Angeles University Foundation

Angeles City, Pampanga

The Calling of a Health Care

Provider

Submitted by:
David, Florielle
Deang, Angela
Dela Cruz, Donna
Gamboa, Lois
Garcia, Caline
Garcia, Rachel
Lusung, Ashley
Manao, Angelica

Policarpio, Archie
Tarsenio, Maricris
Submitted to:
Sir Ace William G. Pasion

The Calling of a Health Care Provider

The Health Care Profession
I. Mertons Values of a Profession (Knowing, Doing and Helping
Principles)
Merton (1982) summarized the essence of professionalism as a triad of
values in the professions. The first value is knowing, that is, the development
of a body of knowledge unique to the field and the training of the members in
that unique body of knowledge. The second dominant professional value is
doing, that is, the skilled application of the theoretical knowledge to the
problems of life. Third, the acquired knowledge and skills are used in helping
others.

II.

Differences Between Profession and Occupation

The words occupation and profession are interchangeable. Profession
and occupation are almost the same, with only minor differences between
them.
The difference between occupation and profession can be stated with a
simple example: Designing a building would be called a profession, whereas,
constructing a building is an occupation.
A profession needs extensive training and specialized knowledge. On the
other hand, an occupation does not need any extensive training. A person with
an occupation need not have specialized knowledge of his trade.
A profession can be called an occupation when a person is paid for his
particular skills, and his deep knowledge. Doctors, engineers, advocates,
journalists, scientists, and many others, fall under the professional category.
On the other hand, persons engaged in an occupation are not paid for their
knowledge, but only for what they produce. Drivers, clerks and technicians fall
under the category of occupation.
1. A profession needs extensive training and specialized knowledge. On
the other hand, an occupation does not need any extensive training.

2. A profession can be called an occupation when a person is paid for his

particular skills, and his deep knowledge. Persons engaged in an
occupation are not paid for their knowledge, but only for what they
produce.
3. Unlike a person engaged in an occupation, a professional has to
undergo higher education.
4. A profession tends to be autonomous, whereas, for an occupation, no
one has autonomous power; he or she is supervised by another
person.
5. Unlike occupation, a profession demands that the responsibility lies
with the individual.
6. A profession is guided through certain ethical codes, and regulated by
certain statute.

III.

Characteristics of Trust
Trust is a fundamentally important aspect of medical treatment
relationships.
Elements of trust
1. The subjective element
We 'feel' confident that we can trust another person. This is particularly
the province of the 'Influential' type temperament that tends to make many
judgements based on their feelings. It may also be the first response of
individuals with a Kinaesthetic Perceptual Preference. ('Feeling' preference for
'receiving' rather than a hearing or seeing preference).
2. The objective element
We have examined all the facts, satisfied ourselves with all the data, yes
this person is trustworthy - we are able to trust. This is more likely to be the
attitude of the 'Compliant' or even the 'Dominant' type temperaments. They are
driven less by their feelings and more by the facts.
3. The action element

Having made the decision to trust based on the other two elements, we
then have to proceed and trust in some form. This could be with a task, or with
a confidence, certainly in some format that would serve as a building block to a
long term trust based relationship.
4. The reflective element
If this is a first time trust, it is good to reflect on the outcome. If the other
person proved to be trustworthy and gained a satisfactory positive outcome,
this will build your confidence. Over time, these positive experiences will serve
to grow trust and build interpersonal relationships.
Trust is...
Accountability & Responsibility
If someone considers you to be trustworthy, then by accepting that trust
you become accountable for a satisfactory outcome or result. You also accept
the responsibility that goes along with it. We are responsible for delivering to
expectation whilst honouring the trust that has been placed in us.
Some people choose not to trust as they wish to remain independent.
Fuelled by their own self-sufficiency, they may even see it as weakness having
to trust someone else for an outcome. At the other end of the spectrum are the
'dependents' who may look on a continuous basis to other people to take the
lead and even design their destiny for them. Interdependency is the ideal status
for the Trustworthy adviser and client. This not only fuels mutual trust but
also mutual respect, mutual concern and mutual comfort.
Vulnerability and Risk
By putting his/her trust in you, clients can make themselves vulnerable
to you by relinquishing partial or perhaps even total control for an outcome.
This is not done either easily or lightly.
Strong emotions are always involved when we make ourselves vulnerable,
only to find that trust is broken. We feel let down and usually angry with the
person who betrayed our trust. If we trust someone, we are taking the risk that
for better or worse they will affect the outcome. This can be particularly
difficult for people with an obsessive - compulsive personality or perfectionism

