29 Dec What Are Ancillary Services In Healthcare?

Audiology refers to the area of medicine that focuses on hearing, balance, and associated disorders and diseases. Audiology relies on the latest technological advancements to provide the most current diagnosis and treatments for hearing and balance issues so that patients receive the best care possible. An audiologist provides this type of care and specializes in education and training to identify, treat, and rehabilitate hearing and balance issues.

Blood tests refer to an umbrella of testing that health providers utilize to monitor a variety of health concerns. It’s not uncommon for people to have blood work done as part of preventative care and annual exams, but it may also be ordered if you are experiencing certain symptoms.

Blood tests may evaluate certain levels of minerals and platelets in the blood, while others may evaluate hormone or protein levels. For many people, blood tests can be the first step in properly diagnosing a medical condition.

Cardiac monitoring allows health professionals to monitor the heart activity of patients whose symptoms occur more sporadically. Different types of devices can be used for cardiac monitoring that can be carried by hand, on the wrist, or worn in the pocket. Typically, the monitoring lasts for 30 days at a time. The results allow doctors to make conclusions about heart conditions and determine if further testing or treatment is necessary.

Genetic testing is used to identify any changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins that determine if a person has or carries certain genetic disorders. Genetic testing is considered voluntary and can present both benefits and limitations. Given the personal nature of genetic testing, patients with concerns should discuss whether testing is appropriate and necessary with a genetic counselor.

Laboratory tests can include a variety of tests that focus on a person’s blood, urine, or body tissue. The sample is then evaluated to determine if it falls into a normal range based on factors such as sex, age, medical history, or diet. Like blood tests, laboratory tests are often part of your annual checkup but may also be conducted to rule out certain medical conditions.

Mobile diagnostic services refer to ancillary services that bring diagnostic testing and medical imaging directly to patients, such as to homes, workplaces, or other convenient locations. This approach offers increased accessibility and convenience, particularly for people who may have difficulty traveling to and from medical offices. Mobile diagnostic services cover a range of diagnostic tests and imaging procedures such as X-rays or ultrasounds.

Radiology, also known as diagnostic imaging, is a medical specialty that uses various techniques to visualize the body’s internal structures for diagnosis and treatment planning. These imaging techniques help healthcare professionals understand the nature of diseases, injuries, or abnormalities without the need for invasive procedures.

Sleep laboratory services, also known as sleep studies or polysomnography, are specialized medical services that focus on diagnosing and treating sleep disorders. These services typically involve monitoring various physiological parameters during sleep to assess patterns, identify abnormalities, and guide treatment recommendations.

Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to provide healthcare services remotely. It involves the exchange of medical information through electronic communication to facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care. Telemedicine utilizes various communication tools, such as video conferencing, phone calls, secure messaging, and mobile health apps, to connect patients with healthcare professionals.

Ancillary allergy services include identification, diagnosis, and state-of-the-art testing and immunotherapy treatment that work better than over-the-counter allergy medications because they aim to treat the cause of the allergy instead of only reducing symptoms. Allergen immunotherapy works by decreasing your body’s sensitivity to allergens and increasing your body’s immunity to allergens.

Common allergens that you can be tested for include:

• Cedar
• Dust
• Grasses
• Insects
• Molds
• Oak
• Pets
• Pollen

Allergy testing is available for adults and children aged two years and older, but you will need to be cleared for allergy testing by your doctor if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding, if you have uncontrolled asthma, or if you take beta-blocker medication. The allergy testing process takes about 15 minutes to complete and involves pain-free skin testing, the most accurate and reliable test available for allergies.

Ancillary behavioral and mental health services help ensure you receive individualized care rather than given generic solutions that may not work well in your unique situation. Many of these services appeal to personal recreational interests, such as animals, art, and music.

• Art and music therapy can help you identify and express pent-up feelings in a healthy and productive way.
• Biofeedback incorporates guided imagery, sound therapy, and vibrations to induce a meditative state. It can be helpful in treating anxiety.
• Equine therapy is a form of pet therapy in which you spend time with horses. Animals have a profound impact on mental health.¹
• Meditation and yoga can improve life balance and peace of mind. These practices also offer physical benefits such as increased energy and physical strength and improved cardiovascular endurance and respiratory health.

Other types of ancillary services for coping with behavioral and mental health issues include:

• Chiropractic therapy
• Nutritional therapy
• Reality therapy
• Smoking cessation

Ancillary chiropractic services aim to find and treat pain in your joints, ligaments, and muscles throughout your body, but usually in your back and spine. The idea behind chiropractic care is that properly aligning your spine and other joints can help your body heal from injury.

Misalignment of your spine puts pressure on your nerves, causing pain and other issues. Chiropractic care reduces pain from nerve pressure and can help you recover more quickly from an injury, increase your range of motion, and make it so you do not need to take as much pain medication.

Other benefits of chiropractic care include improved immune system function, posture, and sleep quality. Chiropractic care performed by a licensed and trained professional is generally safe, but this treatment may cause temporary soreness and stiffness.

Diabetes education consists of one-on-one consultations, group classes, and programs to help you learn to prevent or manage diabetes. It involves a multidisciplinary approach to help you come up with individual goals and treatment plans.

There are also a variety of classes and support programs for people who have a loved one who has diabetes. Classes for people who have diabetes incorporate and encourage the use of self-management skills like exercise, medication, and stress reduction to manage diabetes.

Gestational diabetes management includes determining caloric needs, meal planning, and monitoring skills. During individual counseling, you meet one-on-one with a registered dietitian/diabetes educator to analyze your personal goals in the areas of exercise, nutrition, and overall health. A diabetes educator can also help you manage related conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and weight issues.

