1. CHAPTER 25 MEDICAL CAREERS
Acuity
Allopathic
Anesthesiology
Biomechanics
Internship
Osteopathic
Residency
Vision
Journal question: What personal qualities would make a student a good candidate for medical careers?

2. Chapter 25 Learning Objectives
Define at least 10 terms relating to careers in medicine and related fields.
Specify the role of selected medical care providers, including personal qualities, levels of education, and credentialing requirements.
Define visual acuity and describe at least two methods used to determine it.

3. Chapter 25 Learning Objectives
Describe two types of electrocardiography used by medical personnel.

4. Careers in Medicine • Function of medical care providers
To promote optimal health and provide care during illness

5. Medical Careers

6. Medical Career Educational Costs and Earnings

7. Physicians Two types of medical doctors Education for MD
Doctor of medicine (MD)
Largest group
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Education for MD
4 years of medical school after completion of a college or university degree
1-year internship for specialization
Residency
Discuss the differences between allopathic and osteopathic doctors.

8. Physicians Areas of specialization Anesthesiology Surgery Pediatrics
Obstetrics
Urology
Psychiatry
Ophthalmology
Podiatry
The American Board of Medical Specialists (ABMS) certifies doctors in more than 145 specialties and subspecialties.

9. Physicians
Ophthalmologists are MDs who diagnose and treat diseases of and injuries to the eyes.
May prescribe medication
May perform surgery
Write prescriptions for glasses
Give instruction for corrective eye exercise
Education
Medical degree and license
Specialty education and experience

10. Physicians Osteopathic physicians
In addition to using the modern tools of medicine, osteopaths are trained to perform manipulation.
Education
Similar in length to the MD
Completion of an accredited program and national examination
Completion of 150 hours of continuing education every 3 years in some states
Biomechanics is moving or manipulation of muscles and bones.

11. Other Medical Care Providers
Podiatrist
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
Treat common foot disorders by using
Corrective devices
Orthopedic shoes
Surgery
Medication
Education
2 years of college
4 years of classroom and clinical instruction
Must be licensed by the state
The professional care of feet was in existence in ancient Egypt. Bas-relief carvings were found at the entrance to Ankmahor's tomb dating from about 2400 BC and depicting work on hands and feet.

12. Other Medical Care Providers
Physician assistant (PA)
Works under the direction of a physician and performs about 70% of the duties of the doctor
Taking patient history
Conducting physical examinations
Performing minor surgical procedures
Ordering diagnostic tests
In some states, may write prescriptions
Education
2 years of college and prior health care experience
2 years of classroom and clinical training
Must be registered or licensed by the state and recertified through completion of at least 100 hours of continuing education
The PA may also be called a physician extender.
Three PA programs train surgeon assistant.

13. Other Medical Care Providers
Orthoptist
Eye muscle specialist who works under the direction of an ophthalmologist
Education
2 years of college
24 months of specialized training
Certification is recommended
Orthoptics is the clinical science of vision using both eyes (binocular).

14. Other Medical Care Providers
Optician
Designs, fits, and adapts lenses and frames
Training
On the job
Vocational school and 2-year college programs
Licensing is required in 26 states
Opticians are also called ophthalmic dispensers.
The first spectacles used quartz lenses (optical glass had not been developed). The lenses were set into bone, metal, and leather mountings.

15. Other Medical Care Providers
Optometrist
Examines and tests eyes to evaluate vision
Uses lenses or therapy to improve vision
Education
2 years of college
4 years of professional study at an accredited optometric school
Degree earned is Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Licensure
Contact lenses were first used in the 1940s.

16. Support Personnel Surgical technologist (ST)
Helps prepare the operating room and the patient for surgery
Assembles and sterilizes the instruments, drapes, and solutions
Prepares the patient by shaving and cleaning the incision site
Assists the rest of the team to put on sterile gowns and gloves
Education
Training programs in vocational school, community college, and the military (9 to 24 months long)
Voluntary certification
Surgical technologists are also referred to as surgical and operating room technicians.

17. Support Personnel Medical assistant (MA)
Performs clerical or clinical functions, or both, under the supervision of a physician
Education
1 to 2 years of vocational school or community college programs or on-the-job training
Certification for Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
Completed 5 years of service and an approved course
Medical assistants who have a specialty may make casts or take radiographs and electrocardiographs.