tendencies. They are usually very conscientious, able to do a good job

themselves and find it difficult to trust others to do as good a job as they
themselves would manage.
IV.

Health Care Provider and Patient Relationship

By the phrase healthcare provider we mean primary care physicians,
specialist physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, medical
technologists, and others who act to diagnose and treat patient illnesses and
disorders in healthcare settings. In the course of healthcare encounters
patients may interact with many other clinicians such as nurses and
technicians, but it is the healthcare provider who most determines the course
of the therapeutic relationship.
Certain aspects of the relationship between providers and patients are
generally accepted and relatively uncontroversial. The relationship is seen as
fiduciary, meaning that it is based on trust. The patient trusts the provider
with his or her healthcare and the provider is expected to fulfill certain duties
toward the patient. Obligations toward patients include:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Technical competence in the providers area of expertise

Acting so as avoid harming the patient (non-maleficence)
Acting for the patients benefit (beneficence)
Keeping patient information confidential (under normal circumstances)

The provider is also considered to be a professional. A profession has

standards and expectations about such matters as established methods of
specialized training, possession of proper certification, mastery of requisite
skills, possession of authoritative knowledge, expectations of appropriate
behavior and judgment, high quality of performance, devotion to the area or
field of expertise, and codes of ethical conduct.
Besides what is mentioned above, physicians should, among other
things, avoid exploiting patients, avoid engaging in sexual relations with
patients, and respect the rights of patients to make their own decisions about
treatment and procedures.

V.

Duties and Rights of a Patient

As a patient, you have the right to:

Receive medical care. You have the right to receive medical care no matter
what your race, sex, beliefs, country of birth, religion, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, disability or source of payment.
Be treated with dignity and respect. You have the right to be free of any
abuse, neglect, shame, and/or feeling like you are being taken advantage of
or revenge from those providing care to you.
Have your values and beliefs respected. Please let us know if you have
cultural or religious practices that need to be part of your care. You have the
right to get help for special needs. This could include special meals because
of religious or cultural practices.
Have accessibility services. This may include reasonable access to an
interpreter to communicate with your healthcare team in the language you
prefer, have reasonable access to translated materials, large print, TTY
phones, amplifier and other devices that can aide in improving
communication.
Use clothing and other personal items. You may bring in your own
clothing and other personal items as long as they are safe and not offensive
to others. You will have use of a telephone and may receive mail. Phone
contact, mail and visitors may be limited at times because of your medical
condition. If there are questions about these, please talk to the nurse, social
worker or your doctor.
Have visitors of your choice. You can ask staff to help limit your visitors to
certain people or times. Hospital policy says visitors may be limited if
required for your health or safety, or the safety of other patients or staff.
Please ask for a copy of the policy if you want more information.
Receive age-appropriate care and education. Children who are patients
have the right to care and education that meets their age and developmental
needs.
Expect personal privacy. You can expect privacy in care discussions,
exams and treatments.
Keep your medical records private. You have the right to have your
medical records and plans for your care kept private. Your medical record
will not be given to anyone without your consent, except when required by
law or by your insurance plan.
Keep your identity private. You can expect that any images or recordings
with information that could identify you will be kept private.
Know who is caring for you. You have the right to know who is caring for
you and what their position is at the hospital. Ask members of your health

