Chapter 03 Careers in Health Care

3:1 Introduction to Health Care Careers Education Requirements vary by program and state Health science education (HSE) Post-secondary education National Consortium for Health Science Education (NCHSE)

Certification, Registration, and Licensure Methods to ensure skill and competency of personnel and protect consumers/patients Certification Professional association/government agency Example: certified medical assistant

Certification, Registration, and Licensure Regulatory body Example: registered dietitian Licensure Government agency Defines scope of practice Examples: dentist, physician “Dietician” changed to “dietitian”

Accreditation Ensures program of study meets competency standards Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) Required to renew license or maintain certification or registration in many states Requirements vary between careers Students must know requirements in their state

Professional Organizations Member benefits Professional development Career information Influence legislation Help with certification, registration, licensure Financial support Code of ethics

Education Levels, Trends, and Opportunities Training levels (refer to Table 3-1 in text) Professional Technologist or therapist Technician Aide or assistant “Text” changed to “text”

Education Levels, Trends, and Opportunities Multicompetent or multiskilled workers New trend in health occupations Workers perform a variety of health care skills Eliminates need to employ specialists for every aspect of care Educational programs for multicompetent workers

Education Levels, Trends, and Opportunities Entrepreneur Organizes/manages business and assumes its risks Education programs combining business skills and career objectives Examples: nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, physicians, chiropractors

National Health Care Standards Developed to indicate knowledge and skills expected of health care workers Healthcare Foundation Standards Therapeutic Services Standards Diagnostic Services Standards

National Health Care Standards Health Informatics Standards Support Services Standards Biotechnology Research and Development Standards

Introduction to Health Care Careers Educational requirements vary On-the-job training HSE program Associate’s degree Bachelor’s degree Master’s degree Doctoral degree

3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers Directed to changing patients’ health status over time Use variety of treatments to help patients who are injured, physically or mentally disabled, or emotionally disturbed Treatment to allow patients to function at maximum capacity

3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers Places of employment Rehabilitation facilities Hospitals Mental health facilities Day care or long-term care facilities Home health agencies Schools Changed “Daycare” to “Day care”

3:2A Dental Careers Basic job duties Health of teeth and soft tissues of mouth Preventing dental disease Repairing or replacing diseased or damaged teeth Treating gingiva (gums) and other supporting structures of the teeth

3:2A Dental Careers Places of employment Private dental offices Laboratories Hospitals Schools Health departments

3:2A Dental Careers Dental specialties Endodontics Orthodontics Oral surgery Pedodontics Periodontics Prosthodontics

3:2A Dental Careers Levels of employment Refer to Table 3-3 in text Dentist (DMD or DDS) Dental hygienist (DH) Dental laboratory technician (DLT) Dental assistant (DA) Refer to Table 3-3 in text

3:2B Emergency Medical Services Careers Basic job duties Provide emergency, prehospital care to victims of accidents, injuries, or sudden illness Emergency medical technician (EMT) training required for most jobs Refer to Table 3-4 in text “Text” changed to “text”

3:2B Emergency Medical Services Careers Emergency medical technician paramedic (EMT-P, EMT-4) Emergency medical technician intermediate (EMT-1, EMT-2, EMT-3) Emergency medical technician basic (EMT-B, EMT-1) First responder

3:2C Medical Careers Refer to Table 3-5 in text Physician (doctor): MD, DO, DPM, DC Physician assistant: PA, PAC Medical assistant: MA, CMA, RMA For a list of medical specialties, refer to Table 3-6 in text “Text” changed to “text”

3:2D Mental Health Services and Social Services Careers Help those with mental or emotional disorders or who are developmentally delayed or mentally impaired Social workers help others deal with illness, employment problems, or community issues Help individuals function at their maximum capacity

3:2D Mental Health Services and Social Services Careers Levels of employment Psychiatrist Psychologist Psychiatric/mental health technicians Social worker (SW) Genetic counselor Refer to Table 3-7 in text

3:2E Mortuary Careers Basic job duties Preparation of the body Perform ceremony that honors the deceased and meets the spiritual needs of the living Cremation or burial of the remains Practices and rites vary based on cultural and religious preferences

3:2E Mortuary Careers Places of employment Funeral homes Mortuaries Crematoriums Cemetery associations

3:2E Mortuary Careers Levels of employment Refer to Table 3-8 in text Funeral director Embalmer Mortuary assistant Refer to Table 3-8 in text

3:2F Nursing Careers Basic job duties Provide care under direction of a physician Focus on patients’ mental, emotional, and physical needs

3:2F Nursing Careers Places of employment Hospitals Long-term care facilities Physicians’ offices Clinics Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) Schools

