Health Care Careers

1

5 Health Care Pathways

� Therapeutic Services� Diagnostic Services� Health Informatics� Support Services� Biotechnology Research

and Development

Health Care Occupations are Organized into 5 Pathway s.

Anesthesiologist AssistantArt/Music/Dance Therapist(s)Athletic TrainerAudiologistCertified Nursing AssistantChiropractorDental AssistantDental HygienistDental Lab TechnicianDentistDieticianEMT/ ParamedicHome Health AideLicensed Practical NurseMassage TherapistMedical Assistant MorticianOccupational TherapistOccupational Therapy Asst OptometristPharmacistPharmacy TechnicianPhysical TherapistPhysical Therapy AssistantPhysician (MD/DO)Physician’s AssistantPsychologistRecreation TherapistRegistered NurseRespiratory TherapistSocial WorkerSpeech Language PathologistSurgical TechnicianVeterinarianVeterinarian Technician

CardiovascularTechnologist

Clinical Lab TechnicianComputer Tomography(CT) Technologist

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Electrocardiographic(ECG) Technician

Electronic Diagnostic(EEG) Technologist

Exercise PhysiologistMagnetic Resonance

(MR) Technologist

MammographerMedical Technologist/Clinical LaboratoryScientist

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

NutritionistOrthotist/ProsthetistPathologistPathology AssistantPhlebotomistPositron EmissionTomography (PET)Technologist

Radiologic Technologist/Radiograph

erRadiologist

Admitting ClerkApplied ResearcherCommunity Services

Specialists Data AnalystEpidemiologistEthicistHealth EducatorHealth Information CoderHealth Information

ServicesHealthcare AdministratorMedical AssistantMedical Biller/Patient

Financial Services

Medical Information Technologist

Medical Librarian/Cybrarian

Patient AdvocatesPublic Health EducatorReimbursement

Specialist (HFMA)Risk ManagementSocial WorkerTranscriptionistUnit CoordinatorUtilization Manager

Biomedical / Clinical Engineer

Biomedical / Clinical Technician

Central ServicesEnvironmental Health

and Safety

Environmental ServicesFacilities ManagerFood ServicesHospital Maintenance Engineer

Industrial HygienistMaterials ManagementTransport Technician

BiochemistBioinformatics AssociateBioinformatics ScientistBioinformatics SpecialistBiomedical ChemistBiostatisticianCell BiologistClinical Trials Research

Associate Clinical Trials Research

CoordinatorGeneticistLab Assistant-GeneticsLab TechnicianMicrobiologistMolecular BiologistPharmaceutical ScientistQuality Assurance

TechnicianQuality Control

TechnicianRegulatory Affairs

SpecialistResearch AssistantResearch AssociateResearch ScientistToxicologist

Therapeutic ServicesTherapeutic ServicesTherapeutic ServicesTherapeutic Services Diagnostic ServicesDiagnostic ServicesDiagnostic ServicesDiagnostic Services HealthHealthHealthHealth InformaticsInformaticsInformaticsInformatics Support ServicesSupport ServicesSupport ServicesSupport Services Biotechnology Research & Biotechnology Research & Biotechnology Research & Biotechnology Research &

DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment

Therapeutic Services

� EMT/Paramedic� Nursing

� Certified Nursing Assisting� Licensed Practical Nurse� Registered Nurse

� Medical Assistant� Optometrist� Physician or Doctor� Cardiovascular Technologist� Surgical Technician

Maintain or change the health status of the patient over time.

Diagnostic ServicesCreate a picture of patient health at a single poin t of time.

� Clinical Laboratory Technician� Exercise Physiologist� Orthotist/Prosthetist� Pathologist� Phlebotomist� Radiologic Technicians

Health Informatics

� Admitting Clerk� Coder � Epidemiologist� Community Health Specialist� Ethicist� Health Care Administrator� Health Educator� Transcriptionist

Provide functions that support and document patient care

Support Services

� Biomedical Engineer� Central Services Technician� Dietician� Facilities Manager� Food Services� Purchasing Agent� Transport Technician

Provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care.

