Traditional Roles of Physicians
In the health care system, it is the role of the physicians to diagnose and treat patients. In the modern hospitals, physicians are described to be important individuals who facilitate the achievement goals and objectives set by the healthcare organizations. Traditionally, physicians used hospitals as a workshop, whereby they were given the freedom to order whatever tests or treatment that deems necessary for the patients. In a study by Lorenzi and Riley (2013), it is noted that the traditional role of physicians has evolved over the years due to scientific and cultural changes. In essence, the physicians within the healthcare system have come to encompass a variety of functions both medical and non-medical, with the hope of making the healthcare system more efficient and competence. Thus, this paper focuses on exploring the traditional roles of the physicians and the way these roles has changed over the past ten years.
According to Topinková, et al. (2012), the roles of physicians have changed extensively, especially the roles relating to the medication prescribing. As a result, the physician’s division of responsibilities has continuously developed, where modern physicians are considered as better doctors who are suited to serve the complex needs of patients. The review of the medication process within the healthcare system has brought additional benefits to the roles of the physicians and nurses. Traditionally, it was the role of the nurses within the hospitals to administer medications (Topinková, et al., 2012).
Through the review of the medication procedures, the nurses can now carry out the role of medication review, medication prescription, and preparing adverse drugs event. Such new competencies are used by the healthcare organizations to show the new professional roles of the physicians. For example, in the UK and Netherlands, the role of nurse practitioners has changed comprehensively. The nurses working in most of the hospitals in these two countries are assigned to carry out roles such as listing and reviewing patient’s medication (Topinková, et al. 2012). Moreover, in Germany, community nurses are given the task of carry out advanced roles; the nurses are performing expanded roles such as home visiting and other care functions that are supported by e-health treatment equipment (Topinková, et al. 2012).
Lorenzi and Riley (2013) suggest that the traditional roles of physicians are becoming under a reasonable challenge from the growth of technology. However, progressive physicians view the growth of technology as an advantage. The technologies that are employed by the healthcare systems provide the physicians with better information that make the physicians reshape their roles by making them workable in the new technological environment. Inevitably, the growth of technology has brought changes to the roles of the physicians, as technology has redesigned the physician’s traditional diagnostic roles into the 21st century roles (Lorenzi & Riley, 2013).
On a different study by Maier and Aiken (2016), it is outlined that the traditional roles of physicians and nurses have been reviewed and reversed by many the medical organizations worldwide. The reason for the change is due to the increase of the healthcare needs and physician’s specialization. As such, to meet the demand of healthcare need, physicians are specializing on taking medical courses that they can use to perform specific roles. In the study, which focused on 39 countries, it was suggested that in the U.S and Canada where the roles of nurses have expanded, the traditional roles of nurses are changing, as nurses are specializing to treat specific form of illnesses (Maier & Aiken, 2016).
Additionally, in a survey that was done concerning the importance of physicians to the health care organizations, Hernandez and O’Connor (2010) found out that physicians add at about $3 million per year through their medical practices. In this survey, it is said that physicians have a direct relationship with the healthcare organization, as they have become an important source of income to the hospitals. Hernandez and O’Connor (2010) illustrate the relationship between the healthcare organizations and the physicians themselves is another factor that has influenced the changing of the physician’s role over the years. This element has changed the philosophical background of the physician; they take their roles in the hospitals as more than just treating the patients but also make the hospitals generate revenue that can be used for effectiveness in the hospitals.
As the world is in a period of fundamental transformations, many people both at work and at home, are forced to embrace the changes happening. From the discussion, it is apparent that technology is playing a major role in the transformation process. For instance, in the healthcare sector, technology is creating changes that are making the physicians advance their roles. When the physicians work effectively with the healthcare organizational administrators, this creates a better working relationship that in turn makes the physicians carry out more roles than just the task of treating patients. Finally, the discussion portrays that today, nurses and physicians carry out diverse roles in the hospitals. Some of these roles include setting working terms and conditions, process, and review medications. Traditionally, physicians would only carry out dominant roles in the health care occupation; but currently, physicians take the roles of service delivery inside and outside the hospital.
References
Hernandez, S. R., & O’Connor, S. J. (2010). Strategic human resources management in health services organizations. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Lorenzi, N. M., & Riley, R. T. (2013). Managing technological change: Organizational aspects of health informatics. New York, NY: Springer New York.
Maier, C. B., & Aiken, L. H. (2016). Expanding clinical roles for nurses to realign the global health workforce with population needs: A commentary. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 5(21), 1. https://ijhpr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13584-016-0079-2
Topinková, E., Baeyens, J. P., Michel, J. P., & Lang, P. O. (2012). Evidence-based strategies for the optimization of pharmacotherapy in older people. Drugs & Aging, 29(6), 477-494. https://dx.doi.org/10.2165/11632400-000000000-00000
