Unit 4
Introduction (Don’t Write)
 There
are over 200 different health
care careers.
 Most health care careers involve
“hands on” patient care, but some
workers in a health care career may
never touch a patient.
 Careers in health care can be very
versatile
Education (Don’t Write)
 In
order to be successful in any
career you must have a good
education.
 Requirements for health care careers
can vary depending on the position
you seek
 Educational requirements can also
vary from state to state
Education
 Types
of education available:
 Secondary education: (high school);
math, science, social studies, English,
computer and accounting skills
 Health Occupation Education (HOE):
(high school) prepare students for
immediate employment in health career
or for additional education after
graduation
Education
 Types
of education available:
 Post-secondary: (college or technical
school); can include specific training in a
career-technical school, community
college or university
Education
 Levels
of education:
 Associate’s degree: two year degree;
technical school or community college
 Bachelor’s degree: four year (or more)
degree, college or university
 Master’s degree: (graduate school) six
year degree (or more) college or
university
 Doctorate or Doctoral degree: (graduate
school ) 5-10 year (or more) degree
Education
 National
Consortium On Health Science &
Technology: Developed for middle and
high school students with a serious
interest in a health career pathway
 Required courses establish a foundation
for the middle/high school student for
success at the post-secondary (college)
level
Certification/Registration/Licensure
 Certification/Registration/Licensure:
Methods used to ensure skill &
competency of health care personnel
 Certified Nursing Assistant
 Registered Dietician
 Licensed Practical Nurse
Certification/Registration/Licensure
 Certification/Registration/Licensure:
 Certification:
person has fulfilled
requirements of education & performance
& meets the standards & qualifications
established by the professional
association or government agency that
regulates a particular career
 Examples: Cert. Dental Asst., Cert. Lab
Tech., Cert. Medical Asst.
Certification/Registration/Licensure
 Certification/Registration/Licensure:
 Registration:
granted by a regulatory body
(professional association or state board)
that administers examinations and
maintains current list (registry) of qualified
personnel in a given health care area
 Examples: Registered dietician,
registered respiratory therapist, registered
radiologic tech.
Certification/Registration/Licensure
 Certification/Registration/Licensure:
 Licensure:
a government agency
authorizes individuals to work in a given
occupation. Obtaining and retaining
licensure usually require that a person
complete an approved educational
program, pass a state board test
 Examples: physician, dentist, physical
therapist, registered nurse, licensed
vocation (practical) nurse
Certification/Registration/Licensure
 CEU’s
are required to renew or maintain
certification or registration:
 Renewal Time Periods: renewals can vary
from state to state, usually between 12
and 24 months.
 Failure to obtain CEU’s in mandated time
period could result in an inquiry before the
regulatory agency
 Possible suspension or LOSS of license
Training
 Professional
Level: four or more years of
college and an advanced degree
(Bachelors, Masters)
 Examples: physician, dentist
 Technologist
or Therapist: 3-4 yrs of
college plus work experience (Bachelors)
 Examples: physical therapist, speech
therapist
 Technician:
2 yrs of college plus 3-4 yrs of
OJT(Associates) Examples: surgical tech.
Training
 Assistant
or Aide: one or more yrs of
training that combines classroom and/or
on-the-job experience
 Examples: dental asst., medical asst., nursing
asst.
National Health Care Skill Standards
 National
Health Care Skill Standards:
Developed to indicate knowledge and
skills expected of health care workers
 NHCSS – 6 Core Standard Groups:
 Health Care
 Therapeutic/Diagnostic
 Therapeutic
 Diagnostic
 Information Services
 Environmental Services
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Health
Care Core Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills vast majority of
health care workers should have
 Discuss academic foundation, communication
skills, employability skills, legal
responsibilities, ethics, safety practices,
teamwork, and knowledge of systems in
health care environment
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Therapeutic/Diagnostic
Core Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills required to
focus on direct patient care in both
therapeutic and diagnostic occupations
 Include health maintenance practices, client
interaction, intrateam communication,
monitoring client status, and client movement
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Therapeutic
Cluster Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills required of
workers in health occupations that are
involved in changing the health status of the
patient over time
 Include data collection, treatment planning,
implementing procedures, and patient status
evaluation
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Therapeutic
Cluster Standards:
Examples (Don’t Write)
Art/Music/Dance
Therapist
Athletic Trainer
Audiologist
Chiropractor
Dental Careers
Dialysis Technician
Massage Therapist
Mental Health
Technician
Nursing Careers
Occupational Therapist
Ophthalmologist
Optometrist
Pharmacy Careers
Physical Therapist
Physician
Psychiatrist
Radiation Therapist
Veterinarian
Veterinarian Assistant
Emergency Medical
Careers
Psychologist
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Diagnostic
Cluster Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills required of
workers in health occupations that are
involved in creating a picture of patient’s
health status at a single point and time
 Include data collection, treatment planning,
implementing procedures, and patient status
evaluation, and reporting
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Diagnostic
Cluster Standards:
Examples (Don’t Write)
EKG Technician
EEG Technician
Genetic Counselor
Medical Laboratory
Careers
Phlebotomist
Radiologic Technician
Sonographer
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Information
Services Cluster Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills required of
workers in health occupations that are
involved with documentation of patient care
 Include analysis, abstracting, coding,
information services, documentation, and
operations to enter, retrieve, and maintain
information
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Information
Services Cluster Standards:
Examples (Don’t Write)
Admitting Clerk
Biomedical Writer
Health Care
Administrator
Health Care Educator
Health Information
Administrator
Health Information
Technician
Health Science
Librarian
Insurance Processor
Medical Billing Officer
Medical Illustrator
Medical Photographer
Medical Transcriptionist
Social Worker
/Sociologist
Unit Secretary
Unit Coordinator
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Environmental
Services Cluster
Standards:
 Specify knowledge and skills required of
workers in health occupations that are
involved with creating a therapeutic
environment to provide direct or indirect
patient care
 Include environmental operations, aseptic
procedures, resource management and
aesthetics
National Health Care Skill Standards
 Environmental
Services Cluster
Standards:
Examples (Don’t Write)
Biological Scientist
Biomedical Scientist
Biomedical Engineer
Biomedical Equipment
Technician
Central Supply Worker
Environmental Health
Scientist
Epidemiologist
Housekeeping Worker
Sanitary Manager
Specific Careers: Diagnostic
 Electrocardiograph
Technician: Operates
ECG (EKG) machine.
