Health Careers

Chapter 2

Educational Requirements

Depends on many factors & can vary from state to state

Secondary education (high school)– Science, Social studies, English, Math– Computers & Accounting a plus

Health Occupations Education– Prepares for entry level positions or

additional education

Educational Requirements (cont)

Post-secondary education– After high school graduation– Vocational schools, community colleges,

universities

Types of degrees

Associate’s Degree (AD)– Awarded by vocational schools or

community colleges– Completion of 2 year course of study

Bachelor’s Degree (BS or BA)– Awarded by college or university– Completion of at least 4 year course of

study

Types of degrees

Master’s Degree (MS)– Awarded by college or university– Requires 1 or more years after BS or BA

Doctorate or Doctor’s Degree (PhD)– Awarded by college or university– Requires 2 or more years after bachelor’s

or master’s– Some require 4-6 years of study

Methods to ensure competency

Protect health care consumer Certification

– Issued by association or government agency regulating a career

– Person needs to fulfill requirements of education & performance. Also meets the standards & qualifications

– Examples – CNA CDA CMA

Methods to ensure competency

Registration– Done by regulatory board in a health care

area (state boards)– Administers examinations & maintains a

current list (registry) of qualified personnel– Examples – registered dietician, registered

respiratory therapist, registered radiologic technologist

Methods to ensure competency

Licensure– Government agency authorizes person to work in

a given occupation– Requirements:

• Pass an approved educational program• Pass a state board test• Maintain certain standard to obtain & retain license

– Examples – physicians, nurses, dentists, physical therapists

Methods to ensure competency

Usually need to graduate from ACCREDITED program before granting license, certification, or registration

Ensures that program meets quality competency standards

Accreditation by– Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education

Programs (CAAHEP)– Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

(ABHES)– Can contact agencies to determine if school is

accredited.

Continuing Education Units CEUs Required to renew license or maintain

certification/registration in many states Must obtain additional hours of

education in the specific health care career during a specific time frame

State requirements differ from state to state

Training – 4 types

Professional – requires 4 or more years of college & an advanced degree (doctor)

Technologist or Therapist- Requires 3-4 years of college plus work experience, usually a bachelor’s degree (medical lab technologist, physical therapist, speech therapist)

Training – 4 types (cont)

Technician – usually 2 year associate degree, special health education, or specific on-the-job training (dental lab technician, surgical technician)

Assistant or aide-requires up to one or more years of training combining classroom & on-the-job training ( dental, medical, or nurse assistant)

Multicompetent worker

New trend where workers perform a variety of occupations

Eliminates need for employing specialists for every aspect of care

Often combine basic skills of radiology, medical lab, & respiratory therapy

At times, workers can receive additional education to work in 2nd or 3rd occupation

In some cases, training prepares workers to be cross-trained

Entrepreneur

Individual who organizes, manages, & assumes the risks of a business

Much opportunity available Many must work under the direction of physicians

or dentists Educational programs combine training with

business skills Involves risks & requires a certain level of

education & ability Individual should be self motivated, creative,

disciplined, responsible, independent

National Health Care Skill Standards Developed to indicate knowledge & skills

expected of health care workers primarily at the entry & technical levels

6 groups of standards– Health care core standards – specify knowledge &

skill that the majority of health care workers should have

• Academic foundation, communication, employability, legal/ethical issues, safety, teamwork, knowledge about systems

National Health Care Skill Standards Therapeutic/Diagnostic Core Standards

– Focuses on direct client care in both diagnostic & therapeutic occupations

– Health maintenance practices, client interaction, intrateam communication, monitoring client status, client movement

Therapeutic Cluster Standards– Specify knowledge & skills required of workers

involved in changing the health status of the client over time

– Data collection, treatment planning, implementing procedures, client status evaluation

National Health Care Skill Standards Diagnostic Cluster Standards

– Specify knowledge & skills required of workers involved in creating a picture of the client’s health status at a single point in time

– Planning, preparation, procedure, evaluation, reporting

National Health Care Skill Standards Information Services Cluster Standards

– Specify knowledge & skills required of workers involved with documentation of client care

