1. Careers in Health Science

2. Educational Requirements
Secondary education
Refers to basic preparation in high school
Includes Science, Social Studies, English, and Mathematics
Health Occupations Education (HOE)
Secondary vocational program in health occupations
Can prepare students for immediate employment in many health careers

3. Types of Degrees Associate’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree
Vocational/technical school or community college
Completed two-year course of study
Bachelor’s Degree
College or University
Completed four-year course of study

4. Types of Degrees Master’s Degree Doctorate College or University
Completed one or more year beyond Bachelor’s Degree
Doctorate
Completed two or more years beyond Master’s Degree or several years after Bachelor’s Degree (can be 4-6 years)

5. Certification, registration, licensure
Issued by professional association or government agency that regulates a particular profession
Ex: Certified Dental Assistant, Certified Medical Assistant

6. Dental Careers Basic job duties
Concerned with health of teeth and soft tissues of mouth
Care directed toward:
Preventing dental disease
Repairing or replacing diseased or damaged teeth
Treating gums or other supporting structures of the teeth

7. Dental Careers cont… Places of employment Private dental offices
Laboratories
Clinics dental departments in hospitals, schools, health departments, government agencies

8. Dental Careers cont… Specialty Areas General dentistry
Endodontics - Treatment of disease of the vessels and roots of the teeth
Orthodontics - Alignment or straightening of teeth
Oral Surgery - Surgery on teeth, mouth, jaw
Pedodontics - Dental treatment of children
Periodontics - Treatment & prevention of disease of the gum and bone supporting the teeth

9. Dental Careers Levels of workers Dentist Dental hygienists Doctor
Examine teeth and mouth tissues
Diagnose and treat disease and abnormalities
Perform surgery
Supervise work of others
Dental hygienists
Work under supervision of dentist
Remove stains and deposits from teeth
Expose and develop x-rays

10. Diagnostic Services Basic job duties Places of employment
Perform tests or evaluations
Aid in detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury or other physical conditions
Places of employment
Hospital laboratories
Private laboratories
Doctors offices
Clinics

11. Diagnostic Services Types of workers
Electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) Technician
Operate EKG machine
Physicians use EKG to diagnose heart disease and to note changes in condition of the patient’s heart
Experienced technicians can also perform stress test, Holter monitoring, and specialized cardiac tests

12. Diagnostic Services Electroencephalographic (EEG) technologists
Operate EEG to record electrical activity of the brain
Phlebotomist
Collect blood and prepare it for testing
May perform blood test in some states

13. Diagnostic Services Radiologic technologist
Work with x-rays, nuclear testing, ultrasound and MRI
Radiographers - Works with x-rays of the body
Nuclear Medicine technologist - Prepares radioactive substances to administer to patients and then use film images on a screen to determine how substances pass through different parts of the body

14. Diagnostic Services
Ultrasound techonlogist/sonographers: use equipment to send sound waves into body and record images produced on screen

15. Emergency Medical Services
Basic job duties
Provide emergency pre-hospital care
Provide care to victims of accidents, injuries, and sudden illness
Places of employment
Fire and police departments
Rescue squads
Ambulance service

16. Emergency Medical Services
Hospital or emergency rooms
Life flight services
Military

17. Emergency Medical Services
Level of workers
Basic first aid training
Formal EMT training
EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic)
Provide basic care for wide range of illnesses
EMT-D (Emergency Medical Technician-Defibrillator)
EMT-B with additional training in basic life support
Can administer defibrillation to certain heart attach victims

18. Emergency Medical Services
EMT-P (Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic)
Perform all basic duties of other levels
Can perform endotracheal intubation
Administer drugs
Interpret EKG’s

19. Health Information and Communication Services
Maintain complete accurate patient records
Distribute health information through medical illustrators, photographers, writers and medical librarians
Use computers in almost all areas

20. Health Information and Communication Services
Types of workers
Medical Records Administrators
Medical records
Unit Secretaries, Ward Clerks, or Unit Coordinators

21. Can you tell what this says?

22. Medical Careers
Broad category that includes physicians and other individuals who work in any of the varied careers under physician supervision
Involved with diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases and disorders of human body

23. Medical Careers Places of employment Private Practices Clinics
Hospitals
Public Health Agencies
Research Facilities
College or Universities

