Health Careers EDUCATION Over 200 health careers

Health Careers

EDUCATION Over 200 health careers p Basic preparation begins in high school p Post secondary education (after high school) can include training in a vocational or technical school, community college, (Lone Star) or university (Tx A & M, UT) p Some careers require Associate’s degree -2 years of study (Lone Star, Blinn Jr. College) p

EDUCATION Other careers require BACHELOR’S DEGREE-awarded by college or university after 4 or more years (A & M, UT) p In some cases, MASTER’S DEGREE is required. Awarded after 1 or 2 more years of work beyond a Bachelor’s degree. p Other careers require a DOCTORATE or DOCTOR’S DEGREE, which is awarded after 2 or more yrs. beyond Master’s. This is a Ph. D not an MD p

CAREERS p p Other terms associated with health careers include: CERTIFICATION-person has fullfilled requirements of education & performance and meets standards and qualifications of a professional or govt. agency. Certificate is issued by the professional association. Examples: PT, Cna, EMT REGISTRATION-performed by professional or state board that administers exams and maintains current list of qualified personnel. Ex: registered nurses (RN)registered dieticians, registered respiratory therapist, registered radiologic technologist

p LICENSURE-govt. agency authorizes individuals to work in a given occupation. Vary from state to state. Must pass a state board exam and maintain certain standards. Ex: medical doctor (MD), registered nurse (RN), physical therapist, (PT) licensed vocational nurse (LVN).

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEU’S) Required to renew licenses or maintain certification or registration in many states. p Ex: RN’s in Tx must have 20 CEU’s every 2 yrs. p All health care workers must be aware of the state requirements regarding CEU’s for their given careers. p

CAREERS New trend in health occupations is that of multicompetent or multiskilled worker -Smaller facilities cannot afford to hire a skilled person for every aspect of care. Therefore, workers are hired and trained to perform more than one skill p Ex: EKG tech (heart) & EEG tech (brain) p

CAREERS Another opportunity is that of an entrepreneur who organizes, manages and assumes the risk of a business. p Ex: dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, nurse practitioners, medical doctors p

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SKILL STANDARDS Developed to indicate the knowledge and skill expected of health care workers. p Composed of various groups: p 1. Health Care Core Standards-specifies knowledge and skills that vast majority of health care workers should have; discusses academic foundation, communication skills, employability skills, legal responsibilities, safety, teamwork and knowledge about the systems in health care environment. p

STANDARDS 2. Therapeutic/Diagnostic Core Standards specify knowledge and skills required to focus on direct patient care in both therapeutic and diagnostic occupations; includes health maintenance practices, client interaction, monitoring patient status. Ex: nursing careers, MD’s, PT, Optometrist, Dietician. For others see table 2: 2 p. 30.

STANDARDS Diagnostic Cluster-knowledge and skills in creating a picture of the health status of patients; includes planning, preparation, procedure, evaluation and reporting. p Ex: EKG & EEG tech, Medical Lab careers, Phlebotomist(draws blood), Radiologic tech (xray tech), sonographer. p

STANDARDS p Information Services Cluster Standards- skills and knowledge involved with documentation of patient care, analysis, coding, information systems documentation & operations to enter, retrieve, and maintain information on patients. p Ex: admitting clerk, health educator, Medical billing officer, medical records administrator, unit secretary

STANDARDS Environmental Services Clusterknowledge and skills required to create an environment conducive to direct and indirect patient care; includes environmental operations, aseptic techniques, resource management. p Ex: Central/Sterile supply worker, Housekeeping, Sanitary manager, Biomedical Engineers p

CAREER PROFESSIONAL TECHNOLOGIST EDUCATIONAL REQ. 4 or more yrs. college w/ bachelors, Masters 3 -4 yrs. college + work experience, bachelors or masters EXAMPLES MD, RN Speech therapist Respiratory therapist TECHNICIAN 2 yr associate’s degree AIDE OR ASSISTANT 1 or more yrs. training, classroom & on the job training Dental lab tech Medical lab tech Surgical tech Dental asst CNA, Med Asst.

What is this career?

p p p EMT-Provide emergency, pre-hospital care to victims of accidents, injuries, or sudden illnesses. Training required by fire, police and health dept and as non degree course in technical/community colleges. Places of employment: fire and police, ER’s, emergency helicopter services, and military

PSYCHIATRIST & PSYCHOLOGIST p WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE 2 PROFESSIONS?

SOCIAL WORKER

SOCIAL WORKER Sociologists, case managers, or counselors p Assist people who have difficulty coping with various problems by helping them make adjustments in their lives and or by referring them to community resources for assistance. p

SOCIAL WORKER Specialties include child welfare also known as CPS p Geriatrics p Family p Correctional (jail) p

CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECH

CERTIFIED SURGICAL TECH (CST) Also called operating room techs p Work under the supervision of RN’s or MD’s. p Set up instruments, equipment, sterile supplies for surgery p Assist during surgery by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon p Education: 6 month-1 yr. training p

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST

SPEECH PATHOLOGIST Identify, evaluate, and treat patients with speech and language disorders. p Help pt. communicate as effectively as possible, and also teach pt. to cope with the problems created by speech impairments p

EEG Tech (electroencephalogram)

ECG, EKG TECH

DIETICIAN

RECREATIONAL THERAPIST

ATHLETIC TRAINER

RADIATION THERAPIST

VET TECH

PHLEBOTOMIST

MEDICAL ILLUSTRATOR

MEDICAL PHOTOGRAPHER

ABBREVIATIONS FOR HEALTH CAREERS p p p KNOW THE MEANING OF THESE ABB. DVM RD RN CNA MD CRNA PT DC OT MA DPM LVN DDS PCT EMT PT OD Pharm. D RT

MEDICAL DOCTORS (MD) p p p p DEFINE THESE MEDICAL SPECIALTIES DERMATOLOGIST GASTROENTEROLOGIST GERONTOLOGIST GYNECOLOGIST OBSTETRICIAN ONCOLOGIST OPHTHALMOLOGIST

MEDICAL DOCTORS (MD) OTOLARYNGOLOGIST p PATHOLOGIST p PLASTIC SURGEON p PSYCHIATRIST p SPORTS MEDICINE p THORACIC SURGEON p UROLOGIST p