care team to tell you their name, and what care they will give to you. All
hospital staff should be wearing ID badges.
Receive clear communication. You have the right to receive information
about your care given to you in a way that you can understand. If you are
not sure what you have been told or have been given in writing, ask a
member of your health care team to go over the information again with you.
We need your approval to share any information about your health, your
care or your treatment with family and friends.
A safe and clean environment. You have the right to a safe, clean and
secure environment while you are in the hospital.
Report concerns regarding care and safety. You have the right to report
concerns or complaints about your care and safety and receive help to
resolve your concerns.
Request hospital policies. You have the right to know the rules and
policies of the hospital that involve your care during your hospital stay.
These include the policies for visitors, safety and no tobacco use.
Participate in decisions about your care. You have the right to make
decisions about your care, treatment and services, including refusing
treatment.
Give or refuse consent for treatment. You have the right to know the
risks, benefits and other options for treatment before you give consent for
treatment, except in an emergency situation.
Have your pain evaluated and managed. Your healthcare team will ask
you about your pain and will help you with pain management.
Get a second opinion. If you are not sure about your care or treatment
plan, you may ask for the advice of another doctor or care team member.
Complete advance directives. You have the right to complete advance
directives that can include a living will, do not resuscitate (DNR) order and
durable power of attorney for health care. The durable power of attorney for
health care allows you to identify another person to make decisions about
your care if you are not able to for any reason. You can ask for help to
complete an advance directive.
Receive written discharge instructions. You have the right to receive
written discharge instructions from your doctor about your follow-up care
before leaving the hospital.
Request a meeting with the Hospital Ethics Committee. You or your
family can ask for this help to discuss issues about your care.
See your medical record. Your doctor can review your record with you in
the hospital, if you ask. After you leave the hospital, you can call the office

of Medical Information Management to get your records. You can also ask for
changes or corrections to your record based on laws and rules.
Receive information about the cost for your treatment and payment
options. If you have questions about your hospital bill, please ask to talk to
a financial assistance counselor.
Choose whether or not you want to be part of clinical trials or
educational programs. Research to improve health is part of the mission of
Ohio States Medical Center. We may use patient information in research but
we will not identify patients unless we have their permission.
Receive information about transfers. You have the right to receive
information about a transfer to another doctor, unit or facility before it
happens.

There are a number of things that you can do to help health care workers
provide better care. You should:

VI.

To call your personal doctor first before going to another doctor or

clinic or to the emergency room if it is not a real emergency;
To give as many facts as you can to help your doctor or other health care
provider take care of you;
To call your doctor or clinic and let them know if you cannot come to
an appointment;
To follow the instructions you get from your personal doctor or clinic;
To ask questions about anything you do not understand; and
To follow the rules set up by your personal doctor for his or her office or
clinic. This includes showing respect and courtesy to the doctor, his or her
employees, and other patients and their families.

Factors Needed in Ethical Decisions

Ethics is always related to knowing what is right and differentiating it
from what is wrong. When people do ethical decision making, it is always
necessary to choose what is right over the other choices.
But there are certainly a lot of factors that may affect the ethical decision
that a person is going to make. One of the factors that will really affect how a
person makes an ethical decision is his or her own set of morals and values.

Even though ethics and morals are different, people associate morals into these
decisions because these are what they think is correct and just.
Another factor that could affect the decision of an individual is the
person involved in the problem. It is generally much harder to make a decision
when you are close with the people in the situation as to making a choice
between people that you do not know.
The set of principles of a person might be different from the views of
another. This is primarily due to the influence obtained by the person while
growing up. One of the great sources of principles is family. The series of
standards that a person has may also be dictated by religion and culture.
VII.

Psychoanalytical Model
People present themselves for medical care because they have a "problem.'
The problem is usually, a symptom, a manifestation that gives them grounds
for believing something is amiss. Pain, fatigue, and functional incapacity are
examples. Frequently, the symptoms are accompanied by a sign or signs,
observed by the physician, such as jaundice or pallor or a particular odor. The
symptom reported and the signs observed all are defined as departures from a
norm of physical function and, therefore, are deserving of further investigation.
Symptoms, in this model, are conceptualized to be the result of some
pathological process ongoing in the patient, (e.g., infection), on the basis of
which conceptualization further examination is conducted to determine the
nature of the pathology.
As pathology is conceived to be causal to symptomatology, so is etiology
causal to pathology. Thus, for example, infection is caused by a particular
etiological agent, say, streptococcus B, which is deemed to be the fundamental
basis for the manifestations that have appeared in the diagnostic study of the
individual and that define that individual as a patient.
This model of a hierarchical relationship of symptomatology pathology, and
etiology has important characteristics. First, it constitutes a theoretical ideal of
the diagnostic process. If one can know the three elements of the model, one
can understand fully the multiple departures from the norm of the physical
processes involved in any disease entity. Further, the model provides an ideal
that parallels the ideal model of treatment for disease. One can treat symptoms
palliatively, for example, using analgesics for pain. Or one can treat pathology

