1. Chapter 3
Careers in Health Care

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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)

8. 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.

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 3:2 Therapeutic Services Careers
Types of Jobs:
Chiropractor
Exercise Physiologist
Kinesiotherapist
Massage Therapist
Athletic Trainer
Audiologist
Social Worker
Speech Language Pathologist
Many MORE…

14. 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…

15. 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)

16. 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

17. 3:2B Emergency Medical Services Careers
Basic job duties
Provide emergency prehospital care
Provide care to victims of accidents, injuries, and sudden illness
(continues)

18. 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)

19. 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)

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

21. 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)

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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)

26. 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)

27. 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)

28. 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

29. 3:2H Veterinary Careers Basic description
Work with all types of animals
Range from house pets to livestock to wildlife
(continues)

30. 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)

31. 3:2I Vision Services Careers
Basic job duties
Provide care to prevent vision disorders
Treat vision disorders
(continues)

32. 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

33. 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)

34. 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)

35. 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)

36. 3:4 Health Informatics Careers
Basic job duties
Documentation of patient records
Health information
Health education
(continues)

37. 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)

38. 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

39. 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)

40. 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

41. 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)

42. 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

43. 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