2. Welcome to the Field of Health Science
Chapter 1
Welcome to the Field of Health Science

3. Warm-Up
Think about a time when you or someone in your family required medical treatment.
What were some of the methods and treatments used at the healthcare facility?
Which of those treatments included new medical advancements or technology?
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4. The Evolution of Healthcare
In the past 100 years, there have been advancements in the world of medicine and acceptance of new attitudes and beliefs about healthcare guided by medical research and development.

5. Medical Advancements 100 years ago 50 years ago Today
Doctors could diagnose and provide information, but generally unable to cure disease
50 years ago
Better drugs such as penicillin and insulin
X-rays and vaccinations available
Today
More advanced technological treatments available
Further advancements and discoveries constantly being made
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6. Critical Thinking
What are three differences between doctors from a century ago and today?
A century ago, doctors made home visits.
A century ago, doctors could not cure disease, and now doctors are able to use life-saving treatments.
A century ago, doctors did not have enough hospitals to improve their patients’ treatments.

7. New Attitudes and Beliefs
Greater acceptance of a holistic approach to the treatment of disease
Holistic care: therapies that treat the patient as a whole person after assessing the individual’s physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being
Includes many alternative, complementary, and integrative therapies
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8. Future Trends Genomic medicine Regenerative medicine
Technology and medicine
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9. Genomic Medicine
Personalized medical care that uses a patient’s unique combination of genes and chromosomes to prevent illness and maintain health
Could be used to develop designer vaccines for a specific person
Gene therapy: insertion of a new gene to replace an abnormal gene
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10. Think Further
What types of diseases might genomic medicine be used to treat?
Examples:
hepatitis B
heart disease
cancer
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11. Regenerative Medicine
A form of medical care that creates living tissue to replace tissue or organ functions lost due to age, disease, injury, or birth disorder
Uses stem cells to create new tissue
Could help treat heart disease and diabetes
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12. Technology
Medical imaging: CT scans, MRI machines, ultrasound techniques
In the future: virtual colonoscopy, molecular imaging
Miniaturization: pacemakers, stents, nanotechnology
In the future: nanotechnology could develop devices to deliver drugs or kill cancer cells
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13. Technology
Surgery: catheters, laparoscopic operations, increased outpatient procedures, telesurgery
Medical records: increased use of electronic health records
In the future: records may be contained on a medical card with a pin number or a chip that can be scanned
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14. Current Issues in Healthcare
Affordability: healthcare costs in the United States continue to rise
Accessibility: not everyone has the money or ability to access good healthcare
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15. Critical Thinking
What factors are causing healthcare costs in the United States to rise so rapidly?
The cost of newly developed healthcare technologies
Living longer means more medical care for more years of life
Poor lifestyle choices that cause chronic conditions such as diabetes

16. Addressing the Issues Diagnostic-related groups
Health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations
Affordable Care Act
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17. Career Clusters and Pathways
Clusters: groups of similar occupations and industries that share a core set of basic knowledge and skills
Pathways: smaller groups of specialized occupations with a career cluster that require more specific sets of knowledge, skills, and training
Career Pathway
Health Informatics
Career Pathway
Therapeutic Services
Career Cluster
Health Science
Career Pathway
Diagnostic Services
Career Pathway
Support Services
Career Pathway
Biotechnology Research and Development

18. Health Science Career Pathways
Health Informatics Services
Therapeutic Services
Diagnostic Services
Support Services
Biotechnology Research and Development
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19. Think Further
Which of the health science career pathways appeals to you the most? Why?
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20. Employment Opportunities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the healthcare sector will add five million jobs between 2012 and 2022
14 of the 30 occupations expected to grow the most are related to healthcare
All data points to an increased need for healthcare workers
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21. Career Education and Training
Most jobs require education beyond a high school diploma
Postsecondary education can be obtained at various institutions
Always choose an accredited program
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22. Job Credentials
Certification: awarded after completing a course of study
Licensure: given after passing a licensure exam
Registration: added to an official registry after passing an exam and have the correct qualifications
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23. Think Further What are the benefits of obtaining credentials?
Legal ability to perform the duties of your job
Employers often prefer a job candidate with credentials
Renewing credentials enable you to stay up-to-date on healthcare industry developments

24. Knowledge and Skills National Healthcare Skill Standards
Healthcare Foundation Standards
Healthcare Pathway Standards