1. HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS
Presented by
Tori Moser
Program Coordinator for Health Careers
Northern Nebraska AHEC

2. Growing our own health professionals!
What the heck is AHEC?
Non-profit, granted funded entity under umbrella of RHEN at UNMC.
Work to improve access to health care in rural and underserved areas by recruiting and training new providers and retaining current providers.
Work with educational entities and hospitals to provide career education.
Provide continuing education opportunities for current providers
Growing our own health professionals!

3. Misconceptions
There are more professions than just doctors and nurses.
Don’t have to spend your whole life in school.
Don’t need to be the smartest kid in your class to be successful in healthcare.
Not all professions have contact with patients.
Not all professions have to deal with the “gross” parts of health care.
It doesn’t have to cost a lot to go to college.
Boys CAN be nurses; Girls CAN be doctors.

4. Why choose a career in healthcare?
There is something for everyone
There will always be a need for healthcare.
Opportunities in rural and urban settings
Current shortage of healthcare workers, especially in rural settings
Aging baby-boomer generation will add additional burden to the healthcare system
Earning potential provides stability

5. 14 of top 20 fastest growing professions are in healthcare
Home health aides
Medical assistants
Physician’s assistants
PT assistants
Dental hygienists
Dental assistants
Personal and home care aides
Physical Therapists
Vet techs
Diagnostics medical sonographers
PT aides
OT assistants
Medical scientists
Occupational therapists
WHERE IS YOUR FUTURE TAKING YOU?
Informationfrom the US dept of Labor bureau of labor statistics – occupational outlook handbook
Also network systems and data communications analysts; computer software engineers; network and computer systems administrators; database administrators; forensic science technicians

7. Let’s take a look at the many professions in healthcare….

8. CAREER CLUSTERS
Get the graphic off website

9. HEALTH SCIENCES PATHWAYS
Therapeutic Services
Diagnostic Services
Health Informatics
Supportive Services
Biotechnology Research and Development

10. THERAPEUTIC SERVICES
Focus primarily on changing the health status of the patient over time
Work directly with patients
Provide care, treatment, counseling and health education information

11. Professions in Therapeutic Services
Acupuncturist/ Accupressurist
Allopathic Physician
Anesthesiologist Asst.
Art/Music/Dance Therapist
Athletic Trainer
Audiologist
CNA/LPN/RN
Chiropractor
Dental Asst./ Hygienist
Dental Lab Tech
Dentist
Dietician
Dietetic Tech/Asst.
Dosimetrist
EMT/Paramedic
Exercise Physiologist
Home Health Aide
Massage Therapist
Medical Assistant
Mortician
Occupational Therapist/ OT Asst.
Ophthalmic Medical Personnel
Optometrist
Orthodontist
Orthotist/ Prothetist
Pharmacist/ Pharmacy Tech
Physical Therapist/ PT Assistant
Physician (MD/OD)
Physician’s Assistant
Psychologist
Recreation Therapist
Rehabilitation Counselors
Respiratory Therapist
Social Worker
Speech Language Pathologist
Surgical Technician
Therapist (Art, Dance/Movement, Drama, Horticulture, Music)
Veterinarian/ Vet Tech

12. DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES
Create a picture of client health status at a single point in time
Use tests and evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases, injuries, or other physical conditions.

13. Professions in Diagnostic Services
Blood Bank Technologist
Cardiovascular Technologist
Clinical Lab Technician
CT Technologist
Cytogenetic Technologist
Cytotechnologist
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
ECG Technician
EEG Technologist
Exercise Physiologist
Geneticist
Histotechnician
Histotechnologist
MRI Technologist
Mammographer
Medical Technologist/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Nutritionist
Pathologist
Pathology Assistant
Phlebotomist
PET Technologist
Radiologic Technologist/ Radiographer
Radiologist

14. HEALTH INFORMATICS
Occupy many different levels of health care related employment.
Includes health care administrators who manage:
Health care agencies
Patient data and information
Financial information
Computer applications related to health care processes and procedures.

15. Professions in Health Informatics
Admitting Clerk
Applied Researcher
Biophotographer
Community Services Specialist
Data Analyst
Epidemiologist
Ethicist
Health Educator
Health Informatics Coder
Health Information Services
Healthcare Administrator
Medical Assistant
Medical Biller
Medical Illustrator
Medical Information Technologist
Medical Librarian/Cybrarian
Patient Advocate
Patient Financial Services
Public Health Educator
Reimbursement Specialist
Risk Management
Social Worker
Transcriptionist
Unit Coordinator
Utilization Manager

16. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
Provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care
Full range of career opportunities from entry level to management, including technical and professional careers
Areas include central supply, facility maintenance, food service and others

17. Professions in Support Services
Biomedical / Clinical Engineer
Biomedical / Clinical Technician
Central Services
Environmental Health and Safety
Environmental Services
Facilities Manager
Food Service
Hospital Maintenance Engineer
Industrial Hygienist
Materials Management
Transport Technician

18. BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Study diseases to discover new treatments or invent medical devices used to directly assist patients or to improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests
Use scientific and technological advances to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic abilities in health care

19. Professions in Biotechnology Research and Development
Biochemist
Bioinformatics Associate
Bioinformatics Scientist
Bioinformatics Specialist
Biomedical Chemist
Biostatistician
Cell Biologist
Clinical Trials Research Associate
Clinical Trials Research Coordinator
Geneticist
Lab Assistant - Genetics
Lab Technician
Microbiologist
Molecular Biologist
Pharmaceutical Scientist
Quality Assurance Technician
Quality Control Technician
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Scientist
Toxicologist

20. Making the Decision… What do I want to be when I grow up?
You have to be passionate about your job and be able to wake up everyday excited to go to work!
Money and salary should not be the most important factor when choosing a career…
Don’t base your decision on the classes you will have to take in college…sure some will be difficult…but you will be well-prepared to do your job!

