Careers in the Health & Medical Industry

Ten Funny Health Care Stories

2008-06-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Health care is often a very serious business-but once in a while, it does an allied health care professional good to laugh. In that spirit, here are ten hilarious health care stories!

1. During a patient's two-week follow-up appointment with his cardiologist, he informed me, his doctor, that he was having trouble with one of his medications. "Which one? " I asked. "The patch. The nurse told me to put on a new one every six hours and now I'm running out of places to put it!" I had him quickly undress and discovered what I hoped I wouldn't see. Yes, the man had over fifty patches on his body! Now, the instructions include removal of the old patch before applying a new one.

-Submitted by Dr. Rebecca St. Clair to Ridiculously Funny Medical Stories

2. I was performing a complete physical, including the visual acuity test. I placed the patient twenty feet from the chart and began, "Cover your right eye with your hand." He read the 20/20 line perfectly. "Now your left." Again, a flawless read. "Now both," I requested. There was silence. He couldn't even read the large E on the top line. I turned and discovered that he had done exactly what I had asked; he was standing there with both his eyes covered. I was laughing too hard to finish the exam.

-Dr. Matthew Theodropolous, Worcester, MA to Coffee Swirls

3. When I was doing home health, I had a patient who was very demanding and could be outright rude at times. At one point she had a terrible stomach virus which made her a daily patient for a while - of course I got stuck with her while she was daily. One morning I went in and she was sitting at the kitchen counter looking positively green around the gills. I said, "Are you alright?" She looked me dead in the eyes and said, "Hell NO! That Dr. is going to have to do something about these damn pills he gave me. They are too big to swallow and I have to cut them in half, and to top it all off, they are slimy and make me gag when I try to get them down!!" I nearly died laughing when I realized that the "pills" were glycerin suppositories.

—from Nursing Forum

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Profile of a Pediatrician

2008-05-14T10:39:00.000-07:00

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in care of children aged 17 and under. In most cases children receive the care of a pediatrician from as early as the day they are born until they turn 18 years of age. At this time the patient will begin seeing a practitioner who specializes in the care of adults. However, a lifetime of health records compiled by the pediatrician will follow the adult to his new doctor. These records will provide valuable insight into the health history of the patient. This article will profile the career of a pediatrician and provide information on education, daily tasks and outlook for the career.

Becoming a pediatrician is not a complicated process but it is by no means an easy one either. Before beginning a practice as a pediatrician a number of steps must be taken. The first step is to enter a college program, ideally in a pre-medicine program. Here the student will take a number of classes which will be very beneficial later in life including classes in biology, chemistry and physiology. After obtaining an undergraduate college degree, it is necessary to apply to, and be accepted to, medical school. This is a competitive process with the number of students vying for admittance to medical school greatly outnumbering the spots available. After completing a four year medical school program, graduates typically complete a one year internship and a two year residency program. It is also necessary to pass licensing examinations and complete all state requirements before beginning practice as a pediatrician.

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Get Your Health Degree Online

2008-05-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

The health care industry is rapidly changing, and is one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the nation. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for professionals in this field will grow by more than 36% over the next few years. Because of the rapid growth of this field, those interested in earning degrees in Allied Health have also changed. Not everyone is pursuing a career in an Allied Health field right out of high school; now students may also be mature, employed individuals who have complex family responsibilities. Or perhaps they live or work some distance from the colleges and universities where they’d like to study.

It’s becoming harder than ever to advance your career while managing your already full life. Luckily, online learning has stepped in to fill this gap. Colleges, Community Colleges and Vocational and Technical School are all addressing these changing needs by using advanced technologies such as the Internet to help student earn their degrees. This enables institutions to reach beyond the traditional classrooms to deliver an education to students located in different, non-centralized locations.

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How Advanced Technologies are Revolutionizing Allied Health Degrees

2008-05-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

In today’s world of HMOs and other inconveniently convenient healthcare options, many of us wonder what happened to the days where a doctor was truly "your" doctor and our healthcare needs were adequately met. Gone are the days where a doctor made house calls and knew your family by name, though the longing for this sort of medical treatment is obviously still in existence within our society. According to recent research conducted by a joint government-private study and reported by Bloomberg, more and more Americans are dissatisfied with their healthcare and believe it has grown significantly worse within the past 4 years.

What is the remedy for this? The medical industry is fighting to win back the trust of the public through a variety of advances. Improvements range from simple environmental changes to impressive implementations of new technology. Everything from impressively advanced medical equipment and electronic health care records (to avoid having to fill out a patient history form every 3 months) to more patient-centered care are being implemented to re-establish America’s faith in the medical field. Below are ten of the best examples of how technology is revolutionizing the health industry,and taking the steps necessary to return back closely as possible to the good old fashioned house call.

