Chapter 3 Careers in Health Care

3:1 Introduction to Health Careers Education Requirements vary by program and state High school preparation Health Science Technology Education (HSTE) Post-secondary education Types of degrees National Consortium on Health Science and Technology Education (NCHSTE) (Figure 3-1) HSTE: programs that prepare a student for immediate employment in many health careers or for additional education after graduation NCHSTE: health science career cluster, which allows students to see how early career awareness and exploration provide a foundation for making informed choices to prepare for a career in health care.

Certification, Registration, and Licensure Certification: A person has fulfilled requirements of education and performance and meets the standards/qualifications established by the professional association or government agency that regulates a particular career. Registration: A regulatory body in a given health care area administers examinations and/or maintains a list of qualified personnel. Licensure: A government agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. Certification – Athletic Trainer, Certified Personal Trainer Registration – Registered Dietitian, Registered Respiratory Therapist Licensure: Physician, Dentist, Physical Therapist, Registered Nurse

Accrediting Agencies Purpose  program meets standards of competency Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) Accreditation ensures that the program of study meets the established quality competency standards and prepares students for employment in the health career.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) CEU’s are required to renew licenses or maintain certification or registration Requirements vary between careers Must know requirements of your specific career in your state

Training Levels Professional (4 or more years of college) Medical Doctor, Dentist Technologist/Therapist (3-4 years of college plus work experience) Physical Therapist, Speech Therapist, Respiratory Therapist Technician (2 year Associate, special health science technology education/3-4 year on-job training) Dental Laboratory, Technician, Surgical Technician Aide or Assistant (Hours of specialized education, years of on-job training) Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Nurse Assistant Table 3-1 on page 42.

Multicompetent or Multiskilled Workers New trend in health occupations Workers perform a variety of occupations/skills Eliminates need for employing specialist for every aspect of care Education done on the job or through educational programs Example: Electrocardiograph (ECG) / Electroencephalographic (EEG)

Entrepreneur Entrepreneur: An individual who organizes, manages, and assumes the risk of a business. Self-Employed Common Example: Bachelor’s Degree in specific health related field with a Master’s Degree in Business Advantages and disadvantages Examples Nurse Practitioners, Physical Therapists, Physician Assistants, Physicians, Chiropractors Advantage vs. Disadvantage – involves many risks and requires a certain level of education and ability, it can be a satisfying choice for the individual who is well motivated, self-confident, responsible, creative and independent.

National Health Care Skill Standards (NHCSS) Purpose  Developed to indicate the knowledge and skills that are expected of health care workers primarily at entry and technical levels Health Care Core Standards Therapeutic/Diagnostic Core Standards Therapeutic Cluster Standards (Therapeutic Services) Diagnostic Cluster Standards (Diagnostic Services) Health Informatics Services Support (Environmental) Services Biotechnology Research and Development Standards

Introduction to Health Careers Career Groups (Pathways) Therapeutic Services Careers Diagnostic Services Careers Health Informatics Support Services Careers Biotechnology Research and Development Careers

Summary Different health occupations require different levels of education Some careers require certification, registration, or licensure Requirements vary from state to state Student must obtain information pertinent to an individual state

3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers Basic job description Use variety of treatments to help patients who are injured, physically or mentally disabled, or emotionally disturbed Direct treatment toward allowing the patient to function at maximum capacity Therapeutic Services are directed toward changing the health status of the patient over time.

3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers Types of Jobs: Chiropractor Exercise Physiologist Kinesiotherapist Massage Therapist Athletic Trainer Audiologist Social Worker Speech Language Pathologist Many MORE…

3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers (Continued) Places of employment Rehabilitation Facilities Hospitals Clinics Mental Health Facilities Daycare Facilities Long-Term Care Facilities Home Health Care Agencies Schools Governmental Agencies AND MANY MORE…

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 (continues)

Dental Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-3 in text Specialty areas (private dental offices, labs, clinics, etc.) Dentist Dental hygienist Dental laboratory technician (CLDT) Dental assistant

3:2B Emergency Medical Services Careers Basic job duties Provide emergency prehospital care Provide care to victims of accidents, injuries, and sudden illness (continues)

Emergency Medical Services Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-4 in text 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 (e.g., police, security, individual) (continues)

3:2C Medical Careers Basic description Includes physicians and those who work under their supervision Involved with diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases and disorders of the human body (continues)

Medical Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-5 in text Physician (doctor): MD, DO, DPM, DC, MANY MORE… Physician assistant Medical assistant

3:2D Mental and Social Services Careers Basic job duties Mental or emotional disorders or those who are developmentally delayed or mentally impaired. Social workers assist others to deal with illness, employment, or community problems Focus: help individuals function to their maximum capacity (continues)

Mental and Social Services Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-7 in text Psychiatrist Psychologist Psychiatric/mental health technician\ Social worker (sociologist) Genetic counselor Psychiatrist: M.D.  diagnose and treat mental illness Psychologist: study human behavior and use this knowledge to help individuals deal with problems of everyday living.

