In these days of economic uncertainty, career change is a hot button issue. As baby boomers retire and leave the work force, employers are concerned about the shortage of skilled workers. In addition, corporate cost cutting, off-shoring, layoffs, and forced career changes leave many workers with difficult choices. Gone are the days of one job and one employer for life. Following a career path today can mean maneuvering many twists and turns, setbacks, side roads, and blind alleys. Where is the roadmap to a new career that provides enrichment, stability and growth potential?
One of the best ways to ease some of the uncertainty and increase your marketability quotient is to broaden your skill set. Since continuing education is often required to maintain licenses and certifications, make those education hours do double duty. The right training can mean more opportunities in your current field, and serve as a stepping stone to a new career. But which industries offer the best chance for job stability and advancement?
It is predicted that expanding healthcare and healthcare-related industries will require many additional skilled workers in the coming decade. According to Forbes Magazine, “As well-heeled baby boomers age, look to the health care industry… (B)etween 2004 and 2014, seven of the 10 fastest-growing jobs in the U.S. will be in health care.” In addition to careers directly involved in patient care, demand for support professionals such as medical records and health information technicians, therapists, counselors, and medical transcriptionists will increase.
A basic requirement for entry into almost any healthcare-related career is a command of medical terminology. The ability to recognize, understand, spell, and pronounce basic medical terms, identify medical abbreviations, and decipher unfamiliar words using roots, suffixes and prefixes is a necessary tool to perform well in any medical setting. Medical terminology courses are widely available in online, home study and instructor-led formats. Because medical technology advances rapidly, medical terminology evolves to keep pace. To stay on top of new terminology, consider taking the course again if you’ve taken it in the past.
The Department of Labor database lists seven nontraditional careers that require medical terminology:
Medical Transcriptionists – To understand and accurately transcribe dictated reports, medical transcriptionists must understand medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and treatment assessments. They also must be able to translate medical jargon and abbreviations into their expanded forms.
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians – In addition to general education, coursework requirements for medical records and health information technicians includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of health information, health data standards, coding and abstraction of data, statistics, database management, quality improvement methods, and computer science.
Surgical Technologists – Surgical technologists receive their training in formal programs offered by community and junior colleges, vocational schools, universities, hospitals, and the military. In 2006, the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) recognized more than 400 accredited training programs. Programs last from 9 to 24 months and lead to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree. Programs provide classroom education and supervised clinical experience. Students take courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, professional ethics, and medical terminology. Other topics covered include the care and safety of patients during surgery, sterile techniques, and surgical procedures. Students also learn to sterilize instruments; prevent and control infection; and handle special drugs, solutions, supplies, and equipment. Most employers prefer to hire certified technologists.
Occupational Therapist Assistants and Aides – There were 126 accredited occupational therapist assistant programs in 2007. The first year of study typically involves an introduction to health care, basic medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology. In the second year, courses are more rigorous and usually include occupational therapist courses in areas such as mental health, adult physical disabilities, gerontology, and pediatrics. Students also must complete 16 weeks of supervised fieldwork in a clinic or community setting.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians – The Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology accredits most formal training programs for the field. The committee accredited more than 600 radiography programs in 2007. The programs provide both classroom and clinical instruction in anatomy and physiology, patient care procedures, radiation physics, radiation protection, principles of imaging, medical terminology, positioning of patients, medical ethics, radiobiology, and pathology.
Medical Assistants – Postsecondary medical assisting programs are offered in vocational-technical high schools, postsecondary vocational schools, and community and junior colleges. Programs usually last either 1 year and result in a certificate or diploma, or 2 years and result in an associate degree. Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as typing, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the administration of medications, and first aid. They also study office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. There are various organizations that accredit medical assisting programs, and accredited programs often include an internship that provides practical experience in physicians’ offices, hospitals, or other health care facilities.
Court Reporters – Candidates for first level court reporting certification – the CVR – must pass a written test of spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, legal and medical terminology and three 5-minute dictation and transcription examinations that test for speed, accuracy, and silence.
In addition to these fields, many other professionals can benefit from an understanding of medical terminology. Lawyers, paralegals, legal secretaries and other legal professionals handling cases involving medical-related issues are better able to litigate these cases when they understand the terminology involved. Health insurance professionals, as well as those working in medical billing and coding positions also benefit from a working knowledge of medical terminology.
Many agencies require certification in medical terminology for pharmacy technicians. Professionals and technicians of biology, dentistry, hospital administration and many others must properly utilize medical terminology to communicate with patients, staff, customers and colleagues. Therapists, technicians, counselors and home health care providers can improve communication, increase the quality of care to patients, and reduce oversights and liability issues with a clear understanding of medical terminology.
