Health Careers in Medical Technology
Medical technology is one of the fastest-growing industries, thanks to the dizzying speed of advances in technology. Whether you wish to become an x-ray technician or a nursing assistant, the medical industry is constantly seeking qualified professionals, and there are many avenues of employment. Recent high school graduates can find a licensure program or course of training in their chosen specialty. Different careers in medical technology require different certifications. Depending on your skill set and budget, you can find a career that fits your needs.
Learning to operate x-ray and sonogram machines can both boost your training and your salary. As a medical transcriptionist or medical assistant, you can still join the health care industry without spending years in medical school. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the health care industry is projected to grow very quickly in the next few years. In the next ten years, it is predicted that the total employment of home health aides--including the self-employed--will increase by 56 percent, medical assistants by 52 percent, physician assistants by 50 percent, and physical therapist assistants by 44 percent.
Medical Assistant
As a medical assistant, you will perform administrative and clerical duties like answering telephones, keeping current files of patient information, filing insurance paperwork and bills, and bookkeeping. Medical Assistants are also trained to collect fluids for laboratory tests, draw blood, sterilize instruments, and authorize prescription refills. As a medical assistant you will help a patient throughout their experience at the doctor's office, whether it's helping the patient to understand medications or special diets, arranging for a hospital visit, or simply keeping their file in order.
Nurse
Nurses and medical assistants complete licensure and training programs to take blood pressure, check vital signs, and prepare patients for examinations. Nurses are often responsible for educating a patient about their condition and how to manage it. Many times, a patient will feel closer to a nurse than they do to the treating physician. There are many specialties in the nursing field, from neonatal to burn victims to gerontology.
Radiologist
A radiography technician must know the science of medical imaging. After the blood test, an x-ray is the most widely used method of locating a problem in the human body. Medical radiology is a great career to consider because it is widely used, requires less expertise than an ultrasound, and it is a fairly low-cost method of diagnosis. The results are almost always conclusive. As a medical radiologist, you can choose to specialize in four different areas: dental, mammograms, bones, or the digestive system.
Physical Therapist
After a debilitating illness or injury, a physical therapist is responsible for restoring the patient to a condition equal or close to their original condition. They coach patients through many kinds of recovery: relearning to read, write and speak after a brain injury, or recovering their ability to walk after a spinal problem.
Medical Sonographer
Medical sonographer. Also known as an ultrasound, a medical sonography machine takes some skill to use properly. An ultrasound is better than an x-ray for seeing muscles, soft tissue, and of course, fetuses in the womb. Medical sonographers are responsible for helping patients see their child for the first time (as a fetus), a joyous and exciting occasion.
