In InDemandDemand Careers in Health Care2 | All kinds of people are joining this growing field in...

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Feed the NeedHealth care is booming andcareer opportunities abound

Connecting today’s students with the careers of tomorrow Issue 4

Careers in Health Care

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In Demand | 1

This isn’t a class quiz, but if you answered yes to any or all of thesequestions this publication is for you! It will tell you all about the healthcare industry, which might give you an idea for your future career.Careers in the health care industry are as varied as your interests and asprolific as your imagination. Health care professionals work in a varietyof settings such as clinics, laboratories, hospitals, schools and, some-times, even outdoors! Did you also know that you can choose a careerwhere you provide direct patient care or one where you don’t interactwith patients at all? This magazine talks about what you need to learnand do to get that first great health care job. Whether you want to be aforensic pathologist, a cardiovascular technician, or physical therapist,there are lots of challenging careers in health care that pay well.

I’m Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor forEmployment and Training, and I run the federal agency that helpsAmerican workers find rewarding jobs, and get the education and train-ing they need to succeed. Since you will soon be part of the work force,the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and TrainingAdministration wants you to have this publication, InDemand-Careers In

Health Care. It will let you know what this important and growing industry is allabout and how you can build a successful future in it.

There’s lots of great information in here! Please read it, and share what youfind with your parents, teachers and guidance and school counselor. They canhelp you find the right college or university to study for a career in health care,or the right apprentice program to gain skills and critical job experience!

So what’s InDemand? You are! Your knowledge, your curiosity, and your skillsare all InDemand—and so are the many high-growth jobs that you will learnmore about in this publication.

Emily Stover DeRoccoAssistant Secretary of Labor

Assistant Secretaryof Labor Emily

Stover DeRoccohelps workers build

successful careers.

Is living a healthy lifestyle important to you? Do you like tohelp others? Are you strong in science or mathematics, anddo you have fun with technology? Ever wonder why germscan make people sick and how the right medicine can makethem better? Do you like to work in teams, share informa-tion and solve problems?

Dear Student:

2 | www.careervoyages.gov

All kinds of people are joining this growing field in many differentways and they have an impressive array of jobs to choose from.Workers in 13 different careers tell why they chose health care andwhat they hope to achieve with their lives.

Contents

4HEALTH CARE IN YOUR WORLDLearning what jobs and opportunities are available in this fast growing field is the first step towards making a career decision. 6THE FASCINATING FIELDS OF HEALTH CARE

Health care careers are in demand. There are manypaths to reach these well-paying jobs. Here’s your guideto jobs that match your interests and your personality.

Health Care Industry Profiles9

10 DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER

11 EPIDEMIOLOGIST

12 HEALTH EDUCATOR

13 HOME HEALTH AIDE

14 INFORMATICS SPECIALIST

15 INTERPRETER

16 LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE

17 PARAMEDIC

18 PHYSICAL THERAPIST

19 PHYSICIAN

20 CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNICIAN

21 DENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN

21 VETERINARY TECHNICIAN

InDemandCareers in Health Care

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOREmily Stover DeRoccoGardner E. CarrickKatherine A. AllenDan AustellRachel CowgillMaria HuynhDenise KennedyGina KingMonte Lutz

THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES EDITOR-IN-CHIEFLisa Schnirring

EDITORIAL DIRECTORJanice L. Tuchman

EXECUTIVE EDITORColleen M. Sauber

MANAGING EDITORWilliam J. Angelo

PUBLICATION DESIGNMitch Shostak, Shostak StudiosCorey KuepferAnna Egger-Schlesinger

ART AND PRODUCTIONSue Pearsall

WRITERSFran HowardVoncille MeyerMary Van Beusekom

PHOTO EDITORJackie DiMitri

INDUSTRY ANALYTICS AND ALLIANCESHarvey M. Bernstein

GOVERNMENT AND BUS. DEV. MANAGERJames Kerr

EDUCATION ADVISORSCharlotte Frank, McGraw-Hill EducationCathy Scruggs, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

MANUFACTURING, DISTRIBUTIONTed FreedmanKathy LavelleRoja Mizadeh

CIRCULATIONMaurice Persiani

FINANCIAL DIRECTORIke B. Chong

PUBLISHERMark Kelly

GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTORRobert Ivy

GROUP PUBLISHERJames H. McGraw IV

Published for the U.S. Department ofLabor by McGraw-Hill Construction,Norbert W. Young Jr., FAIA, President;and Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, Steven E.McClung, President. McGraw-HillConstruction and Glencoe are units ofThe McGraw-Hill Companies.

Digital versions of InDemand can bedownloaded from careervoyages.govand businessweek.com.InDemand was written and produced by The McGraw-Hill Companies under contract to the U.S. Department of

Labor Employment and Training Administration. No official endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor of anyproduct, group, commodity, service or enterprise mentioned in this magazine is intended or should be inferred.

U.S. Department of Labor

Careers in HealthCare

ON THE COVER: (Illustration By Mick Wiggins)Spraining an ankle during a soccer game puts in motion a healthcare system that has many facets, from on-field treatment to thecomputer systems that track and diagnose the patient to the physical therapist who helps the player on the road to recovery.

22FIVE HOTTECH TRENDSIN HEALTHCARE

Emerging technology is a driving forcebehind the growth in health care jobs.And that makes this one industrywhere it pays well to ‘think small.’

26FUN FACTSHere are somehair-raising,heart-pumping

health care tips and trivia that will impress your friends, and also makeyou healthier.

24NEW PRODUCTS, NEW PRACTICES Entrepreneurs are a dynamic and creative force that helps the health care system cut costs,

solve problems and grow new products and services.

25SOLVING MEDICAL MYSTERIES Popular television shows aboutcrime scene investigators have put a lesser known medical field in the

spotlight: a look at forensic science and medical examiners.

28RESOURCE GUIDE Now that you know more about health care, thishandy list of contacts and links can help you quickly find answers to

questions you have about jobs and schooling.

30CALLING ALL MENTORS Even if you don’t know anyone in thehealth care field, adults can help dispel some career myths and show you

some fun-filled ways to explore your job and education options.

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HEALTHCAREIN YOUR WORLD

It’s all around you every dayBy Colleen M. Sauber

Those professionals and technicians whohelp you receive the care you need have allcompleted varying amounts of training,some learning on the job while others goto school for up to eight years or longer.

Think about the many ways that youand your family can be impacted by healthcare. If you visit your grandmother in thenursing home, you see many practitionersin action. If you spend time with yourmother and your newborn sibling in thehospital, it’s around you. And if you havean accident and need urgent treatment,health care is front and center.

Some health care workers are neverseen by patients, such as the person whodoes the laundry, the engineer who keepsthe hospital running smoothly, or thecomputer expert who makes sure thattechnical systems work right. In some

cases, they bring care to needy people,such as those who have no health insur-ance, live in neighborhoods far from ahospital, or do not speak English.

The world of medicine is wide openfor exploring career options and topsmany lists of hot jobs for today and tomorrow. As the U.S. population agesand as medical technology improves, sowill the delivery of health care serviceschange and advance. You and yourfriends will be the ones who can build careers from the new directions and op-portunities that flow from those changes.

Whenever you see health care in action, stop for a moment and think ofthe many people whose job it is to helpcare for you when you’re sick. They arethe caregivers, and their roles are growingmore important to us all.

RReceiving the care that you need when you are sick—or just to stay healthy—is no simple thing! Eachtime you go to a clinic or emergency room, you become part of a health care system that employsmillions of people. They work as medical assistants,nurses, researchers, therapists, lab technicians,paramedics and doctors, to name just a few.

STAYINGHEALTHY

Your body demands attentionevery day. Here are some waysto give it what it needs whileusing health care skills and in-teracting with caregivers.

:Eating healthy by snacking onfruit, rather than candy:Brushing and flossing your

teeth:Getting a tetanus booster

shot or flu vaccine:Taking an x-ray to find a

broken bone :Getting a new prescription for

glasses/contact lenses:Icing a sprained ankle:Having an annual school phys-

ical exam :Working with a physical

therapist after an injury:Having your braces tightened:Picking up medication at the

drug store and taking it as yourdoctor ordered:Receiving treatment for

flu or virus:Taking your pet to the

veterinarian:Testing for blood sugar level if

you have diabetes:Exercising to keep your

muscles strong :Wearing a seat belt whenever

you’re in a car:Receiving first aid for a cut or

burn

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Many health care positions serve patientsdirectly, working with individuals, theirillness or problem and their family. Yet,taking a job in health care does notautomatically mean that you will workone on one with sick people or that youmust be able to stand the sight of blood.

Take, for example, the position ofclinical laboratory technician or medicalrecords specialist. Much of their workoccurs away from the patient. Once ablood sample is taken, it travels to the labwhere the technician analyzes it and

reports the results. Once a patient orhealth care worker supplies informationfor a medical record,the rest is processed inan office setting.

But if you enjoytalking with peopleand feel energized byhelping someonedirectly—say, applyinga cast, givingmedication or teachinghow to best managediabetes and diet—a lab position mightnot be to your liking. Person-to-personcontact may top your list for what’s

important in your career, and health carejobs present many fulfilling possibilities.

EducationBecause health care is so diverse, collegesand universities often divide their programsinto individual schools. These includeschools of medicine, dentistry, nursing,pharmacy, public health, veterinarymedicine, and science and engineering.Expertise in biomedicine and healthsciences might be combined with computerscience and electrical engineering.

