® © 2015 ReferencePoint Press, Inc. Printed in the United States For more information, contact: ReferencePoint Press, Inc. PO Box 27779 San Diego, CA 92198 www.ReferencePointPress.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright hereon may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, web distribution, or information storage retrieval systems—without the written permission of the publisher. Picture Credits: Maury Aaseng: 6 ThinkStock Images: 11, 37, 66 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Sheen, Barbara. Careers in health care / by Barbara Sheen. pages cm. -- (Exploring careers) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-60152-649-6 (e-book) 1. Medical personnel--Vocational guidance--Juvenile literature. 2. Allied health personnel- -Vocational guidance--Juvenile literature. I. Title. R690.S47 2015 610.7306'9--dc23 2013041611 Contents Introduction: In-Demand Careers 4 Emergency Medical Technician 9 Home Health Aide 17 Mental Health Counselor 24 Physical Therapist 32 Radiologic Technologist 40 Registered Nurse 48 Respiratory Therapist 56 Surgeon 63 Interview with a Mental Health Counselor 72 Other Jobs in Health Care 75 Index 76 About the Author 80 Introduction HHInee-aaDllttehhm CCaaanrrdee CTTooarddeaaeyyrs C areers in health care are among the hottest, most in-demand oc- cupations in the United States today, and the demand is expected to grow. With an aging population, longer life expectancies, new medical treatments and technology, and the implementation of the Aff ordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare), which will provide more Americans with health insurance, more and more people are expected to seek health care. All of the above will have the eff ect of in- creasing the need for health care professionals. Th e Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that from 2010 to 2020, total employment in the United States is estimated to increase by 14 percent. In compari- son, employment in health care professions is estimated to increase by 33 percent, resulting in about 5.7 million new jobs. Similarly, the US Department of Labor (USDL) projects that from 2009 to 2020, half of the thirty fastest-growing jobs in the United States will be in health care. Th ese occupations include home health aide, biomedical engi- neer, physical therapist assistant, medical sonographer, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist aide, medical secretary, physical therapist, dental hygienist, audiologist, health educator, medical sci- entist, and mental health counselor. Th e outlook for employment in most other health care occupations is also projected to be above aver- age. In fact, the USDL predicts that between 2008 and 2018 no other industry will add more jobs than the health care industry. Occupations That Suit Many Personalities Careers in health care focus on the care and treatment of sick or in- jured people as well as preventive care that promotes wellness. Indi- viduals who want to help others and make a diff erence in the world are often drawn to a career in health care. As Bree Abbas, a blogger, health care professional, and director of student relations for MK Ed- 4 ucation, an educational organization that provides specialized train- ing at technical schools or community colleges for health care careers, blogs: “Some people choose the healthcare fi eld for the money, some like the fl exible hours, and others just enjoy helping people. I, however, chose healthcare to make a diff erence in the world. Th ere is no other career fi eld that allows one to make such an impact on people’s lives. . . . Th ere is never a dull moment when you are helping people live. . . . Healthcare has allowed me to make my mark!” Health care careers also attract individuals who like working with people. Medical care often involves a team eff ort as well as interacting with patients and their families, medical care often involves a team ef- fort. Th is makes health care occupations a good fi t for people who like being part of a group. Individuals who like excitement are also drawn to the health care industry. Th ere is rarely a dull moment for professionals such as nurses, physicians, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Most health care occupations are far from routine. Health care profes- sionals perform a variety of duties and often have to make quick deci- sions. No two days are the same in the health care industry. And since many health care occupations require professionals to be on their feet a lot, health care careers often appeal to active, energetic people. A Versatile Field Health care is an extremely versatile fi eld of employment. Individuals interested in a career in health care have more than two hundred dif- ferent career options to choose from. Many health care professionals work directly with ill patients in clinical care. Nurses, nurse’s aides, physicians, physician assistants, physical therapists, EMTs, speech therapists, audiologists, art therapists, dentists, chiropractors, mas- sage therapists, and psychologists are just a few of the many career paths in clinical care. Clinical care professionals work in a variety of settings. Th ese include hospitals, private offi ces, clinics, specialized diagnostic or treatment facilities, nursing homes, assisted living fa- cilities, hospices, and private homes. Other important health care occupations suit individuals who might not be interested in providing direct care to patients. Some of these professionals help keep hospitals and medical practices running 5 Health Care Job Outlook 6 smoothly. Among these professionals are health care managers and administrators, health information management technicians, medi- cal coding and billing specialists, medical equipment preparers, and offi ce managers. Other nonclinical medical professionals such as medical scien- tists and biomedical engineers