fenglinshebei
harstorage
givekidstheworld
fujica
nc4
tothemarket
dc-designconception
6noran
saludsavia
say-consulting
glooger-soratemplates
vaneebuitenspeelgoed
couchdb
volteco
komodor
wxkaidieli
thepaleomama
acplnepal
cevt
sibiu100
issbilisim
qrec
topmediadvertising
kilavuzbilgisayar
nextmatch
peopledaily
amt-moenchgut
kissfromrose
proprof
coh-fit
texaspaceauthority
yintuoluo
yuanling
workablewealth
proactiveclick
sealinkrottnest
thisconnect
friendspdx
capecodbeer
magicaldining
emile-web
agoda
camotion
shangrui
webbienhoa
econstatement
nippon-izokukai
marythengvall
rss
cshc
smpte-ra
evertiq
algam
horkos
hebsky
xn--30giy-6qa
theophilos
sisaconsultores
fri-rettshjelp
ivoclarvivadent
travergallery
leader-call
vsesdal
chatenay-malabry
biggo
modem
peoplerocket
omnize
museumsassn
weeze
masspsych
dobelhost
nouveaumonde
bwca
covercreator
qmj17
ip
schifffahrt-kelheim
aucart
icimed
vreg
metasolutions
eastshiny
claritycampaigns
unswagati
impervious
forexsail
avalibs
sattamatka
all
8077199
blackbeautyandhair
mylink
creativesunrise
9hj
cmtf
filmland-mv
brandnic
anivegvideo
caume
meetov
orionwp
propertygallery
jxluntanw
pennykarta
bit2600
ta65-shop
xpj22255
balllive4k
nlrg
runcornandwidnesweeklynews
innorix
herinterest
bazo
sdxsnc
ericbibb
cresspaca
wendeng
spellnet
garutkab
upa
toovey
9665
dcia
carieda
ranking
jlgoslar
barthhaasgroup
bowperson
x-treem
hxtxf
realizationprocess
mlc
ccyb
2chm-1
blis
lebenshilfe-giessen
modobag
argentgroup
gate50
smhsoft
vikoswater
proudmusiclibrary
russellandbromleyesale
benggle
gigrafe
bjxsxh
fcaarau
patientvoices
randigarrettdesign
civtedu
scoressport
datafin
hochzeit
sverigesfolkhogskolor
qsnapnet
neilb
highway1discoveryroute
podnaweb
getmoreklients
digitalburstmedia
xkakxlafhiujxkae
nighttune
secretworld
findmyhostingnow
mangaoukoku-tosa
forexspot
rasco
wigdesign
joezimjs
clawscustomboxes
granvalora
thienhabet
eoptimum
bergspot
visitwaterfalls
tii-group
itworksite
4everhomess
cpme
yacs
timesofe
pyramidgallery
miavalvenosta
pjsparking
mawazo
supplychaininfo
ourbenefitoffice
118
shd101wyy
rna-seqblog
trialguides
jepser
samsonite
tnarh
psicologiasdobrasil
trendmag-demo-themexpose
devignedesign
burnhamdesign
generationunified
cialissom
radiclebalance
greenportvillage
seaclear-project
huolintaliitto
jachtbouw
allysbar
psyhoholy
hotwirenetworks
wuzilv
hztxq
helpwithfamilylaw
ocha
royalgreenland
zeppelin
famoushostels
snowboardgermany
cmmc
tjjhphyy
employerofchoiceawards
federal-finance-gestion
kirche-hannover
beaconhospital
zhixiaoxinxi
moonfare
apexmuseum
velizy-villacoublay
missiondrivenfinance
male44
anoka
healthcitycaymanislands
jzyybz
groupama
tutzing24
rainbird
ufabetmall
goder
alictus
lenk
cednet
cunninghams
abt
compxelock
patiolife
reseausantebruxellois
dengekimaoh
koenig-solutionsdl
psychotherapiepraxis
beyondconflictint
goldwell
food-kr
zetricagency
bygoodiebox
thecatchandthehatch
awashimaura
vivomediaarts
eur
isntd
vidaxl
ownlinux
grafe
acer-apac
wvpress
fundraisingsuccessmag
diaconiavaldese
nefertiti
mediaprostore
grow-business
kinderhilfswerk
harc
tfo
compressmerch
santanderesfera
blog-mag-themexpose
deltaculturalcenter
zonio
aliviacredit
literia
sexjapantv
directupload
tourinplanet
rothelec
serinocoyne
codedvalueadder
enterpriseleague
irememberyousaid
cyouroc
cogniflow
southwestmt
tittyandco
cardioinfantil
flyiar
molteni
imagesupplysystemsav
illettrisme-journees
sensefeelit
esitte
dandiarchive
minidesign
ubiqueict
monkeyfishmarketing
hbucvc
archeoares
jbaughinc
ixe
thestonecoldfox
sigua22
cmix
petze-institut
caffe
tvsh
studios
artashastra
updateland
quickcalldave
outper
arrowhead
myheart
fightingfantasy
learnsketch
miura-ya
perfectumschool
maysamarket
jsantell
kwsolutionz
tablexrestaurant
cityivr
midlandheart
affgo
montrealfringe
robocupathome
haversdesign
cityvarieties
sebpearce
internetten
ottoy
crezu
bookbuzz
bosmanwines
metrocrestservices
pawsafe
antiblok
twigeducation
grasshopperherder
datumlib
guisutv
ahzikao
yara
blpj99
wispx
nearfieldcommunicationsworld
e3creatic
yixuelunwen
joshbegley
wavesideentertainmentsmn
avqq13
dygi
wavelink
coronerscourt
vulturehound
freebit
thesteel
