Health Care Professionals

Unit-R

Specific Objectives

1. Analyze medical/health professions and related employment opportunities.

2. Identify preparation and credentials needed in medical/health professions.

3. Analyze professions/ethical characteristics of medical professions.

4. Perform mathematical conversions common to the medical/health professions.

CAREERS WEB-SITES

• http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/13087.html

http://www.careervoyages.gov/healthcare-main.cfm

http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm

http://www.training.nih.gov/careers/careercenter/caroptsmed.html#top

Physicians

Examine patients, obtain

medical histories, order

tests, make diagnoses,

perform surgery, treat

disease and disorders,

and each preventive

health.

Physicians Assistant

Works under the supervision of physicians, take medical histories; perform routine examinations and basic diagnostics tests; make preliminary diagnoses; treat minor injuries; and prescribe and administrate appropriate treatments.

Chiropractor

A health care approach and

profession that emphasizes

diagnosis, treatment and

prevention of mechanical

disorders of the musculoskeletal

system, especially the spine,

under the hypothesis that these

disorders affect general health

via the nervous system. It is

generally considered to be

alternative medicine.

Nursing

Work under the direction

of physicians and provide

total care to patients.

To obtain an associate

degree in nursing one

would attend what type of

postsecondary institution?

Community college

Diagnostics

Perform tests or evaluations that aid in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury, or other physical conditions.

Therapist

Helps people with physical,

mental, or emotional

disabilities to overcome,

correct, or adjust to their

particular problems.

• SPEECH

• RESPIRATORY• MASSAGE

Occupational Therapist

To enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life, such as dressing, eating or maintaining their homes. Occupational therapists achieve this outcome by enhancing the individual's ability to participate, by modifying the environment, or by adapting the activity to better support participation.

Social Workers

• Help people by referring them to community sources for assistance. They might work with people who are homeless, sick, or having family problems. Or they might help students who are having trouble in school.

Health Care Administrator

• Executive-level administrators are highly educated individuals responsible for leading and managing hospital, clinics, and other agencies.

Medical Records Technician

• They organize, codes the patient’s chart & gathers patient data.  

Medical Records Administrator has to have a Bachelors degree.

Surgeon

• Requires a doctorate degree with post-graduate training in a specialty area.

Podiatrist• A foot doctor that specializes in the

treatment of the human foot & ankle.

Epidemiologist

• Epidemiologists study patterns of disease occurrence in populations and ways to prevent it & control disease.

Vision Services

• Ophthalmologist-MD who specializes in diseases & disorders of the eye

• Optometrist- MD who examines eyes for vision problems & defects

• Ophthalmic Tech-works under the direction of an ophthalmologist. Duties include visual acuity testing, refractometry, contact lens fitting, and assisting in laser surgery and other forms of minor ophthalmic surgery.

• Optician-a person who makes and fits glasses or lenses prescribed to the patient.

PERFUSIONIST

Operates the heart-lung

machine during cardiac

surgery & other surgeries

that require

cardiopulmonary bypass.

Mental Health Careers

• Psychiatrist-may prescribe psychiatric medications, conduct physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory tests and electroencephalograms, and may order brain imaging studies such as computed tomography.

• Psychologist-is an expert in psychology, the systematic investigation of the human mind, including behavior, cognition & affect.

Proctologist

A proctologist should be

a surgeon by training.

Physicians specializing

in dealing with diseases

& disorders of the

rectum, anus, colon &

pelvic floor.

Biostatistician

• Biostatisticians play essential roles in designing studies and analyzing data from research problems.

PHARMACIST

• Pharmacists are health professionals who practice the art and science of dispensing medication to the patient and counsel them on the proper use & adverse effects of that medication. They work in hospitals, health departments, and community pharmacies.

Dietary Careers• Registered dietician- plans

nutrition programs to help both sick and healthy people who need to improve their nutrition. They pass an exam administered by regulatory board & are maintained on a current list.

