TOPIC 3: THE PATIENT CARE PARTNERSHIP Protection of your own privacy:
WHAT IS THE PATIENT CARE PARTNERSHIP?
The Patient Care Partnership is a document created by the
American Hospital Association in 2003 that helps you as a
patient understand what your expectations should be with
regards to being a patient.
● In addition, it delineates what your patient rights
are and what responsibilities you assume when
you become a patient in a health care facility.
● There are certain things you can expect while in
the hospital and there are certain things the
hospital will expect from you in order for you to
get better.
● Two way communication is vital in this process of
giving you the best care possible. If you have
questions at any time, ASK them. You have a voice,
use it. Unasked or unanswered questions can add
to the stress of being in the hospital. Keep a
notebook and pen with you at all times.
● Write down your questions as they arise. Write
down the answers the doctor’s give you. Ask them
to spell the words you can’t spell. Ask them to
speak in words that you can understand.
I. Understanding expectations, rights and
responsibilities
HIGH QUALITY HOSPITAL CARE = A CLEAN AND SAFE
ENVIRONMENT:
● The hospitals are committed to providing you
with a clean and safe environment and work
hard to keep you safe.
INVOLVEMENT IN YOUR OWN CARE:
● When decisions need to be made regarding
your health care, you need to be involved. If you
are unable to make those decisions, you should
have an Advance Directive in place that will
appoint a trusted family member or friend as
your health care proxy who can make the
necessary decisions about your health care
when you are unable to do so.
● Hospitals are required by state and federal laws to
protect your privacy.
● Preparing you and your family for when you leave
the hospital:
● Your hospital and health care team will work hard to
coordinate any and all services that you may need
when you are discharged.
● Help with your bill and filing insurance claims:
● The hospital staff will do whatever it can to help you
pay your hospital bills either through your health
insurance carrier, Medicare, Medicaid, or by helping
you set up a payment plan.
II. Professional communication
2.1 Patients
● In continuing consideration of individuals
involved in the course of your education and
training, we come to the patients.
● Just how important are they and why?
Supposedly somebody built a hospital ,
furnished it with the most advanced equipment,
and staffed it with a full complement of all
professionals, but no patients came. Now the
picture comes into focus.
● First came the patient, and then came the
physician, the nurse, and the hospital. The
patient is the object of all the attention and
efforts to detect injuries and treat them,
diagnose disease, and effect treatments.
2.2 Patient’s family
● Concepts of Patient- and Family Care.
- Dignity and Respect. Health care
practitioners listen to and honor patient
and family perspectives and choices:
- Information Sharing and Participation.
2.3 Health care team
● Typical members of a healthcare team are a
doctor , a registered nurse and also a radiologic
technologist.
● In some cases, there might be a Nurse
Practitioner instead of or as well as a doctor.
 ● In others, physical therapists, occupational
therapists, and social workers may be part of
the team.
3. Confidentiality of patient records
● Confidentiality in health care refers to the
obligation of professionals who have access to
patient records or communication to hold that
information in confidence.
● Confidentiality should be protected because it
protects patients from harm, supports access to
health care and produces better health
outcomes.
TOPIC 4:
RADIOGRAPHER PRACTICE STANDARDS
● A profession’s practice standards serve as a
guide for appropriate practice. The practice
standards define the practice and establish
general criteria to determine compliance.
● Practice standards are authoritative statements
established by the profession for evaluating the
quality of practice, service and education
provided by individuals within the profession.
● Practice standards can be used by individual
facilities to develop job descriptions and
practice parameters.
● Those outside the profession can use the
standards as an overview of the role and
responsibilities of individuals within the
profession.
● The medical imaging and radiation therapy
professional and any individual who is legally
authorized to perform medical imaging must be
educationally prepared and clinically competent
as a prerequisite to professional practice.
● The individual should, consistent with all
applicable legal requirements and restrictions,
exercise individual thought, judgment and
discretion in the performance of the procedure.
● Federal and state statutes, regulations,
accreditation standards and institutional
policies could dictate practice parameters and
may supersede these standards.
1. Technical
● The clinical performance standards define the
activities of the individual responsible for the
care of patients and delivery of diagnostic or
therapeutic procedures.
● The section incorporates patient assessment
and management with procedural analysis,
performance and evaluation.
2. Professional
● You must conduct yourself with honour and
dignity and demonstrate trustworthiness and
integrity in both your personal and professional
life in order to maintain the widest public trust
and confidence in the profession.
3. Equipment operation
● Only individuals required for the radiographic
procedure are to be in the room during the
exposure.
● All individuals present in the X-ray room during
an exposure must be protected from the
primary beam by at least 0.5 mm lead
equivalency and from scatter radiation by at
least 0.25 mm lead equivalency.
The Patient Care Partnership is a document created by the
American Hospital Association in 2003 that helps you as a
patient understand what your expectations should be with
regards to being a patient.