Tag Archives: Education

Becoming a Clinical Dietitian

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Clinical Dietitians provide nutritional care to patients in various disease states and medical conditions. They design and develop a required diet plan for patients in order to speed up the recovery process, prevent diseases and maintain a healthy life. They also consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to coordinate medical and nutritional needs of their clients. In addition, they counsel people about beneficial dietary habits.

Clinical Dietitians work in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, cafeterias, clinics etc. Some of these professionals are self-employed and have their own practices.

Some Clinical Dietitians may specialize in a particular area, such as nutrition for pregnant women, children, diabetic patients or people with high blood pressure to name a few.

Educational Requirements

To become a Clinical Dietitian, the aspiring candidates have to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program in a relevant area such as dietetics, food and nutrition etc. The students may also complete a Dietetic Internship of few months. The syllabus includes physiology, anatomy, microbiology¸ food and nutrition sciences, food service systems management, metabolism, antioxidants, proteins etc.

The students may pursue a master’s degree in related areas for better job prospects in this field.

Certification and Licensure

Most of the states in USA require Clinical Dietitians to be licensed. To obtain licensing, a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition or a related area as well as some supervised training and successful completion of an examination are required. The Commission on Dietetic Registration offers exam based certification to these professionals.

Skill Set

Apart from the academic knowledge, Clinical Dietitians have various traits such as detail-oriented, active listening skills, sensitive to their patients’ needs, good decision making and judgment capabilities, critical thinking abilities, motivating skills, ability to work collaboratively with different professionals, strong communication and interpersonal skills; knowledge in computer application etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clinical Dietitian remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 21% during 2012-2022, faster than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Clinical Dietitian was $55,240 in May 2012.

Becoming a Clinical Data Manager

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Clinical Data Managers oversee the collection, management and submission of clinical data from various medical research projects, such as pharmaceutical and biotechnological trials for government approval. They ensure that data is collected, analyzed and reported accurately and securely.

Their responsibilities include designing a database for clinical trials, preparing statistical comparisons, presenting reports, generating data retrievals, supervising team members, maintaining compliance with standard operating procedures, performing clerical duties such as data entry, transcription, coding etc, and other tasks as assigned.

Clinical Data Managers work at variety of settings such as pharmaceutical companies, research and development companies, hospitals, government organizations, private companies, educational institutes etc. Since their work is collaborative in nature, regular group meetings and travelling may be required for these professionals.

Educational Requirements

To become a Clinical Data Manager, the aspiring candidates have to earn a 4-year bachelor’s degree in science with data management or information technology as a major. The common course work includes research methods, pharmacology, biology, anatomy and ethics.

The students can also pursue a master’s degree in Information Technology or a related field for better job prospects. However, most employers prefer candidates with some work experience in a medical technology or pharmaceutical companies.

Certification

The Clinical Data Manager aspirants can appear in the certification examination after completing bachelor’s degree program along with at least two years of practical work experience in clinical data management. The Society for Clinical Data Management administers the certification examination for these professional.

Skill Set

Apart from academic degree, a Clinical Data Manager possesses various traits such as knowledge in clinical and manufacturing practices, command in clinical research, understanding of trial process and related regulations, excellent leadership quality, ability to establish and maintain cordial relation with team members, strong written and verbal communication skills, project management abilities, competence in computer programming etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clinical Data Manager remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 27% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of a Clinical Data Manager was $83,310 in May 2013.

Becoming a Clinical Coordinator

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Clinical Coordinators carry out versatile activities to ensure that resource supplies, documentations, treatment procedures and follow up activities related to patient care are optimized for providing high quality health service. They closely work with fellow medical staff in clinical program goal setting, progress evaluations, budget planning and ongoing problem solving.

Their key responsibilities include maintaining patient care schedule, managing staff members, participating in various meetings and conferences, obtaining grant funding, assisting in hiring of certain posts, coordinating for continuing education and training for clinical or support staff, and performing other duties as assigned. In addition, they help in pharmaceutical research activities.

Clinical Coordinators work in a variety of environments such as public or private hospitals, community health centers, educational institutions, research centers etc. They often work full time and have to be on-call frequently.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Clinical Coordinator, the aspiring candidates have to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree program in health administration or nursing. The students can go for a master’s degree in public health, nursing or in a related subject for better job prospects in this field.

The common coursework includes anatomy, pharmacology, biology, pathophysiology, health administration, medical ethics etc. Students also learn about record keeping and financial management.