24. Medical Services Level of workers Physician (doctors) Examine patients
Make diagnosis
Perform surgery
Treat disease

25. Medical Services Classifications
Doctor of Medicine (MD) – Diagnosis, treat and prevent disease or disorder
Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) – Place emphasis on nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems and the relationship between the body with the mind
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) – Examine, diagnose, and treat disease of the feet
Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) – Concentrate on structures of the spine and nervous system

26. Medical Services Physicians Assistant (PA)
Works under supervision of physician
Performs routine physical exams
Does basic diagnostic test
Takes medical histories
Makes preliminary diagnosis
Treats minor injuries

27. Medical Services Medical Assistant (MA)
Works under supervision of physician
Prepares patients for examination
Takes vital signs
Assists with procedures and treatments
Performs basic lab test

28. Mental and Social Services
Basic job duties
Mental services workers deal with mental or emotional disorders or mental retardation
Social workers help people deal with illness, employment, or community problems

29. Mental and Social Services
Places of employment
Hospitals
Psychiatric hospitals
Home health agencies
Public health departments
Government agencies
Counseling agencies
Drug and alcohol agencies
Prisons

30. Mental and Social Services
Psychiatrists (MD)
Physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illness
Psychologist
Study human behavior
Use knowledge to help individuals deal with problems of everyday living

31. Mental and Social Services
Social workers
Assist patients who are unable to cope with various problems
Help patients make adjustments to changes
Assistants usually need one or more years of a Health Occupation Educational program

32. Mortuary Careers Basic job duties Level of workers
Preparation of the body
Cremation or burial of the body
Level of workers
Funeral Director/Undertaker
Embalmer
Mortuary assistant

33. Nursing Careers Basic job duties Places of employment
Provide care for a patient under direction of a physician
Places of employment
Hospitals
Rehabilitation/Long-term facilities
Physicians office
Schools – (School Nurse)
Industry
Education – (College, University, etc.)

34. Nursing Careers Level of workers Registered Nurses (RN)
Work under a licensed physician
Provide total care to patients
Administer meds and treatments
Teach health care
Supervise other nursing personnel

35. Nursing Careers Specialties after advanced education
Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) – Perform basic physical exams, order lab tests, refer patients, help set-up treatments, treat common illnesses
Nurse Midwives (CNM) – Provide care for normal pregnancies, examine patient, perform routine test, deliver infant, monitor mother/infant
Nurse Educators – Teach in Health Occupational programs, Schools of Nursing (College or University)
Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) – Administer anesthesia, monitor patients during surgery

36. Nursing Careers Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Work under physician or RN
Provide patient care but not to the extent of an RN
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)
Work under RN or LPN
Provide care such as baths, bed-making, feeding, transfers, etc.

37. Nursing Careers Surgical Technician Work under RN or physician
Prepares the patient for surgery
Sets up the operating room

38. Nutrition and Dietary Services
Dietitians
Manage food service system
Assess patients nutritional needs and plan menus
Teach others proper nutrition
Purchase food and equipment

39. Therapeutic Services Basic job duties
Use variety of treatments to help patients who are injured, physically disabled
Direct treatment toward allowing patients to function at full capacity

40. Therapeutic Services Types of workers
Occupational Therapist (OT) – Help people with physical developmental disabilities. Use activities to assist a person in ADLs. Direct pt toward helping pts acquire independence.
Pharmacists – Dispense medications on written orders from Physicians, Dentists. Provide information on drugs and correct ways to use them. Maintain drug records. Assess, plan and monitor drug usage.

41. Therapeutic Services
Physical therapist (PT) – Provide treatment for disabling injury. Use exercise, massage. Promote health and prevent injuries.
Physical therapist assistants (PTA) – Work under a therapist. Perform exercises and massage. Assist patients.
Massage therapists – Use massage, body work and therapeutic touch to provide pain relief.

42. Therapeutic Services
Respiratory therapists (RT) – Treat patients with heart and lung disorders. Administer oxygen, gases or medication.
Athletic Trainers – Prevent and treat athletic injuries. Provide rehabilitation services. Teach proper nutrition. Apply tape or padding to protect body parts.

43. Support Services Engineers (Hospital Maintenance) Central Supply
Central Supply Assistant
Central Supply Technician
Central Supply Supervisor
Central Supply Manager
Dietetics

44. Veterinary Careers Basic description Level of workers
Work with all types of animals
Level of workers
Veterinarian (DVM or VMD)
Animal Technician (ATR)
Veterinarian Assistants

45. Vision Services Basic job duties Levels of workers
Provide care to prevent vision disorders.
Levels of workers
Ophthalmologists
Optometrists
Optometric Technicians
Optician