Biotechnology Research and Development

� Biomedical Chemist� Biostatistician� Geneticist� Molecular Biologist� Pharmacist� Quality Control Technician� Toxicologist

Use scientific and technical advancements to enhanc e diagnostic and therapeutic abilities in health care

Physicians (Doctors)Description

• Physicians perform physical examinations and diagnose, prevent and treat illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body.

Training• 4 Years Undergraduate• 4 Years Medical Years• 1-4 Years Residency• Licensure required

Salary• $150,000 - $180,000 (for general/family practitioners)• $200,000 + (for specialists)

Physician AssistantDescription

• Perform physical examinations, diagnose illness, recommend treatment, and order laboratory tests under the supervision of a physician.

Training• ~5 years• Licensure required

Salary• $80,000 - $200,000

NursingDescription

• Nurses have the most patient contact. • Care for the physical & emotional needs of patients. • Perform examinations, provide health maintenance

duties, and diagnose depending on level of training • Under the supervision of a physician.

Training & Salary• CNA - 120 hours and certification ($19,000 - $32,000)• LPN/LVN- 1 year and licensure ($33,000 - $43,000)• RN/BSN - 2 or 4 years and licensure ($45,000 -

$64,000)• ARNP - RN + 3-5 years experience + 2 years and

certification ($66,000 - $87,000)

Description• Radiologic Technologists specialize in the use of X-Ray

equipment and advanced computer-aided imaging equipment such as ultrasound, Computer Tomography (CT) Scan, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to create images of the internal structures of the body for medical diagnostic purposes.

Training• 2+ years• Licensure required

Salary• $50,000 - $112,000

Radiology

Description• Tend to have one specific function in workspace• Limited Duties• Surgical Techs, Radiology Tech, ER Tech

Training• Short Training Program (~1 year)• Most don’t require college

Salary• $20,000 - $35,000

Technicians

PharmacistsDescription

• Retain specific knowledge about the use, composition, therapeutic and adverse effects of medications, as well as the laws that regulate the making and selling of drugs. Dispense medications prescribed by physicians, dentists, and other authorized medical practitioners.

Training• 6-8 years • Licensure required

Salary• $79,000 - $134,000

Occupational & Physical Therapy

Description• PTs work with people who have been disabled by

illness or accident to restore motor skills (walking, lifting, moving) to as normal function as possible. OTs work with fine motor function (opening jars, brushing your teeth, typing).

Training• 6+ years• Licensure required

Salary• $52,000 - $105,000

Respiratory TherapyDescription

• Specializes in the evaluation, treatment, and care of patients with breathing problems such as Asthma or Emphysema. Respiratory Therapists work under the care of a physician to administer such therapy.

Training• 2+ years• Licensure required

Salary• $40,000 - $70,000

Public HealthDescription

• Public health is concerned with improving access to health care, health promotion, preventing/controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury.

Training• 2 - 8+ years

Salary• $40,000 - $60,000

DentistryDescription

• Dentists examine, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the teeth, gums, and adjacent tissues and structures of the mouth. There are many specialty areas.

Training• 8+ years• Licensure required

Salary• $115,000 - $315,000

Dental HygienistDescription

• Dental Hygienists educate individuals about their oral health. They evaluate the patient’s oral health, expose, process and interpret dental x-ray films, and remove deposits, stains, and plaque above and below the gum line.

Training• 2+ years• Licensure required

Salary• $45,000 - $93,000

Mental HealthDescription

• Mental health professionals help people with psychological, emotional, and social needs. Psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and psychiatric technicians/aides are considered mental health professionals.

Training• 2 - 11+ years

Salary• $39,000 - $170,000

EMT/ParamedicDescription

• Provide immediate care for sick or injured people and transport them to medical facilities. Perform basic life support skills such as restoring breathing, controlling blood loss, and treating shock victims.

Training• EMT: 200-330 hours• Paramedic: 1100-1500 hours• Certification required

Salary• $20,000 - $51,000

Surgical Technologist

Description• Work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses,

and other personnel to deliver appropriate patient care before, during and after surgery.

Training• 8 months - 2 years• Certification required

Salary• $27,000 - $55,000

References

Salary Information• National Bureau of Labor Statistics• http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm• American Medical Association• http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-

careers/careers-health-care/health-care-income.page

Acknowledgements• Thanks to Kelley Coykendall and Ty Gibson, Peer

Tutors, for their research into salary data!