Certification and Licensure

Clinical Coordinators are to be licensed in many states of USA. The aspiring candidates also need to earn exam based certification administered by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) or the Society of Clinical Research Associations (SoCRA).

Skill Set 

Besides the knowledge in patient care and health administration, Clinical Coordinators possess varieties of traits such as high level of leadership quality, integrity and accountability in patient care and clinical operation, record keeping and time management skills, decision making and risk management abilities, effective communication and interpersonal skills, ability to maintain warm and cordial relationship with fellow staff members, patients and their family members etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clinical Coordinator remains outstanding across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 23% during 2012-2022. The average annual salary of a Clinical Coordinator was $88,580 per year in May 2012.

Becoming a Clerical Health Care Worker

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Clerical Health Care Workers are dedicated to provide general administrative and support services in a healthcare setting. They ensure to keep the patient’s medical records, laboratory reports and other necessary documents with accuracy and confidentiality and make them available to service providers and patients when required.

Their other duties include guiding patients for adequate treatment program, acting as a communicating link between patients and doctors, helping patients for insurance reimbursement , counseling people on preventive care and rehabilitation process, answering patients’ queries through email or phone calls, scheduling appointments, maintaining supplies and inventories, and performing other duties as assigned.

Clerical Health Care Workers work at variety of settings such as public or private hospitals, doctor’s offices, group medical practices at clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, etc. these professionals are posted in different positions such as administrative support worker, medical records clerk, medical coder etc. They often work full time. In some cases, they may be required to work in the night shifts and weekend as well.

Educational Requirements

To become a Clerical Health Care Worker, the aspiring candidates have to earn at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The students can also complete a two-year associate degree program in health, office administration or related area for better job prospects in this field. The common syllabus includes human anatomy, medical coding and billing, patient care, physiology, medical terminology, etc.

Clerical Health Care Workers can also attain job-on- training from different institutions or through various vocational programs.

Certification

In USA, the Clerical Health Care Workers are required to obtain exam-based certification from different organizations according to their official positions. The Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC), the Professional Association of Health Care Coding Specialists (PAHCS) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offer various types of certification for these professionals.

Skill Set

In addition to the academic knowledge, Clerical Health Care Workers possess various traits such as attention to detail, empathy towards patient, ability to maintain cordial relation with patients and medical staff, decision making and crisis management abilities, competence in accurate data recording, ability to keep privacy of patients, strong communication and interpersonal skills, typing and computer application skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Clerical Health Care Worker remains outstanding across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 22 per cent from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Clerical Health Care Worker was $34,970 in May 2013.

 

Becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

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Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists apply various techniques of recreation measures such as music, drama, dance, arts and crafts, sports, games, field trips etc. in order to improve the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people with illness, injuries or disabilities. Their responsibilities include conducting recreation-based treatment programs, encouraging people’s participation, supervising clients in recreational activities, assessing the needs and abilities of the participants of all ages, offering emotional support to the patients and their family members etc.

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are employed in various settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, adult day centers, residential living facilities, mental health agencies, rehabilitation centers, prisons, educational institutions etc. These professionals may act as therapists, educators, counselors or facilitators in any different number of settings. They may specialize in certain populations, such as pediatrics, adolescents, or geriatrics. They often work full time.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, the aspiring candidates have to complete a four-year bachelor’s degree program in therapeutic recreation from an accredited institution. The degree program is mostly focused on medical concepts and treatment. The syllabus contains an introduction to therapeutic recreation, physiology, biology, kinesiology, abnormal psychology, sociology, etc.

Students can also earn higher degree such as master’s or doctoral degree in therapeutic recreation to find better job opportunities in this profession.

Certification and Licensure

Since the practice of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist needs to be licensed in many states of USA, the job aspirants have to pass the required examination in order to get a license. The candidates can obtain exam-based certification administered by National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), which also offers certifications in areas such as behavioral health, developmental disabilities, community inclusion services, rehabilitation and physical medicine etc.

Skill Set

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists possess various skills such as empathy towards people, crisis management and decision making abilities, understanding clients’ emotions, ability to remain calm under pressure, motivating and convincing power, ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others, excellent verbal and written skills, tolerance to awkward behavior of clients, computer operating skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist remains outstanding across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 13% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist was $42,280 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Herbalist

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Certified Herbalists use plant and mineral-based remedies for health promotion and disease prevention. They guide the patients how to supplement their health needs with traditional herbs such as plant leaves, flowers, seeds, berries, bark or roots. They participate in all stages of the herbal medicine process from growth to the manufacturing of raw herbs. In addition, they may process one or more herbs into various products, such as pills, capsules, powders, or tinctures.

