

Modern American pharmacy can be divided into four eras. These eras reflect the evolving
nature of pharmacy practice in response to patient needs and advances in medicine,
pharmaceutical manufacturing, and research.

The “soda fountain” era: 1920 to 1949

In the 20th century, pharmacists faced an identity crisis as pharmacists sought to find their role
in healthcare. Advances in pharmaceutical manufacturing reduced the need for compounding,
which had been a large part of the pharmacist's role. Pharmacy education during this period
evolved from short courses and apprenticeships to degree programs lasting 3 or 4 years. The
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy developed a pharmaceutical syllabus in 1910
that helped standardize pharmacy education across the country.

The ”lick, stick, pour, and more” era: 1950 to 1979

The doctor of pharmacy degree was formally proposed in 1950, but a compromise was struck to
establish the 5-year bachelor of pharmacy program. This period also is marked by the divide
between nonclinical and clinical activities, a topic that continues to stir heated opinions. The
biggest rift was between dispensing and non dispensing activities — hence, the "lick, stick, pour,
and more" era.

The pharmaceutical care era: 1980 to 2009

This era was when patient counseling became a more widely adopted and mandated
pharmacist activity. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 required patient
counseling. A study conducted shortly after its passage confirmed that the legislation increased
the frequency that pharmacists counseled patients.

Non Dispensing activities also expanded. The American Pharmacists Association launched its
immunization program in 1996, and, by 2004, about 15,000 pharmacists and pharmacy students
were trained immunizers. Pilot projects in the 1980s began for what would eventually become
medication therapy management (MTM). The Medication Modernization Act, passed in 2003,
created Medicare and mandated MTM services included benefits. This mandate led to the
realization that pharmacists would finally be able to become more involved in the direct
management of patients.

The post-pharmaceutical care era: 2010 to the present

Pharmacist-led immunization services have also continued to grow. Today, all 50 states allow
pharmacists to immunize, and pharmacists play a central role in managing vaccine-preventable
disease. MTM, on the other hand, continues to struggle with poor reimbursement. So, while it
has been expanded and still holds a lot of potential for the advancement of pharmacy, it faces
challenges that pharmacists must work to overcome before it can have its full impact.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists have provided coronavirus testing and
immunization services. Legislative changes have allowed pharmacy technicians to also provide
both COVID-19 testing and a wide range of immunizations, broadening the capacity of the U.S.
healthcare system to respond to the increased pressures it faces. As of November 9, 2021,
close to 163 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been given in retail pharmacies.

Pharmacy has been an ever-developing profession for nearly two centuries and has to continue
evolving to thrive in an ever-shifting healthcare landscape. Starting from the 1820s, when the
first pharmacist licenses and pharmacy schools were founded, until today, with the advent of
pharmacogenomics and population health management, pharmacists have played a central role
in the country’s healthcare system.

Role of a pharmacist in United States of America

The primary responsibility of community pharmacists in the United States is to control, dispense
and distribute medicines according to legal and ethical guidelines. They verify the authenticity,
safety and accuracy of prescription orders and ensure that the quantity of medication dispensed
is accurate. In the United States, pharmacists collect patient-specific information, such as
demographics and patient-reported information such as medical history, previous adverse drug
reactions, allergies, complaints and even third party information for billing purposes. They also
create a list of all medications that the patient is taking based on prescription orders dispensed
and obtained from a patient, hospital or other health care providers. In dispensing, pharmacists
provide medication labels that indicate the prescriber’s instruction on how the medication should
be taken, the frequency, the quantity dispensed, the remaining fills, the intended effects, the
side effects and what the medication is for. It is a common practice among community
pharmacists in the United States to communicate and clarify with prescribers that dosages are
correct and verify that new treatments are compatible with other medications the patient may be
taking. With the help of developed computer systems in the U.S., community pharmacists are
able to detect adverse drug reactions and inform patients of the dates their prescriptions are
due to fill. It is one of their duties to bill the patient’s medications through his insurance and
communicate with the third party whenever problems in billing arise. The billing, filling, verifying
and dispensing of medications by the pharmacists are mostly processed through computers
with customized systems developed by pharmacy companies.