– Analysis, abstracting, coding, information systems, documentation, & operations to enter, retrieve, & maintain info

National Health Care Skill Standards Environmental Services Cluster

Standards– Specify knowledge & skills required of

workers involved with creating a therapeutic environment to provide direct or indirect client care

– Environmental operations, aseptic procedures, resource management, aesthetics

Careers in each clusterTherapeutic Diagnostic Info

ServicesEnviron-mental

Chiropractor

Dentist

Physician

Nursing

Pharmacy

Radiation Tx

Respiratory Therapy

Veterinarian

EKG tech

EEG tech

Radiology

Genetic counseling

Laboratory

Physician

ER

Admitting

Admini-

Stration

Education

Insurance

Medical Records

Ward clerk

Biomedical

Engineer

Central Supply

House-

Keeping

Grounds

keeper

Careers

Dental – teeth & mouth soft tissues– Preventive, repair/replace diseased or damaged

teeth, treating gums– Places of employment– Specialty

• General dentistry• Endodontics• Orthodontics• Oral surgery• Pedodontics• Periodontics• Prosthodontics

Levels of Dentistry

Dentists- doctors, entrepreneurs– Supervise, examine, diagnose, treat

Dental hygienists – – Supervised by dentists, prelim exams, remove

stains/deposits, xray, place restoratives, remoe sutures

Dental lab techs- make/repair dental prosthesis Dental assistants – under dentist supervision

– Prepare pts for exam, pass instruments, take xrays, sterilize, receptionists

Diagnostic Services

Perform tests/evals to detect, diagnose, & treat disease, injury, or conditions

Electrocardiograph workers (EKG)– Operate EKG, stress tests, holter monitors,

thallium scans.– With education, (AS or BS), can be

cardiovascular techs in a cath lab

Diagnostic Services

Electroencephalograph techs (EEG)– Operate EEG to record electrical activity of

brain Electroneurodiagnostic tech

– Advanced EEG training to perform nerve conduction tests, monitor sensory & physical response to stimuli, operate equipment

– Sleep disorder evals

Diagnostic Services Medical laboratory technologists

– Study tissues, fluids, cells to determine presence or cause of disease

– Biochemistry, blood bank, cytotechnology, hematology, histology, microbiology

Medical laboratory technicians– Work under supervision of technologist– Performs routine tests that do not require advanced knowledge

Medical laboratory assistants– Prepare specimens, clean/maintain equipment, perform basic

lab tests Phlebotomists – draw blood

Diagnostic Services

Radiologic technologists– Work with xrays, radiation, nuclear

medicine, ultrasound, MRI, PET scan to diagnose & treat

– Different types of scanners Biomedical equipment technicians

– Install, service, test, & repair machines– Must be ACCURATE

Emergency Medical Services

Provides emergency, prehospital care First responder – first person to arrive at

scene – usually police, fireman, security– CPR certified, CFR – airway, oxygen, bleeding

control EMT (B)–basic emergency medical technician

– Medical emergencies, bleeding, fractures, airway obstruction, BLS, oxygen, childbirth, rescue, transports victims

Emergency Medical Services

EMT-D – EMT with additional training in defibrillation

EMT – I – EMT intermediate– Same tasks as EMT-B– Can also assess, manage shock, use IVs,

esophageal airways

EMT-P – EMT paramedic– More thorough pt. assessment, ACLS, interpret

EKGs, endotracheal intubation, administer drugs

Information & Communication Services

Maintains complete & accurate medical records, distribute health information, researches & maintains info, uses computers

Medical records administrator– Plans systems for storing & obtaining info from

records, prepares info for legal action & insurance claims, compiles statistics, manage records dept., ensure confidentiality, supervise/trains, operates computers

Information & Communication Services Medical records technicians

– Organize & code pt. records, gather statistics, record info, use computers

Medical transcriptionists– Use word processor to enter data dictated by

health care providers

Unit secretary, ward clerk– Records info on records, schedules tests, answers

telephones, order supplies, operates computers

Information & Communication Services Medical illustrator

– Use artistic talent to produce illustrations, charts, graphs,& diagrams for health textbooks, journals, magazines, exhibits

