Health Careers

EDUCATION  Over 200 health care careers  Basic preparation begins in high school  Post secondary education (after high school) can include training in a vocational or technical school, community college, (Lone Star) or university (Tx A & M, UT)  Some careers require Associate’s degree-2 years of study (Lone Star, Blinn Jr. College)

EDUCATION  Other careers require BACHELOR’S DEGREE-awarded by college or university after 4 or more years (A & M, UT)  In some cases, MASTER’S DEGREE is required. Awarded after 1 or 2 more years of work beyond a Bachelor’s degree.  Other careers require a DOCTORATE or DOCTOR’S DEGREE, which is awarded after 2 or more yrs. beyond Master’s. This is a PhD not an MD

CAREERS  Other terms associated with health careers include:  CERTIFICATION-person has fullfilled requirements of education & performance and meets standards and qualifications of a professional or govt. agency. Certificate is issued by the professional association. Examples:PT, Cna, EMT REGISTRATION-performed by professional or state board that administers exams and maintains current list of qualified personnel. Ex:registered nurses (RN)registered dieticians, registered respiratory therapist, registered radiologic technologist

 LICENSURE-govt. agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. Vary from state to state. Must pass a state board exam and maintain certain standards. Ex:medical doctor (MD),registered nurse (RN), physical therapist,(PT) licensed vocational nurse (LVN).

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU’S)  Required to renew licenses or maintain certification or registration in many states.  Ex: RN’s in Tx must have 20 CEU’s every 2 yrs.  All health care workers must be aware of the state requirements regarding CEU’s for their given careers.

CAREERS  New trend in health occupations is that of multicompetent or multiskilled worker-Smaller facilities cannot afford to hire a skilled person for every aspect of care. Therefore, workers are hired and trained to perform more than one skill  Ex:EKG tech (heart) & EEG tech (brain)

CAREERS  Another opportunity is that of an entrepreneur who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business.  Ex: dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, nurse practitioners, medical doctors

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SKILL STANDARDS  Developed to indicate the knowledge and skill expected of health care workers.  Composed of various groups:  1. Health Care Core Standards-specifies knowledge and skills that vast majority of health care workers should have; discusses academic foundation, communication skills, employability skills, legal responsibilities, safety, teamwork and knowledge about the systems in health care environment.

STANDARDS 2. Therapeutic/Diagnostic Core Standards specify knowledge and skills required to focus on direct patient care in both the therapeutic and diagnostic occupations; includes health maintenance practices, client interaction, monitoring patient status. Ex:nursing careers, MD’s, PT, Optometrist, Dietician. For others see table 2:2 p. 30.

STANDARDS  Diagnostic Cluster-knowledge and skills in creating a picture of the health status of patients; includes planning, preparation, procedure, evaluation and reporting.  Ex:EKG & EEG tech, Medical Lab careers, Phlebotomist(draws blood), Radiologic tech (xray tech), sonographer.

STANDARDS  Information Services Cluster Standards- skills and knowledge involved with documentation of patient care, analysis, coding, information systems documentation & operations to enter, retrieve, and maintain information on patients.  Ex:admitting clerk, health educator, Medical billing officer, medical records administrator, unit secretary

STANDARDS  Environmental Services Cluster- knowledge and skills required to create an environment conducive to direct and indirect patient care; includes environmental operations, aseptic techniques,resource management.  Ex:Central/Sterile supply worker, Housekeeping, Sanitary manager, Biomedical Engineers

PROFESSIONAL 4 or more yrs. college MD, RN w/ bachelors, Masters TECHNOLOGIST 3-4 yrs. college + work experience, bachelors or masters Speech therapist Respiratory therapist TECHNICIAN 2 yr associate’s degree Dental lab tech Medical lab tech Surgical tech AIDE OR ASSISTANT 1 or more yrs. training, classroom & on the job Dental asst training CNA, Med Asst. CAREEREDUCATIONAL REQ. EXAMPLES

What is this career?

 EMT-Provide emergency, pre-hospital care to victims of accidents, injuries, or sudden illnesses.  Training required by fire, police and health dept and as non degree course in technical/community colleges.  Places of employment: fire and police, ER’s, emergency helicopter services, and military

PSYCHIATRIST & PSYCHOLOGIST  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE 2 PROFESSIONS?

SOCIAL WORKER

 Sociologists, case managers, or counselors  Assist people who have difficulty coping with various problems by helping them make adjustments in their lives and or by referring them to community resources for assistance.

SOCIAL WORKER  Specialties include child welfare also known as CPS  Geriatrics  Family  Correctional (jail)

CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECH

CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECH (CST)  Also called operating room techs  Work under the supervision of RN’s or MD’s.  Set up instruments, equipment, sterile supplies for surgery  Assist during surgery by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon  Education: 6 month-1 yr. training

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

 Identify, evaluate, and treat patients with speech and language disorders.  Help pt. communicate as effectively as possible, and also teach pt. to cope with the problems created by speech impairments

EEG Tech (electroencephalogram)

ECG, EKG TECH

DIETICIAN

RECREATIONAL THERAPIST

ATHLETIC TRAINER

RADIATION THERAPIST

VET TECH

PHLEBOTOMIST

MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR

MEDICAL PHOTOGRAPHER

ABBREVIATIONS FOR HEALTH CAREERS  KNOW THE MEANING OF THESE ABB.  DVMRD  RNCNA  MD CRNA  PTDC  OTMA  DPMLVN  DDSPCT  EMTPT  OD PharmD  RT

MEDICAL DOCTORS (MD)  DEFINE THESE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES  DERMATOLOGIST  GASTROENTEROLOGIST  GERONTOLOGIST  GYNECOLOGIST  OBSTETRICIAN  ONCOLOGIST  OPHTHALMOLOGIST

MEDICAL DOCTORS (MD)  OTOLARYNGOLOGIST  PATHOLOGIST  PLASTIC SURGEON  PSYCHIATRIST  SPORTS MEDICINE  THORACIC SURGEON  UROLOGIST