Question

Analyze the healthcare professional’s role in advocacy, specifically as it relates to vulnerable populations.

How does the policy stakeholder (doctors) advocate for the health of vulnerable populations?

Reflect on your current role, as a Patient Care Assistant, in a health profession and how you might support the advocacy of a vulnerable population.

Answer 1

Advocacy in health care settings

Mainly focuses on guiding a patients through the health care system

Advocacy involves cincerc for and defined actions in behalf of another person or organizing to bring about a change.

Vulnerable Populations

They are groups & community at a higher risk for poor health as a result of barriers they experience to social, economic, political & environmental resources as well as limitations due to illness or disability.

Advocacy role as a doctor

1 ) Consent

One of the important role of a doctor is to collect consent from the parent for the treatment. ( treatment consent )

They should explain the procedure, complications & chances of success, estimated cost, etc while collecting a consent for surgery.( Procedure & surgical consent )

2 ) Changes in plan

Inform the patient about the changes made in Treatment chart, explain them about the reason for the change.

3 ) Disease condition

Teach the patient & family about the condition of the patient & possible treatment modalitiesc & chances of survival.

4 ) Discharge

After the recovery of the patient the doctor has to take decision about the discharge. He should be well informed about the discharge medications.

5 ) Follow up guidelines

Also it is ty responsibility of the doctor to inform about the Emergency Signs & when to return for the next meeting.

Advocacy role as a Health Assistant

1 ) They should act as an advocate of clients rights & have the respondibiliry to protect the clients rights.

Patient rights are;

Know about the disease condition

Know about the Treating physician

Updated information about treatemet modalities & disease progression

Informed consent for all the procedures

Know about the possible complications

2 ) Promoting what is best for the client

Medical professionals has to make decisions about the treatment protocols. While making the decision they should consider the best one among the choices with maximum benefits & no or minimum drawbacks.

Treatment plan should be explained to the patient & family by the medical team

3 ) Ensure that clients needs are met

It's the responsibility of the health care assistant to make sure that the rights of the patient is met as per the hospital policy & need.

Patients under vulnerable populations needs assistance in meeting with daily activities.

Health care providers should be well aware about the legal & ethical issues of patient care.

Any type of a abandonment, torts, battery, assault, neglect & omissions etc are serious issue liable for punishment from the law.

4 ) Communication

Health care assistants has to communicate with the patient, other health care providers, about the client progress as a part of their advocacy which is to protect client safety & eeffeeffe treatment.

5 ) Giving direction

Educating & allowing them for ask questions about their condition & guiding them to the correct path is the responsibility of the health assistant to fulfill the role of a client advocate.