There may also be programs specificallygeared to the businessside of health care,such as hospitaladministration andhuman resources.Others may focus onwhat is called alliedhealth care, whichrefers to positions thatassist doctors and otherhealth specialists and

require far fewer years of education.Titles in allied health careers often

contain the terms technician, technologist,

In Demand | 7

Which health care career suits you best? By Colleen M. Sauber

FASCINATINGFields ofHEALTH CARE

CCareer choices in health care are incredibly varied, andanyone considering this field has a wonderful array ofpositions to select from. But so many jobs can make ittough to decide which position best matches your inter-ests and aptitude. What to do? Consider your goals andinterests. Think about what you want to do, what you’regood at and, importantly, what you want to learn about.

Health care settings can vary widelyfrom hospitals and laboratories tohomes and the wilderness.

(left) Most health care jobs require excellentwritten and verbal communications skillsbecause patient care depends upon them.

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assistant, hygienist, and aide.Althoughthese positions are part of one careergroup, the schooling, responsibilities andsalary among them can be very different.

For example, a high school diploma isneeded to become a dental assistant;completion of a technical program isrequired to become a medical laboratorytechnician; a two-year associate degree isneeded to become a forensic sciencetechnician; and a bachelor’s degree is amust for a medical technologist.

Whatever schooling you need, financialassistance is a very real possibility.Individual schools and programs can helpdetermine what funds are available.

Career FieldsHealth care careers can be divided intofive general groups: therapeutic services,diagnostics services, health informatics,support services, and biotechnologyresearch and development.

Therapeutic services jobs includeanesthesiologist assistant, art or musictherapist, chiropractor, nurse-midwife,pharmacist and rehabilitation counselor.Diagnostics services feature magneticresonance technologist, nutritionist,pathology assistant and radiologist.Health care informatics include dataanalyst, health information coder andmedical information technologist.

Support services includes facilitiesmanager, materials management specialist,food service worker, and clinical engineer.Biotechnology research and development,

which mostly takes place outside thehospital, includes bioinformatics specialist,cell biologist, quality assurance technicianand research associate.

To check out these areas in more detail,visit the National Consortium on HealthScience and Technology Education site atwww.nchste.org or go to Career Voyagesat www.careervoyages.gov.

TrainingNo skill becomes stale or stays the samein health care! New research findings,technologies and understanding all addsfresh and ever-changing dimensions.

Whichever career catches yourattention—one that requires a minimumof a high school diploma, a two-yearcertification, or a college or advanceddegree—your training and yourpotential for advancement will neverstop. Even after you’re hired, manypositions require a renewable license,certificate or registration. It may meantaking a regular technical or college class,attending seminars, or learning tooperate the latest equipment.

But if you’re looking for challengeand variety, if you want to feel goodabout what you do each day and to knowthat your work makes a difference, youcan accomplish all that and more inhealth care.

The pay scale for jobs in health care differswidely.Here is a sampling of medical profes-sionals and what they were paid in 2004.Thegood news is that salaries are expected to in-crease by about 27% between 2004 and 2014.

PAYCHECKS

Ambulance driver $19,400

Audiologist $53,000

Biology teacher, secondary $46,100

Biomedical engineer $48,503

Chemist $57,100

Chiropractor $69,910

Clinical laboratory technologist $46,700

Counselor, mental health $33,400

Dental hygienist $59,100

Dental laboratory technician $34,600

Dentist $129,920

Diagnostic medical sonographer $53,600

Dietitian $44,400

Embalmer $34,700

Epidemiologist $52,500

Forensic science technician $44,400

Genetic counselor $52,380

Health educator $39,700

Home health aide $18,600

Licensed practical nurse $34,700

Medical database administrator $61,900

Medical equipment repairer $38,600

Medical transcriptionist $28,600

Nursing aide, orderly, attendant $21,200

Obstetrician and gynecologist $145,600+

Occupational therapist $55,600

Optometrist $88,300

Paramedic $25,600

Patent lawyer $97,400

Pharmacy aide $19,000

Physical therapist assistant $38,300

Physician assistant $69,200

Psychiatric technician $25,700

Psychologist $56,400

Radiologic technologist $44,700

Registered nurse $53,600

Senior government executive $141,800

Social worker, child, family $35,000

Veterinarian $68,300

*MEDIAN REFERS TO THE SALARY HALF WAY BETWEEN THE HIGHEST AND THE LOWEST SALARIES.SOURCE: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH OFFICE OF SCIENCE EDUCATION,SCIENCE.EDUCATION.NIH.GOV/LIFEWORKS.NSF/EDUCATION.HTM.

HealthCareIndustry

POSITION MEDIAN* SALARY IN U.S.

For additional information on healthcare careers and salaries, check out:Department of Labor Bureau of Labor

Statistics, www.bls.gov/oco,Career Voyages,www.careervoyages.gov.

Many health care positions require a highdegree of professionalism and continuouseducation because science and technologyare constantly driving new improvements.

TIn Demand | 9

There’s never been a better time for you to imagineyourself in a health care career.As you get ready tograduate, the health care industry is facing phenomenalgrowth that translates to many jobs throughout the field.Demand is so hot for some jobs that many employers andschools are making it easier for students to take andfinance training. No matter what your interests are orwhat your personality type is, there’s a place for you in

health care. If you enjoy art, music, or sports, there arejobs that use those interests as therapy for people who arerecovering from sickness or injury. Joy in helping otherstranslates into jobs that involve care giving.And a love oftechnology or science can bring alive advancements thatimprove and extend life. To keep it real, we present 13young people in a variety of health care careers who tellyou what it’s like in their own words.

There is something for everyone in the

Job titles range so broadly that you are only limited by your imagination

HealthCareIndustry

Anesthesiology Assistant 2 Art Therapist 2 Athletic Trainer2 Bioinformatics SpecialistBiomedical Engineer 2 Cardiologist 2 CARDIOVASCULAR TECHNICIAN (20) 2 Chiropractor

Clinical Laboratory Technologist 2 Counselor 2 Dental Hygienist2 DentistDENTAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN (21) 2 DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHER (10) 2 Dietician

Emergency Medical Technician 2 EPIDEMIOLOGIST (11) 2 Ethicist 2 Exercise PhysiologistHEALTH EDUCATOR (12) 2 Health Information Coder 2 Histotechnologist

HOME HEALTH AIDE (13)2 Hospital Administrator2 Hospital Maintenance EngineerINFORMATICS SPECIALIST (14) 2 Intern 2 INTERPRETER (15)2 Kinesiologist

LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (16) 2 Low Vision Therapist 2 Medical Assistant2 Medical SecretaryMassage Therapist2 Nuclear Medicine Technologist2 Occupational Therapist2 Orthodontist

Orthopedic Surgeon2 PARAMEDIC (17) 2 Pathologist 2 PHYSICAL THERAPIST (18)Physical Therapy Assistant 2 PHYSICIAN (19) 2 Psychologist 2 Radiologist 2 Research Associate

Social Worker 2 Speech Pathologist 2 Surgical Technologist 2 Therapy Recreation SpecialistTranscriptionist 2 Transport Technician2 Toxicologist 2 Unit Coordinator 2 Urologist 2

Utilization Manager 2 Vascular Surgeon 2 Venipuncturist 2 Veterinarian 2 VETERINARY TECHNICIAN (21)Work Force Specialist 2 Wound Care Nurse 2 X-Ray Technician 2 Yoga Instructor 2 Zoologist


Something for EVERYONE

Cook Children’s Medical Center, Fort Worth, Texas

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Ashley Powell, 23

What will I do?Sonographers, also called ul-trasonographers, operate spe-cial equipment that uses soundwaves to produce images todetect a medical problem ormonitor a patient’s condition.Ultrasonography during preg-nancy is the best-known use ofthese tests, but sonography isalso used to check many otherparts of the body.

Sonographers position patients on the exam table toobtain the best view and theyoften spread a special gel onthe skin to help the equipmentpick up sound waves. They se-lect what images to show thedoctor, they take measure-ments, and they write a basicreport on their findings.

Many sonographers workin hospitals, but it’s also common for them to work in labs or medical centers.

Whattrainingwill I need?There are severalways to becomea sonographer.Many hospitals,vocational-technical schools,

and colleges offer training indiagnostic medical sonogra-phy. Another training option is the Armed Forces. Highschool graduates with mathand science skills are goodprospects.

How can I get it?Colleges and universities offertwo- and four-year degree pro-grams, but two-year programs

are most common.Sonographers whotrain in a special area,such as pregnancy ul-trasound, often trainin other areas as well.

States generallydon’t require a license for diag-nostic medical sonographers,but employers usually hirethose who have taken a recog-nized test that registers themwith organizations such as theAmerican Registry for MedicalSonography.

What will I get paid?Pay for diagnostic medicalsonographers is comparable to other health occupations

requiring a two-year degree. Themedium rangeis about $52,000annually. Thelowest 10% ofsalaries were lessthan $37,800while the high-est topped outat more than$72,000.

Diagnostic MedicalSonographer

Many sonographerswork in hospitals, butit is also common forthem to work in labsor medical centers.

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QA&Q: Why did you select sonography?A. A personal experience got me interested. A closefriend had several Pap tests done, and they were allnegative. As a precaution, she had an ultrasounddone, and it showed a mass on her cervix. A biopsyconfirmed it was cancer. The ability of sonography toshow the true picture, which enabled the doctor tomake an accurate diagnosis, impressed me.

Q: What training and skills are needed foryour job? A. Some states have four-year programs, but I chosea two-year program at El Centro College. Before Icould apply, I had to complete certain prerequisites.That took about 12 months. But once I was acceptedinto the program, it took me about 18 months to finish. Besides formal training, a sonographer needsgood communications skills to be able to explainprocedures to patients or confer with physicians.

Q: Describe a typical day in your job.A. I start by reviewing the patient’s medical history,lab test results and any previous imaging exams.Once I’m with the patient, I verify the reason for theexam and explain the procedure. Depending on thearea being imaged, the exam can take from 15 min-utes to an hour. When I’m done, I take the results tothe radiologist. We review the ultrasound together inan effort to diagnose the patient’s ailment. Conferringwith the doctor is really rewarding because I learnsomething new every time.