in a general way," for example, using broad-spectrum antibiotics for an

infection. Finally, the knowledge of the etiology enables the selection of a
specific treatment choice as well as the development of preventative methods
for the protection of individuals and, ultimately, the elimination of the
etiological agent from nature.
In the treatment model that interfaces the diagnostic model I have just
reviewed, the patient is understood to be without responsibility for any of the
three aspects of the disease. To be sure, a patient may be responsible for
creating conditions of living that make a disease process possible, but once it
has begun, the patient's responsibility for it and the power to alter it diminish
or disappear. At that point, the health care professional assumes responsibility
for prescribing the treatment and implementing its application. The patient, in
this model, is limited to complying or not complying with what has been
prescribed.

VIII.

Characteristics of a Good Health Care Provider

1. Professionalism. Health care providers may be expected to attend board
meetings that may include senior doctors or nurses. This requires the
provider to be professional in collaborating with others, working as part
of a team. The provider should be able to create a professional
environment to help assure the patient that the health care facility's
services are trustworthy and reliable.
2. Emotional stability. Health care providers should be able to handle
stressful situations, such as caring for terminally ill patients. Other
factors may also contribute to stress, such as dealing with the death of a
patient. The provider must be emotionally stable and not allow these
types of incidents affect job performance.
3. Sharp appearance. Health care providers should be neat in appearance.
Most employers expect providers to be well groomed. In addition, many
employers don't allow heavy jewelry and accessories to be worn with the
health provider's uniform.
4. Good communicator. Good communication skills are essential to a
health provider. Providers should have the ability to communicate with

patients and families about care plans and hospital policies. The provider
should also be a good listener when addressing a patient's concerns or
needs. Providers may be required to communicate with other employees
to help provide patient care.
5. Caring. Health care providers usually deal with patients who are severely
ill. They must provide a caring and warm environment to help ease the
patient's discomfort. The provider should be compassionate and able to
speak kind words to the patient.
6. Flexible. Health care providers, specifically those who work in hospitals,
may be required to work long hours that include weekends and holidays.
They may be required to be on-call in the event of an emergency.
Providers must be flexible and willing to arrange their work schedules to
meet their employer's needs.
7. Detail-oriented. Health care providers should follow directions carefully
to help avoid errors, specifically when administering a patient's
medication.
IX.

Commitment of a Health Care Provider

1. Commitment to professional competence. Health care workers must
be committed to lifelong learning and be responsible for maintaining the
medical knowledge and clinical and team skills necessary for the
provision of quality health care. More broadly, the profession as a whole
must strive to see that all of its members are competent and must ensure
that appropriate mechanisms are available for physicians to accomplish
this goal.
2. Commitment to honesty with patients. Health care workers must
ensure that patients are completely and honestly informed before the
patient has consented to treatment and after treatment has occurred.
Whenever patients are injured as a consequence of medical care, patients
should be informed promptly because failure to do so seriously
compromises patient and societal trust.
3. Commitment to patient confidentiality. Earning the trust and
confidence of patients requires that appropriate confidentiality

