HMSC: 12 Medical and Social Care Professions PDF

# HMSC: 12 Medical and Social Care Profession ## Profession A profession may include the professional skills and the professionals relying on such skills to earn a living. Their training should be recognized academic qualification and training that may be certified in an examination, their practice...

# HMSC: 12 Medical and Social Care Profession ## Profession A profession may include the professional skills and the professionals relying on such skills to earn a living. Their training should be recognized academic qualification and training that may be certified in an examination, their practice should be regulated by the relevant ordinance and code of practice based on the professional ethics and standards. ## Major characteristics of a profession - **Training** Expertise and professional skills acquired from the recognized academic qualification and training that may be certified in an examination. - **Regulation** The practice regulated by the relevant ordinance(s) and code of practice based on the professional ethics and standards. - **Professional association** The society or association established by own professionals, which has the authority to establish, review and monitor the qualification of its members. ## Types of health care and social care professionals ### Health services - Doctors, Dentists, Chinese Medicine Practitioners, Nurses. - **Specialized medical professional:** Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, Radiographers, Medical Laboratory Technologists, Pharmacists, Chiropractors, Midwives. ### Social services - Registered Social Workers, Social Work Assistant, Assistant Social Work Officer. ## Healthcare Professionals | Profession | Description | Relevant Ordinance | Governing body| |---|---|---|---| | **Doctors** | ① Examine and diagnose patients, prescribe medicines, conduct courses of treatment or surgery. ② Be responsible for health care administration, such as the promotion of public health.| Medical Registration Ordinance | Medical Council of Hong Kong | | **Dentists** | ① Examine, diagnose and treat patients with oral problems, conducting dental treatment or surgery such as extraction or filling. | Dentists Registration Ordinance | Dental Council of Hong Kong | | **Chinese Medicine Practitioners** | ① Piagnose and treat patients, using the theory of traditional Chinese medicine to diagnose symptoms through inspections, listening and smelling, inquiring and palpation. ② Prescribe traditional Chinese medicine according to patient's condition, conduct accupuncture, cupping, Tui Na massage etc. | Chinese Medicine Ordinance | Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong | | **Nurses (EN)-Enrolled Nurse** | ① Take care of patients. ② Register, dispense medication to a patient. ③ Nursing under the supervision of a registered nurse | Nursing Registration Ordinance | Nursing Council of Hong Kong | | **Nurses (RN)-Registered Nurse** | ① Patrol wards and monitor the patients in hospitals. ② Injection, cleaning, dressing and preliminary assessment of the patients (body temperature, blood pressure, etc). ③ Assist doctor with treatment or surgery. ④ May need to work with a doctor to make a clinical judgement. | Nursing Registration Ordinance | Nursing Council of Hong Kong| **EN:** Accredited pre-registration care courses (Higher Diploma / Associate Degree) **RN:** Bachelor's Degree in Nursing ## Specialised medical professionals | Profession | Description | Relevant Ordinance | Governing body| |---|---|---|---| | **Physiotherapy** | ① Restore bodily functions through different physical stimulation of human body. ② Use different equipment and therapies for rehabilitation and relieve the pain of patients. | Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance | The Supplementary Medical Professions Council| | **Occupational Therapists** | ① Assist patients to resume their ability to take care of themselves in general daily life using specially designed activities, devices and environments. ② Improve patients' daily living environment and arrange assistive tools | Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance| Occupational Therapists Board | ## Social Care Professionals | Profession | Description | Relevant Ordinance | Governing body | |---|---|---|---| | **Social Workers (RSW)-Registered Social Worker** | Provide various types of social services and support to people in need through different way and levels including:<br> ① **Casework:** focuses on individuals or families and assists the individuals to solve problems through counselling and interviews. <br>② **Group work:** aimed at groups, through group activities to promote the development of the members. <br>③ **Community:** targeted at the community organizing various activities to promote community relations and enhance residents' sense of belonging and responsibility to the district | Social Workers Registration Ordinance | Social Worker Registration Board | | **Social Work Assistant** / **Social Work Officer (Aswo)** | | Social Workers Registration Ordinance | | | **Assistant SWA** | | | | * **SWA:** Certificate/Diploma in Social Work * **Aswo:** Bachelor's Degree in Social Science majoring in Social Work * **Hong Kong Social Workers' Association** * **Hong Kong Social Workers' General Union** ## Professional Ethics - Code of Practice ### 1. Privacy / Confidentiality - Not to disclose the information about the clients without their consent. - To respect the privacy of the residents in the residential care by providing the private space ### 2. Equality - To serve all clients equally irrespective of race, nationality, belief, age, gender or social status etc. ### 3. Support and advocacy - To support clients in participation in planning and implementation of services. - To advocate initiatives / services for improving the health and well-being of the clients. ### 4. Client-centred / Respect - To respect the clients and assist them in making decisions. - To share information and collaborate with service users to meet a mutual agreement of a treatment plan/solution. - To provide more user friendly services, e.g online booking system. - To put interest of the clients on the top of the priority.