Exploring Health Careers: Education, Training, and Opportunities

1. Chapter 3 Health Careers

2. More than 250 different options • Education & training varies from state to state • Basic skills needed • High school diploma/transcript • Good grades in • English • Math • Science • Keyboarding & computer apps Health Careers

3. HSTE-Health Science Technology Education (secondary preparation for high school students interested in health careers) • Post-secondary training may be obtained through a university or college or the technical college system • Certification courses often take less than one year at a technical college • Diploma courses may take form 1-2 years at a technical college • OTJ training - on the job training may be available for some entry level positions Education & Training

4. Associate’s degree- usually 2 years at a technical college • Bachelor’s degree- usually 4 years at a university or college • Master’s degree- post-graduate studies for 1-2 or more years at a college or university • Doctorate degree- 3-6 years of study after a bachelor’s or master’s degree Post-Secondary Degrees

5. Certification- meets the requirements for education and performance & meets the standards and qualifications established by the professional association or government agency that regulates the career Credentialing

6. Registration-required by some health careers, performed by a regulatory body that administers examinations and maintains a list of qualified workers Credentialing

7. Licensure- a process by which a government agency authorizes people to work in a given occupation, licensing for health careers vary from state to state Credentialing

8. CEUs are often required to maintain a high level of knowledge and skills for a health profession. • Requirements for re-certification or license renewal varies with each profession and in each state of practice Continuing Education

9. Multi-competent or Multi-skilled workers • Saves employers money when they hire people who are trained in multiple areas of health care • Entrepreneur- health care providers who assume all the risk of opening their own business Trends

10. Sets the standards for basic knowledge and skills needed in each of the five health career clusters • Therapeutic- provide direct patient care and treatment • Diagnostic- perform diagnostic studies and tests • Information- insurance, billing, coding, filing and maintaining records • Environmental services- provide for safe and sanitary work place, also maintain equipment and the healthcare environment • Biotechnology & research- engineering, genetics, research and development of new procedures, techniques, equipment and medications National Health Care Skills Standards

11. Medical assistant • Mortician • Occupational therapist/assistant • Ophthalmic medical personnel • Optometrist • Orthotist/prosthetist • Paramedic • Pharmacist/pharmacy technician • Physical therapist/assistant • Physician (MD/DO) • Physician assistant • Psychologist • Recreational therapist • Registered nurse • Respiratory therapist/assistant • Social worker • Speech language pathologist • Surgical technician • Veterinarian/vet technician Therapeutic careers

12. Acupuncturist • Anesthesiology assistant • Art/music/dance therapist • Athletic trainer • Audiologist • Certified nurse assistant • Chiropractor • Dental assistant/hygienist • Dental lab technician • Dentist • Dietitian • Dosimetrist • EMT • Exercise physiologist • Home health aide • Kinesiologist • Licensed practical nurse • Massage therapist Therapeutic careers

13. Cardiovascular technologist • Clinical lab technician • Computer tomography technologist (CT) • Cytogenetic technologist • Cytotechnologist • Diagnostic medical sonographer • Electroencephalograph technician (EEG) • Electrocardiograph technician (ECG) • Exercise physiologist • Geneticist Diagnostic Careers

14. Histotechnologist • Magnetic resonance technologist (MRI) • Mammographer • Medical technologist/clinical lab scientist • Nuclear medicine technologist • Nutritionist • Pathologist • Pathology assistant • Phlebotomist • Positron emission technologist (PET) • Radiographic technologist/radiographer Diagnostic Careers

15. Admitting clerk • Applied researcher • Community services specialist • Data analyst • Epidemiologist • Ethicist • Health educator • Health information coder • Health information services • Medical assistant • Medical biller/patient financial services Financial & Health Information

16. Medical information technologist • Medical librarian/ cybrarian • Patient advocate (ombudsman) • Public health educator • Reimbursement specialist (HFMA) • Risk manager • Social worker • Transcriptionist • Unit coordinator • Utilization manager Financial & Health Information

17. Biomedical /clinical engineer • Biomedical/clinical technician • Central supply • Environmental health and safety • Environmental services • Facilities manager • Food services • Hospital maintenance engineer • Industrial hygienist • Materials management • Transport technician Environmental or Support Services