What will I do?An epidemiologist is the scien-tist who identifies outbreaks ofdisease that can be spreadfrom one person to the next.In this role, the epidemiologistalso works to decide what ac-tions are needed to control thedisease or outbreak. As agroup, epidemiologists areusually divided into two sets:

those who work in research atsuch places as universities andin schools of public health ormedicine, and those who areemployed in clinical settings,mainly hospitals. Some epi-demiologists who work inhospitals are also doctors.

Epidemiologists need to beable to work independentlyand make decisions on theirown. They use scientific meth-ods and math tosolve health prob-lems. They needto listen well andknow the rightquestions to ask.

Whattraining do I need?To be an epidemi-ologist, a person

needs to have at least a mas-ter’s degree from a school ofpublic health. For certain jobs,the requirement is for a doc-torate or medical degree, orabout seven to eight years ofeducation. For example,research epidemiologists whoperform lab tests often need tobe doctors, because patientsmay need certain drugs.

How will I getthe training?In the U.S., morethan 40 states offerabout 140 programsthat train people tobe an epidemiolo-gist. If a high school

student wants to become anepidemiologist, taking classesin computers and electronicsand coursework in biology,math, chemistry and physics isa great step toward that goal.

What will I get paid?Typical annual salaries for epidemiologists range from$45,320 to $67,160. In 2004,the median salary, or the pay

half way between thehighest andlowest salaries,was $54,800.That year, epi-demiologistswho earnedthe highest10% ofsalaries made$82,310.

Q: Why did you choose to be an interna-tional health specialist? A. When I was in high school, I spent a summerbuilding houses and latrines and fighting publichealth problems in Costa Rica. The difference between life in rural Latin America and the UnitedStates made a big impression on me. I realized howmuch poverty there was in other countries. I felt thatby choosing a career in international health, I wouldbe able to help the most needy people in the world.

Q: What do you do on a typical day?A. I spend almost half my time traveling in othercountries. I work mainly with people who have beenadversely affected by wars and disasters. I haveworked in Indonesia conducting surveys of people affected by the tsunami, in Sudan looking atnutrition and death rates among semi-nomadicgroups, and in Liberia developing safe drinking watersystems. When I am not traveling, I teach, write articles, and get ready for new projects.

Q: What do you like best about your job?A. Knowing that my work helps some of the poorestpeople in the world is very important to me. I also really enjoy traveling and working with people fromall over the world. It’s a good reality check.


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Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation, Madison, Wis.

Health Educator

Kate Squire, 33

What will I do?Public health educators helppeople and communitiesadopt healthy lifestyles. Theymay direct health-related talksat schools, workplaces andcommunity agencies, such as asocial services office.

Health educators plan community or agency healthprograms, set the goals andpick the subjects to be covered.They might test how well aprogram is doing and makechanges to improve it. Theyalso counsel on chronic diseases.

What training do I need? The training of public healtheducators can vary, but typically these educators need a bachelor’sdegree, requiringfour years ofschooling, or amaster’s or doctorate degree,which means ad-ditional years ofeducation. Thehealth educatormay decide tobecome certified

as a health education special-ist, a certificate offered by theNational Commission forHealth Education Credential-ing. Training doesn’t stopthere: Every five years, the certificate is renewed after the health educator showsproof of completing 75 hoursof approved activities in continued education.

How will I getthat training?More than 250 colleges anduniversities offer school orcommunity health education

degrees in their divi-sions of public health.While in high school, astudent can begin toprepare by taking classes in biology, math,English and computersand electronics.Because this health carecareer means working

with, teaching, talking to andhelping people, coursework inpsychology and communica-tions can be very valuable.

What will Iget paid?Salaries rangefrom $44,900 to$53,000 yearly.Public healtheducators mak-ing a salary inthe top 10% ofthe pay scalemake over$68,800.

HealthEducator

The training of public health educators can varybut typically these educators need abachelor’s degree.

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QA&Q: What do you do at your job?A. I run the First Breath program, which helps preg-nant women quit smoking. I travel around the stateand meet with the people who counsel pregnantwomen. They need resources on how to motivatewomen to make healthy lifestyle choices. One of thechallenges our public health nurses and other educators face is how to respond when the clientcuts down on smoking but won’t quit or she startssmoking again after delivery. We teach our peoplehow to motivate women to stop smoking and howto recognize their successes, such as cutting downfrom three packs a day to one pack a day.

Q: Why did you become a health educator?A. Health and wellness have always been interestsof mine, and this enables me to learn about manydifferent health issues and how to best communicatethem to people. You can work on one issue such assmoking, nutrition or exercise, or you can work on avariety of health issues with a specific group of people. You can work for a corporation, a nonprofitorganization or for government. This is a part ofhealth care where you can really find your niche.

Q: How did you get your training?A. I had never heard about the health educationfield until after I graduated with a bachelor’s degreein biology and chemistry. After three years of workingas a lab biologist at a brewery, I went back to schoolto get my master’s degree.

What will I do?Many people who are frail,sick or disabled would preferto receive their care in thecomfort of their homes,rather than a nursing homeor medical facility. Comfort is important, but home carealso makes good financialsense.

Home health care aidesare the ones who make it safeand pleasant for patients tostay at home. Under the su-pervision of nurses or med-ical staff, home health aidesprovide basic, yet crucial,health services includingchecking pulse, respirationand temperature. They alsohelp patients take their med-ications, bathe and changetheir position in bed or assistthem with moving aroundthe house.

What train-ing will Ineed andhow can Iget it?Most homehealth aides areemployed byhome care agen-cies. A high

school diploma or equivalentis usually needed, but someagencies hire high school stu-dents for part-time jobs.Newly hired aides usually re-ceive classroom trainingfrom their employer or theyreceive on-the-job instruc-tion from licensed nurses ormore experienced aides.

Because Medicarecovers home care formany patients, thefederal governmenthas set a competencytest for home healthaides. It suggests thattraining includes at

least 75 hours of classroomand practical training super-vised by a registered nurse.The National Association forHome Care offers a voluntarynational certification forhome care aides.

How much will I earn?Pay ranges from about $8.50per hour to $10.50 per hour.Home health aides typicallyget higher pay based on expe-

rience and re-sponsibility.The job canhelp employ-ees decide ifthey want topursue othertraining as alicensed prac-tical nurseor medicalassistant.

Q: What do you do every day?A. We go out and see our patients. We do daily bathsand oral care and comb hair and take blood pressure,pulses and respirations. Basically, we’re doing patientcare. On a regular day, we see five or six patients.Most of my patients are elderly, but we also getteenagers and babies. We see people of all ages.

Q: What training did you do for your job?A. If you take a certified nursing assistant classthrough a facility such as a nursing home or a hospice organization it takes about three weeks to amonth, full time. We went through courses to learnhow to take pulses, respirations and blood pressures.We also learned patient care, getting patients in andout of bed or wheelchair to bed, relocating patientsto different areas. We took a CPR [cardiopulmonaryresuscitation] class and first aid. A CPR class usuallytakes a day.

Q: What do you like most about your job?A. I like meeting different people every day and thedifferent personalities we come in contact with, andjust knowing that you’re helping someone, thatyou’re contributing your part. If you are thinkingabout going into nursing this is a good first step tosee if it is something you really like.


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Nathan Adelson Hospice, Las Vegas, Nev.

Home Health Aide

Leayana Hall, 25QA&



South Carolina Central Cancer Registry, Columbia, S.C.

Informatics Specialist

Erik Stuckart, 30

What will I do?Informatics is a hard term topin down, but it basicallymeans turning a vast amountof data into useful informa-tion. Informatics specialiststhen use the information tosolve problems or design newtechnology procedures orproducts.

In health care there are twomain branches of informatics.One–known as bioinformat-ics–mainly focuses on molecu-lar topics. The other branch of health care informatics involves larger scale data, suchas the study of populations.

Bioinformatics specialiststypically work in labs,especially at genetics centers,at universities or for privatecorporations. An example ofthe work of specialists in theother type ofhealth care infor-matics includesdetecting cancertrends from avast collection ofmedical reports.Another is devel-oping electronictracking systemsor working withfinancial data.

What training will I need?Bioinformatics specialists usually need an advanced degree in a science such as biology or genetics, plus aheavy-duty background incomputer languages and programming. A good sourcefor finding schools that offer

bioinformatics trainingis the BioinformaticsOrganization, Inc., atwww.bioinformatics.org.

Students who seektraining in the morebroad type of healthcare informatics have

several options. Training isavailable at many ranges formany types of jobs within thefield, from technical school degrees to master’s degrees and beyond. The AmericanMedical InformaticsAssociation posts a helpful listof training opportunities atwww.amia.org/informatics/acad&training/.

What will I get paid?Solid information on salaries

in health careinformatics isscarce becausethe field is so diverse. Pay inboth types of in-formatics gener-ally correspondsto the numberof years ofschooling andexperience.

InformaticsSpecialist

Informatics meansturning a vastamount of data intouseful information.

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RECENT TRENDS IN PROGRAMS, PLACEMENTS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. JUNE, 2004

Doctorate

QA&Q: How did you become interested inhealth informatics?A. I was working on a biology degree, and a friendtold me about the health informatics degree program at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG).I researched it, and I liked that it included businessand computer courses. Plus, I would be able to usemy anatomy and biology knowledge.

Q: What do you do in your job? A. Our office maintains data on all cancer cases diagnosed at hospitals in the state. Large hospitalshave their own registries, and they submit data electronically. Small hospitals don’t have registries,so they send basic data on diskettes. My job is tomake sure everything is added to our central database, which data collectors rely on when theyvisit the smaller hospitals to flesh out basic data.