work behind the scenes in labora- tories and pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing new treatments and medical equipment. Some professionals work in laboratories using microscopes and high-tech equipment to uncov- er information about patients’ health. Cytotechnologists examine cell samples looking for abnormalities that are signs of cancer and other diseases. Medical technologists and medical lab technicians test blood samples to diagnose illnesses like HIV/AIDS. Some non- clinical medical professionals solve medical mysteries. For instance, epidemiologists seek to understand and contain disease outbreaks that threaten whole communities. Forensic pathologists determine the cause of unusual or suspicious deaths, often working with police departments. With so many diff erent health care careers to select from, there are occupations that suit people with all types of skills, interests, and personalities. Rewarding Careers Health care careers are rewarding both fi nancially and personally. In general, salaries are above average. Annual salaries for highly skilled and trained professionals such as physicians, dentists, biomedical en- gineers, health care administrators, medical scientists, and pharma- cists can reach well into six fi gures. And there is lots of room for ad- vancement. Moreover, since the health care industry is not as aff ected by economic downturns as other industries, health care careers off er good job security and stable employment opportunities. Th e work hours, too, have a lot to off er. Some health care pro- fessionals work eight hours per day, fi ve days per week. Others work part-time. Many work twelve-hour shifts, rotating two days on and two days off , among other fl exible schedules. Working shifts gives these individuals time to balance work, family, school, and personal responsibilities. 7 But the rewards go beyond flexible hours and good wages. The work can be quite gratifying. As Joan Rissmiller, a health care admin- istrator in Allentown, Pennsylvania, told the editors of Hot Health Care Careers, “When your act of kindness and concern puts a smile on the face of a patient who is battling a terminal disease, suddenly your paycheck is immaterial. . . . What an adrenaline rush when you realize that you play a part in the health care needs of so many individuals and that your presence has a tremendous effect on so many lives.” 8 Emergency Medical Technician What Does an Emergency Medical Technician Do? When individuals dial 911 because they are in medical distress, an emergency medical technician (EMT) is the fi rst medical profession- al at the scene. Upon receiving a 911 call involving a medical is- At a Glance: sue, an emergency dispatcher Emergency Medical radios the EMTs, who usu- ally work in pairs or groups, Technician (EMT) and directs them to the site of Minimum Educational the emergency. Upon their ar- Requirements rival they assess the situation, High school diploma check the patient’s vital signs, Personal Qualities and evaluate the patient. Th en Calm under pressure they administer immediate life- Physically fi t saving treatment. If further Certification and Licensing treatment is needed the EMTs State license transfer the patient to an am- Working Conditions bulance or helicopter and speed Indoors and outdoors to the nearest hospital. While Salary Range in transit they communicate About $20,917 to $49,896 with medical professionals at Number of Jobs the hospital about the patient’s As of 2013 about 226,500 status, and they monitor the Future Job Outlook patient and administer further Better than average treatment as needed. At the hospital the EMTs transfer the 9 patient to the emergency room, where they update the staff on the patient’s condition and the treatment they administered. Although not every call an EMT answers is a matter of life or death, many are. In any given day EMTs may deliver a baby, help an elderly person who has fallen, and/or care for a burn victim. Th e task of calming excited bystanders at the scene of a car accident often falls to the EMTs, too. Th e EMTs clear a path around the victims so that they can tend to them. Th is care often involves staunching, cleaning, and bandaging bleeding wounds, splinting fractured bones, and treat- ing patients for shock. Treating a heart attack victim by administer- ing CPR or providing defi brillation when a patient’s heart has stopped beating is another job of an EMT. So are opening blocked airways, ap- plying a neck brace, starting an intravenous line, and dispensing medi- cine. Some EMTs also drive an ambulance and prepare written reports documenting each call. And if a mass disaster occurs, EMTs are often the fi rst on the scene. Following the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, EMTs were on the front lines, bandaging wounds, administering oxy- gen and other treatments, and helping staff temporary treatment cen- ters. In addition, EMTs are responsible for keeping their emergency vehicle in good order. Before each call EMTs check their equipment and supplies. After each call they restock their medical supplies and carefully clean their vehicle, equipment, and instruments. Th is prevents infectious diseases from being transmitted from patient to patient. How Do You Become an EMT? Education To prepare for a career as an EMT, high school students should take classes in biology, health, psychology, and speech. If a prospective EMT plans to work in an area in which many people do not speak English, studying a foreign language, especially Spanish, is helpful. An EMT must have a high school diploma, a valid driver’s license, and cardiovascular pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certifi cation. CPR certifi cation training takes about three hours and is off ered by the Red Cross, the American Heart Association, hospitals, fi re de- partments, and other organizations. 10