If you have to stay in the hospital, you will meet many different kinds of health care professionals. Some will be doctors and nurses. Some will work on the business and financial side. It may be hard to figure out who’s who. Some hospitals use coloured uniforms to help you tell the difference. But you may not know what these staff members do because titles can change from hospital to hospital. For example, an anaesthsiologist also may be called an anaesthesia care provider. Most hospitals do require staff members to wear a visitor’s badge. This is for your safety. If someone without a badge enters your room, press your call button. A nurse will come and help you. The following will show you the types of people who work at hospitals and a little about what they do.

      Patient relation Assistant – Whenever you check into the hospital, your first stop in the registration desk. Here you meet the P.R.A. The P.R.A. enters your information into the computer. This includes your name, address, phone number, etc., it may also include your employer, work address, work phone and insurance information. You may be asked to fill out some forms.

      Billing staff – they are there to help you figure out how to pay your hospital bill. They can help set up a payment plan. Or they can look into Medicaid or other programs like insurance.

      Patient account representatives – You may never meet your patient account representative. You probably will talk by phone or through the mail. This is the person who bills your insurance company and collects your part of the bill. Should you have any questions, please call extn. 2017

      Many different health care professionals will visit your room while you are in the hospital. Some are doctors and nurses. Some are technicians who do tests. Some may come just to take your temperature. Not everyone is medically qualified to answer your temperature. The following will help you understand who is caring for you and who is qualified to do what.

      Ward Aides / Ward Boys – These are assistants to help registered nurses (RNs). They cannot answer your medical questions but can pass them on to a RN. This usually is the first person you see in the morning. They help you bathe, change your sheets, etc

      Registered nurses – RNs take care of you based on your doctor’s orders. They watch and record your progress. They help the doctor treat and examine you. Specialists are doctors that work in a particular area. Your doctor may ask them to help with your care.

      Physician assistants (PAs) are trained to help doctors. Generally they can examine you and answer your medical questions. They can order test and make a diagnosis. They may or may not be able to give orders or prescribe medicine. They may visit you alone or with a doctor.

      Technicians – You ma see many different kinds of technicians while you are in the hospital. It depends on your condition. It also depends on the tests you need. There are blood lab technicians, radiology technicians, cardiac technicians, and more. Test can be done at your bedside. Sometimes you are taken to another department for tests.

      You may need to see a therapist while you are in the hospital. What kind of therapist work with joints, muscles and heart/lung function. They help you regain strength, flexibility and endurance. Physical therapists help with:

• Arthritis

• Back injuries

• Foot, ankle, or knee injuries

• Hand injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome

• Hip injuries

• Shoulder injuries

• Neck pain

• Osteoporosis

• Scoliosis

      Speech therapists – Speech and language therapists help communications to the best of your ability. These therapists help with communication problems due to:

• Stroke

• Head injury

• Cancer of the mouth and throat

• Illness such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and motor neuron disease

• Physical disability such as cerebral palsy

• Hearing problems

      The dieticians will visit you on their rounds. They select your meal from an approved menu, based on doctors advise. If you have to change your diet long-term or have any special concerns, you can ask to personally meet your dietician.