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The Art of Medicine: Understanding the Ropes of the Health Industry

2008-05-14T10:35:00.002-07:00

Practicing medicine is truly an art form. Doctors, nurses and others in the health care industry must understand a great deal about how the industry works in order to provide patients with the best care possible. An article on this subject can go on for pages and pages because there are so many issues to consider in the health industry. However, for the sake of brevity, this article will highlight a few of these areas including finding your niche, dealing with patients, insurance and legal matters.

Finding your niche is perhaps one of the first aspects of navigating the ropes of the health industry which you must consider. Whether you wish to be a doctor, a nurse, a lab technician or pursue any other career in the health industry, it is important to determine how you wish to serve in the health industry. This is important because there are so many different aspects of the health care industry that you may not select the right niche for you if you do not do your research thoroughly. Do you enjoy working with children? Are you prepared to work with those who are terminally ill? Are you willing to perform invasive procedures? These are just a few of the questions you want to ask yourself. The answers may help you determine what sector of the health industry to enter.

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Making the Transition From College Into The Health Industry

2008-05-14T10:35:00.001-07:00

Graduating from college is supposed to be an exciting time, where you should feel a sense of accomplishment for having completed two, four, or more years of school. But most college graduates are also extremely anxious about the unknown future that lies ahead. What will it be like to have a “real” professional job? What if no one hires me? What if I find out I can’t stand the work?

These concerns are perfectly legitimate for recent grads. If you’ve just graduated with a health-related degree and are pursuing a career in the health industry, there’s a few things you should think about to help you enjoy the transition from college to health career.

Being a full-time worker requires an entirely different mindset from being a full-time student. As a student, your professors assigned you homework, tested you on specific information, and you basically did what you were told. Now, no one is telling you what jobs to apply for, or what employer to work for. You may have gotten all “A’s” in school, but what is the equivalent of an “A” career choice?

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Interviewing For a Health Degree Scholarship

2008-05-14T10:34:00.001-07:00

As you prepare to interview for a scholarship toward your health degree, you may be feeling a bit awkward. After all, you’re basically asking complete strangers to give you lots and lots of cash.

But the key to a successful scholarship interview – or any kind of interview, really – is to look at things from your interviewer’s point of view. They see you as a young student with lots of potential who could one day do great things for the health field that they themselves love. They want to help you out, financially and otherwise – as long as you’re the person they’re looking for.

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How to Apply For a Health Degree Scholarship

2008-05-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

The process of applying for a health degree scholarship does not vary significantly from the process of applying for any other type of academic scholarship. This includes both need based scholarships as well as academic merit scholarships. Although the application process for individual scholarships may be somewhat unique, this article will provide an overall summary for the general scholarship application process. In most cases the steps involved in obtaining a health degree scholarship will include research, compiling information and references, filling out forms and sometimes completing interviews.

The research process is typically the first step in applying for a health degree scholarship. There are a number of different scholarships available but finding these scholarships can seem overwhelming. Some resources you may use for this purpose are academic advisors, the Internet, published books, industry magazines and word of mouth. Using all of the resources available to you will help to ensure you not only find scholarships for which you are qualified but you also find available scholarships which may not be highly sought after. This is significant because health degree scholarships which are well known may have a great deal of competition. However, less known scholarships or scholarships which have strict requirements, which you meet, offer you a greater possibility of attaining the scholarship.

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Health Degree Admission Requirements and Process

2008-05-14T10:32:00.001-07:00

If you’re looking at a degree in the health industry, you’re probably going to need to start with a solid education. And while admission requirements vary with different programs, there are a few tips for meeting these requirements and making it through the admissions process.

While not all people going into the health industry need a college education, anyone interested in diagnosing and treating areas are among the most educated workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. So it’s vital to make sure that when you apply, you do it right.

Your GPA. Most colleges will want to see a minimum GPA of 2.0 or 2.5 or better with no grades below a C. If you didn’t do so hot in high school and have no college education, taking a course to show your higher commitment to academic excellence may be a great way to start. For nursing students who lack recent experience, many schools recommend taking an RN refresher course prior to enrolling in clinical nursing courses.

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A Guide to Health Degree Scholarships

2008-05-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to get into a career in health, the educational costs can be a heavy load. That’s why it is a good idea to look around for the many health-related scholarships out there. You’re bound to find something that will help you pay for your education.

And there are plenty. From local hospitals to huge corporations—not to mention government agencies—there are plenty of opportunities to get a little help when it comes to paying for school. You just have to be resourceful, deadline-driven and persistent.

Stay local. Your local hospitals and health associations may be a great place to look. You’ll have the local advantage and be able to also look at state and federal opportunities. But do start at home. Approach your local hospitals and other facilities to see what they have to offer. You never know what organizations will want to support you through your education.

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10 Hot Careers in the Health Industry

2008-05-14T10:29:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows that the health industry has career options that provide exceptional pay and superb stability.

Here are some hot careers in the health industry that you’ll want to consider:

1. Dental Assisting - Some dental assistants only work 30 hours per week. This career offers great benefits and flexible hours—perfect for adults with family commitments. It’s also ideal for friendly individuals who want to turn an otherwise anxiety-provoking situation into a positive experience.