Certified Herbalists usually focus on one of three kinds of herbal medicines such as Western herbs, Chinese herbs and Indian Ayurvedic herbs.

These professionals can work independently or with naturopathic physicians or other alternative providers to treat patients and assist with the healing process. They may work as consultants, researchers, educators, producers of herbal products or authors of books and articles in herbal areas.

Educational Requirements

In USA, there is no uniform national educational standard to become a Certified Herbalist. It varies according to the certifying body. Some aspirants earn the Doctor of Naturopathy degree while other candidates obtain four-year of bachelor’s degree in botanical medicine. Herbal studies explore the knowledge of the human body as well as the effects of various plant extracts on bodily functions and healing.

Certified Herbalist aspirants can find training within several fields of holistic medicine, including Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine and western scientific botanical applications. Employers may prefer to hire candidates with cross-trained in other alternative therapy, such as acupuncture.

Certification

Certified Herbalists in USA can obtain exam-based certification from various organizations such as the East West School of Planetary Herbology, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the American University of Complementary Medicine etc.

Skill Set

Apart from the clinical knowledge, Certified Herbalists possess various traits such as a great deal of knowledge in herbal formulas and supplements, ability to source raw herbal materials, understanding of human dietary needs, motivating and convincing abilities, understanding of patient assessment and diagnoses standards, excellent communication skills, computer skills to name a few.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Herbalist remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 20% during 2010-2020. The average annual salary of a Certified Herbalist was $ 43,920 in 2013.

Becoming a Certified Coding Specialist

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Certified Coding Specialists maintain patients’ medical records through numerical codes in health care settings. They provide appropriate coding on the patient’s medical history, diagnosis and treatment records. They ensure accuracy and confidentiality while coding the records. In addition, they act as a communication link between patients and the service providers including health care officials and the insurance companies.

Certified Coding Specialists work at different types of settings such as hospitals, private practices or other health-related facilities, government organizations, insurance companies, research institutions, independent billing and coding services so on and so forth. They depend heavily on the use of computer software. These professionals may have to work on day or night shifts as well as in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To qualify for the position of a Certified Coding Specialist, aspiring candidates need to earn a two-year associate’s degree program in medical coding and billing. The students can also go for a 4-year degree program in this field for better job prospects. However, some employers in USA prefer candidates with previous experience for these professionals.

Certified Coding Specialists study the course work of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology ethics etc. Besides, they need to acquire the knowledge of medical billing and coding, health record maintenance and computer science.

Certification and Licensure

Since many states of USA require a Certified Coding Specialist to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The candidates can also obtain certification from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Skill set

Certified Coding Specialists possess variety of traits such as a great deal of knowledge in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and the International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) for proper coding, high medical ethics, maintaining patients’ privacy and confidentiality,   understanding of insurance reimbursement process , ability to work with accuracy in stressed condition, tolerance to spend long hours sitting on computer desk, pleasant communications and interpersonal skills, computer data entry skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Coding Specialist remains excellent in USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 22% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Certified Coding Specialist was around $36,000 in 2014.

Becoming A Chiropractic Assistant

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Chiropractic Assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks under the direct supervision a Chiropractor in a health care setting. Their clinical responsibilities include obtaining patient’s vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature etc., explaining treatment procedures, escorting patients, taking X-rays, maintaining equipments so on an so forth. Administrative duties may include responding to patient’s queries, scheduling appointments, maintaining patients’ check in and checkout, recording medical histories, calculating billing, attending phone calls, assisting in insurance claims etc.

Chiropractic Assistants work under a licensed chiropractor in variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, residential care facilities, rehabilitation facilities etc. They may have to work on day or night shifts as well as in the weekends.

Educational Requirements

To become a Chiropractic Assistant, the aspiring candidates need to earn at least a high school diploma or GED equivalent. The students can hold a two-year associate’s degree program in chiropractic technology for better job prospects in this field. Most of the employers in USA, however, prefer candidates with previous experience in a medical or chiropractic environment for these professionals.

Chiropractic Assistants study the coursework of medical terminology human anatomy, biology, physiology, billing, office management, insurance processing etc.

Certification and Licensure

Since many states of USA require a Chiropractic Assistant to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The candidates can also obtain certification from the state’s Chiropractic Examiners Board.