safeguards be applied to disclosure of patient information. This

commitment extends to discussions with persons acting on a patients
behalf when obtaining the patients own consent is not feasible.
4. Commitment to maintaining appropriate relations with patients.
Given the inherent vulnerability and dependency of patients, certain
relationships between health care workers and patients must be avoided.
5. Commitment to improving quality of care. Health care workers must
be dedicated to continuous improvement in quality health care. This
commitment entails not only maintaining clinical competence but also
working collaboratively with other professionals to reduce medical error,
increase patient safety, minimize overuse of health care resources, and
optimize the outcomes of care.
6. Commitment to scientific knowledge. Much of medicines contract
with society is based on the integrity and appropriate use of scientific
knowledge and technology. Health care workers have a duty to uphold
scientific standards, to promote research, and to create new knowledge
and ensure its appropriate use.
7. Commitment to professional responsibilities. As members of
profession, health care workers are expected to work collaboratively
maximize patient care, be respectful of one another, and participate
the processes of self-regulation, including remediation and discipline
members who have failed to meet professional standards.
X.

a
to
in
of

Health Professional Relationships with Other Health Professionals

1. Mutual Responsibility
Mutual responsibility for (or joint ownership of) a partnership
denotes a highly developed and sophisticated level of commitment, often
referred to as collaboration. Different levels of commitment can be
described in terms of a hierarchy, with collaboration being the highest
(deepest) level.
2. Mutual Support

Mutual support is the essence of teamwork. It creates a safety net

for both patient and caregiver by:
o Reducing work overload situations
o Increasing effectiveness of caregivers
o Decreasing the risk of error
3. Mutual Respect
Recognizing workers' talents and contributions regardless of
diverse cultural or physical characteristics is just one component of
mutual respect. In the workplace, there is one common goal: profitability.
Employee diversity is a non-factor in assessing employee capabilities
where the quality of work is an issue. Mutual respect in the workplace is
based, in large part, on respect for colleagues' abilities and skills -- how
well their expertise matches their job assignments. Mutual respect
acknowledges talent, not race, color, gender or culture.
Respect for coworkers and their respective roles in the workplace
encourages a collegial work atmosphere. It also fosters collaboration,
synergy and cooperation, which are essential ingredients for creating a
workforce that values productivity, performance and the quality of its
products or services.

Virtues of Health Care Providers

I.

Fidelity
The principle of fidelity broadly requires that we act in ways that are loyal.
This includes keeping our promises, doing what is expected of us, performing
our duties and being trustworthy. Role fidelity entails the specific loyalties
associated with a particular professional designation, and Purtillo (2005) lists
five expectations associated with what patients might reasonably expect in
terms of fidelity in the health care context:
1. That you treat them with basic respect.
2. That you, the caregiver or other health care professional, are competent
and capable of performing the duties required of your professional role.
3. That you adhere to a professional code of ethics.

4. That you follow the policies and procedures of your organization and
applicable laws.
5. That you will honor agreements made with the patient.
II.

Honesty
Medicine is a powerful instrument of both good and harm, depending
upon how medical knowledge and skill are used. Knowing when one does not
know and having the humility and ability to admit it and to obtain assistance
are virtues critical to avoiding harm and demand intellectual honesty.

III.

Integrity
Integrity is the quality of being honest and having strong moral
principles; moral uprightness. It is generally a personal choice to uphold
oneself to consistently moral and ethical standards.
In ethics, integrity is regarded by many people as the honesty and
truthfulness or accuracy of one's actions. Integrity can stand in opposition to
hypocrisy, in that judging with the standards of integrity involves regarding
internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding within
themselves apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy
or alter their beliefs.

IV.

Humility
Humility is claimed to be a moral virtue in certain ethical systems.
Humility is the quality or condition of being meek and submissive. Since
virtues are guides to actions, humility as a virtue asks that you act pathetic,
lowly, and ignoble. True humility requires you to believe it.
Humility is the opposite of pride. As opposed to the crown of virtues,
humility is the poison of virtues. Every act of virtue is cause for scorn,
because you are attempting to be good. Instead of accepting yourself as a
worm, you are trying to be human. This is a great sin in many ethical
systems. If you are happy about who you are, you will want to live for yourself.
This is clearly unacceptable in ethical systems, such as altruism, where you
are to sacrifice yourself for others. Pride gets in the way of sacrifice. Only
humility serves that end.

V.