Q: What are your goals for the future?A. I’m working on a master’s degree in public healthwith a concentration in health informatics. When Ifinish, I want to take on more responsibility on a statistical level. For example, I want to run datathrough software to create maps and reports thatwill show which types of cancer occur most oftenand if the diseases are concentrated in certain communities. The classes I’m taking now in my master’s degree program will give me the skills Ineed. The neat thing about a health informatics degree is that it’s flexible.

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What will I do?Medical interpreters listen towhat the doctor says andtranslates that message intothe patient’s language. In thisway, the doctor can ask ques-tions about how the patientfeels and the patient can describe what’s wrong. An understanding of both cultures

is very important, because acertain expression may meanone thing in one culture andsomething different in theother. These clues need to beconveyed sensitively.

What training do I need?Medical interpreters need toknow English plus at least oneother language well enough totalk easily inboth. To special-ize as a medicalinterpreter,students mustlearn about medicine, itsterms and its tests.

The educationto become a med-ical interpretercan vary, but

most interpreters have a four-year bachelor’s degree. At thistime, there is no universal certificate for all interpreters.

How will I getthe training?Specialized classes are offeredat colleges around the countryand at training programs in

schools other than universities. On-the-job training is veryhelpful in learninghow to share medicalinformation in twolanguages. Classes willalso give training onthe culture and its ap-proach to health care.

What will I get paid?Many medical interpreterswork in hospitals. Some interpreters are self-em-ployed, meaning that the hospital does not hire the in-terpreter full time but insteadcalls when patients needsomeone who speaks theirlanguage. The hospital thenpays for the time the inter-

preter gives.Salaries varyfrom less than$25,790 to$43,860. Thoseinterpretersreceiving asalary thatranks in thetop 10% ofsalaries make$57,100.

Q: What do you do every day?A. We are responsible for everything [the patients]need from the moment they arrive in Cleveland. Wego to appointments with them and interpret forthem. Even if they know the language, we escortthem to the appointments. If tests are ordered wemake sure they are scheduled. And we tell patients ifthere’s any preparation for the tests. And once theappointments are done, we print their medicalrecords and give copies to them. We carry a pager,and whoever is on call can assist them. If they need aprescription, we help them with the pharmacy.

Q: What training did you do for your job?A. Turkish is my native language, and I took Englishas a Second Language when I moved to the UnitedStates. At the Cleveland Clinic, I got training fromother employees who had more experience than me.Then, after a year, we had interpreter training for twodays and did role-playing, and then we took a testand we got a certificate.

Q: What do you like most about your job?A. The best part of my job is helping people. Wheneverything is done, just the look of appreciation ontheir faces is priceless. I get to meet people and listento their life stories. It’s emotionally satisfying.


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Medical interpreterslisten to what thedoctor says andtranslate that message into the patient’s language.

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Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio

Medical Interpreter

Buket Okumus, 25QA&



Riverside Regional Medical Center, Newport News, Va.

Licensed Practical Nurse

Carlos Camacho, LPN, 20

What will I do?Licensed practical nurses(LPNs) care for persons whoare recovering from a sickness,are disabled or injured or livein a care facility such as a hos-pital or nursing home. LPNsneed to be caring people whoare able to make decisions andto observe for, and recognize,signs of health troubles.

Wherever they work, LPNsgive important basic care. Forexample, an LPN checks theperson’s temperature andpulse, draws blood samplesand tests them, and helps theperson move from a wheel-chair to the bed. Also, the LPNadds information to a medicalchart and pays attention towritten instructions. Usually,LPNs put in 40hours a week and shifts may include eveningsand weekends.

What train-ing do Ineed?An LPN needs alicense in nurs-ing. To get this

license means finishing an offi-cially approved program thattrains LPNs, which generallytakes a year or so, and passinga test on LPN job skills. Classesin chemistry, biology and psy-chology are usually necessary.Mainly, the focus is on learn-ing basic skills in nursing andknowing how the body works.

How will I getthe training?About 1,100 centersoffer LPN programs.These include tech-nical and vocationalschools, communitycolleges and “junior”colleges that offer degrees for schooling

of about two years. Some highschools and hospitals train students to become LPNs. Theschooling involves both classwork and clinical training,usually in a hospital.

What will I get paid?This area of medicine is ex-pected to grow rapidly as morepeople become elderly or too ill

to live on theirown. In 2002,annual salariesfor LPNs paid inthe middle of thepay scale rangedfrom $26,430 to$37,050. A lowsalary was$22,860; a highsalary was about$44,000.

Licensed Practical Nurse

LPNs need to be caring people who areable to make decisionsand to observe for, andrecognize, signs ofhealth troubles.

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QA&Q: How did you get interested in nursing?A. Actually I started out in radiology, but I realizedright away it wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to startover, and my mom suggested nursing because thereare many areas to specialize in within the field. So Iswitched to the LPN program at Riverside RegionalMedical Center. I liked it immediately, so I knew itwas the right move.

Q: What do you do in your job?A. I work on the orthopedic unit. My duties includetaking vital signs, changing dressings, passing outmeds, giving massages and assisting doctors as theytreat patients. I also help ortho patients with physicaltherapy. For example, I may go with a patient as hewalks around the floor to increase his strength. Or Imight teach a patient how to do therapeutic exercis-es in bed.

Q: What training did you get for your job?A. I completed an 11-month program that includedclassroom instruction, lab work and ongoing clinicalrotations. In the labs, I worked with dummy patientsand classmates who pretended to be patients.

Q: What are your goals for the future?A. Currently, I’m working on becoming a registerednurse. After that, I plan to get a bachelor’s degree innursing. Eventually, I plan to get a master’s degree inanesthesia because I’d like to specialize as a nurseanesthetist.

What will I do?Working closely with emer-gency medical technicians(EMTs), paramedics managethe health of patients untilthey can be examined by adoctor to get further help. Onany shift, their patients mightbe a woman having a heart

attack, a man who broke abone in a car accident and achild struggling to breathe.

First paramedics check thepatient’s overall condition.Then they work quickly to sta-bilize the patient by stoppingbleeding or giving fluids intothe patient’s vein or usingtools to restore a heartbeat.Both paramedics and EMTsfollow set rules for medical care.

Paramedics work both indoors andoutdoors. Becausehealth care mustbe available 24hours of everyday and doesn’tstop when a workshift ends, para-medics mayspend 45 to 60hours a week onthe job.

What training do I need?Usually, a paramedic studentfirst becomes an EMT. AnEMT has between 110 and 400hours of training, a paramedichas 1,000 hours or more. Aparamedic student must beable to handle the physical

parts of the job. Also,they may be regis-tered or certifiedthrough differentgroups.

How will I getthe training?Paramedic training is

offered at many places, such ascommunity colleges, hospitals,technical schools and fire andpolice academies. Some pro-grams are designed to be partof the schooling for a bache-lor’s degree of science, or EMTand paramedic training maybe rolled into one program.

How much will I be paid?Most paramedic jobs pay between $20,000 and $33,200.

Paramedicswho were paida salary in thelowest 10% ofwages for thiswork receivedabout $15,500;those paidamong thehighest 10%got about$42,000.

Q: Why did you become a paramedic?A. I’m also a part-time volunteer firefighter for asuburb of Minneapolis. A few years ago, I took anemergency medical technician course and realizedthere was so much more to learn. So I did a few ridealongs. That’s where you ride with an ambulanceteam to see if paramedicine is something you mightbe interested in pursuing. I decided it was, so I en-rolled in a two-year program in paramedicine.

Q: What do you do on a typical day?A. I work the night shift, from 9:30 p.m. to 9:30 a.m.On a typical night, we get between two and 12 calls.A busy night might consist of a couple of heartattacks, a shooting, a car accident, a stroke and a fewassaults. My job is to quickly assess the situation and provide emergency treatment to help keep the patient alive until he or she can be seen by a doctor.I’m the front line in emergency care.

Q: What do you like best about your job?A. The variety. I play such a vital role in people’s careand in their lives. Yet at the same time, I get to drivearound a lot. I get to be outside during the summer. Isee people on their worst day, and it’s really cool if Ican help bring I smile to their face.

What will Iget paid?

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Paramedic

Shaun White, NREMT-P, 26QA&



R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, Md.

Physical Therapist

Katie Baick, PT, DPT, 26

What will I do?Physical therapists help people with mobility prob-lems get on their feet againafter sickness or injury. Theyuse exercises and specialequipment to help patientsget stronger and move better.The goal is for people to takecare of themselves in theirhomes and, if possible, returnto their regular activities.

Physical therapists noteprogress and change the routine as needed. Physicaltherapists work closely withdoctors, nurses and other med-ical experts. Physical therapistsmainly work in hospitals,clinics and nursing homes.Others do most of their workwith athletes, kids, people withheart problems or older people.

What training will I need and how can Iget it?In high school,science andphysical educa-tion are a goodbackground fora future physicaltherapist.Because physicaltherapists mustcommunicate

with many people about a pa-tient’s progress, writing andspeech are also good coursesto take. Some teens volunteerto help their school athletictrainers.

Becoming a physical thera-pist requires a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’sdegree in physical therapy.Students start with basic classes such as biology and

chemistry. As theyprogress, they take class-es about diseases, how toexamine a patient andhow to work with pa-tients. At the end of

training, students must pass a national exam to get theirphysical therapy license.

What will I get paid?Starting salaries for physicaltherapists are higher thanmany other health jobs. Theaverage salary for a physicaltherapist is about $60,000.The lowest 10% of salaries areless than $42,000 and thehighest 10% are more than$88,000. Salary sometimes de-

pends on wherethe physicaltherapist works.Those whowork for homehealth careservices makeslightly morethan those whowork in hospi-tals, clinics ornursing homes.

PhysicalTherapist

Physical therapistshelp people get ontheir feet again.

