To answer the question, what are the functions of healthcare institutions, we have to pay attention to the fact that healthcare institutions are valuable and this is why!
In cities and the rest of the world, there are healthcare companies and institutions that expectedly look after the medical needs of the people of the area. They have many more facilities and are well-equipped to deal with any kind of emergency. They have a well-qualified staff and latest medical equipment.
The basic healthcare unit that exists in every village and small town is usually Primary Health Centers especially in Africa. There are Health Officers in each Primary Health Centre who are qualified doctors. These centers provide routine medical care to the people.
The patients who are serious or require surgery are sent to the government hospital in the nearest town. In very small villages, there are only Health Sub-Centers (HSC) or village clinics that have a trained health worker for providing basic health care.
For more efficiency, policies formulated and implemented for the actualization of the healthcare institution services delivery remained one of the primary duties of the health institutions in the world. Here are some of the functions of healthcare institutions in the world:
- Providing education for community health by teaching the importance of hygiene and sanitation.
- Looking after the general -health of the people and treating them for common diseases free or at a nominal cost.
- Running government dispensaries that provide even costly medicines free or at nominal cost.
- Providing vaccinations and inoculations against diseases like tuberculosis, cholera, polio and other epidemics, free of cost.
- Running family planning and maternity centers.
- Organizing drives to give people information about the prevention and causes of diseases like smallpox, cancer, AIDS, Hepatitis B, etc.
- Practicing preventive medicine in order to check the spread of diseases like dengue and malaria. Methods of preventive medicine are : creating awareness in the public, fumigation of high risk areas, drainage of standing water, etc.
- Providing prompt emergency care in case of natural calamities, epidemics and accidents.
What are the Functions of Healthcare Institutions
Health institutions were actually established to carry out certain responsibility with a view to make health care services accessible to all. This brings to the question, what are the functions of healthcare institutions anywhere in the world:
Develops Performance Standard For Internal Public Hospital Control
There is a set down standard, expected from every public hospital to comply with, since the health institutions are institutions that take care of human health, and as well as human life.
It will be a grave risk if the health institutions in the world play with human life by refusing to adhere or comply to the performance standard set for internal control of public hospitals.
Therefore to achieve this, developing performance standard for the purpose of controlling public hospitals internally remained one of the primary functions of health institutions.
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Approves Policy For Rate And Scale Of Charges Rendered To The Public
It is the functions of the health institutions in the world to approve policy for the rate and scale of charges that the hospital governing boards is rendering to the members of the public.
This is very important given the fact that, health care services, access by the members of the public, from the hospital governing boards, must be affordable enough for all to access health care services particularly, the poor and the vulnerable ones in the whole world.
Recommends For Capital And Operation Of Budgets Boards
Budgets for capital and operation of the hospital governing boards are recommended by the health institutions in the world.
In recommending this budgets, most important aspects of the budgets are taken into consideration while recommending the capital and operating budgets of the hospital governing boards, and this has to include, recommendation for increase in salaries, recommendation for major adjustments, recommendation for allowances as well as, recommendation for other hospital employees’ fringe benefits.
This specifically, is one of the major functions of the health institutions in the world.
Elevates Quality Health Practice In Professional Disciplines
Every profession is thriving to elevate the quality of practice in its professional disciplines, and therefore, the health institution in the world is not exempted.
So what it does is to ensure that it elevate the quality of health practice in health professional disciplines. The health institution does this by making sure that appropriate standard for health practice in the professional disciplines is advanced, as well as, the advancement of research priorities.
Collates And Analyzes Monthly Medical Statistical Data
Another functions of the health institution is that of making sure that, monthly medical statistical data is collates, as well as analyzes.
However, in collating and analyzing of medical statistical data every month, the health institution has to make sure that, its collation and analysis include, attendance and mobility and mortality and service utilization from hospital governing boards.
The health institution is expected to take these aspects of medical statistical data into consideration, while collating and analyzing the data monthly.
Obtains Annual Audited Accounts Of Hospitals And Hospital Boards
Annual hospitals accounts and that of the hospital boards are collected by the health institutions in the world. This is one of the functions of the health institutions.
This annual audited accounts of hospitals are obtained within three months once the preceding financial year might have ended.
Therefore, it is expected of the health institutions to make sure that, these audited accounts are obtained within the three months just after the expiration of the preceding financial year.
Coordinates And Integrates Various Hospital Services
The health institutions also coordinates and as well, integrates various services of hospitals at every level within the states for the purpose of making sure that there is conformity with the health policies and programmes within the states.
Hence, the coordination and the integration of these services as rendered by the hospitals to conform with hospital programmes and policies therefore remained the function the health institutions in the world.
Maximizes Effective Use Of Hospital Resources
Every parastatal need resources to run the activities of its institution, and so does the health institution. What the health institution does is to make sure that, the available resources accrued to the health institution is maximize effectively for the purpose of running the health sector within the state successfully.
Failure to maximize the available resources effectively may spelt doom to the health sector within the state.
Designs And Implements Community And School Based Information, Education, Etc
Another function of the health institution is in the area of designing, and as well, implementing the community and that of school-based information and education and communication (IEC) packages for the purpose of ensuring the promotion of health lifestyle among people and prevention of common infectious diseases / non communicable diseases, as well as, consumers’ knowledge plus their awareness of the right to quality health care and their individual obligation to good health services.