3:2F Nursing Careers Levels of employment Refer to Table 3-9 in text Registered nurse (RN) Licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) Nurse assistant Patient care technician (PCT) Geriatric aide/assistant Refer to Table 3-9 in text

3:2G Nutrition and Dietary Services Careers Basic job duties Use knowledge of nutrition to promote wellness and optimum health Provide dietary guidelines to treat disease Teach proper nutrition Prepare foods for health care facilities

3:2G Nutrition and Dietary Services Careers Places of employment Hospitals Long-term care and day care facilities Wellness centers Clinics Schools “daycare” changed to “day care”

3:2G Nutrition and Dietary Services Careers Levels of employment Dietitian (RD) Dietetic technician (DT) Dietetic assistant or food service worker Refer to Table 3-10 in text “Dietician” changed to “dietitian”

3:2H Veterinary Careers Provide care to all types of animals, from house pets to livestock to wildlife Places of employment Animal hospitals Zoos Farms Aquariums

3:2H Veterinary Careers Levels of employment Veterinarian (DVM or VMD) Veterinary technologist/technician (VT) Veterinary assistant or animal caretaker Refer to Table 3-11 in text

3:2I Vision Services Careers Basic job duties Provide care to prevent vision disorders Treat vision disorders

3:2I Vision Services Careers Places of employment Offices Optical shops Hospitals Schools Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) Clinics

3:2I Vision Services Careers Levels of employment Ophthalmologist (MD) Optometrist (OD) Ophthalmic medical technologist (OMT) Ophthalmic technician (OT)

3:2I Vision Services Careers Levels of employment Ophthalmic assistant (OA) Optician Ophthalmic laboratory technician Refer to Table 3-12 in text

3:2J Other Therapeutic Services Careers Refer to Table 3-13 in text Occupational therapist (OT/OTR) Occupational therapy assistant (OTA/COTA) Pharmacist (PharmD) Pharmacy technician

3:2J Other Therapeutic Services Careers Physical therapist (PT) Physical therapist assistant (PTA) Massage therapist Recreational therapist (TR) Recreational therapy assistant

3:2J Other Therapeutic Services Careers Respiratory therapist (RT) Respiratory therapy technician (RTT) Surgical technologist/technician Speech-language therapist/pathologist

3:2J Other Therapeutic Services Careers Audiologist Art, music, dance therapist Athletic trainer certified (ATC) Dialysis technician Perfusionist

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Basic job duties Create a picture of a patient’s health status at a single point in time Perform tests and evaluations to aid in detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury, or physical condition

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Places of employment Hospital or private laboratories Outpatient centers Physicians’ offices Clinics Pharmaceutical companies Research agencies

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Levels of employment Electrocardiograph (ECG) technician Cardiovascular technologist Electroencephalographic (EEG) technologist Electroneurodiagnostic (END) technologist Transposed position of (END) and technologist

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Levels of employment Medical laboratory technologist (MT) or clinical laboratory scientist (CLS) Medical laboratory technician (MLT) or clinical laboratory technician (CLT)

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Levels of employment Medical (clinical) laboratory assistant Phlebotomist Radiologic technologist (RT) Refer to Table 3-14 in text

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Basic job duties Documentation of patient records Maintaining security Utilizing electronic health record (EHR) software Analyzing information Creating networks for health information

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Places of employment Hospitals and clinics Research centers and colleges Law firms Health maintenance organizations (HMOs) Insurance companies Pls. check spacing above 3.4 heading

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Levels of employment Health information (medical records) administrator (HIA) Health information (medical records) technician (HIT) Medical coder Medical transcriptionist

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Levels of employment Admitting officer/clerk Medical administrative assistant Medical secretary or health unit coordinator Epidemiologist

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Levels of employment Medical interpreter/translator Medical illustrator Medical librarian Refer to Table 3-15 in text

3:5 Support Services Careers Basic job description Create therapeutic environment Operate support departments in health care facilities Each department has workers at all levels and with varying amounts of education

3:5 Support Services Careers Places of employment Hospitals Clinics Long-term care facilities HMOs Public health or government agencies

3:5 Support Services Careers Levels of employment Health care administrator Biomedical (clinical) engineer Biomedical equipment technician (BET) Central/sterile service/supply technician Housekeeping worker/sanitary manager Refer to Table 3-16 in text

3:6 Biotechnology Research and Development Careers Basic job description Use living cells to create useful products Use research and development to produce Diagnostic tests Forms of treatment Vaccines Food products

3:6 Biotechnology Research and Development Careers Places of employment Pharmaceutical and chemical companies Agricultural facilities Research laboratories Colleges and universities Hospitals Industrial facilities

3:6 Biotechnology Research and Development Careers Levels of employment Biological or medical scientist Biotechnological engineer (bioengineer) Biological technician Process technician Forensic science technician Refer to Table 3-17 in text