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QA&Q: What do you do on a typical day?A. I start my day by reviewing my caseload. Afterthat, I spend the entire day seeing patients. Because Iwork with patients who have brain and spinal cordinjuries, I work with them mostly on functional mobility. I help my patients work on getting out ofbed, regaining balance and navigating stairs.

Q: What do you find most rewardingabout your job?A. The relationships I build with my patients. Traumapatients are typically young and most often havebeen involved in some type of accident—car, motor-cycle, diving. The patients I see usually have a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. I seethem in the critical state and through rehab. To seewhere they’ve been and where they are after therapyis a humongous reward for me. To know I played apart in their recovery is the best part about my job.

Q: How did you get interested in yourfield?A. When I was in college, I needed extra money forspring break. So I got a job as a physical therapy aidein an outpatient orthopedic physical therapy office. Iwas in pre-med at the time. While working there, I realized that doctors have such a brief relationshipwith their patients, whereas physical therapists canspend weeks, even months with their patients. Iknew then that I wanted to spend time with patients.

CHART SOURCE: REDMAN-BENTLEY D: JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL THERAPHY EDUCATION

What will I do?Physicians are on the front lineof health care. Patients turn tophysicians first when they aresick or injured. They dependon their doctors to identify theright clues, order the righttests and, ultimately, make thediagnosis.

Not every doctor can be anexpert on every condition, sothey often turn to their spe-cialist colleagues when surgeryis needed or when more

detailed diagnosis and treat-ment are needed for a certainpart of the body. Doctors alsospecialize according to the ageof the patients that they treator a specific type of problem,such as mental illness.

What training will I need?If you want to be a doctor,doing very well in science andmath will helpprepare you totake pre-medcourses in college.Students typicallyget a bachelor’sdegree that includes the pre-med courses, andthen they applyto medicalschool.

How do I get it?Medical school takes fouryears to complete. There aretwo types of medical schools.The most common ones offerthe traditional M.D. degree.There are about 20 medicalschools that offer osteopathictraining that emphasizes themusculoskeletal system, alongwith disease and injury prevention. During the firsttwo years medical studentstake advanced courses in sci-ence, diseases, examining pa-tients, ethics and laws. Duringthe last two years they do abroad range of “rotations,”under the supervision of theirinstructors, in hospitals andclinics. After medical school,new doctors must complete aninternship and residency thatlasts from three to eight years.

How muchwill I earn?Physicians are among thehighest-paid medical profes-sionals. Their earnings depend on many factors;among them are specialty,

years of train-ing, hoursworked, skilland geograph-ic area. For anew physician,salary rangesfrom $137,119for familymedicine to$259,948 foranesthesiology.

Q: What do you do every day?A. Family medicine is pretty diverse, so we do everything from delivering and taking care of babiesto taking care of people in our clinic. A typical daymight be going into the office at about 8 a.m. andseeing about 10 patients in the morning. Usually, atthe lunch hour, we’ll have a lecture by various doctors in the community, and in the afternoon, it’susually very similar, we see more patients.

Q: What training did you need for your job?A. Usually, people go to a four-year college, wheremost people major in the sciences, but you can major in just about anything you want these days. Incollege, you take your pre-med courses. Then medicalschool is four years, and then you enter a residency.Residency is your postgraduate training, and it canrange from two years up to 10 years.

Q: What do you like most about your job?A. My favorite part of my job is that I’m always helping people and teaching them about their health,and trying to work with families and kids to makesure they’re living the healthiest life they can. A lotof my job is teaching, and a lot of it is interpretingthe science that I know so that it’s relevant to my patients.


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CHART SOURCE: PHYSICIANS SEARCH, ANAHEIM, CALIF.

San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, Calif.

Family Medicine Physician

Kara Odom, MD, 28QA&


What will I do?Technician opportunities inhealth care offer exciting posi-tions at the front lines of medi-cine that can usually be hadwith a two-year degree from acommunity college. Careers ascardiovascular technicians andveterinary technicians are twoexamples. Cardiovascular tech-nicians help physicians withcertain tests and treatmentsthat involve surgery. They are

also trained to independentlyperform tests that do not in-volve surgery. Veterinary tech-nicians do many procedures onanimals and teach their ownershow to keep them healthy.

Then there are the techni-cians who work in medicalequipment laboratories, awayfrom patient settings. Thesetechnicians play importantroles in making dentures andother custom-made dental fittings, as wellas other itemsthat patients depend on.

Whattraining doI need andhow do Iget it?Most jobs fortechnicians in

hospitals and clinics require atwo-year degree; a few schoolsoffer four-year degrees. Thosewho graduate from cardiovas-cular technology programs arerequired to take a certificationtest. Veterinary techniciansmay also need to pass a stateexam after their training.

On the other hand, medicalequipment technicians typicallyreceive their training on thejob, though more community

colleges are offering specialized training. Whilecertification is not alwaysmandatory for these jobs,employers sometimes prefer to hire those who

have passed such tests.

What will I get paid?A mid-range salary for a veterinary technician is about$23,000; for a cardiovasculartechnician, the average salaryis about $38,000. Among laboratory technicians, thosewho work in dentistry averagemore per year than those inother medical equipmentfields. Dental laboratory

techniciansmake roughly$29,000, whilemedical appli-ance techniciansmake about$25,700 andthose who workwith eyeglassesand contactsmake about$22,000.

Q: What do you do every day?A. We do cardiac catheterization on individuals whocome in and possibly have heart disease. At Sentara,cardiovascular technicians work in three differentroles with the cardiologists.We pass sterile equipmentand help them do the procedure. We monitor andchart the vital signs and the hemodynamics [bloodcirculation]. We also hand off sterile equipment andgive medication under the doctor’s orders.

Q: What training did you do for your job?A. My program was 18 months, but they’ve short-ened it to 12 months. It’s a little bit different thangoing to a university, where you pick your classes. It’sall structured for you. You do classroom work and gethands-on experience.

Q: What do you like most about your job?A. I love the people I work with. I also love the challenge. Every patient is different. Every case is different. Everybody reacts differently to medications.Everybody’s anatomy is different.

Q: What kind of personality types do bestin this job?A. I think you definitely have to be outgoing. Youhave to be able to communicate well, because sometimes things happen suddenly in the lab. Youalso have to be quick on your feet. I used to waitress,and it reminds me of that. You have to be able tomultitask and do everything.


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Sentara Heart Hospital, Norfolk, Va.

Cardiovascular Technician

Kelly Metroka, 24QA&

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In Demand | 21

Q: How did you get interested in becominga dental lab technician? A. I have a friend in the industry, and he arranged forme to visit several labs. What I discovered is thatdental technicians blend science, technology and art to create prostheses. I’m pretty artistic, and I was looking for a career where I could create somethinguseful from nothing. So becoming a dental techseemed like a good idea. Plus the technology they use is pretty amazing.

Q: What do dental lab technicians do?A. They create dental prostheses like tooth implants,porcelain crowns, bridges and dentures. The first stepis to create a coping, which is the base for the prosthe-sis. The coping moves through various departments—model, waxing, casting, porcelain, metal finishing andothers—to become a finished product. It’s actually acomplex process that requires highly skilled techni-cians. What’s really great is that most labs provide on-the-job training so a tech can gain those skills.

Q: What’s a day at work like for you?A. Right now I’m working on a special project that’ssort of hush-hush. It involves testing new, digital manufacturing technology that makes copings. I’mworking closely with the manufacturer to fine-tunecertain elements.The great thing about the technologyis that it enables a technician to produce many morecopings in a shorter time frame. Once it’s released, it’sgoing to revolutionize the industry.

Q: What’s the most interesting thing you do?A. Educating clients about how to care for theirpets. A lot of people think being a vet tech meansworking with animals only, but I actually work withpeople more.

Q: What do you do on a typical day?A. We see appointments in the morning, whichrange from routine vaccinations to yearly exams tosick patients. I take the animal’s health history andtemperature if needed. I also pull up any meds thatare necessary and help restrain the animal duringtreatment. And I pull blood for lab work and heart-worm tests. Of course, I also do a lot of nail trims,ear cleanings, x-rays and lab tests. After morning appointments, I assist the vet with surgery. I prep thesurgical site, hook the patient up to an EKG machineand monitor the animal. After surgery, we see moreappointments.

Q: What is the most rewarding part ofyour job?A. I really like orthopedic surgery. When an animalcomes in with a badly broken leg, I love to help repairit and then over time watch the patient recover andwalk again. I also love to see puppies and kittens become healthy adults. It’s really exciting to see themturn out so well and know that we played a part.

Precision Ceramics Dental Laboratory, Montclair, Calif.

Dental Laboratory Technician

Evan Jaroslow, 19QA&

Gardner Animal Hospital, Gardner, Kan.

Veterinary Technician

Kayla Ehling, RVT, 25QA&


5Hot Tech Trendsin HealthCareWhat do nanos, chips and roboticshave to do with medicine?By Lisa Schnirring

1 2

Do you feel a special thrill whenyou see newer cell phones andmusic players getting smallerand lighter? Do you love playing

on your computer? Are you someone whothinks robots are really cool?

Answering yes to any of these questionsis the first step toward picturing yourself ina high-tech setting that is not only fun andchallenging but also brings an extra bonus:the warm feeling you get from makingpeople healthier and living longer. Thatsetting is called health care.

Advances in technology are a big reasonwhy the number of health care jobs hasexploded over the past decade. New

technology means thatdoctors can do more fortheir patients.And thespark that triggered this

explosion will promoteeven more growth across

other health care jobsectors. Below are fivetechnology areas toconsider as you start tothink about your health

career choices.

