careers

Professionals in Health

Health career roles and educational requirements

Physicians

Involved with the treatment and prevention of human disease. Primary role is diagnosing human disease and formulating a treatment plan.

Physician Classifications

MD Doctor of Medicine- general practitioners or specialists. Focus: medicine and/or surgical treatments

DO Doctor of Osteopathy- most are general practitioners. Focus: musculoskeletal system.

Both require 4 yrs premed, 4 yrs med, 3 yrs residency.

Physician Specialties

Family Physician- involved with care of the total patient. Handles most illnesses.

General Practitioner- similar to family practitioner. Title usually for DO’s.

Neurologists- Treats disorders of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

Physician Specialists continued

Gynecologists- Health care and treatment of reproductive system of women.

Obstetricians- work with women throughout pregnancy, delivery, and care after delivery.

Physician Specialists continued

Pathologists- study characteristics, causes and progression of disease. Order and perform lab tests, autopsies, run blood banks, etc.

Emergency Medicine- Treat acute illnesses and emergencies

Physician Specialists continued

Allergists- treat conditions and illnesses caused by allergies or related to immune system

Otolaryngologists- Ear, nose and throat (ENT) and the treatment of diseases involving the ear, nose or throat. Perform related surgeries.

Physician Specialists continued

Surgeons- operates to treat disease, repair injuries or correct deformities, and to improve general health

Psychiatrists- Assist patient in the recovery of mental illness

Physician Specialists continued

Radiologists- diagnose and treat illness by use of X ray and radioactive materials.

Pediatricians- care for children from birth through adolescence.

Physician Specialists continued

Ophthalmologists- treat disease and injuries of the eye. Prescribe corrective lenses and perform surgery.

Dermatologists-Treat infections, growths and injury to the skin.

Physician Specialists continued

Anesthesiologists- Use drugs and gases to render patients unconscious during surgery. Assist patients with pain management.

Cardiologists- Treat heart disease

Dental

Dentists- Diagnose and treat problems with teeth and tissues of the mouth. Either DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry)

Dentists- Education and Specialties Education: 4 yrs predental, 4 yrs dental

General Practitioners- handle wide variety of dental needs

Orthodontists- straighten teeth

Dental Specialties continued

Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons- operate on mouth and jaws

Pediatric Dentists- Dentists for children

Periodontists- Treat gums

Dental Specialists continued

Prosthodontists- make artificial teeth or dentures

Endodontists- perform root canals

Dental Hygienists

Provide preventive dental care. Teach patients to have good oral hygiene. Scale and polish teeth, explain relationship between diet, smoking and oral health.– Education- 2 yrs

Dental Assistants

Works with the dentist while the dentist is examining and treating the patient.– Make patients comfortable in the chair– Prepare them for treatment– Obtain dental records– Hand dentists the instruments and

materials

Dental Assistants continued

– Make impressions– Take radiographs– Give oral health instruction– Prepare instruments for sterilization– Use suction to keep mouth clean during

exams and treatments– Education- 1 year

Dental Technologist

Makes dental prosthetics as prescribed by a dentist

Such as: Crowns and Bridges, Orthodontic appliances, Full Dentures and Partial Dentures and Ceramics

Registered Nurses

Care for sick and injured

Help people stay well

Concerned with the whole person

Provide physical, mental and emotional needs

Registered Nurses continued

Observe, record and assess symptoms, reactions and progress

Administer medications Assist in convalescence and rehabilitation Instruct patients and families in proper care Help individuals and groups take steps to

improve health

4 Levels of Education for Registered Nurses A.D.N- Associate’s degree in nursing. 2

year degree

BSN- Bachelor of Science degree in nursing- 4 year degree

4 Levels continued

MSN- Master of Science Degree in nursing. Focuses on practice, management, education- usually 2 years

Ph.D.- Doctorate- focus on research, education, or administration- usually 2 years

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)

Care for the sick, injured, convalescing, handicapped

Under the direction of an RN or physician.

Take and record vital signs, Change dressings

LPN continued

Administer medications Change dressings Insert catheters Education- 1 year

Pharmacists

Advise health professionals and the public on proper selection and use of medications

Pharmacists continued

Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians

Education- 6 years for doctorate in pharmacy- PharmD

Dieticians (Nutritionists)

Apply basic principles of nutrition to food selection and meal preparations.

Dieticians (Nutritionists) continued Counsel individuals and groups Setup and supervise food service

systems for institutions, such as schools, hospitals etc.

Promote sound eating habits through education and research

Education-4 years

Dietary Technicians

Works as a member of the food services health team and under the direction of a dietician.