Skill Set

Chiropractic Assistants possess various traits such as empathy towards patient, detail oriented, high medical ethics, a great deal of physical stamina to stand for long duration, ability to assist the patients emotionally and physically, familiarity with patient care and customer service, ability to perform multitask job simultaneously, effective verbal and written communication skills, computer skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Chiropractic Assistant remains excellent across the USA. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 29% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Chiropractic Assistant was $29,370 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Phlebotomy Technician

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Certified Phlebotomy Technicians collect blood safely from people for various purposes such as diagnosing health problems, transfusions, research, or blood donations. They use different techniques while drawing blood like finger-stick method to collect specimens, puncturing a vein with the needle etc. Their other duties include preparing the equipments used for blood- collection, keeping and transporting the blood samples safely, following different procedures within the lab, putting blood samples in accurately marked containers, adding required stains to the blood samples for specific tests, assisting patients during their adverse reaction etc. In some cases, they may be assigned clerical tasks, such as data entry or record keeping.

Certified Phlebotomy Technicians work in a variety of settings such as government and private hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, physician’s offices, pathology labs, blood banks, educational institutions, research centers etc.

Educational Requirements

To become a Certified Phlebotomy Technician, the aspiring candidates must be a high school graduate and required to complete a training program from an accredited college. The training program normally takes 10-12 months to complete.

Certified Phlebotomy Technicians study phlebotomy procedures, venipuncture, arterial puncture, mathematics, medical terminology, safety rules, computer operating, lab procedures etc. Classroom studies as well as clinical practice are crucial parts of a Certified Phlebotomy Technician’s education.

Certification and Licensure

Since most states of USA require a Certified Phlebotomy Technician to be licensed, the aspiring candidates need to earn an exam-based License. The American Medical Technologists, the American Society for Phlebotomy Technicians and the American Society for Clinical Pathology offer certification for these professionals.

Skill set

Apart from acquiring a formal training, a Certified Phlebotomy Technician possesses a wide range of traits such as tremendous attention to detail, high level of patience and compassion, ability to work with small needles and other devices precisely, understanding of detailed procedures for specimen collecting or medical testing, ability to perform duties with accuracy, maintaining privacy and confidentiality, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, computer operating skills etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Phlebotomy Technician remains excellent across the USA. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise by 30% from 2012 to 2022, higher than the average for all occupations. The average annual salary of a Certified Phlebotomy Technician was $30,910 in May 2012.

Becoming a Certified Personal Trainer

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Certified Personal Trainers work with individuals to develop healthy workout regimens and diet plans. They listen to the clients to find out personal fitness goals, and then provide instruction and supervision to strengthen different muscles of body part. They may demonstrate various exercises to improve their client’s technique, physical strength and often combine weight training with cardiovascular activities. These professionals also measure their client’s strengths and weaknesses with periodical fitness assessments.

In addition, Certified Personal Trainers educate their clients in many other aspects of wellness, including life style changes and nutrition guidelines to lead a healthy life. They also motivate clients by setting some goals and providing required feedback.

Certified Personal Trainers mostly work in a gym, fitness center or rehabilitation facilities. These professionals also work on a freelance basis. Some trainers also specialize in specific forms of fitness, such as yoga, and provide personalized instruction to clients who wish to learn those forms of exercise.

Educational Requirements

To become a Certified Personal Trainer, the aspiring candidates have to earn at least a high school diploma. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) noted that employers now prefer the Certified Personal Trainers with a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field like exercise science, physical education or kinesiology.

Students study the courses in these areas include nutrition, exercise physiology, human psychology, kinesiology etc. The aspiring candidates may also complete fitness assessments and learn rehabilitation techniques for better job prospects.

Certification

Certified Personal Trainers aspirants can obtain certification from various professional associations devoted to fitness and related areas, such as the American College of Sports medicine, the International Sport Sciences Association, or the American Council on Exercise.

Skill set

Apart from knowledge in physical fitness, Certified Personal Trainers possess wide range of skills such as effective communications and interpersonal skills, tolerating clients’ poor response, understanding clients’ interest, motivating capacity, patiently listening abilities etc.

Job Outlook and Salary

The job outlook for a Certified Orthodontic Assistant remains excellent in USA. According to BLS, the growth rate for job opportunities in this profession may rise 13% from 2012 to 2022. The average annual salary of a Certified Orthodontic Assistant was $33,020 in 2013.