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Associate’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers: Diagnostic
 Electrocardiograph
Technician:
 Operates ECG (EKG) machine.
 Applies Holter Monitor
 Assist with stress test
 Patient education
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Associate’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers: Diagnostic
 Electroencephalograph
Technologist:
 Operates EEG machine.
 Prepares patient for testing
 Assist physician as needed
 Patient education
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers: Diagnostic
 Medical
Technologist:
 Works under supervision of pathologist
(doctor)
 Determines presence of
disease by studying tissue
Samples
 Chemical analysis of body
fluids
 Blood bank technology
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers
 Venipuncture
Technicians/Phlebotomist:
 Collect blood samples and prepare them for
testing
 May perform blood test in
some states
 Can be cross-trained to
perform other laboratory
task
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Associate’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers
 Radiologic
Technologist:
 Work under supervision of
radiologist (doctor)
 Perform x-rays, MRI’s, CAT
scans, ultrasounds, PET scans
mammography
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree plus OJT
Specific Careers
 Epidemiologist:
 Identify and track disease in a group of
people as they occur
 Determine source
 Develop methods to
prevent/control spread of
disease
 May specialize in specific disease
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
Specific Careers: Diagnostic
 Biomedical
Engineer:
 Develop devices that aid in diagnosis and
treatment of disease
 Develop artificial organs
(hip, knees, heart valves)
 Design technology for
diagnosis of disease
 Design surgical instruments
and other custom devices
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree
Specific Careers: EMS
 Emergency
Medical Technician:
 Provide emergency, prehospital care
 Places
of Employment:
 Fire/Police Dept
 Rescue/Ambulance Serv.
 Hospital
 Flight Services
 Military
 Different levels in different states
Minimum Educational Requirements: High
School Diploma (Associate’s Preferred)
Specific Careers: EMS
 Paramedic:
 Provide emergency, prehospital care
 Provide advanced life support
 IV’s/Medications
 EKG’s
 Advanced medical
procedures
 Flight medic
Minimum Educational Requirements: High
School Diploma (Associate’s Preferred)
Specific Careers: Health Info.
 Health
Information Administrators:
 Secure patient health information
 Prepare information for:
○ Insurance claims
○ Legal action
 Statistics
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Master’s Degree
Specific Careers: Health Info.
 Health
Information Technician:
 Secure patient health information
 Ensure all entries in
medical records are
completed
 Computerized records
 Copies of records for
physicians/patients
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
Specific Careers: Health Info.
 Medical
Transcriptionist:
 Use word processor to enter data dictated on
audio tapes by physicians
/other medical professionals
 Physical exams, surgical
reports, consults, progress
reports, lab/x-ray reports
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
Specific Careers: Medical.
 Physician:
 Examines patients
 Orders tests
 Makes diagnosis
 Perform surgery
 Treat illness/disease
 Teach preventative medicine
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
Specific Careers: Medical.
 Physician Assistants
(PA):
 Work under supervision of physician
 Performs physical exams
 Orders diagnostic tests
 Treats minor injuries
 Makes initial diagnosis
Minimum Educational Requirements:
Bachelor’s Degree
Specific Careers: Medical.
 Medical Assistant:
 Work under supervision of physician
 Prepares patient for exam
 Takes vital signs
 Assist w/procedures
 Basic lab tests
 Prepares equipment
 Maintains supplies
Minimum Educational Requirements: High
School Diploma; Associate’s Degree
Specific Careers: Medical.
 Nursing:
 LPN/RN
 Provide care for patient
as directed by physician
 Assist in procedures
 Administer treatment &
medications
 Assessment skills
 Supervise other nursing personnel
Minimum Educational Requirements:
End of Lecture