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 due to cultural and religious preferences

Mortuary Careers (continued) Places of employment Funeral Directors (Mortician, Undertaker) Embalmers Mortuary Assistants Funeral Director: provide support to the survivors, interview the family of the deceased to establish details of the funeral ceremony, file death certificate, etc. Embalmers: prepare the body for interment by washing the body with germicidal soap, replacing the blood with embalming fluid to preserve the body, reshaping and restructuring the body, dressing, and placing in casket.

3:2F Nursing Careers Basic job duties Provide care under direction of a physician Direct care given to meet mental, emotional, and physical needs of the patient (continues)

Nursing Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-9 in text\ Registered nurse (RN) Licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) Nurse assistant Geriatric aide Home health care assistant Medication aide Certified nurse technician Patient care technician (continues)

3:2G Nutrition and Dietary Services Careers Basic job duties Recognize importance good nutrition has for health Promote wellness and optimum health through good nutrition Provide dietary guidelines used to treat various diseases Teach proper nutrition Prepare food for health care facilities (continues)

Nutrition and Dietary Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-10 in text Dietitian or nutritionist Dietetic technician Dietetic assistant or food service worker

3:2H Veterinary Careers Basic description Work with all types of animals Range from house pets to livestock to wildlife (continues)

Veterinary Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-11 in text Veterinarian (DVM or VDM) Veterinary (animal health) technologist (VTR, registered) Veterinarian assistant (animal caretaker)

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

Vision Services Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-12 in text Ophthalmologist (MD) Optometrist (OD) Ophthalmic medical technologist (COMT) Ophthalmic technician (COT) Ophthalmic assistant (COA) Optician Ophthalmic laboratory technician

3:2J Other Therapeutic Services Careers Places of employment See Table 3-13 in text Occupational therapist (OT) Occupational therapy assistant Pharmacist Pharmacy technician Physical therapist (PT) Physical therapist assistant Massage therapist Recreational therapist (TR) Certified therapeutic recreation specialist (continues)

Other Therapeutic Services Careers (continued) Recreational therapy assistant or activity director Respiratory therapist (RT) Respiratory therapy technician Speech-language therapist/pathologist and/or audiologist Surgical technician/technologist Art, music, dance therapist Athletic trainer Dialysis technician Perfusionist, certified clinical perfusionist, or extracorporeal circulation technologist (continues)

3:3 Diagnostic Services Careers Places of employment See Table 3-14 in text Cardiovascular technologist Registered diagnostic vascular technologist (RDTV) Electrocardiograph (ECG) technician Electroencephalographic technologist Electroneurodiagnostic technologist Medical (clinical) laboratory technologist Medical (clinical) laboratory technician Medical (clinical) laboratory assistant Phlebotomist Radiologic technologist (continues)

3:4 Health Informatics Careers Basic job duties Documentation of patient records Health information Health education (continues)

Health Informatics Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-15 in text Health information (medical records) administrator registered (RRA) Health information (medical records) technician registered (RHIT) Medical transcriptionist Admitting officers/clerks (continues)

Health Informatics Careers (continued) Places of employment Unit secretary/ward clerk/health unit coordinator/medical records clerk Epidemiologist Medical interpreter/translator Medical illustrator Medical librarian

3:5 Support Services Careers Basic description Create therapeutic environment Operate support departments Each department has workers at all levels with varying amounts of education (continues)

Support Services Careers (continued) Places of employment See Table 3-16 in text Health care administrator, health services manager, or health care executive Biomedical (clinical) engineer Admitting officer/clerk Central/sterile supply worker Housekeeping worker/sanitary manager

3:6 Biotechnology Research and Development Careers Basic description Use living cells to create products Research and development Disease prevention Unlimited potential for biotechnology (continues)

Biotechnology Careers (continued) Places of employment Refer to Table 3-17 in text Biological or medical scientists Biotechnological engineers (bioengineers) Biological technicians Process technicians Forensic science technicians

Summary Health care careers are as exciting as they are diverse with over 250 different opportunities available Each career has specific education requirements, job descriptions, and annual salaries earned There are many occupational opportunities for a successful career in health care