GeneticsGenetics has been in thenews a lot. Over the last13 years scientists havemapped out every gene

in the body. They can now compare thegenes of people who are sick with thosewho are well and identify mutations thatmay have caused their disease. Thattechnology makes it more likely thatresearchers will find a cure for manyillnesses, from cancer to the common cold.

A whole range of health care jobsinvolves genetics. There are geneticcounselors who work with patients whohave concerns about genetic disorders orsyndromes. Bioinformatics specialists usesophisticated computer methods to

explore genetic patterns. Geneticengineers use genes to create new vaccinesand other medical therapies.

NanotechnologyScience that involves structures the size ofatoms or small molecules is called nano-technology. This field has led to excitingnew developments in nearly all areas of

A nanotechnology diagnostic device maysoon be coursing through patient arteriesas a new generation of medical instru-ments are developed and perfected.

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life. In medicine, researchers are usingthese molecular building blocks to creategene therapy and make better drugs thathave fewer side effects. Scientists areexploring ways to use nanotechnology tobuild an artificial red blood cell, whichcould enhance many surgicalprocedures and mayeven be used forbattlefield woundtreatment.

Most people whohave jobs in nano-technology have advancedcollege degrees in medicine,biochemistry, microbiology orphysics.

DevicesTraditional medical devices such aspacemakers keep getting smaller andmore versatile. New devices are beingdeveloped to relieve back pain and even tocontrol overeating.A new class of micro-mini electronic chip is set to dramaticallyimprove and speed the diagnosis ofmedical problems. One device—called a“lab on a chip”—incorporatesnanotechnology and will allow doctors toinstantly analyze body fluids, cells and evenDNA right in the clinic office. Othermicrochip uses may involve identifyingbrain, kidney or liver disorders.

The demand for new products willcreate many new jobs in the medical devicefield. Many of these jobs will requirecollege degrees in engineering, thoughthere are several jobs at devicemanufacturers for mechanical people whoare detail oriented and have good dexterity.

InformaticsEvery day in health care, an astonishingamount of information is constantly beingcollected—details that tally everythingfrom births to blood pressures to sensors ina pacemaker.Advances in computertechnology have made it possible to bettermanage, analyze and make use of all thishealth data. This has produced a new fieldbroadly known as medical informatics.

Researchers use specializedcomputer programs to trackdisease outbreaks or identifycancer patterns. Others workin research labs and usepowerful computers to

analyze DNA sequences.Some entry-level jobs in health

informatics require a collegedegree in computer science.

Those who specialize in a certainareas such as public health often

seek advanced degrees. Specialists inbioinformatics usually have advanced

degrees in one of the sciences plus a strongcomputer background.

RoboticsIn health care, robots are already a reality.They’re not replacing surgeons, but they arehelping doctors do more preciseprocedures that require smaller cuts,produce less blood loss and help patients

recover quicker. Surgeons can use roboticdevices to assist with heart bypass, kidneytransplant and a growing number of othersurgeries. Other uses of robotics in healthcare are getting closer to reality. Last yearthe Department of Defense awarded a $12million contract to develop a “trauma pod.”It will allow offsite surgeons to stabilizesoldiers just minutes after injury. Roboticproducts that are still in the lab includeexoskeleton devices that may somedayhelp provide strength and mobility topeople who have physical disabilities.

Jobs in medical robotics oftenrequire combined training incomputers, engineering or biologicalsciences. The settings for jobs inrobotics include research labs andmanufacturing facilities.

In Demand | 23

s To compare the size of a nanoparticleto the size of a typical cell, think of a

grain of sand on a football field.”“

—JAMES R. BAKER JR., MDDirector, Michigan Nanotechnology Institute, Ann Arbor

Surgical robotic devices are helping doctorscomplete more complex and precise proce-dures, thus speeding patient recovery timeby reducing invasive procedures.

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Health care is a field filled withentrepreneurs. Doctors,dentists and veterinarianswho open their own offices

are demonstrating the spirit ofentrepreneurship. Yet, entrepreneurialactivity is more often thought of ashaving a strong element of innovation.That is, entrepreneurs don’t just set upshop. They typically set up a differenttype of business, develop a new service orproduct, or create a whole newdimension within a field.

Innovative entrepreneurial activity ismuch less obvious in health care than inother fields, but it does exist. In healthcare, entrepreneurial activity is

particularly strong in biotechnology, genetherapy, pacemakers and other medicaldevices and drugs.

TelaDoc, based in Dallas, is anentrepreneurial health care servicescompany. Started to provide low-costmedical care, TelaDoc is part of themovement toward quick and easy accessto health care. TelaDoc patients pay a

joining fee, a monthly fee, and a fee eachtime they use the service. That guaranteesa return call from a doctor within threehours. Round-the-clock servicesprovided by TelaDoc are limited tosimple conditions for which a treatmentcan be prescribed over the phone.

Another entrepreneurial company,Preferred Medical Devices, Boca Raton,Fla., recently created a portable urinal,the first innovation in urine collection in50 years. The device is known as theUrAssist. It is about the size of a smallbriefcase and will be marketed to peopleconfined to wheelchairs, bedridden innursing homes, and seriously ill hospitalpatients. The device replaces bedpansand diapers and consists of a urineholder, hose, bag system and a battery-operated pump.

One of the biggest challenges anyentrepreneur faces is funding. Loansfrom family, friends, and banks are oftenthe main source of funding for early-stage businesses. For-profit companiescan also seek funding from investors. TheUrAssist device took four years and $1million in investment money to create.

UrAssist inventor Edgar A. Otto, 76,was the recipient of the Ernst & YoungEntrepreneur of the Year Award in 1997for an earlier invention. Otto often saysof his accomplishments: “Not bad for akid who finished in the bottom 10% ofhis high school class.” He came up withhis idea for the UrAssist while lying in ahospital bed with a life-threateninginfection. He knew then that the bedpancould be improved. He imagined a bettersolution, and then he created it.


By Fran Howard

New Products,New Practices

Entrepreneurialactivity is more

often thought of ashaving a strong

element of innovation.

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In Demand | 25

By now, millions of people in theUnited States have seen one ormore of the popular TV pro-grams about forensic sciences.

The characters in CSI and Crossing Jordanmake almost miraculous discoveries fromusually gruesome crime scenes. Suchforensic miracles do happen, it’s true, butthe day-to-day workof forensic specialistsis usually morecommon, not quiteas rapid or dazzling,and not backlit byblue light.

Still, crime doeshappen, and theseTV programs havemade viewers’ imaginations run fast andenvious. As they present the intrigue ofmedical mystery and missing clues, theshows have spurred a notable increase inthe number of students considering acareer in the forensic sciences.

Latin RootsThe word forensic comes from the Latinterm forensis, which refers to “publicforum,” where the law courts of ancientRome took place. The field of forensics,

then, is the use of science to assist in legalproceedings. Forensic pathologists andtheir colleagues work directly with lawenforcement officials to detect whetherfoul play was a factor in an accident ordeath. Many are state or county medicalexaminers and regularly testify in court.

Forensics touch on many areas ofscience, includingcytology (the studyof cells like thosein blood, muscleand skin) andtoxicology (a studythat measuresalcohol, drugs andother chemicalsthat might be

found in someone who has died or beeninjured). A dentist specializing in forensicodontology (the study of teeth as a way toidentify a crime victim) may be needed toidentify the person who committed acrime if, for example, a bite wound is partof the investigation.

Forensic anthropologists help deter-mine a person’s age, sex, height, ancestryand, perhaps, unique features from skele-tal remains. Therefore, their expertise isvalued when the remains are unidentifi-able. Psychologists with forensics trainingmay also be called in to evaluate the men-tal state of a suspect or to testify on suchhigh-risk behavior as violent aggression.

Sometimes, computer operators helpan investigation. When, for instance, avictim’s face is partially decomposed, acomputer graphics person may fill inmissing characteristics by building fromthe features that are still present. Or aphotograph of a young person last seenyears ago can be altered to create animage of how he or she might look today.

Anyone who works in the forensicsciences needs to be law-abiding andtrustworthy and must have highstandards of ethics, conduct and profes-sionalism. So here’s a case question thatonly you can solve: Could a forensicsciences career be a part of your future?

Resources on Forensic SciencesAmerican Academy of Forensic Sciences, www.aafs.orgAmerican Board of Forensic Anthropology, www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFAAmerican Board of Forensic Odontology, www.abfo.orgAmerican Board of Forensic Psychology, www.abfp.comSociety of Forensic Toxicology, www.soft-tox.org

MEDICAL SCIENCE & MYSTERIESInvestigate online the Medical Mysteriessite,created by the Center for Technologyin Teaching and Learning at Rice University,Houston,Texas. It offers interactive adven-tures in learning as the player takes on thework of scientist,historian and detective.Find it at medmyst.rice.edu/html.

SOLVING MEDICALMYSTERIESWait, don’t faint! We’ve got work to do.By Colleen M. Sauber

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6.What does it take toget rid of a tattoo?Answer: In tattooing, inksoaks into skin cells whenthe skin is pierced. Gettingrid of a tattoo is costly,difficult, and painful,because it requires treatmentthat takes off the layers ofskin that contain the ink.

4.What does a high-speed Internet connec-tion have in commonwith an exam of yourthroat and stomach?Answer: Fiber optics tech-nology. Doctors sometimesuse a long, flexible tube witha light and tiny camera to seeinto the throat and stomach.That tube contains the sametype of glass fibers that runthrough phone lines to bringthe Web to your home.

5.What is a quarantineand why is it helpful?Answer: Quarantines aremeant to protect the public’shealth and safety by keepingsick people away from healthyones in order to prevent acontagious disease fromspreading. The first quarantineon record occurred in A.D. 549.Since September 11, 2001, 18quarantine stations have beenset up in airports and otherplaces of entry into the U.S.

Fun FactsAbout Health Care

Colds seem tospread reallyquickly at school.Why is that?