• Dietetic technician- passes out trays to the patients and assists the dietician.

Pathologist

• Performs autopsies and diagnoses diseases by studying cells, tissues and organs.

Physical Therapy Aide

• Physical therapist aids perform a variety of tasks under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. This career can be pursued by on the job training.

Biomedical Equipment Technician

• Repairs and maintains high technology life saving devices.

Biomedical Engineer• The application of engineering principles to

design and problem solve to help improve patient health care and the quality of life.

Emergency Medical Technician

• High visibility health professional who provides life-saving care at the scene of an accident or for sudden illness is a emergency.

Veterinarian

• Veterinarians take care of sick and injured animals. Like doctors, they perform surgery and give medicine. 8 years of education required after high school.

Anesthesiologist

• Responsible for putting a patient to sleep for surgery.

• C. Employment opportunities– Trends are projections or indicators on how

Health Care will change.– Understanding some of the larger trends that

shape the job market can help narrow your search.

– Projections- Using data compiled from the United Stated Bureau of Labor Statistics and from major newspapers and magazines, we have listed five of the biggest trends that will impact your choice of college major and ten of the jobs for which there will be the highest demand over the next ten years

Trends and Projections

Our state’s rising Latino population is another major demographic trend affecting health care in the 21st century. Many hospitals, health departments, and individual practitioners are struggling now to overcome language barriers with their Spanish-speaking patients and are hiring medical translators to improve communication.

Trends and Projections

• Aging Baby Boomers • Everybody knows that the growing population of

seniors will have a major impact on North America's economy and society. Home care and nursing homes are two areas where rapid growth is expected. The elderly will also be relying on therapists, specialists, and general practitioners to enhance their quality of life.

20 Fastest Growing Health Occupations in North Carolina

• Cardiovascular TechnologistCertified Nursing AssistantClinical Laboratory ScientistDentistHealth Information TechnicianMedical AssistantMedical Coding SpecialistMedical Laboratory TechnicianMedical Scientist

• Mental Health Technician  PharmacistPhysician AssistantPsychological AssociateRadiation TechnologistRegistered NurseRespiratory Care PractitionerSpeech-Language Pathologist Speech-Language Pathology AssistantSubstance Abuse CounselorSurgical Technologist

Where to look?

• http://www.healthjobsusa.com/

• Occupational outlook

• Local Internet

Identify preparation and credentials needed in medical/health

professions• A. Preparation

– High school/Secondary- Basic preparation should include: Sciences, Social Studies, English, and Mathematics.

– Post secondary- may include training in: vocational-technical school, community college, or a university.

– Professional- a Doctorate or doctor’s degree.

Credentials

LICENSURE: Approved education program, passes state

board tests & maintains standards.

CERTIFICATION:

– A person has fulfilled education requirements & has met the standard of a professional organization.

REGISTRATION:

– Listing or assignment of a number to a person– Trained and evaluated to perform a duty or

task– Sometimes based on law or statute

Licensure, certification & registration

• Has met minimal requirements of that profession.

• Theses protect the patient.

Code of Ethical and Professional Standards

• To set the standard and be an example for others.

• To earn individual respect and increase our credibility with those we serve.

• Not talking about patients to coworker. Violates-Ethical professional standards

Analyze professional/ethical characteristics of medical/health

professions.• A. Professional Characteristics

Appearance- a personnel should always appear in a way that inspires confidence and a positive self-image.

Attitude- You should have: a positive attitude, patience, have a tolerance for criticism, a certain tact personality, and responsibility.

Actions- you should always be a team player.

Competence-perform a task correctly and follows instructions.

Characteristic of a Health Care Worker

1. Competence-performs task correctly and follows directions.

2. Enthusiasm-eagerness to learn and help others.

3. Patience-tolerance for others.

4. Tact-skill in situations in which other people's feelings have to be considered, Delicacy in handling serious matters.

B. Ethical Considerations

• Definition of ethics- Principles of right or good conduct.Ethical behavior- in the workplace ensures good care and good working relationships.

