Health Science: Professional Pathways Report - Interview Analysis

This report presents an analysis of two interviews with healthcare professionals: a recreational therapist and a health service manager. The report explores their respective areas of work, including the settings in which they operate and the types of clients they serve. It identifies the theoretical models and frameworks that guide their practices, such as the self-determination theory and attribution theory. Furthermore, the report examines the professional skills essential for each role, highlighting attributes like compassion, leadership, and analytical abilities. Service delivery aspects, including interprofessional collaboration and transcultural health considerations, are discussed, along with the importance of sustainable development goals in healthcare. The report concludes by emphasizing the significance of cultural competency, human rights, and the challenges faced in achieving sustainable goals in the context of health and well-being.

Running head: TASK 1
Professional pathways in Health science
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive summary
A healthcare worker or professional is one who is responsible for delivering care and health
services to the ailing or sick, either directly as doctors and nurses, or indirectly as helpers,
therapists, aides, laboratory technicians. Healthcare managers or administrators are responsible
for serving leadership or administrative roles in healthcare facilities such as, nursing homes,
hospitals, or community health centres. Most of the health professions organizations have begun
incorporating implementation of recreational therapies, with the aim of improving the health and
functioning of the disabled and the ill. In addition, the organisations have also recognized the
role of health service managers in managing the daily operations, recruiting staff, and financial
planning. This report is based on two interviews of a recreational therapist and a health service
manager, respectively. It will illustrate their role, areas of work, theoretical frameworks applied
by them, and their professional skills. The report will further address the delivery of services and
will also discuss about the achievement of sustainable goals in the context of healthcare.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Areas of work and institutions.....................................................................................................3
Theoretical models and frameworks............................................................................................4
Professional skills........................................................................................................................5
Service delivery...........................................................................................................................6
Interprofessional healthcare.........................................................................................................6
Sustainable development goals and health..................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Health professionals or healthcare providers refer to individuals who adopt a systematic
way, to provide curative, preventive, rehabilitative, or promotional health care services to
patients, their family members and the entire community. Healthcare professionals operate
between several branches of healthcare that includes medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology,
nursing, and other allied health professions (Boellinghaus, Jones & Hutton, 2014). Healthcare
professionals have been recognised to play a critical and central role in bringing about an
improvement in the quality and access to healthcare services for the global population. In
addition to working across hospitals and healthcare centres, they are also found in jobs that
pertain to healthcare research, academic training, and healthcare administration.
Such professionals are categorised according to their levels of skills and specialization,
within the field of clinical expertise. This report is based on an interview with two healthcare
professionals working in the areas of therapeutic recreation and health services management,
respectively. An analysis of the responses from the interview will provide a sound understanding
of the area of their work, and will also help in identification of the theoretical models and/or
frameworks that are implemented for their effective practice. Upon completion of the report the
abilities and skills that are required in both the identified healthcare professionals will be
recognised.
Discussion
Areas of work and institutions
One of the healthcare professional works in the field of therapeutic recreation and has the
role of offering recreational therapy that refers to a systematic process which utilizes leisure or
recreation, in the form of interventions, for addressing the needs of individuals suffering from

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disability or a range of illnesses. Her work differs from other professionals with the use of
leisure activities to meet goals of overall health and wellbeing, which in turn is enhanced by an
improved functioning of the motor social and cognitive faculties (Dorstyn, Roberts, Kneebone,
Kennedy & Lieu, 2014). A recreational therapist works in a variety of settings as nursing homes,
hospitals, abuse centres, rehabilitation centres and residential care facilities.
The other healthcare professional works in the field of health services management that
makes individuals responsible for the financial and strategic running of the hospital, or
community health service. This job is associated with management leadership and administration
of hospitals, healthcare systems and public health facilities, to ensure attainment of specific
outcomes (Ozcan, 2014).
Theoretical models and frameworks
The ‘self-determination theory’ (SDT) in recreational therapy is concerned with the
inherent growth tendencies and psychological needs of an individual and emphasizes on the
motivation that allows people make choices, without any interference or external influence.
Research studies have established the fact that this theory focuses on intrinsic motivation, which
encompasses initiation of an activity, owing to its interest and satisfaction, as perceived by an
individual that facilitates in accomplishing intended goals (Ryan, Huta & Deci, 2013). The
interview of the healthcare professional showed consistency with these findings by the fact that
she also focuses on utilisation of this theory, and supports the needs of relatedness, autonomy,
and competence for fostering health and wellbeing of her patients.
‘Organisation theory’ has been identified imperative for management of healthcare
services, owing to the fact that the theory provides a way of describing visualizing,
understanding, analysing, and improving organisations, based on patterns of behaviour and