2. Information Management – Information managers are experts in collecting, moderating and analyzing health data that doctors, nurses and other health-care providers rely on to perform their jobs. These professionals design and manage health information systems to ensure they meet medical, legal and ethical standards.

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Easing the End: Working in Hospice Care

2007-10-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler Ross, author of the book “On Death and Dying,” also considered to be the founder of the death with dignity and hospice care movement said, “There is no joy without hardship. If not for death, would we appreciate life? Those who learn to know death, rather than to fear and fight it, become our teachers about life.” The entire philosophy behind end-of-life care, often called hospice or palliative care, is about love, kindness, and dignity—and learning to appreciate life. Helping to ease the pain and grief that comes with death is the role of those rare individuals that are willing to work with the dying.

Physician assistants are an integral part of a hospice team; if you are currently pursuing a degree in an online allied health program and are interested in one of the top paying health care careers, consider working in hospice care. It is a labor of love, and a field where a physician's assistant can really help patients and their families.

Career Profile: Physician's Assistant

2007-08-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Are you looking for a stable career with continual innovation and variety? Do you enjoy working with people and have a knack for science and medicine? If so, you may want to consider becoming a Physicians Assistant. Every day, thousands of people have access to quality health care because there are Physicians Assistants (PAs) in their communities. Many physician assistants take jobs in rural communities that would otherwise be without a health care provider. As patient advocates and educators, PAs help people use the health care system more efficiently and effectively.

If you want to make a difference—and have a positive influence on health care in this country—the Physician Assistant profession is waiting for you.

What Does A Physicians Assistant Do?

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Online Learning for Allied Health Careers

2007-08-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Highest Paid Careers in Allied Health Today

2007-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

Allied Health—also known as the Health-Related Professions—is used to identify a cluster of health professions encompassing as many as 200 different careers in health care. Currently, it is estimated that there are 5 million allied health care providers who work in more than 80 different professions. This represents approximately 60% of all health care providers—but this is just a fraction of how many allied health care workers are needed to meet current and future healthcare needs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that more than 36% more workers will be needed in the Allied Health fields in the next ten years.

Allied Health professions fall into two broad categories: technicians (assistants) and therapists/technologists, and the educational requirements and salaries vary.

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Allied Health: Student Financial Aid

2007-08-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

The decision to get a degree in Allied Health is an extremely important one. The specialized education and training you receive will provide you with the necessary tools and knowledge to have a successful career in the world of health care. But how will you pay for it?

Earning a degree is an investment in your future. Financial Aid can be the stepping-stone to your future success. The purpose of financial aid is to assist students with their college expenses so that financial barriers do not prevent them from achieving their goals.

The 10 Fastest Growing Allied Health Fields

2007-08-21T09:21:00.002-07:00

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health care field is the largest industry in the United States today—employing over 13 million wage and salary workers in 2004. Of the twenty fastest growing occupations today, eight of them are in health care. It is anticipated that 20% of the new jobs created between now and 2014 will be in the health care industry—and most of these jobs require four years or less of college.

Many of these jobs will be in the area of health care referred to as Allied Health. The term Allied Health is used to identify a cluster of health professions and covers as many as 100 different jobs (but not physicians and nurses). What are the Allied Health careers anticipating the most growth? While all Allied Health careers can anticipate growth in the coming years, these ten careers are all expected to grow over 25% each year—meaning that these careers will provide the greatest long-term job security. This top ten list includes educational requirements and average salaries.

Graduate Programs in Allied Health

2007-08-21T09:21:00.001-07:00

Are you an Allied Health professional? Do you feel that it’s time to make the next leap forward in your career? Hospitals, HMOs, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and other health care agencies are increasingly searching for Allied Health professionals with graduate degrees in their fields. Earning a graduate degree in the health care area of your choice can push you up the corporate ladder quickly.

Graduate degrees are usually a Master’s Degree or a Doctorate (PhD) degree. A master's degree is a graduate degree awarded to students who complete one to three years of concentrated study in a specific field. A master's level education can mean entry into a profession, the chance for promotion in an existing position, or personal enrichment and achievement. Remember—only three percent of Americans ever earn a Master’s degree, so the letters ‘M.S.’ on a business card command respect. A Doctorate degree requires an additional four or more year of school, and is primarily a research degree requiring intensive study on a specific subject.

Allied Health: The World of Medical Professionals

2007-08-21T09:19:00.001-07:00

When you think of the medical profession, naturally the first people that leap to mind are doctors and nurses. But the medical field is filled with careers that have little or nothing to do with being a doctor or a nurse. These careers fall into the Allied Health category—and together with other members of the healthcare system they make the system thrive.

If you are interested in working in the field of Allied Health, there is a career for you. This field is varied and specialized; there is something for just about everyone. Here are just a few of the possible careers available:

• Anesthesiologist Assistants function as specialty physician assistants under the direction of a licensed and qualified anesthesiologist.

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