18. Biochemist • Bioinformatics associate • Bioinformatics specialist • Biomedical chemist • Biostatician • Cell biologist • Clinical trials research associate • Clinical trials research coordinator • Geneticist • Lab assistants- genetics • Lab technician Biotechnology & Research

19. Microbiologist • Molecular biologist • Pharmaceutical scientist • Quality assurance technician • Quality control technician • Regulatory affairs specialist • Research assistant • Research associate • Research scientist • Toxicologist Biotechnology & Research

20. Endodontist-specializes in treating the inside of the teeth • Orthodontist- specializes in aligning and straightening teeth • Oral surgeon- specializes in oral surgery • Pedodontist- specializes in treating children’s teeth • Periodontist- specializes in treating gum and mouth conditions • Prosthodontist- specializes in making and fitting dentures and dental appliances Dental Careers

21. Dentist- DDM- doctor of dental medicine or DDS- doctor of dental surgery • Dental hygienist- cleans teeth, does x-rays, and fluoride treatments • Dental assistant- assists the dentist during dental procedures • Dental lab technician- makes dentures, crown, and dental appliances Dental Careers

22. EMT- Emergency medical technicians- provide pre-hospital care to sick and injured people • First responder- usually a volunteer who has training in basic first aid • EMT-B- basic first aid training • EMT-I- intermediate level of training including first aid and basic life support training • Paramedic- highest level of EMT (EMT-P) provides first aid and advanced life support measures Emergency Services

23. Physicians • Medical doctor- MD • Osteopath- DO • Podiatrist- DPM • Chiropractor- DC Physician Assistant- PA Medical Assistant - MA Medical Careers

24. Anesthesiologist- put people to sleep • Cardiologist- heart doctors • Dermatologists- skin doctors • Emergency physicians • Endocrinologist- treat endocrine disorders • Family physician • Gastroenterologist- treat GI disorders • Gerontologist- treats elderly people • Gynecologist- treats female reproductive disorders • Internist- treats disorders oft internal organs Medical Specialties

25. Neurologist- treats disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves • Obstetrician- delivers babies • Oncologist- cancer doctor • Ophthalmologist -eye doctor • Orthopedist- treats conditions of the bones and joints • Otolaryngologist- ENT-ear, nose and throat doctor Medical Specialties

26. Pathologist- diagnose diseases by studying changes in organs, tissues and cells • Pediatrician- children’s doctor • Physiatrist- physical medicine and rehabilitation • Radiologist- uses x-rays to diagnose and treat diseases • Sports medicine- prevention and treatment of athletic injuries • Surgeon- performs operations • Thoracic surgeon- operates on the organs of the chest • Urologist- kidney, bladder, or urinary system doctor Medical Specialties

27. Psychiatrist- medical doctor specializing in mental diseases and disorders • Psychologist- study human behavior and help people deal with every day life issues and behavioral issues • Mental health technician- work under a psychiatrist or psychologist to help patients and families follow treatment and rehabilitation plans • Social workers- sociologists, help people who are having difficulty making adjustments and referring for community resources • Genetic counselors- work with those who may be at risk for inherited disorders Mental Health

28. Funeral directors- own and oversee the total operations of a funeral home or mortuary • Embalmers- prepare the bodies of deceased people for burial or cremation • Mortuary assistants- assist the funeral director with the arrangements for burial Mortuary Careers

29. RN-Registered nurse- ADN or BSN • CRNP-Nurse practitioner • CNM- certified nurse midwife • Nurse educators • CRNA- certified nurse anesthetist • CNS- clinical nurse specialist • LPN- licensed practical nurse (1-year training program) • LVN- licensed vocational nurse (1-year training program) • Nursing Assistants • CNA- certified nurse assistant • PCT- patient care technician • Geriatric aide • Home health aide • Medication aide Nursing Careers

30. RD- dietitian- manage food services • DT- dietetic technicians- work under the dietitian • Dietetic assistants- food preparation and delivery Nutrition Careers

31. DVM or VMD- veterinarian- diagnose and treat animals • VT- veterinary technologist or technicians- work under the supervision of a Vet • Veterinary assistants or animal care takers Veterinary Careers