Respect
Respect is a quality we are all capable of giving to others and we should
also expect to get it back. Respect is no matter what your job is always have
respect for yourself and do your job well. Respect your co-workers no matter
how small their job maybe. Respect is also being honest, kind, compassion,
and loyal to yourself and others. Respect is important because it helps you to
choose good friends and strength your character. Respect is something
earned. It also taking people's feelings, needs, and thoughts into
consideration. Respect cannot be demanded or forced even though some
people thinks so.

VI.

Compassion
Compassion is feeling for the loss/suffering of another with an attempt
beyond obligation to help or avoid that loss/suffering. For any situation or
clinical decision, a physician must assume the predicament of the patient in
order to feel something of the patient's plight if his scientific judgments are to
be morally defensible and suited to the life of that patient.

VII.

Prudence
It is defined as the intellectual virtue which rightly directs particular
human acts, through rectitude of the appetite, toward a good end. Emotional
well-being, we will argue, comes about through a certain structuring of the
entire network of human emotions, one that results from a proper disposing
of the emotions by the virtues. If we are correct, then prudence is the mother
of emotional health.
Prudence, however, is not merely an intellectual virtue; it is also a moral
virtue. A moral virtue is a habit that makes its possessor good. One may be
brilliant and learned without being morally good, but it is not possible to be
prudent and not morally good. The prudent man is one who does the good,
as opposed to one who merely knows the good.

VIII.

Courage
We too often think of courage in modern life requiring unique heroism or
call to duty on a grand scale, such as in situations of rescue and war. Of

course, in war humans sometimes fight because they are embarrassed not to.
For courage to be authentic, one must encounter fear and prove superior to
the fear through right action.
Fear of what? Most directly, physical courage exists in the face of bodily
harm or death. In other words, physical courage is demonstrated by acting
regardless of fear for one's life or livelihood. We need a different kind of
courage than physical courage on a daily basis. Leadership character requires
moral courage: to become a better leader; to stand up for what is right when
we stand alone; to do what is right despite disapproval or negative peer
pressure; or to take risks in our quest to achieve what is important. These
take Courage -- without it we go nowhere, accomplish little, lack meaning and
regret much. Courage is the primer for any other virtue.
IX.

Truth
Patients normally assume their healthcare provider is telling them the
truth about a diagnosis, the results of a test, or in recommending treatment
options. Historically, providers have not been as honest and revealing as
patients probably assumed. Physicians sometimes felt patients couldnt
handle the truth. Decades ago, if a patient were diagnosed with terminal
cancer the physician sometimes felt it was best if the patient wasnt told.
Better to let the patient enjoy their last few months happy rather than sad
and depressed.

X.

Love
Ethical thinkers have to the present day laughed at the ethic of love.
They have considered love only in its social aspects, and not as personal love
with inclusive teleology. To them love has meant only altruism, which to their
way of thinking is something meaningless to the modern man, charged as he
is with the responsibility of self-realization.
Love is the social cohesive force: it has the power to bind society together
from within. That is, love is not humanly originated, but may be regarded as
the dynamic and explosive force experienced within the re-created spirit.
Hence, in the ethics of love we think not merely of social morality, but we
discover the inner power of God, perennially creative; and we discern the form
of Godlike perfection, transcending that of so-called perfectionism, entering
into our inner nature.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

Faith

Hard Work

Social Justice
Justice refers to an equitable balance of benefits and burdens with
particular attention to situations involving the allocation of resources.
Munson (2004) offers four specific principles of distributive justice that can
be considered in situations involving the distribution of material goods and
resources, especially those that are scarce. The principle of equality requires
that all benefits and burdens be distributed equally. The advantage to this
conception of justice is that everyone is entitled to an equal share of
resources; however the principle becomes problematic when not everyone is
perceived as equally deserving of an equal share.

Vices
I.
II.

Authority and Power

Pride
Pride is excessive belief in one's own abilities that interferes with the
individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from
which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.

III.

Greed
Greed is an excessive desire to possess wealth or goods with the
intention to keep it for one's self.

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http://www.medicaid.state.al.us/documents/3H4g-Pt1stRightsDuties.pdf
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