Dynamics of Healthcare - Chapter 2

The 5 Health Career Clusters

Therapeutic services

diagnostic services

health informatics

support services

biotechnology research and development

Therapeutic Services

provide treatment for patients or animals

Diagnostic services

determines the presence, absence, or extent of disease and provides data on the effectiveness of treatment

What are EKG/ECG used for

tests the measure the electrical activity of the heart

what is an EEG used for

detects electrical activity in your brain (brain waves)

What does CT stand for

Computerized Tomography

CT technology

uses x-ray apparatus to take pictures of a patient, better quality than x-ray

What does MRI stand for

magnetic resonance imaging

MRI technology

Use magnets to take pictures of organs in the body, better quality than x-rays AND CTs, most expensive

What are MRIs used for

to detect tumors, aneurysms, blockades

Ultrasounds

Use sound waves to take pictures of the inside of a body

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

uses a small amount of radioactive material designed to concentrate in a particular area of the body; measures metabolic activity of the cells in body tissues

SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography)

shows how blood flows to tissues and organs

What do we use PETs and SPECTs for?

PET- visualize the biochemical changes taking place in the body, such as the metabolism

SPECT- used to help diagnose seizures, stroke, stress fractures, infections, and tumors in the spine.

Difference between PET and SPECT scans

type of radiotracers

Health Informatics

Involves managing medical information, using computers, and other means

Support services

provide care for patients, directly or indirectly; create a therapeutic enviornment

Biotechnology Research and Development

Create vaccines, drugs, medical treatments, diagnostic tests and other products and services that improve diagnosis and treatment

Accreditation

A school that is recognized by an outside agency as having standards that qualify graduates for professional practice

Credentials

for many healthcare occupations, workers must meet legal requirements in order to practice.

Licensure

The act of granting authority by the state

Registration

Means that you have graduated from an accredited school and passed a standardized national exam

Certification

A professional organization, rather than the government controls certification, demonstrates mastery of a job

Career Ladder

a hierarchy of careers in a field

Biotechnology

the manipulation of genetic material in living organisms, to parts of living organisms, to make products and services

Which professional uses ECGs/EKGs

Cardiographic Technicians

What professional uses EEGs

Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists

Clinical Laboratory Technologists vs Clinical Laboratory Technicians

Technologists - typing and cross-matching blood for transfusions

Technician - perform tests on tissue, blood and other body fluids

Which professional specializes in CT scans

computed tomography technologists

Which professional specializes in MRIs

Magnetic Resonance Rechnologist

Which professional specializes in ultrasounds

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers

Which professional specializes in PET scans

Positron Emission Tomography Technologists

Which professional specializes in nuclear medicine

Nuclear Medicine Technologists

PET scan technology

use small amounts of radioactive material in a concentrated spot in a specific area of the body

3 support services

biomedical engineers

biomedical/clinical technicians

industrial hygienist

Biomedical engineers

create devices and procedures that improve health care by solving health-related problems

Biomedical/clinical Technicians

cares for equipment in hospitals/other health care facilities

Industrial Hygienists

examine workplaces to ensure they present no dangers to employees or surrounding community

4 Biotechnology Research and development careers

Microbiologists

Medical scientists

Researchers scientists

Research assistants

Microbiologist

study microorganisms, their structure, how they behave, and how they interact with people

Medical scientist

works in biotechnology and studies viruses and bacteria to develop vaccines; research human diseases with the goal of improving peoples health; study genes and their link to diseases

Research scientists

study living organisms and their relation to the environment, apply that understanding to improve and develop products and services

Research Assistants

support the efforts of microbiologists, research scientists, medical scientists, and the entire research and development team; set up, run, and care for instruments

difference between a Medical scientist and a Research scientist

Medical scientists - goal is to improve peoples health

Research scientists - goal is to improve products and services

The difference between an Occupational therapist and a Physical therapist

Physical Therapist - help those who have suffered impairment due to injury, pain, exc; help patients restore normal function

Occupational therapists - help those who are disabled like strokes, mental illness, cerebral palsy, exc; just try to get them to preform tasks of every day life

main differences between an EMT and a Paramedic

Paramedics- more highly trained then an EMT, provide emergency medical care

EMT- insert IVs, perform CPR, rapid trauma assessments

Orthodontics, Periodontics, Prosthodontics, and Endodontics

Orthodontics: straighten teeth with braces and retainers (largest specialty)

Periodontics: care of gums and bones supporting teeth

Prosthodontics: replace broken parts of teeth/missing teeth with crowns, bridges, dentures, exc

Endodontics: Treatment of the interior of the tooth (like root canal)

difference between RN and LPN

RN- can actually contribute to treatment plan, run tests, analyze results, give treatment/meds

LPN- work under direction of RN or physician; bedside care (dressing wounds, injections, vitals, personal hygiene), share info with RNs and Physicians

phlebotomist

draws blood samples (for testing)

clinical laboratory technologist

type and cross-match blood for a blood transfusion

clinical laboratory technician

work under clinical lab technologists; perform tests on tissue, blood, and other body fluids

health information coders

assign codes to describe diagnosis and treatment; work with insurance payments

Medical Transcriptionists

Listen to recordings dictated by medical professionals and transcribe them into reports, letters, and other documents

Ophthalmologist vs Optometrist

Ophthalmologist: physicians who specialize in vision and eye care

Optometrist: mainly same but not medical doctors, so cant do certain things

Dental Assistants vs. Dental Lab Technicians

DA: work with dentists- sterilize equipment, assist during procedures, etc

DLT: make crowns, bridges, dentures, and other prostheses