32. Ophthalmologist- medical doctor who treats eye diseases and disorders • OD- Optometrist- measures vision and prescribes corrective lenses • OMT- ophthalmic medical technologists • OT- ophthalmic technicians • OA- ophthalmic assistants • Opticians- make and fit corrective lenses • Ophthalmic lab technicians- makes corrective lenses Vision Careers

33. OT- Occupational therapist- work under a physiatrist to teach daily living skills (ADLs) • OTA- occupational therapy assistant- works under an OT to help patients with their treatment plan • Pharmacist (PharmD)- dispense medications on written prescriptions from a physician • Pharmacy technician- works under a pharmacist to prepare prescriptions • Physical therapist-PT-works under the direction of a physiatrist • PTA- physical therapy assistant- work under a physical therapist Other Therapeutic Services

34. Massage therapist- work under physical therapist, physician, or chiropractor • TR- recreational therapist- use recreational activities to minimize patient’s symptoms and help them cope with their problems • Recreational therapy assistant- works under the recreational therapist • RT-Respiratory therapist- treats patients with breathing problems and diseases of the lungs • RTT- respiratory therapy technician- works under the respiratory therapist Other Therapeutic Services

35. Surgical technologists/technicians- assist during surgery • Speech language pathologist- help people with speech and swallowing disorders • Audiologist- measure hearing • Art, music, dance therapist- • Athletic trainers- work with athletes • Dialysis technicians- work with patients with kidney failure • Perfusionist- extracorporeal circulation technician- runs the heart-lung machine during thoracic surgeries Other Therapeutic Services

36. ECG-electrocardiographer- tests heart function • Cardiovascular technologist- assist with cardiac catheterizations • EEG- electroencephalographic technologist- run the brain wave tests • END- electroneurodiagnostic technologist- perform nerve conduction tests Diagnostic Careers

37. MT- medical technologist- work under a pathologist to perform complex lab tests • MLT-medical laboratory technicians- work under pathologists in the lab • Medical lab assistants- work under MTs and MLTs in the lab • Phlebotomists- collect blood specimens for lab tests Diagnostic Careers

38. RT- radiologic technologist- perform x-rays, scans and MRIs • Radiographer- takes x-rays • Radiation therapist- use therapeutic doses of radiation to treat disease • Nuclear medicine technologist- prepare radioactive substances for administration to patients • Ultrasound technologists and diagnostic sonographers- use ultrasound equipment Diagnostic Careers

39. Mammographer- takes x-rays of the breasts • Computerized tomography technologist- perform CT scans • Magnetic resonance technologist- performs MRIs • Positron emission tomography technologist- inject slightly radioactive substances then operate PET scanner Diagnostic Careers

40. Health information administrators- develop and manage information systems for patient records and other medical data • Health information technicians- organize and code patient records • Medical transcriptionist- use a computer to transcribe the notes from a physician • Admitting clerk- works in admission department to get patients logged into the hospital and in the correct department for the care they need • Unit secretary- employed by a hospital or nursing home to help manage information, orders supplies and communicate with other departments Health Information Careers

41. Epidemiologist- identify and track diseases as they occur in populations • Medical interpreter- translate and communicate with non-English speaking patients • Medical illustrator- draws pictures and diagrams for use by other medical practitioners • Medical librarians- manage the resources for medical library • Cybrarian- manage internet and digital information and resources Health Information Careers

42. Health care administrator- manages large health care facilities • Biomedical engineer- combine knowledge of engineering with biology and biomechanical principles to design and build new medical technologies and equipment • Biomedical equipment technician- work on medical equipment • Central supply- order supplies for all departments and maintain an adequate inventory of necessary materials for health care facilities • Housekeeping- maintain the safety and cleanliness of each health are facility Support Services

43. Biological or medical scientist- study living organisms to assist in the development for new vaccines, medications and treatments • Biotechnological engineers- develop new technologies and equipment • Biological technician- work under biomedical engineers • Process technician- produce new technology, monitor the processes of the equipment, assess quality control measures • Forensic science technician- criminalists, investigate crime scenes and process evidence Biotechnology & Research