21. HEALTHCARE CAREER EDUCATION
On-the-Job Training
Certificates
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctoral Degree
Professional & Continuing Education
On-line Courses

22. Minimum of High School Education On the job training/Certificates
Ambulance Driver
Certified Nursing Assistant
Dental Assistant
Dental Lab Technician
EMT
Home Health Aide
Medical Records Clerk
Optometric Assistant
Pharmacist Assistant
$15,000-$33,000/year

23. Minimum Associates Degree (2 yrs) (Trade School)
Medical Assistant
Dental Hygienist
Medical Coder
Clinical Lab Technician
Cardiovascular Tech
Surgical Assistant
Physical Therapy Assistant
LPN
Radiography
Ultrasonographer RN
Health Information Management
Medical Transcriptionist
Occupational Therapy Assistant
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Respiratory Therapist
Veterinary Technician
$14,000-$48,000/year

24. Minimum Bachelor’s Degree
Dietician
Medical Records Administrator
Medical Social Worker
Recreational Therapist
Counselor
Clinical Lab Scientist
Health Educator
Health Promotion Services
Public Health
$23,000-$60,000/year

25. Bachelor’s Plus $35,000-$150,000/year Cytotechnology
Nurse Practitioner
Clinical Perfusionist
Nurse Anesthetist
Speech Language Pathologist
Health Care Administration
Physician’s Assistant
$35,000-$150,000/year

26. Graduate Degrees (Masters & Doctorate)
Audiologist
Genetic Counselor
Nurse Executive
Nurse Midwife
Pathologist Assistant
Optometrist
Professional Counselor
Dentist
Physician
Veterinarian
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacist
Physical Therapist
$45,000-$300,000

27. Nebraska Community Colleges

28. Nebraska State Colleges

29. University of Nebraska

30. Nebraska Independent Colleges and Universities
DOANE
COLLEGE

31. Additional Nursing & Allied Health Programs
Get logos of each college to put on page

32. Private Career Schools

33. Nebraska Colleges Commitment to Rural Health Education
Rural Health Opportunities Program (RHOP)
Mid-America Rural Health Opportunities Program (MARHOP)
NU-PATHS (Pre-Admission to the Health Sciences)

34. This all sounds fine and dandy but how do I pay for all of that education?

35. Paying for college… Parental contributions Savings account
Does your family have a plan?
Will your family be able to help you?
Savings account
Have you started saving?
It’s never too early and it’s never too late!
Financial Aid
Various forms of financial aid
Must apply…takes effort on your part!

36. What types of financial aid are available?
Student Loans
Grants
Scholarships
Loan Forgiveness Programs
Employer Reimbursement

37. First step to getting help…
Fill out FAFSA to be eligible to receive federal aid
Information from your guidance counselor

38. Student Loans Most common and most expensive
Must be repaid, with interest, over a specified period of time
Interest rates are usually variable and you have no control over the rate changes
Everyone will qualify for some type of student loan

39. Grants Monetary gifts that do not have to be repaid
Usually awarded to financially needy students
Some grants are given to students for a specific purpose without regard to financial need
Examples: Federal Pell Grant

40. Scholarships Do not require repayment
Each has its own application process
Merit scholarships awarded based on specific requirements (academic excellence, research ability, etc.)
Need-based scholarships consider financial need when being awarded
There are many scholarships available through public and private entities
Financial aid office at college of choice will be able to offer assistance in scholarship searches

41. RESEARCH…RESEARCH…RESEARCH

42. THE MONEY IS OUT THERE…YOU JUST HAVE TO BE WILLING TO PUT THE TIME IN TO FINDING IT!!!!
BEWARE OF SCAMS!!!!!

43. Healthcare Careers in the Military
Job Title Enlisted/Officer
Cardiopulmonary and EEG Technicians E
Dental and Optical Laboratory Technicians E
Dental Specialists E
Dentists O
Dietitians O
Medical Care Technicians E
Medical Laboratory Technicians E
Medical Record Technicians E
Medical Service Technicians E
Optometric Technicians E
Optometrists O
Pharmacists O
Pharmacy Technicians E
Physical and Occupational Therapists O
Physical and Occupational Therapy Specialists E
Physician Assistants O
Physicians and Surgeons O
Psychologists O
Radiology (X-Ray) Technicians E
Registered Nurses O
Speech Therapists O

44. Military funding for college
GI Bill Benefits Forms (US Dept of Veterans Affairs)  
GI Bill Education Benefits and Services (US Dept of Veterans Affairs)  
Money for College (US Navy)  
Money for School (US Air Force Reserve)
Center for Women Veterans (US Dept of Veterans Affairs)
Education Center (US Army National Guard)
Access to Military Service and Pension Records
LifeLines Education Services (US Navy)
US Air Force Enlisted Education
US Army Education Benefits
Navy College Program (US Navy)
US Coast Guard Institute
US Naval Education and Training – Programs
DUSA Scholarships
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society

45. What can AHEC do for you? 8th Grade Science Meets Presentations
Job Shadowing
Summer Camps
Medical Explorers
Career Days
Career Materials
Resource for students, parents, teachers and guidance counselors

46. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!
THE END
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!!