Answer: Sleep helps your body grow, repair andstay healthy. It also keeps your mind sharp. To stayalert all day, most teens need between nine and 10hours of sleep. However, U.S. teens typically sleepfor only six hours a night.

How much sleepshould a teen get,and how manyhours do U.S.teens typicallysleep each night?

Answer: The average coughcomes out of your mouth at 60

miles per hour. A sneeze averages 103 m.p.h. Eachtime you cough or sneeze you send germs into thearea around you, exposing everyone to your cold.

1.

7.

8.How might a scientistlearn the inner tempera-ture of a mountaineer?Answer: Medical researchershave had climbers swallow athermal radio pill equippedwith a battery, communicationcoils and temperature sensors.The pill then passed throughthe climber the same way fooddoes.

9.What’s the impor-tance of sunscreen?Answer: Sunscreen helpsprotect skin from gettingburned and damaged by thesun’s rays and, in doing so,helps cut the risk of skincancer. To get the most pro-tection, choose a sunscreenwith an SPF rating of 15 orhigher and apply often.

2. How hard does theheart work?Answer: The heart beatsabout 100,000 times a day,pumping 1,900 gallons ofblood, which travels 12,000miles—or four times thedistance from the East Coastto the West Coast. Thepressure of a single heartbeatis like the pressure you feelwhen you give a firm, hardsqueeze to a tennis ball.

3. Some days,my headfeels almost too heavy formy neck.How heavy is itanyway?Answer: The average brainweighs 3 pounds and theaverage head 8 pounds.

How muchdoes a teen’sskeleton grow,and what helpsit get strong?10.

Answer: By the time girls are 18 years old and boys 19, their bodiescontain about 90% of their total bone mass. Besides getting plentyof calcium and vitamin D in food, we can strengthen our skeletonby exercising while on our feet. As we stand,walk or run, the bulk ofour upright body puts weight on our skeleton,prompting it to getstronger in order to better carry the weight.

My hair is always falling out andoften clogs the bathroom drain. Howmuch hair does a person normallylose in a day?

Answer: Each of us loses up to 100 strands of hair everyday. And every strand tells something about us. From asingle strand of hair, scientists can learn details about theperson who lost it, including his or her ethnic background.

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13. On days when Ifeel blue, what can I doto feel better?Answer: Going for a walkoften and regularly is oneway. The act of laughingand smiling also helps youfeel less sad. Children seemto know that laughter isgood medicine: usually,they laugh about 150 timesa day!

16.How many stepsdoes a person typicallytake in a day?Answer: The average persontakes up to 10,000 steps eachday, which adds up to about115,000 miles over alifetime—or the equivalentto walking around the globemore than four times.

11.How many stu-dents attend medicalschools in the UnitedStates?Answer: About 67,000 menand women attend U.S.medical schools. In 2005,more than 37,300 studentsapplied to medical school,and of this number, half weremen and half were women.

12.What woundtreatment was usedcenturies ago?Answer: Maggots were andstill are used to clean woundsand help them heal. Thesehungry fly larvae eat deadtissue, exposing the healthytissue underneath, which caus-es the wound to heal quicker.

14.Why do some ofmy friends have manypimples and others havehardly any?Answer: Pimples developwhen skin pores, or the smallholes in skin, becomeclogged with dirt andgerms. This canhappen when skinproduces more oilthan it needs.

15.Mytongue hasmany littlebumps on it.What are these? Answer: They are tastebuds,which live about 10 days.They help you know whether afood is salty, sweet, sour,or spicy.

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17.Who was the firstwoman doctor in theUnited States and when did she become a physician?Answer: Elizabeth Blackwellwas the first woman to receiveher medical degree, which sheaccomplished in 1849.


Dozens of professional organizations,government Web sites and trade institu-tions exist to help you learn more about health care careers. Here is a sampling ofresources to get you started.

American DentalAssociationwww.ada.org312-440-2500

American Dental Assistants Associationwww.dentalassistant.org312-541-1550

American DentalHygienists’ Associationwww.adha.org312-440-8900

American DieteticAssociationwww.eatright.org800-877-1600

American HealthInformation ManagementAssociationwww.ahima.org312-233-1100

American MedicalAssociationwww.ama-assn.orgLists allied health career as-sociations and allied healthaccrediting agencies.800-621-8335

American MedicalInformatics Associationwww.amia.org301-657-1291

American MedicalTechnologistswww.amt1.com800-275-1268

American NursesAssociationAmerican NursesCredentialing Centerwww.nursingworld.org800-274-4262

American OccupationalTherapy Association, Inc.www.aota.org301-652-2682

American Optometric Associationwww.aoa.org800-365-2219

American PhysicalTherapy Associationwww.apta.org800-999-2782

American Association ofCertified OrthoptistsAmerican Orthoptic Councilwww.orthoptics.org608-233-5383

American Association ofMedical Assistantswww.aama-ntl.org312-899-1500

American Association ofNurse Anesthetistswww.aana.com847-692-7050

American Association ofPharmaceutical Scientistswww.aapspharmaceutica.com703-243-2800

American Association ofPsychiatric Technicianswww.psych-health.com800-391-7589

American Association ofSurgical PhysicianAssistantswww.aaspa.com888-882-2772

American College of Nurse-Midwiveswww.midwife.org240-485-1800

American College of Sports Medicinewww.acsm.org317-637-9200

PROFESSIONALORGANIZATIONSAmerican Academy ofAnesthesiologist Assistantswww.anesthetist.org850-656-8848

American Academy ofFamily Physicianswww.aafp.org800-274-2237

American Academy ofForensic Scienceswww.aafs.org719-636-1100

American Academy ofNurse Practitionerswww.aanp.org512-442-4262

American Academy ofPhysician Assistantswww.aapa.org703-836-2272Society for PhysicianAssistants in Pediatricswww.aapa.org/spec/SPAP/

American Association forLaboratory Animal Sciencewww.aalas.org901-754-8620

American Association forMedical Transcriptionwww.aamt.org800-982-2182

American Association forRespiratory Carewww.aarc.org972-243-2272

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National Association forHome Care and Hospicewww.nahc.org202-547-7424

National Association forPractical Nurse Educationand Service, Inc.www.napnes.org703-933-1003

National Association ofDental Laboratorieswww.nadl.org800-950-1150

National Association ofEmergency MedicalTechnicianswww.naemt.org800-346-2368

National Black NursesAssociation, Inc.www.nbna.org800-575-6298

National Federation ofLicensed Practical Nurses, Inc.www.nflpn.org919-779-0046

National League for Nursingwww.nln.org800-669-1656

National Association ofClinical Nurse Specialistswww.nacns.org717-234-6799

National Association ofVeterinary Technicians inAmerica www.navta.net765-742-2216

Society of DiagnosticMedical Sonographywww.sdms.org800-229-9506

Society of Hospital Medicinewww.hospitalmedicine.org800-843-3360

In Demand | 29

Society of MedicalInterpreterswww.sominet.org206-729-2100

HEALTH CARE EDUCATION

Accrediting Bureau ofHealth Education Schoolswww.abhes.org703-917-9503

American Association ofColleges of Pharmacywww.aacp.org703-739-2330

Association of Schools ofAllied Health Professionswww.asahp.org202-293-4848Wide-ranging list of useful links atwww.asahp.org/links.htm

Commission onAccreditation of AlliedHealth Education Programscaahep.org727-210-2350

National Board forCertification inOccupational Therapywww.nbcot.org301-990-7979

National Commission onCertification of PhysicianAssistantswww.nccpa.net678-417-8100

National Consortium onHealth Science andTechnology Educationwww.nchste.org

U.S. Department of LaborBureau of Labor StatisticsOccupational OutlookHandbook, 2006-07 Editionwww.bls.gov/oco

American StudentDental Associationwww.asdanet.org 800-621-8099,extension 2795

American VeterinaryMedical Associationwww.avma.org847-925-8070

Association forProfessionals in InfectionControl and Epidemiologywww.apic.org202-789-1890

Association of FamilyPractice Physician Assistantswww.afppa.org 877-890-0181

Association of TechnicalPersonnel in Ophthalmologywww.atpo.org800-482-4858

Biocomputing andBioinformatics Web linkswww.il-st-acad-sci.org/bc_ilink.htmlBroad list of societies, associ-ations and journals aroundthe globe.

Bureau of HealthProfessions U.S. Department of Healthand Human Servicesbhpr.hrsa.govKids in Health Careersbhpr.hrsa.gov/kidscareers301-443-2100

Emergency NursesAssociationwww.ena.org800-900-9659

Infectious Diseases Society of AmericaGuide to Training Programswww.idsociety.org703-299-0200

American PsychiatricAssociationwww.psych.org703-907-7300

American Society forClinical Laboratory Sciencewww.ascls.org301-657-2768

American Society forHealthcare HumanResources Administrationwww.ashhra.org312-422-3725

American Society forMicrobiologywww.asm.org202-737-3600Page for middle and highschool students.www.asm.org/Education/index.asp?bid=1208

American Society ofClinical Pathologywww.ascp.org800-267-2727

American Society ofCytopathologywww.cytopathology.org302-429-8802

American Society ofEchocardiographywww.asecho.org919-861-5574

American Society ofPodiatric MedicalAssistantswww.aspma.org888-882-7762

American Society ofRadiologic Technologistswww.asrt.org505-298-4500

American Speech-Language-HearingAssociationwww.asha.org800-498-2071

NOTE: Web sites and phonenumbers change so you mayneed to do a websearch or call directory assistance.!


scenarios, from on-the-job training topostgraduate degrees. And because thedemand for health care workers is sogreat, training programs are moreaccessible than ever. Many programsoffer scholarships and other incentives.