Supervise and support staff Monitor cost and quality Counsels and develops nutritional plans Education- 1 year

Optometry

Optometrists- Provides vision care, prescribes corrective lenses and dispenses eyewear.

Education- 4 years preoptometry, 4 years optometrics

Optometry continued

Ophthalmologists- a physician who specializes in medical diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of vision disorders, especially disease and injuries to the eye.

Optometry continued

Dispensing Opticians- Order the necessary ophthalmic lab work, help customer select lens, frames, adjust eyeglasses.– Education-1-2 years

Physician Assistant

Evolved in the 1960’s due to the shortage of physicians at the time.

Physician Assistant continued

Provides routine diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health care services under the direction of a physician.

Take medical histories Examine Order and interpret lab tests and X rays Make preliminary diagnoses

Physician Assistant continued

Teach patients Education- 4 years, then 4 years of

additional studies

Speech/Language Pathologists

Assess and treat persons experiencing speech or language problems resulting from total or partial hearing loss, brain injury, cerebral palsy, cleft palate, voice pathology, mental retardation, faulty learning, emotional problems, foreign dialects.

Education- 4 yrs plus masters program

EMT-Paramedics

Recognize, assess & manage medical emergencies of acutely ill or injured persons in the pre-hospital setting under the direction of a physician.

Education 1-2 yrs

Radiography

Radiologists- physicians who specialize in interpretation of radiographs.

Radiography continued

Radiographers- produce x ray films of all parts of the human body for use in diagnosing medical problems. Prepare patient for exam.– Education 1-2 yrs.

Sonographers

Use nonionizing equipment to transmit sound waves at high frequencies into the patient’s body, then collect reflected echoes to form an image.

Sonographer continued

The image is viewed on the screen, recorded and can be printed. It is interpreted by the physician

Education- 1-2yrs

Social Workers

Health care social workers are responsible for helping patients and families cope with problems resulting from severe or long term Illness, recovery, and rehab.

Education-4 yrs plus master’s degree

Psychologists

Have a doctorate in psychology Interview people and administer

psychological tests. Provide counseling and therapy to

patients with emotional or adjustment problems in a variety of settings.

Education- 8 yrs

Respiratory Therapists

Evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders.

Work under the direction of a physician.

Education: 2 yrs

Physical Therapists

Plan, organize and administer treatment to restore functional mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent disability.

Education- 4yrs plus master’s degree.

Physical Therapy Assistants

Work under the direction of the physical therapist

Carry out the plan as developed by the physical therapist

Communicate the patient progress toward the goal

Education- 2 years

Occupational Therapists

Treat people with mental, physical, developmental or emotional disabilities.

Help individuals develop or maintain daily living skills and to cope with the physical and emotional aspects of disability.

Education-4 yrs

Occupational Therapy Assistants

Work under the direction of the occupational therapists.

Carry out the plan developed by the OT Communicate the patient progress

towards the goals Education- 2 years

Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist

Performs tests measuring the functions of the brain including:

EEG Evoked potential

studies Sleep studies Brain wave mapping

Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist continued The tests help diagnose neurological

diseases that assists the physician in establishing the extent to brain injuries

Education- 1-2 yrs

Surgical Technologists

Work under the supervision of the surgeon

Help set up the OR May prepare

patients for surgery Transport patients Education 1-2 yrs

Medical Assistants

Help physicians examine and treat patients

Perform routine lab procedures

Perform business procedures to keep offices running smoothly

Education- 1-2 yrs

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) Formerly called Medical

Record Librarians– develop systems for

documenting, storing and retrieving medical information

– Legal and legislative resource

• HIPAA Privacy Rule• Medicare Billing

Guidelines• Medical Necessity

Regulations• More…

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Serve as technical assistants to the RHIA, carrying out many technical activities within the record. – Coding for reimbursement– Abstracting data for research studies

• Cancer• Birth defects

– Ensure patient privacy– Release of PHI to “authorized” individuals

Health Service Administration

Plan, organize and coordinate health care delivery

Work in hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies, rehab, HMO’s

Education- 2-4yrs

MEDICAL CODING

individuals who collect, analyze and manage information

within the health care industry by transforming medical diagnoses and

procedures into numbers or codes for healthcare reimbursement.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION

Specialists in medical language and health care

documentation. They interpret and transcribe dictation from physicians and other health

care professionals. They also provide documentation analysis for readability, correctness

and sensibility.

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE SERVICES: Group of diverse medical and health care

systems and practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.

Individuals involved in this area of healthcare may be in alternative medical systems, mind-body interventions, biologically-based treatments, manipulative and body-based methods, and energy therapies.