07/04/231

Exploring Health Careers

Division of Biological & Health Sciences College of Lake County

November 14, 2007

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Introduction of Presenters

Dr. Denise Anastasio – Dean of Biological and Health Sciences

Dr. Deb Jezuit – Director of Nursing Education Derek Shouba – Associate Dean Sandie Cosner – Academic Advisor Kris Dahl – Counselor Panel members –Margaret Kyriakos (Health Information),

Dr. Jezuit (Nursing and Nursing Assistant), Dr. Lakshmi Gollapudi (Medical and Other Professional Careers), Dr. Mayur Shah (Pharmacy and Pharmacy Technician), Soheila Kayoud (Surgical Technology)

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Agenda

Overview of Health Science Careers Panel Discussion of Select Careers Career Exploration Resources & Next Steps Feedback/Evaluation of Session

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Objectives for Overviewof

Health Career Exploration

• Factors affecting increase for health careers• Positive and negative aspects of health careers• Understand the range of health care career options• Understand the educational requirements • Resources for exploring career options• Plan next steps for career exploration

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Encouraging Statistics

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 6 of the 10 of the fastest growing occupation are health related careers

According to Rose Porter, Dean of Sinclair School of Nursing, Missouri University, and cited from Boston Reed College, there will be a nursing shortage of 1 million in the year 2020

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Factors Affecting Health Care and Demand for Health Care Workers

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Factors Affecting Health Care and Demand for Health Care Workers

Increasing number of older people Increasing percentage of older people Increased lifespan Baby boomers requiring increased medical assistance Expanding technology and knowledge in medicine Increasing expectations regarding health care Increasing number of urgent care clinics, nursing homes, and

urgent care clinics More nurses and skilled healthcare professionals leaving due

workforce due to retirement Transformation of the U.S. economy into a service economy America’s continued leadership in the field of high technology

healthcare Continued advancements in pharmacology and other medical

fields

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Advantages of Health Care Careers

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Advantages of Health Care Careers

Expanding industry; positive job growth trends Industry is nationwide; healthcare jobs are available in all fifty states Helping professions can be meaningful and personally rewarding Pay rates and benefits are generally high and rising in proportion to

other industry sectors Medical advancements mean constant learning, constant challenges Opportunities for career advancement Opportunities for all age groups It’s possible to enter the sector at almost any educational level Frequently flexible hours Frequently flexible work environments Opportunities to work in a variety of setting, e.g., hospitals, nursing

homes, medical offices, retail outlets, urgent care clinics, assistant living facilities, clinics, spas, etc.

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Some Disadvantages of Health Care Careers

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Some Disadvantages of Health Care Careers

Educational requirements can be demanding, long-term, and expensive Educational and training requirements can block certain forms of

advancement or career flexibility Some high paying academic programs related to specific careers are very

selective, e.g., nursing, medical imaging, pharmacists, etc. Depending on the job, the hours can be strenuous Some medical facilities are understaffed or under funded Emotional Challenges: life or death decisions, accidentally hurting patients,

etc. Exhausting physical Requirements: standing, lifting, touching patients, etc. Environment can be unpleasant: smells, cutting open or burning patients in

medical procedures, etc. Threat of malpractice lawsuits, high cost of insurance, and H.M.O.

environment can be discouraging to some Not all health careers have positive short-term or long-term job market trends

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Range of Health Care ProfessionsBy Broad Function

I. Diagnostic-oriented (identifying conditions)

Clinical lab specialists

MLT, MT, Histologist

X-ray and other imaging (from techs to doctors)

Mammography

CAT scan

MRI

Respiratory function diagnostics

Gastrointestinal diagnostics

Cardiac diagnostics (EKG, stress testing, ultrasound) Contact w/ patient episodic, not often ongoing

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Range of Health Care ProfessionsBy Broad Function

II. Treatment-oriented careers (examples – not complete)

Physical Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Speech and Language Therapist

Surgical Technologist

Massage Therapist

Respiratory Care

Dental Hygiene

Nurse

Nurse Assistant

Medical Assistant Contact w/ patients often longer term

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Range of Health Care Professions

By Broad Function

III. Education of Patient and FamilyNurse

Dietitian

Physical Therapist

Occupational Therapist

Dental Hygienist

Medical Assistant

Contact w/ patient short and/or long term

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Range of Health Care Professions

By Broad Function

IV. Support functionsMedical Billing and Coding Specialists

Health Information

Medical Transcriptionist

Office Manager

Medical Secretary

Cancer registrar

Little or no patient contact

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Educational Requirements for Some Health Care Professionals

On-the-job Training or Optional Short Training– Dietary aide– Unit clerk– EKG tech– Pharmacy Technician

Short-term Training (< 6 months)– Nurse Assisting– Phlebotomy– EMT- Basic

Approximately 1-year programs (full-time)– LPN (licensed practical nurse)– Medical Assisting– Massage Therapy– Medical Transcription, Medical Billing– Surgical Technology

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Educational Requirements for Some Health Care Professions

Associate Degree (2+ years)

(Often have entrance requirements taking 1 year to complete)– Nursing (Associate degree nurse) – R.N.– Radiologic Technologist ((Xray tech, Medical Imaging)– Health Information Technologist– Dental Hygiene– Physical Therapy Assistant– Occupational Therapy Assistant– Medical Lab Technology– Diagnostic Sonographer– Ophthalmic Medical Technician

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Educational Requirements for Some Health Care Professions

Bachelor's degree (4 years minimum)– Nurse (Bachelor in Science Nursing – BSN) – R.N.– Health Information Administrator– Radiologist Sciences– Medical Technician

Bachelor's/Master's – Physician Assistant (generally 24-27 mo. w/previous college-level

work) Master's degree

– Physical Therapy (some are doctorate)– Occupational Therapy – Audiology (moving to doctorate)

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Educational Requirements for

Physicians (Traditional)

Bachelor's degree (major typically in Biology but doesn't need to be in science) – 4 years

Medical School – 4 years Graduate Medical Education (“residency” in a

medical specialty) 3 years for family practice, pediatrics

– 4 years for other specialties– Additional years for subspecialties

11 or more years of post-high school education!

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Educational Requirements for other Doctorate level professions

Chiropractors– Bachelor's degree (4 years of college)– 3 years of chiropractic school

Pharmacists – Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)– 2 years of specific preprofessional course work– 4 years of pharmacy school

Dentists– Bachelor's degree– 4 years of dental school

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Panel Discussion

Introduction Moderator Questions

– Briefly overview the job/career you are representing

– What are some common myths– Most rewarding aspects– Biggest challenges– How did you get interested – Short-term/long-term job prospect

Audience Questions

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Career Exploration Resources

www.exporehealthcareers.org

www.bls.gov Professional

Associations Accrediting agencies State agencies

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Health Professions Career & Edu Directory (AMA)

Career Counselors Career Testing

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Resources at CLC

http://www.clcillinois.edu/divns/biodv.asp http://www.clcillinois.edu/depts/biodv/infoS

essions.asp Career and Professional Program

Advisors (See sheet) Counseling Center Career and Placement Office

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Next Steps

Accrediting Bodies Asking the right questions

– Cost– Credit versus noncredit– Accredited or not accredited– State-approved– Certificate or diploma– Job statistics & employment trends– Work settings– Academic requirements & career testing– Length of program – Opportunity for career advancement – Level of comfort, interest & passion