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design (Shafritz, Ott & Jang, 2015). The ever increasing rates of fatal medical errors, treatment
delay, and shortage of staff makes it imperative that these theories are implemented for the
operations management. However, the health care professional contradicted this fact by
suggesting that she focuses on utilisation of ‘attribution theory’ that helps in assessing the failure
and success of the healthcare system, with the aim of creating a safer environment for all patients
(Hareli, 2014).
Professional skills
Some of the major skills and attributes for a recreational therapist include having
compassion and leadership capabilities. Adopting a gentle and sympathetic approach towards
supporting patience and their families help in alleviating emotional stress. Appropriate leadership
qualities also facilitate the planning, development and implementation of leisure based
intervention programs, in an effective manner (Sylvester, 2015). The healthcare professional also
suggested that having active listening skills while caring for patients is imperative, for
determining an effective course of therapy.
The health service manager suggested that she is capable of handling budgets and
scheduling, in addition to processing adequate mathematical skills that helps in identification of
errors. Health service management is largely based on leadership, in relation to facility
management, strategic planning, and policy development (Hebert et al., 2014). Presence of
appropriate leadership skills would facilitate selection of goals, and their supervision without
micromanaging. The professional has skills of analysing cost of certain treatment alternative,
conducting inspections of medical facilities and ensuring compliance to hospital regulations.

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Service delivery
Recreational therapists serve a plethora of clients, having special needs that includes both
children as well as adults, with autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy,
post-surgery rehabilitation, and the elderly population (Hesselmark, Plenty & Bejerot, 2014). On
the other hand, health service managers or healthcare administrators are responsible for directing,
coordinating, and planning medical and health care services. Their clients include the entire
facility, or a specific clinical department or area that is composed of a group of physicians and
allied healthcare professionals. The aspects of transcultural health refers to the ability of
organisations and healthcare providers to effectively delivery services that are able to meet the
cultural, social and linguistic needs of all clients.
Transcultural health provides recreational therapist with a better understanding of cultural
nuances that improves interaction of the clients, from diverse backgrounds. It also helps in
identification of rationale, for improving the competencies and skills, while working with
different racial groups (Douglas et al., 2014). The interview also helped to identify that specific
cultural and ethnic groups have important historical dates and cultural customs, which might
create an impact on the recreational practices that have been planned for a service user.
Displaying cultural competency in the healthcare management helps in reducing disparities, and
promotes diversity in the governance and leadership of the organization (Delgado, Ness,
Ferguson, Engstrom, Gannon & Gillett, 2013).
Interprofessional healthcare
Interprofessional and multidisciplinary collaboration is integral for delivery of a holistic
approach, to rehabilitating patients with the use of leisure activity. The recreational therapists
collaborate with nursing professionals, and their clients, with the aim of developing sustainable

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strategies that will improve the overall quality of life of the patients, by bringing about an active
engagement (King, Curran & McPherson, 2013).
This collaboration provides the patients with the appropriate leisure services that they
need, and also creates the place and time for them to gather and have fun, in addition to
developing deeper connections. Interprofessional collaboration is also regarded as key for health
service management, because it helps in forming an effective teamwork that creates the potential
for allowing more comprehensive cost-effective, and population based patient care services, and
also increases the emphasis on disease prevention and maintenance of the organization (Supper,
Catala, Lustman, Chemla, Bourgueil & Letrilliart, 2015). Interprofessional healthcare also helps
in ensuring presence of adequate staffing and equipment, thereby reducing chances of
medication errors, burnout and fatigue.
Sustainable development goals and health
Human rights can be addressed by recreational therapy due to the fact that a participation
and leisure activities has been recognised as a fundamental human right, and also plays an
important role in ensuring optimal quality of life. Leisure has been identified as a crucial and
primary contributor to flourishing the life goals of human beings (Soffer & Almog-Bar, 2016).
The interview response also suggested that the recreational therapists most often display a sound
knowledge on the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities that focuses on
ensuring equal access for participation in recreation, leisure and sports activity, to children who
suffered from disabilities (Griggs et al., 2013). Moreover the right to healthcare is also
fundamental human right that draws on the principle that every individual has the right to access
highest attainable standards of mental and physical health care. Interview of the health service
manager elaborated on the fact that all individuals are capable of accessing available medical

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services, food, decent housing, and safe working conditions, sanitation, and a clean environment.
Hence, efforts must be taken to prevent corruption in the management of healthcare organization,
to address the human rights (Buse & Hawkes, 2015).
The major challenges faced by the healthcare professionals in attaining sustainable
development goal at the local level include water and sanitation. Lack of safe drinking water and
toilets result in the development of several diseases, thereby lowering the economic productivity
of the society. Major challenges encountered at the national level includes presence of poverty,
gender inequality, lack of education, and inequitable access to healthcare services. Efforts must
be taken to eliminate these challenges, for achieving sustainable goals, in the context of health
and social care.
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that recreational therapists focus on implementation of a cost
effective intervention that uses active treatments, in the form of leisure, recreations, sports and
community participation, for increasing the functional outcome and well-being of individuals,
who experience several health abnormality or disabilities. The recreational therapists offer
treatment services for restoring and rehabilitating the optimal levels of functioning and
independence of the affected individuals, and also reduce or eliminate restriction for activity
limitations in their life situation. On the other hand, health service manager in charge of the
entire clinical organization, or specific departments, and have the task of determining
organisational goals, hiring staff, creating budgets, and controlling the operational duties of the
medical hospital setting. However, there is a need to demonstrate cultural competency, identify
the basic human rights of all clients and address sustainable development goals, for ensuring an
enhancement in the health and well-being of all patients.

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References
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