Radiology is the branch of health care that uses imaging technologies such as x-ray, radiation, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). Radiologists technicians are trained to use imaging technology to produce images of the appropriate density, detail, and contrast. A senior diagnostic radiologist will then use the images to solve health mysteries. It’s like medical detective work, starting with the bones.
Areas of Specialty Within Radiology
Computer Tomography (CT Scans)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Mammograms
Biopsy
CAT Scans
Gastrointestinal Radiology
Sculoskeletal Radiology (muscle x-rays)
Neuroradiology (brain x-rays)
Radiation Oncology (imaging of patients with radioactive material in the body, usually from cancer treatment). Read the rest of this entry »
Here at My Colleges and Careers, we know that you hang on every word we type, but sometimes when talking about health care you need a second opinion. To give you deeper insight into health care careers, specifically physical therapy, we have enlisted the help of Scott Kesterson, who works at Westlake Physical Therapy in Lehi, UT.
My Colleges and Careers: So what do you do at Westlake Physical Therapy?
Scott Kesterson: I am a physical therapy aide. Being a physical therapy aide is an entry-level position for people who want to get into the industry. When we get a new patient, the physical therapist does an initial evaluation. Sometimes people come in to recover from surgery or to rehabilitate some part of their body that has been injured. Many athletes come into get physical therapy after getting ACL surgery or to manage chronic neck or back pain. After the physical therapist draws up a plan, I show the patient all the different exercises they will be doing. We work on balance, muscle strength and flexibility.
My Colleges and Careers: What made you interested in physical therapy?
Scott Kesterson: I grew up playing sports and had a few injuries myself so I was aware of the field. It is fun to see and help people get better. It’s rewarding to see people get better.
My Colleges and Careers: What different levels of training and certification are involved in the physical therapy field?
Scott Kesterson: Many people start out as aide. The next level is a physical therapy assist (PSA) and they have an associates degree. Then to become a physical therapist, they complete a four-year degree (usually in a health discipline) and then three years of physical therapy school.
My Colleges and Careers: What is your favorite part of the job?
Scott Kesterson: The number one thing I enjoy is that when people are doing physical therapy they are often in our office two or three times a week and you get to build a relationship with them and help them heal their body. It is cool to have come in who can barely walk and by the end they are totally healthy. Read the rest of this entry »
The national climate is thick with discussion about the health care industry and what will become of it. The success or failure of our country in this area will affect virtually everyone in some way. People are always going to get sick and will always need hospitals. The things we know for sure are few and the questions we face are monolithic in comparison. The best person to sort of these questions are those who have experience in health care as well as the foresight that comes with a business background. The college degree designed to create these superstars is a Masters in Health Care.
The Business of Running a Hospital
Health Care Masters degrees teach health care workers the “administration” side of running a hospital. Things like finance, communications, marketing, quality control, research and human resources are all important tasks that are necessary in the business of health we just don’t see them as much.
The Big Picture
Let’s say you cut your finger at home making dinner and you need stitches. The simple answer is: Go to the doctor and get yourself all stitched up.
Indulge me in describing the bigger process of what has to be done each time you visit a hospital.
When you walk in, you have to check and the person at the front desk retrieves your medical records. Someone has to keep those medical records in order and updated. Then you go back in the ER where a nurse assists you until the doctor comes to stitch up your finger. The doctor grabs a sterile needle and thread and goes to work. Someone had to order that thread, someone had to budget its cost and someone had to make a policy for the doctor to follow. Then with, seven perfect little stitches you are bandaged up and sent off.
So who is this “someone” we keep talking about? Health Care Administrators.
In a Nutshell
A masters degree in health care take you to the next level. The administrative level. Instead of just carrying out procedures dictated to you from the top you can become a decision maker. No recession or boom in business can change the fact that people need to take care of their bodies.
By the Numbers
By 2016, employment of medical and health service managers is expected to grow 16 percent.
Health care administrators managing practices with 7-24 physicians earn approximately 95,766
Health care administrators managing practices with 26 or more physicians earn approximately $132,955
The median income for those employed as managers in medical and health services careers was $84,980 in May 2007. The lowest paid 25% earned $59,910 or less while the highest paid 25% earned above $99,680
What the Times has to say about it:
“It is an excellent career for the middle-aged,” she added. “Some of our students are in their early 40’s. The job requires maturity, perspective, ability to relate to people in distress, and all this comes more easily with age.”
No matter what job or career field is chosen, there is some degree of customer service that has to be achieved. Phone companies have to listen to screaming customers and calmly talk to them about switching plans. Teachers have to deal with irate parents. Businessmen have to deal with angry stockholders when the cash flow isn’t great. All of these things require some the conscious decision to act positively and sometimes to conceal your personal feelings about the person or situation.
In the health care industry this responsibility is heightened to the most extreme degree because human life is at stake and people who emotional and vulnerable are involved.
One of the biggest decisions students face in medical school is deciding which area of medicine they want to specialize in, if any. Some people know from the beginning, like Christina from Grey’s Anatomy.
There are many different factors to consider. How much do you want to work? Do you want to have a family? Do you want to have patient contact frequently? Do you want to work on solving common maladies and sending people out in the world healthy or do you want to work on complex medical mysteries?
