1. Stat Starter!
On a sheet of notebook paper, list as many health careers as you can think of until I call time.

2. Health Science touches your life
Everywhere you look
Health Science touches your life

3. Stop and look around…
Chances are you have been to the doctor or dentist lately. Your grandmother may have recently stayed in the hospital. New developments in biotechnology may have affected the food you ate for breakfast today.

4. The World of Health Science…
There are many opportunities within the world of health science. Interested students need to have a solid background in math and science as well as communication, technical and teamwork skills. Education and training can be obtained in high schools, community colleges, universities and technical schools. Through the training programs, learners gain knowledge and skills that lead to workplace learning experiences like job shadowing and internships.

5. The health science career cluster is divided into 5 career pathways
The health science career cluster is divided into 5 career pathways. Pathways are grouped by common knowledge and skills required for occupations in these career fields. Each pathway provides instruction as a basis for success in an array of careers and educational pursuits.
Career
Pathways

6. The Five Pathways Therapeutic Services Diagnostic Services
Health Informatics Support Services
Biotechnology Research and development

7. Employment Outlook
Health Science is the largest and fastest growing industry in the United States. The health care industry employs over 10 million workers in more than 200 careers.

8. Therapeutic Services
Careers in therapeutic services are primarily focused on changing the health status of the patient over time. Health professionals work directly with patients and may provide care, treatment, counseling and health education information.

9. Therapeutic Services Nursing Department
Provide direct nursing care to patients
Specific nursing units established based on type of patient
Critical Care Units
Emergency
Med-Surgery
Labor & Delivery
Pediatrics
Geriatrics

10. Therapeutic Service Nursing Department Certified Nurse Assistant: CNA
Licensed Vocational Nurse: LVN
Registered Nurse: RN (ADN or BSN)
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist: CRNA
Nurse Practitioner: NP
Certified Nurse Midwife: CNW

11. Therapeutic Service Physicians Physician’s Assistant: PA
Medical Doctor: MD
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine: DO
Doctor of Chiropractic: DC
Naturopathic Doctor: ND
Physician’s Assistant: PA

12. Therapeutic Service Dentistry
Deals with treatment of teeth, gums, mouth
Focuses on prevention of dental problems through education, good oral hygiene, nutrition

13. Therapeutic Service Dentistry Certified Dental Assistant: CDA
Prepares patient
Provides dentist with instruments during treatment
Process dental x-rays
Sterilize & disinfect instruments

14. Therapeutic Service Dentistry Certified Dental Hygienist: CDH
Takes x-rays
Cleans teeth
Provides patient education
Doctor of Dental Medicine: DDM
Doctor of Dental Surgery: DDS
** NOTE: DDM/DDS same education, up to university as to which degree is awarded; have the same curriculum

15. Therapeutic Service Optometry Ophthalmologist: MD Optometrist: OD
Optician: OC
Makes contacts
Fits contacts
Can’t diagnose or treat eye disease

16. Therapeutic Service Veterinary Medicine
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine: DVM
Veterinary Technician: NAVTA

17. Therapeutic Service Respiratory Therapy
Provide treatment for patients who have difficulty breathing
Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician: CRTT
Registered Respiratory Therapist: RRT
Provide breathing treatments
Teach patient breathing exercises

18. Therapeutic Service Occupational Therapy
Goal to improve life for physical handicaps
Occupational Therapist: OT
Occupational Therapy Assistant: OTA

19. Therapeutic Service Physical Therapy
Restore function and prevent disability following disease, injury, or loss of a body part
Physical Therapist: PT or RPT
Physical Therapy Assistant: LPTA

20. Therapeutic Service Pharmacy
Provides medications prescribed by physician
Doctor of Pharmacy: Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Technician: CPhT

21. Partner Chat
What career from the therapeutic strand interests you and why?
Discuss how your careers may have to work as a team to provide quality patient care.

22. Diagnostic Services
Careers in diagnostic services use tests and evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries or physical conditions. 22

23. Diagnostic Services Laboratory
Provides diagnostic info by analyzing blood, body fluids, and tissue samples
Medical Laboratory Technician: MLT
Associate’s degree
Medical Technologist: MT
Bachelor’s degree

24. Diagnostic Services Radiology
Variety of imaging techniques such as x-rays, ultrasound, CT, MRI, & nuclear medicine
Radiologic Technician: RT
Radiologic Technologist: RT
Diagnostic Medical Sonographer: DMS
Radiologist: MD or DO

25. Health Informatics
The health informatics pathway offers a wide range of career opportunities. Careers range from health care administrators who manage health care agencies to individuals responsible for managing patient data, financial information and computer application related to health care processes and procedures.

26. Health Informatics Admissions: checks patients into hospital
Billing & Collections: bill patients/insurance for services
Medical records: maintain copies of all patient records
Health Education: staff & patient health related education
Human Resources: hiring employees and employee benefits

27. Partner Chat
Review with a different partner a career within diagnostic services/health informatics that interests you.
Discuss how these careers fit into the team of previous ones to provide quality patient care.

28. Support Services
Careers in the support services provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care. Career opportunities range from entry level to management including technical and professional careers.

29. Support Services
Central Supply: order, stock, distribute all equipment and supplies
Biomedical Technology: design, diagnose, repair, maintain equipment
Housekeeping & Maintenance: maintain safe and clean environment
Sterile Processing: decontaminates and sterilizes surgical equipment

30. Thoughts??
How do support services careers help to provide quality patient care?

31. Biotechnology Research and Development
Careers in the biotechnology research and development pathway involve bioscience research and development as it applies to human health. These are scientists who may study diseases to discover new treatments, invent medical devices or improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests.