Health Care Careers 1
5 Health Care Pathways Health Care Occupations are Organized into 5 Pathways. Therapeutic Services Diagnostic Services Health Informatics Support Services Biotechnology Research and Development
Anesthesiologist Assistant Art/Music/Dance Therapist(s) Athletic Trainer Audiologist Certified Nursing Assistant Chiropractor Dental Assistant Dental Hygienist Dental Lab Technician Dentist Dietician EMT/ Paramedic Home Health Aide Licensed Practical Nurse Massage Therapist Medical Assistant Mortician Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy Asst Optometrist Pharmacist Pharmacy Technician Physical Therapist Physical Therapy Assistant Physician (MD/DO) Physician s Assistant Psychologist Recreation Therapist Registered Nurse Respiratory Therapist Social Worker Speech Language Pathologist Surgical Technician Veterinarian Veterinarian Technician Cardiovascular Technologist Clinical Lab Technician Computer Tomography (CT) Technologist Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Electrocardiographic (ECG) Technician Electronic Diagnostic (EEG) Technologist Exercise Physiologist Magnetic Resonance (MR) Technologist Mammographer Medical Technologist/ Clinical Laboratory Scientist Nuclear Medicine Technologist Nutritionist Orthotist/Prosthetist Pathologist Pathology Assistant Phlebotomist Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Technologist Radiologic Technologist/Radiograph er Radiologist Admitting Clerk Applied Researcher Community Services Specialists Data Analyst Epidemiologist Ethicist Health Educator Health Information Coder Health Information Services Healthcare Administrator Medical Assistant Medical Biller/Patient Financial Services Medical Information Technologist Medical Librarian/Cybrarian Patient Advocates Public Health Educator Reimbursement Specialist (HFMA) Risk Management Social Worker Transcriptionist Unit Coordinator Utilization Manager Biomedical / Clinical Engineer Biomedical / Clinical Technician Central Services Environmental Health and Safety Environmental Services Facilities Manager Food Services Hospital Maintenance Engineer Industrial Hygienist Materials Management Transport Technician Biochemist Bioinformatics Associate Bioinformatics Scientist Bioinformatics Specialist Biomedical Chemist Biostatistician Cell Biologist Clinical Trials Research Associate Clinical Trials Research Coordinator Geneticist Lab Assistant-Genetics Lab Technician Microbiologist Molecular Biologist Pharmaceutical Scientist Quality Assurance Technician Quality Control Technician Regulatory Affairs Specialist Research Assistant Research Associate Research Scientist Toxicologist Therapeutic Services Diagnostic Services Health Informatics Support Services Biotechnology Research & Development
Therapeutic Services Maintain or change the health status of the patient over time. EMT/Paramedic Nursing Certified Nursing Assisting Licensed Practical Nurse Registered Nurse Medical Assistant Optometrist Physician or Doctor Cardiovascular Technologist Surgical Technician
Diagnostic Services Create a picture of patient health at a single point of time. Clinical Laboratory Technician Exercise Physiologist Orthotist/Prosthetist Pathologist Phlebotomist Radiologic Technicians
Health Informatics Provide functions that support and document patient care Admitting Clerk Coder Epidemiologist Community Health Specialist Ethicist Health Care Administrator Health Educator Transcriptionist
Support Services Provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of health care. Biomedical Engineer Central Services Technician Dietician Facilities Manager Food Services Purchasing Agent Transport Technician
Biotechnology Research and Development Use scientific and technical advancements to enhance diagnostic and therapeutic abilities in health care Biomedical Chemist Biostatistician Geneticist Molecular Biologist Pharmacist Quality Control Technician Toxicologist
Description Physicians (Doctors) Physicians perform physical examinations and diagnose, prevent and treat illnesses, injuries, and other disorders of the human body. 4 Years Undergraduate 4 Years Medical Years 1-4 Years Residency Licensure required $150,000 - $180,000 (for general/family practitioners) $200,000 + (for specialists)
Physician Assistant Description Perform physical examinations, diagnose illness, recommend treatment, and order laboratory tests under the supervision of a physician. ~5 years Licensure required $80,000 - $200,000
Description Nursing Nurses have the most patient contact. Care for the physical & emotional needs of patients. Perform examinations, provide health maintenance duties, and diagnose depending on level of training Under the supervision of a physician. & CNA - 120 hours and certification ($19,000 - $32,000) LPN/LVN- 1 year and licensure ($33,000 - $43,000) RN/BSN - 2 or 4 years and licensure ($45,000 - $64,000) ARNP - RN + 3-5 years experience + 2 years and certification ($66,000 - $87,000)
Description Radiologic Technologists specialize in the use of X-Ray equipment and advanced computer-aided imaging equipment such as ultrasound, Computer Tomography (CT) Scan, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to create images of the internal structures of the body for medical diagnostic purposes. 2+ years Licensure required $50,000 - $112,000 Radiology
Technicians Description Tend to have one specific function in workspace Limited Duties Surgical Techs, Radiology Tech, ER Tech Short Program (~1 year) Most don t require college $20,000 - $35,000
Description Pharmacists Retain specific knowledge about the use, composition, therapeutic and adverse effects of medications, as well as the laws that regulate the making and selling of drugs. Dispense medications prescribed by physicians, dentists, and other authorized medical practitioners. 6-8 years Licensure required $79,000 - $134,000
Occupational & Physical Therapy Description PTs work with people who have been disabled by illness or accident to restore motor skills (walking, lifting, moving) to as normal function as possible. OTs work with fine motor function (opening jars, brushing your teeth, typing). 6+ years Licensure required $52,000 - $105,000
Respiratory Therapy Description Specializes in the evaluation, treatment, and care of patients with breathing problems such as Asthma or Emphysema. Respiratory Therapists work under the care of a physician to administer such therapy. 2+ years Licensure required $40,000 - $70,000
Description Public Health Public health is concerned with improving access to health care, health promotion, preventing/controlling infectious disease, and reducing environmental hazards, violence, substance abuse, and injury. 2-8+ years $40,000 - $60,000
Description Dentistry Dentists examine, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and abnormalities of the teeth, gums, and adjacent tissues and structures of the mouth. There are many specialty areas. 8+ years Licensure required $115,000 - $315,000
Description Dental Hygienist Dental Hygienists educate individuals about their oral health. They evaluate the patient s oral health, expose, process and interpret dental x-ray films, and remove deposits, stains, and plaque above and below the gum line. 2+ years Licensure required $45,000 - $93,000
Description Mental Health Mental health professionals help people with psychological, emotional, and social needs. Psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and psychiatric technicians/aides are considered mental health professionals. 2-11+ years $39,000 - $170,000
Description EMT/Paramedic Provide immediate care for sick or injured people and transport them to medical facilities. Perform basic life support skills such as restoring breathing, controlling blood loss, and treating shock victims. EMT: 200-330 hours Paramedic: 1100-1500 hours Certification required $20,000 - $51,000
Surgical Technologist Description Work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other personnel to deliver appropriate patient care before, during and after surgery. 8 months - 2 years Certification required $27,000 - $55,000
References Information National Bureau of Labor Statistics http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm American Medical Association http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/educationcareers/careers-health-care/health-care-income.page Acknowledgements Thanks to Kelley Coykendall and Ty Gibson, Peer Tutors, for their research into salary data!