Internertional Association for Healthcare Security and Safety (IAHSS) Advanced Officer Certification Practice Exam

What are departments that provide clinical support referred to as?

1. Administrative departments

2. Support units

3. Ancillary services

4. Operational units

The correct answer is: Ancillary services

The term used to refer to departments that provide clinical support is "ancillary services." These departments play a crucial role in healthcare settings by offering essential support that complements and enhances the primary clinical services. Ancillary services can include a variety of functions such as laboratory services, radiology, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, and physical therapy. Their primary purpose is to assist healthcare providers in delivering effective patient care by ensuring that necessary supportive functions are readily available. In contrast, administrative departments are primarily focused on the organizational, financial, and regulatory aspects of healthcare operations, such as human resources and billing. Support units may refer to various forms of assistance but do not specifically denote clinical-related functions. Operational units typically focus on the day-to-day management of healthcare services rather than the supportive or supplemental services provided to clinical departments.