The purpose of dialysis treatment is to help rid your blood of extra fluid and waste products when your kidneys cannot perform this function as they normally do, such as if you have an acute kidney injury (AKI) or kidney failure. Dialysis also helps you maintain normal blood pressure and safe blood levels of minerals such as calcium, potassium, and sodium.

There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). In HD, a filtering machine known as a dialyzer removes your blood from your body a little at a time, filters out waste and excess fluid from your blood outside of your body, and then returns the filtered blood back into your body. In PD, your blood is filtered without being removed from your body.

Occupational therapy helps you perform activities referred to as occupations. For example, in a school setting, occupational therapy will help students actively participate in both academic and non-academic activities throughout the school day. School occupational therapists are also responsible for educating parents and school staff members such as teachers and administrators.

There are many components of occupational therapy, including:

• Analyzing activities and environments and recommending ways to improve access, participation, and progress
• Helping to identify long-term goals
• Preparing clients for successful transition into employment, further education, and/or independent living
• Providing assistive technology
• Reducing barriers that limit participation
• Supporting the needs of clients who have significant challenges, such as by helping determine alternatives and modifications to certain activities

A med spa offers nonsurgical aesthetic medical treatments performed by aesthetic nurse practitioners and supervised by a licensed physician such as a plastic surgeon.
Treatments commonly offered by med spas include:

• Botulinum toxin injections such as Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin
• Injectable dermal fillers
• Laser hair removal
• Laser skin resurfacing
• Microdermabrasion
• Non Surgical fat reduction
• Tattoo removal

If you want to use a med spa to correct skin issues, you may be able to get a comprehensive complexion analysis done. For this analysis, your provider will use high-resolution computerized imaging to guide them in assessing your skin and developing your treatment plan. A high-quality med spa will also do a follow-up analysis to review your treatment plan’s results.

Many of the treatments offered at a med spa are not one-and-done procedures; rather, they are more likely to be fulfilled over several appointments. Some med spas offer loyalty programs, monthly memberships, or subscription services to make it easier and more affordable for you to complete your full course of treatment.

It is a good idea to ask to see before and after pictures of past clients so you can get an idea of the quality of the practitioner’s work before you have them perform any procedures on you.

Patients can seek guidance on diet and nutrition either from private dietician/nutritionist practices or from a program. The foods you eat have a direct impact on many health conditions and concerns, including:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Fiber
• Food and drug interactions
• Healthy Aging
• Heart health (managing high blood pressure and high cholesterol)
• Kidney disease
• Neurological disorders and spinal cord injuries
• Plant-based and sustainable eating
• Vitamins and supplements
• Weight management (helping you lose or gain weight in order to reach a healthy weight)
• Wellness and healthy living
• Women’s Health

An example of a program providing guidance for a healthier diet is Nutrition and Food Service (NFS), which provides quality food for Veteran patients. This program is led by NFS Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) who offer nutrition education and counseling to increase wellness and prevent disease.

Physical therapy (PT) focuses on exercise and musculoskeletal medicine to help you recover and rehabilitate after an injury or surgery. Physicians and physical therapists share equipment, facilities, office space, patients, and personnel in ancillary physical therapy, and they work together to improve patient care. Being able to see your doctor and physical therapist at the same time and place can help you miss less work and recover more quickly.

Speech therapy is a treatment that improves speaking and other language skills. It helps you communicate your thoughts to others and improve your comprehension of what others say to you. It can also strengthen your memory and problem-solving abilities. Speech therapy is administered by speech-language pathologists (also known as SLPs or speech therapists).
Speech therapy is helpful in treating a wide range of conditions, including:

• Aphasia
• Apraxia
• Articulation disorder
• Cognitive-communication disorders
• Dysarthria
• Expressive disorders
• Fluency disorders
• Receptive disorders
• Resonance disorders

Speech therapy is effective for both adults and children. The activities done during speech therapy sessions vary based on the patient’s age. Speech therapy for children typically includes play through language-based board games or sequencing activities. Speech therapy for adults typically focuses on correcting or reestablishing certain skill sets, such as improving brain-mouth coordination.

If you have respiratory failure, you may need to be put on a mechanical ventilator (sometimes called a breathing machine) if you are having trouble breathing or getting sufficient oxygen into your blood.² Mechanical ventilators move air in and out of your lungs, and your doctor will adjust the machine’s settings so it pushes the right amount of air into your lungs at the right times.

You will need a mask or, in more severe cases, a breathing tube to deliver the oxygen from the machine to your lungs. When your condition has improved enough for you to breathe on your own again, your doctor will gradually reduce the flow of oxygen from the ventilator (a process referred to as weaning off) until it can be removed.

Ventilators are usually used in air ambulances, ground ambulances, and hospitals, but you may be able to use a ventilator in your home if you have a long-term need for it and you have a caregiver who is trained in how to administer and manage ventilator care.

Possible risks associated with being on a ventilator include vocal cord damage and an increased risk of developing pneumonia.

Wound care avoids infection, reduces pain, and stimulates healing. Severe wounds need to be treated in a hospital, but some wounds can be treated at home or in a skilled nursing facility.
Features of a hospital complex wound care program include specialized care, focused rehabilitation services, and patient and family support services.

Receiving wound care in a hospital ensures that your care team will use the most up-to-date technology and treatment, including wound analysis, monitoring, specially designed beds and equipment, and an on-site laboratory for medication management services and testing.

Treatment may also include antibiotics and nutrition support. Rehabilitation services may include occupational, physical, and/or speech-language therapy to restore the ability to perform self-care, movement, and strength. In addition to patient support, education and support are also available for the patient’s family members.