BHA FPX 2003 Assessment 3 Treasure Hunt: Roles and Responsibilities of Healthcare Professionals

Provider Example: Primary Care Physician Source: Clobes, 2022

Conducts in-depth Care Management, diagnosis of illness, and treatment planning; conducts regular health checks; provides prevention; makes referrals to specialists as needed.

Usually these include medical school, residency, and board certification in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, or a related specialty.

Required: Licensed physician in the state [Required] and Primary or specialty board certification (e.g., FM, IM, etc.).

May perform physical examination, diagnoses, and treatment of various conditions, prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests, and make referrals. The definition can differ somewhat from state to state or health care setting to health care setting, but generally scope includes a large degree of independence in providing patient care services.

Respects patient confidentiality and informed consent and acts in accordance with ethical guidelines pertaining to these and respects patient autonomy and evidence-based medical practice. Anticipated to place patient needs first, understand and avoid potential conflicts of interest, and show cultural competency when with patients.

Providers Role 1 is the Medical Doctor (MD)

American Board of Medical Specialties, 2025.

Provide a diagnosis and treatment for acute/chronic illnesses, order and interpret tests, create treatment plans, perform specialty procedures/surgeries, coordinate interdisciplinary care, and educate patients and families about prevention and health maintenance, preventive strategies.

Education involves a bachelor’s degree and four years of medical education (MD or DO) with a three- to seven-year period of intensive residency training in the desired specialty and, possibly, residency training in a sub-specialty, and a certificate.

Obtaining a state medical license to practice medicine in a state after passing United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX).

Interpret and order lab tests, imaging, prescribe medications including controlled substances, perform specialty procedures/surgery, and refers/consults with health care practitioners to evaluate and diagnose problems associated with all organ systems.

Role 2: Nurse Practitioner (NP) Provider.

Source: (Boehning & Punsalan, 2025)

Perform health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education; order and interpret diagnostic tests; assess, diagnose, and treat acute and chronic illnesses; develop treatment plans; prescribe; and coordinate the health care team.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing, existing Registered Nurse (RN) licensure, Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, and advanced specialty didactic and clinical training which incorporates supervised practicum experiences.

Free RN licensure (nationally certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) or the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) in population focus area) and continuing education, practice hours, and renewal process per state board of nursing requirements.

Assign, diagnose, treat and manage patients independently or in collaboration with others; order and interpret tests; prescribe medications; educate patients; coordinate care within scope of practice in various settings as outlined by the state.

Follow the NP code of ethics: Primacy of service to patients, respect for patient autonomy, ethical care, confidentiality and informed consent, cultural competence, advocacy and non-discrimination, professional behavior, accountability and collaboration with other professionals.

Administrative Role1: Healthcare Administrator.

Reference: (American Psychosocial Oncology Soci (American Psychosocial Oncology Society, 2025)

Provide leadership in the operational management of the facility by managing budgets, staffing, policy formulation, regulatory adherence, quality enhancement, strategic planning, vendor management, and communication with stakeholders to enable a facility to deliver its healthcare services efficiently and in a quality manner.

Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or similar area; Master’s Degree (MHA, MBA) preferred, and Doctoral Degree (DHA, PhD) preferred in executive and/or academic leadership position.

Fellow American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE); Certified Healthcare Administrator (ACHCA); Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) with focus on HIM; Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) optional.

Manage nonclinical activities: finance, human resources, compliance, information systems, facility planning, and policy implementation; work with clinical management; coordinate to achieve organization goals; may be different according to institution and state legislation;

Access, enter, and update electronic patient records; check coding accuracy; create/retrieve reports; follow privacy and security procedures; only limited to administrative tasks.

Demand confidentiality, observe the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), fairness, and transparency; equitably allocate resources; prevent conflicts of interest; encourage a culture of patient-centeredness; and adhere to organizational code of ethics and the law.

Administrative

 Position 2: Data entry clerk.

Source: (Ng’andu & Haabazoka, 2024)

Enter and check patient data, medical history and diagnosis codes, billing details, and laboratory findings into EHRs correctly; maintain data consistency and clinical and administrative processes.

High school diploma or equivalent; skilled in keyboarding (50+ words per minute), Microsoft Office and EHR software; understands medical terminology; has excellent organizational skills.

Certified Data Entry Specialist (CDES); HIPAA Privacy and Security training certification; optional medical coding certification (CPC, CCA) to be more accurate in medical coding to be used in billing.

Offer medical nutrition therapy; conduct nutrition assessment; provide nutrition education and counseling services; design and implement foodservice systems; engage in regulatory and institutional public health programs, research, policy and wellness programs.

HIPAA patient confidentiality; accuracy, completeness of data; professional integrity; unauthorized access to records or disclosure; Supervisor: report discrepancies to supervisors as soon as possible.

Role 1 in Allied Health: Nutritionist/Dietitian.

Source: (Adams et al., 2024)

Assesses nutritional requirements, designs and administers personal medical nutrition therapy and nutritional plans, counsels patients and groups regarding nutrition, monitors patient outcomes, and communicates with other individual members of the health care team to deliver optimal care to patients.

Baccalaureate degree in nutrition, dietetics or other related field in an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-accredited program; a graduate degree (MS or DPD) is generally necessary to enter into supervised practice;

Successful completion of internship in supervised practice and pass CDR (registration exam; state licensure or certification as needed; optional specialty credentials (e.g., CSSD, CSG).

Provide medical nutrition therapy; nutrition assessment; education and counseling; design and management of foodservice systems; participate in and oversee public health, research, policy, and wellness programs according to regulatory and institutional regulations.

Follow the Code of Ethics of the Academy/Commission: be competent, confidential, informed-consent, evidence-based, culturally-sensitive, non-maleficent, patient-advocacy, and professionally-integrity.

Allied Health Role 2:

Respiratory Therapist

Reference: (American Association of Respiratory Care, 2025)

Diagnose and treat respiratory and cardiopulmonary issues, perform and interpret diagnostic tests (PFTs, ABGs, etc.), operate ventilators and airway apparatus, and give treatment to patients and families.

Associate degree: An associate degree in a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)- accredited associate degree, or higher degree in respiratory care (with some jobs requiring clinical training) and continuing competency examinations (advanced practice); advanced practice competency evaluations.

Eligibility: Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) by successfully passing the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by a high cut score on TMC as well as the Clinical Simulation Exam, state licensure where necessary, and optional specialty credentials (e.g., SDS, ACCS).

Initiate and modify respiratory care (oxygen, mechanical ventilations, aerosolized medications); initiate airway care; complete diagnostic tests; assist with emergency care, weaning, and multidisciplinary rounds.

Adhere to the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) Statement of Ethics: be ethical, objective, patient advocacy, confidentiality, non-discrimination, professional competence, evidence-based practice, and hold oneself accountable regarding quality respiratory care.