– Related field – medical photographer Medical librarian –

– Organizes books, journals to provide health information– Uses computer to create or provide info– Specialize in researching info for large pharmaceutical

companies, insurance, lawyers, industry, or government

Hospital/health care facility services Operates support departments –

administration, admitting, business office, central/sterile supply, housekeeping

Health Care Administrators (CEO) – – Plans, directs, coordinates, supervises delivery of

health care, manages personnel, supervise department heads, determine budget, establish policies/procedures, coordinates all activities

Admitting clerk– Obtains necessary info, assigns rooms, maintains

records, processes discharge info

Hospital/health care facility services Central/sterile supply workers

– Order, maintain, & supply all the equipment & supplies used, sterilizes equipment/supplies, inventory materials, fill requisitions

Housekeeping/Environmental service– Maintains cleanliness of health care facility

to provide pleasant & sanitary environment

Medical Careers

Involved with diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases & disorders

Physicians– Examines pts, obtains medical histories, order

tests, make diagnoses, perform surgery, treat diseases

• MD – medical doctor• DO – doctor of osteopathic medicine• DPM – doctor of podiatry• DC – doctor of chiropractry

Medical careers

Physician assistants– Routine physical exams, basic diagnostic

tests, medical histories, preliminary diagnosis, treat minor injury, prescribe & administer treatments

Medical assistants– Prepare pts for exams, take VS & medical

histories, basic lab tests, prepare/maintain equipment, secretarial duties

Mental & social services

Help individuals function to their maximum capacity

Psychiatrists – physician– Diagnoses & treats mental illness

Psychologists – – Study human behavior & uses knowledge

to help deal with problems

Mental & social services

Psychiatric/mental health technicians– Help pts follow treatment & rehab plans, help with

physical care, provide understanding & encouragement, observe & report behaviors, teach pts social behavior

Social workers– Assist pts who are unable to cope & help make

adjustments to change, refer pts to community services

Mortuary Careers

Prepare body for burial/cremation Funeral directors/morticians/undertaker

– Provide support to survivors, interview family for details of ceremony, review prior arrangements, prepare body, secure info for legal documents, arrange/direct services, arrange for burial/cremation, direct business activities, provide post-death counseling & support

Mortuary careers

Embalmers –– Prepare body for interment, wash body with

germicidal soap, replace blood with embalming fluid, reshape & restructure disfigurements, apply cosmetics, dress body, place in casket, maintain records of reports & valuables

Mortuary assistants –– Assist with body preparation, drive hearse,

arrange flowers, assist with preparations, help with filing & record maintenance, clean funeral home

Nursing Careers

Provide care for a pt. under dr. direction Registered Nurses (RN)

– Provide total care, observe pts & report, administer meds & treatments, teach health care, supervise other workers

– Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, nurse educators, nurse anesthetists

Licensed vocational nurses (LVN)– Provides pt. care that requires technical

knowledge but not at the depth of a RN

Nursing Careers

Nurse assistants– Provide pt care such as baths, bedmaking,

feeding, transfer, ambulation, basic treatments

Surgical technicians/technologists– Prepare pt for surgery, set up operating

room with equipment, instruments, & sterile supplies, pass instruments & supplies to surgeon

Nutrition & Dietary Services

Dieticians or nutritionists– Manage food service system, assess nutritional

needs & plan menus, teach proper nutrition, purchase food & equipment, enforce sanitary & safety rules, supervise/train personnel

Dietetic technicians– Plan menus, order food, standardize & test recipes,

assist with food preparation, provide basic diet info Dietetic assistants

– Assist with food preparation & service, help pts select menus, clean work areas, assist as needed

Therapeutic services

Focus on functioning at max capacity Occupational Therapist

– Help people with disability overcome, correct, or adjust to problem, use activities to assist with ADLs or job skills, help pts acquire independence

Occupational Therapy Assistant– Helps pt carry out program of treatment, directs

pts in art/crafts, recreation, social events, teach & help carry out rehab & exercises, uses games to develop balance & coordination, assist pts in ADLs, report pt response & progress to therapist