18. Types of Physical Examinations

19. Opening a Sterile Package
FIGURE 25-3 Opening a sterile package.

20. Opening a Sterile Package
FIGURE 25-3 Opening a sterile package.

21. Opening a Sterile Package
FIGURE 25-3 Opening a sterile package.

22. Opening a Sterile Package
FIGURE 25-3 Opening a sterile package.

23. Support Personnel Podiatric assistant Assists podiatrist with
Patient preparation
Equipment sterilization
Development of radiographs
Education
On-the-job training
Vocational school program

24. Support Personnel Ophthalmic assistant/technician Measures vision
Changes dressings
Administers eye and oral medication
Applies contact lenses
Assists with specialized ocular tests
Education
On-the-job
Home study course through the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)
Ophthalmic technician requires completion of a 2-year certificate program
Ophthalmic technicians perform all of the items on this list and may be trained to prepare specimens for examination and to assist with ocular surgery.

25. Support Personnel
Paraoptometric personnel work under the supervision of a doctor of optometry.
Optometric technicians
Perform vision screening, measure pressure on the cornea, and record patient history
Determine the power of existing lenses
Instruct patients on the contact lens care
Education: 2-year degree
Optometric assistants
On-the-job or 1-year program

26. Vision Vision Visual acuity Comprehensive eye examination
Ophthalmoscope used to view interior of eye
Field of vision test
Comprehensive eye examination
Visual acuity testing for distant and near objects
Measures focusing, tracking, and fixation skills
Snellen charts are named after the Dutch ophthalmologist, Hermann Snellen, who developed the chart during 1862.
The traditional Snellen chart is printed with 11 lines of block letters.

27. Snellen Chart
FIGURE 25-8 Snellen and Jaeger charts are used to measure visual acuity.

28. Electrocardiogram Electrocardiogram
Measures electrical currents in the heart
3 to 12 leads (or more) attached to the person being treated
Electrocardiogram is a strip of graph paper that records the heart’s electrical activity.
Alexander Muirhead is credited with recording the first human electrocardiogram in 1872 at St. Bartholomew’s hospital in Scotland.

29. Performance Instruction
Physical examination
Preparation of the examination room
Taking vital signs
Providing patient privacy
Assisting the physician in positioning and giving treatment to the patient
Labeling specimens

30. Performance Instruction
Vision assessment
Snellen chart
Measures the ability to see symbols from a specified distance of 20 feet
Height of the characters on the chart that the patient can see is used to describe the patient’s vision.
A person who is said to have 20/20 vision can see characters that are 20 mm high when the person is 20 feet from the chart.

31. Performance Instruction
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Measures the electrical activity of the heart
Changes in the ECG may be used to locate the damaged area of the heart
Supine position is usually used for taking an ECG

32. Positions
FIGURE 25-7 The best position is determined by the health care worker or ordered by the physician. A, Modified semi-Fowler’s position.

33. Positions
FIGURE 25-7 The best position is determined by the health care worker or ordered by the physician. B, Sitting position.

34. Positions
FIGURE 25-7 The best position is determined by the health care worker or ordered by the physician. C,Horizontal or supine position.

35. Positions
FIGURE 25-7 The best position is determined by the health care worker or ordered by the physician. D, Left Sims’ position.

36. Positions
FIGURE 25-7 The best position is determined by the health care worker or ordered by the physician. E, Prone position.

37. Summary
The role of medical care providers is to promote optimal health and provide care during illness.
Necessary personal qualities include leadership skills, ability to work under pressure, and self-motivation.

38. Summary
Visual acuity is the ability to differentiate shape and color and to interpret their meaning. Two assessment methods include using a Snellen chart and a field vision test to determine the width of the field vision.
Electrocardiography may be completed by using 3 or 12 electrodes.

39. Review
Surgical technologists: a. Design, fit, and adapt lenses and frames based on an optical prescription b. Assist during surgical procedures under the supervision of the surgeon and a registered nurse c. Examine and test eyes to evaluate vision and detect diseases of the eye for referral to a medical doctor d. Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the eye e. Working under the direction of a physician, perform about 70% of the duties of the medical doctor

40. Review
Surgical technologists: a. Design, fit, and adapt lenses and frames based on an optical prescription b. Assist during surgical procedures under the supervision of the surgeon and a registered nurse c. Examine and test eyes to evaluate vision and detect diseases of the eye for referral to a medical doctor d. Diagnose and treat diseases and injuries of the eye e. Working under the direction of a physician, perform about 70% of the duties of the medical doctor

41. Review
A normal vision reading is considered to be: a. 20/25 b. 20/30 c. 20/20 d. 20/35 e. 20/40

42. Review
A normal vision reading is considered to be: a. 20/25 b. 20/30 c. 20/20 d. 20/35 e. 20/40