• Professional ethics- Professional ethics are a set of guidelines that any and every healthcare worker should obey.“We don’t date patients”

Eating a patients fruit without permission is?

• An ethical violation

If you clock in a coworker it is?

• DISHONEST

Ethics continued….

• Patient Confidentiality- Not to be shared or told; only shared with people involved with care of the patient.

• Invasion of privacy- revealing personal information about an individual without consent.

• Negligence-failure to give care that is normally expected, resulting in injury.

• Honesty-faithful truthfulness

• Dependability-reliable

• If patients ask for any drug that the physician has not ordered, you should say, “No. I won’t do that.” Report it to the physician.

Where to report unethical issues?

• In a hospital or any job, all employees should follow the chain of command.

• The director of nursing, should be consulted, if there is an unethical issue involving a nurse.

• If a supervisor wants to report a nurse she report it to the “The Board of Nursing”

• A supervisor should be consulted, if the employee is not a professional.

Legal Terminology

INVASION OF PRIVACY• Unauthorized release of personal

and medical information.• Unlawful release of personal

information protected by law.• Subjecting patient to personal

physical exposure of their body.

Legal Terminology

• PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS: The communication between parties in a confidential relation that is protected by statute. Cannot be forced, except under unusual circumstances, to disclose such information

Legal Terminology

SLANDER– Untruthful or false verbal statement– Victim must have loss caused by false

verbal statement

“Lies with a loss”

Medical Math

Basic Formula: Frequently used to calculate drug dosages.

• D (Desired dose) • H (Dose on hand) • V (Vehicle-tablet or liquid) • D

H x V = Amount to Give D = dose ordered or desired dose • H = dose on container label or dose on hand • V = form & amount in which drug comes (tablet, capsule,

liquid) • Example: Order-Dilantin 50 mg p.o. TID

Drug available-Dilantin 125 mg/5ml• D = 50 mg H = 125 mg V = 5 ml• 50 250

125 x 5 = 125 = 2 ml

Weight

• Weight Conversion

• 1 gram (g) = 1000 milligrams (mg)

• 1 kilogram (Kg) = 1000 grams (g)

• 1 kilogram (kg) = 2.2 pounds (lbs)

• 1 pound (lb) = 16 ounces (oz)

• lbs to kg = lbs · 2.2

• Kg to lbs = kg x 2.2

• Infant weighs 19kg so what is his weight in lbs?

• 41.8 lbs.

Tibet• The world's largest baby

was born in 1879 and weighed 23 pounds.The 23 pound baby died 11 hours after he was born.

• Luckily, the mother of the 19 pound baby in Indonesia was able to have her son delivered via C-section. Although C-sections were available in 1879 many mothers did not survive the process, according to the National Library of Medicine.

China largest baby delivered6.5 kilo

• What is that in lbs?

• 14.3 lbs

Volume for Fluids

• 1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters mL/cc = 1 quart (qt)

• 1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

• 1 teaspoon (t or tsp) = 5 milliliters (mL)

• 1 ounce (oz) = 30 milliliters (mL)

• 1 pint (pt.) = 500 ML/cc

Temperature

• Celsius to Fahrenheit (C x 1.8) + 32 = F• Fahrenheit to Celsius (F – 32) / 1.8 = C

Length

• 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm)

• 1 meter (m) = 1000 millimeters (mm)

• 10 millimeters (mm) = 1 centimeter (cm)

• 1 inch (“ or in) = 2.5 centimeters (cm)

• 39.4 inches (“ or in) = 1 meter (m)

Volume for Fluids

• 1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL) = 1 quart (qt)

• 1 pint (pt) = 500 mL/ cc

• 1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)

• 1 teaspoon (t or tsp) = 5 milliliters mL/cc

• 1 ounce (oz) = 30 milliliters ML/cc

If you have a syringe with 10 cc in it & you use 0.5 cc, how much is left?