Therapeutic Services

Pharmacists– Dispense meds, provide drug info, order &

dispense health care items, recommend nonprescription items, check compatibility of drugs, monitor drug usage

Pharmacy technicians – Prepare meds for dispensing, label meds,

inventory & order supplies, prepare IVs, maintain records

Therapeutic Services

Physical Therapists– Treat joint, bone, muscle, nerve injuries by

exercise, massage, & applications of heat, cold, water, light, electricity, ultrasound

– Assess function & plan treatment, promote help by developing exercise programs

Physical therapy assistants– Carry out treatments, perform exercises &

massages, administer applications, assist with ambulation, provide ultrasound or electrical stimulation, report pt. response to therapists

Therapeutic Services

Massage therapists– Use massage, bodywork, therapeutic touch to

relieve pain, improve lymphatic circulation, relieve stress & tension

Recreational therapist– Use recreation & leisure activities as treatment to

minimize symptoms & improve wellness. – Provide activities like athletic events, dances,

arts/crafts, music, drama, field trips movies to allow pts to gain independence, self-confidence & relieve anxiety

Therapeutic Services

Recreational therapy assistants– Assist in carrying out activities planned by

therapist, arrange activities & events, note & report progress

Respiratory therapist– Treat pts with heart & lung diseases by

administering oxygen, gases, & meds, use exercise to improve breathing, monitor ventilators, provide diagnostic function tests

Therapeutic Services

Respiratory therapy technicians– Administer respiratory treatments, perform

basic diagnostic tests, clean & maintain equipment, note & record pt. progress

Speech pathologists– Identify, evaluate, & treat pts with speech &

language disorders, help pt. communicate as effectively as possible, teach pt to cope with problems of speech impairment

Therapeutic Services

Audiologists– Work with the hearing impaired, test hearing,

diagnose problems, & prescribe treatment including hearing aids, speech, or lip reading, test noise levels in workplaces

Art, music, & dance therapists– Use arts to help pts deal with social, physical, or

emotional problems, Usually work with the emotionally disturbed, mentally retarded, or physically disabled but may work with people with no disabilities to promote wellness

Therapeutic Services Athletic Trainers

– Prevent & treat athletic injuries, provide rehab to athletes, teach nutrition, apply tape or padding, treat minor injuries, administer first aid, help carry out rehab

Dialysis technicians– Operate kidney hemodialysis machines, monitor pt

during dialysis, provide emotional support, teach correct nutrition

Perfusionists (extracorporeal circulation techs– Members of open heart surgical teams that operate

heart/lung machine & monitor pt

Veterinary Careers Veterinarian (DVM)

– Prevent, diagnose, & treat diseases of animals, may be specialized

Veterinary technicians– Assist with handling & care of animals, collect

specimens, assist with surgery, perform lab tests, take/develop xrays, administer treatments, maintain records

Veterinary assistants– Feed, bathe, groom, exercise animals, prepare for

treatment, clean & sanitize cages, exam tables, & surgical areas, assist with exams

Vision Services

Ophthalmologist– MD specializing in eye diseases/disorders,

diagnose & treat disease, perform surgery, & correct vision problems

Optometrists– Examine eyes for vision problems,

prescribe corrective lenses or exercises, use drugs for diagnosis & treatment, refer to ophthalmologist as needed

Vision Services

Ophthalmic medical technologists– Perform routine eye tests & measures, fit pts for

contacts, administer treatments, assist with surgery, infection control

Ophthalmic medical technicians– Prepare pts for exams, obtain medical histories,

take ocular measurements & perform basic tests, teach eye exercises, adjust glasses, measure for contacts, act as receptionist

Vision Services

Ophthalmic assistants– Prepare pt for exams, measure visual acuity, act

as receptionist, help pts with frame selection & fittings, order lenses, teach proper care of contacts

Opticians– Make & fit glasses & contact lenses

Ophthalmic lab technicians– Polish, cut, grind, finish, & mount lenses, work with

glasses, contacts, telescopes, & binoculars