Show Them What You’ve GotStudents appreciate it when you givethem the lowdown on what they wantto know about health care jobs. Theirfirst question is often about pay. Youwill find many resources for answeringtheir questions in this magazine. Acustomizable presentation for guidancecounselors on health care careers aimedat students in grades six to 12 isavailable at Health Resources andServices Administration, Bureau ofHealth Professions (www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/kidscareers/students6-12.htm).

It helps to be prepared when stu-dents show their first spark of interestin a health care career. Feature abulletin board of local health carehappenings where students can samplecareers. Educational and health consor-tiums often hold summer seminars forhigh school students on health carecareers. Most are free or low cost, andsome even offer college credit. If yourtown is home to a medical school,check and see if they offer a “minimedical school” for high schoolstudents and others who have aninterest in medicine.

Another way to promote health care

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Are you looking for another way to getyoung people excited about their future?It’s simple. Help them picture themselvesin a health care career, which is a winning

hand for good pay, emotional rewards, great bene-fits, promotional opportunities and job security.

Tips for Counselors...

MENTORSParents, Teachers and Counselors Can Help Students Learn More about Health Care Careers

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Calling All

There are nearly 300 occupationsunder the health care umbrella. Not alljobs are in hospital settings, and healthcare involves much more than directpatient care. Health care hiring man-agers would love to welcome moremen into the fold so it’s no cliché that

there is something for everyone, frommusic therapy to financial manage-ment to information technology.Health care has it all!

Another way to impress teens is tolet them know that good jobs are avail-able in a wide range of schooling

In Demand | 31

careers is to explore if your area has aHealth Occupations Students ofAmerica chapter (www.hosa.org). Theorganization’s activities promoteleadership development, motivation andrecognition for high school students inhealth occupations education programs.

Earn While They LearnStudents who are interested in healthcare careers appreciate learning aboutreal-world opportunities. Keep a list oflocal health care organizations that offervolunteer opportunities or part-timejobs. Find out if area technical schoolsor health care institutions offer bridgeprograms for high school students,which may also offer paid positions.

Staying on Top of It AllMake contacts with schools and compa-nies and learn what they are looking for.Expand your own knowledge of emerg-ing and changing careers. Good sourcesare publications such as ScientificAmerican (www.sciam.com), Wall StreetJournal (www.wsj.com), and BusinessWeek (www.businessweek.com). If yourschool offers career and technical educa-tion classes, spend some time in them.Getting to know the fields you’re pro-moting helps make them come alive tostudents. Remind students that there is aclear link between what they’re learningtoday and their future success.Offer examples of practical, real-world ways in which studentswill be able to use what theylearned in a given day.

Where Do I Go from HereA great jumping-off point isCareer Voyages(www.careervoy-ages.com/career-advisors-main.cfm).This Website ismaintained by the U.S.Department of Labor

and has a great deal of useful informa-tion for students and mentors alike.

Other sites that provide great infor-mation for guidance counselors are:www.ExploreHealthCareers.org(Association of Academic HealthCenters)www.bhpr.hrsa.gov/kidscareers/(Health Resources and ServicesAdministration-Bureau of HealthProfessions)

www.science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/(National Institutes of Health Office ofScience Education)

A good source for tracking healthnews and trends is Healthfinder by theU.S. Department of Health and HumanServices (www.healthfinder.gov). Thesite also provides comprehensive linksto the health sections of major nationalnews outlets.

Teachers

ATTENTION TEACHERS…Inside the classroom a teacher’s influence can be profound. Each student whopursues a health care career will help improve the lives of hundreds of people.Teachers can raise students’ awareness of health care careers by weaving the topicinto science classes or even those that touch on life skills or economics.

Classroom Activities

:Invite guest speakers to talk to students. Connecting a friendly face with a job titleis a great way to introduce health care careers to young people. Ask your stu-dents if they have a family member or friend who would be willing to speak.Hospitals, medical groups, and schools that offer health care career training havelists of speakers who are happy to share their job experiences with students. Manyare quite willing to be contacted afterwards if students have further questions.:A fun idea is to explore how the role of hand washing influences the spread of dis-ease. At the start of class, have one student dip his or her hands into Glo Germ, apowder that represents pathogens and glows under ultraviolet light (DMAInternational, Moab, Utah, www.glogerm.com). Then give students an activity thatinvolves the sharing of equipment, and examine each student’s hands under anultraviolet light. For each student, record the areas of the hands that lit up under the

light. Follow-up with a discussion on how cleaning equipment andhands between uses could have slowed the spread of the powder. A de-tailed lesson plan is available on the National Library of Medicine’s

Changing Faces of Medicine site(www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/).:Assign students two-page reports on a health care

career. Have them answer the following questions:What does the job involve during a typical day?

What kind of education and/or training isneeded to enter that field, and how long will ittake? Is certification required and if so, whattype? How much will it cost to train for the

job? How much does this job pay?:Take a field trip to a hospital or a medical re-search lab. If that’s not possible, take a virtualfield trip by having students visit the Website forthe Public Broadcasting Service series Children’s

Here are two new terms thatare good to know when helpingyoung people explore healthcare careers.BRIDGE PROGRAMS. Theseprograms start in high schoolsand provide early health careertraining. Teens age 16 and up inVirginia Beach, Va., and inStevens County, Minn., can takespecialized courses to obtaintheir emergency medicaltechnician certificate. Similarprograms exist for certifiednursing assistants.JOB SHADOWING. This conceptis similar to Take Your Child toWork Day, but this is for teens.With a playful nod to the wordshadow, the event is held onGroundhog Day. This activitygives students a close-up lookat an adult mentor’s typicalworkday and helps youngpeople see how their studiesrelate to the work world. Formore information visit theNational Job Shadow Coalitionsite (www.jobshadow.org).


DEARPARENTSAs teens approach adulthood, parentsoften marvel at how unique and inde-pendent their children are becoming.Though teens love their individuality,parents are still an important influencein their lives, including career choice.

That’s a good thing, but sometimesteens’ career alternatives are limited tothe occupations they see in their fami-ly’s circle of friends. If there are fewpeople in their network who havehealth care jobs, teens may be missinggreat employment options.

Good Bargains,Wise InvestmentsHealth care offers excellent job security.There are shortages in many occupa-tions and demand is predicted toremain strong. More jobs will be addedin health care than in any other field.

Many good-paying health care jobsdo not require a college degree. Oneexample is cardiovascular technology.Certification can be obtained from ahealth care institution or technicalschool in a year to 18 months. Alongwith good pay, health care jobstypically have great benefits. Also, theyare portable. Once young peoplereceive their job training, they canwork almost anywhere!

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For nearly every interest a youngperson has, there is a health care jobthat mirrors their passion, from work-ing with computers to running abusiness to working on cutting edgeresearch. There are nearly 300 differentjobs within the health care spectrum.

Heath care jobs aren’t just financiallyrewarding. Those who work in the fieldoften say that helping people brings itsown emotional rewards. Also peoplewho work in health care are usually re-spected in their communities.

Is Health Care Right for Your TeenThe Association of Academic HealthCenters helps parents gauge if a healthcareer matches the abilities, needs, andhopes of young people. Consider thefollowing questions::Do they like to deal with people?Some jobs such as nursing, being adoctor of medicine, and doing therapyrequire a lot of patient contact. Others,such as lab technology, hardly any.:Are they comfortable with science?Many health care jobs require a goodscience background, and a highpercentage of them have someconnection to laboratory sciences suchas chemistry and microbiology.:Are they prepared to keep learning?Health care changes quickly, and manyjobs require continuing education.:Will they be comfortable in a healthcare setting? A high percentage of

health care jobs require contact withsick, disabled, or dying people. Most ofthat takes place at hospitals or clinics orin homes. However, a number of jobsare located in pharmacies, labs, com-puter facilities, and business offices.:Do they enjoy being a team player?Health care is a group activity whereeveryone is important. These jobs nec-essarily require good communicationand collaboration skills.:How well do they handle stress? Manyhealth care jobs expose workers toemergency situations, long hours, andbig responsibilities.

SURFTHEWEBParents will also find lots of career information at Career Voyages (www.careervoyages.com/parents-main.cfm).

This site provides access to:+ different types of careers+ the knowledge and skills needed to enter these careers+ information about education and training opportunities needed to

prepare for a chosen careerAnother good place to browse with your teen is the health career section ofthe U.S.Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook(www.bls.gov/oco/cg/print/cgs035.htm).

WHAT’STHE BUZZ

Health Care C R O S S W O R DACROSS

1. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

3. The application of the principles of engineering and technology to the life sciences

6. The branch of medicine that deals with injuries or illnesses resulting from participa-tion in sports and athletic activities

9. A period of time when people with certain diseases are kept away from healthy people

10. A person trained and certified to appraise and initiate the administration of emergency care for victims of trauma or acute illness before or during transportation of the victims to a health care facility via ambulance or aircraft

11. Test used to diag-nose for cancer

13. Kinesiology is the study of...

14. Health professionals sometimes work in a...

15. Type of physician that deals with the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the recuperative period following delivery

16. Category of highly skilled health care practitioners who support, facilitate, and compliment the roles of doctors and nurses

17. The human body

18. Diagnostic or therapeutic test used to image an internal body structure, monitor a developing fetus, or generate a localized deep heat to the tissues

DOWN

2. Artificial device used to replace a missing body part, such as a limb, tooth, eye, or heart valve

4. Study of cells like those in blood, muscle and skin

5. The science and art of promot-ing health, preventing disease and prolonging life through organized efforts of society

7. Prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints, and ligaments.

8. A person who organizes, oper-ates, and assumes the risk for a business venture

12. Last name of the first woman doctor in the United States

Visit http://www.careervoyages.gov/indemandmagazine-healthcare-games.cfm for the answers to this puzzle, plus information on the hottest jobs of tomorrow.

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