Author Archives: Sagar Satapathy

Becoming a Nursing Informaticist

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Nursing Informaticists play a multitask role to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Their responsibilities include the practice of nursing, research, communication of healthcare information, management of work flow, project management technologies, putting input for policy making to promote better health services so on an so forth. Their services are entitled to leverage information technology to aid patient care.

The Nursing Informaticists can work at public, private and corporate settings in the field of health. They can be posted as chief nursing officers, chief informatics officers, clinical analysts, policy developers, researchers, consultants etc.

Education Requirements:

To qualify for the position of Nursing Informaticists, the aspirants have to complete the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, a four-year course. Students, who hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, can also acquire an associate degree in nursing as to qualify for NI. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers an informatics certification that signifies industry competency.

However, the job requires depth knowledge in three disciplines – nursing, information science and computer science. In addition, the aspirants need a better communication skill both in writing and speaking as well as interpersonal and organizational skills.

Salary and Job Outlook:

The job outlook for Nursing Informaticist remains excellent across the USA. According to a survey report conducted by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), the average salary for a Nursing Informaticist was $100,717 in 2014.

Becoming a Healthcare Documentation Specialist

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Healthcare Documentation Specialists manage the legal and clinical service documents of a healthcare institution. Their responsibilities include recording the diagnostic and procedural codes, physical examination reports, consultation reports, discharging summaries and other documents relating to doctors, patients and other concerned persons of the institution. Besides healthcare institution, they can also work for different government agencies.

Healthcare Documentation Specialists possess wide range of knowledge and skills to analyze and interpret medical coding, medical terminologies, anatomy, physiology etc. They need to have a command in communication skill both in writing and speaking as well as interpersonal and organizational skills. Besides, they need to maintain the privacy of the patients and secure all the reports safely as the documents are confidential in nature. Above all, the job ensures high level of accuracy and integrity to provide better health services.

Education Requirements:

In order to become Healthcare Documentation Specialist, students have to complete a two-year associate’s or a four-year bachelor’s degree program in Health information management with the course work of Nursing, Medical terminology , Health information management and Health information technology.

After getting the certification from credential organization, the aspiring candidates can obtain the job opportunities. Various organizations, like the American Health Information Management Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders offer different designations in this field.

Salary and Job outlook:

The job outlook for Healthcare Documentation Specialist remains outstanding across the USA. The average annual salary of Healthcare Documentation Specialist was $65,500 in May 2012. It is also projected that the job opportunities in this category would increase by 17% between 2012 and 2020.

Becoming a Neurodiagnostic Technologist

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Neurodiagnostic Technologists review and analyze the patients’ nervous system to treat neurological ailments. Their experience and knowledge in neurophysiology help them identify normal and abnormal activities in the nervous systems of the body. They collect the data using electrical patterns and provide those to the physicians who treat ailments such as headaches, brain disorder, heart strokes and dizziness.

Key Responsibilities of Neurodiagnostic Technologists:

* Electroencephalograms (EEGs) being used to assess brain activity
* Intraoperative neuromonitoring, which tracks brain and nerve function
* Monitoring the disorders
* Perform Polysomnograms to diagnose sleep disorders and identify the real issues
* Find the electrical signals in nervous system.

Neurodiagnostic Technologists usually work in hospitals, clinical settings, physician’s office, epilepsy monitoring units, sleep disorder centers and research labs.

Education Requirements: The aspiring Neurodiagnostic Technologists must go for a high school diploma, which includes courses such as mathematics, science, biology, computer and language

courses. After completing high school diploma, they need to undergo a two-year degree program with coursework in physics or biology.

The aspiring Neurodiagnostic Technologists can opt for EEG Credentialing exam from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or American Board of Registration of Electroencephalographic and Evoked Potential Technologists (ABRET).

Salary & Job Outlook: The career outlook for Neurodiagnostic Technologists remains very good. They earn around $44,200 per annum during the initial phase of their career. Experienced professionals may earn around $112,333 per year. The average annual salary for Neurodiagnostic Technologists was $65,226.

Becoming a Forensic Biologist

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Forensic Biologists visit the crime scenes, inspect the spots to garner evidences, which include blood, saliva and hair samples. They examine all evidences collected from the crime scenes to identify victims. That is the most important part of any criminal investigation process. They conduct the examination in a laboratory or any research facility. They are required to testify in courts as part of the investigation process.

The Forensic Biologists mostly work for the government agencies. They are also known as Forensic Science Technicians. They need to be flexible when it comes to working hours.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree in a forensic or natural science is must for aspiring Forensic Biologists. Coursework in mathematics, biology and chemistry helps them understand the techniques used in forensic labs. In addition, they are needed to learn forensic pathology, genetics, molecular biology and DNA analysis.

2. Obtain a Master’s Degree: A Master’s Degree in forensic biology boosts the profiles of aspiring Forensic Biologists. The coursework generally includes biotechnology, molecular biology and ethical issues in criminal investigations.

3. Certification: The American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) offers certification in molecular biology at two levels, Diplomate (D-ABC) and Fellow (F-ABC). Details are available on the website. Certification is necessary, as many states in the United States require that while hiring Forensic Biologists.

4. Work Experience: On-the-job training in forensic science may serve as an added advantage for aspiring Forensic Biologists. They are also advised to attend workshops on professional development, biochemistry and lab analysis methods. They can also opt for 6-12 months of DNA analysis training.

Salary & Career Outlook: The job outlook for a Forensic Biologist is not very good, as it remains below average. The projected job growth is 6% during the period of 2012-22. The average annual salary of a Forensic Biologist is $52,840 per year.

Becoming an Audiology Doctor (Audiologist)

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The Audiology Doctors are specialized in treating and balancing hearing related disorders. They focus on identifying and assessing hearing and balancing problems. They also help in rehabilitating persons with hearing and balance disorders. In addition, the Audiology Doctors work towards preventing hearing loss. They are trained to make use of technology in a better way.

The Audiology Doctors, commonly referred as Audiologists provide the following services at various clinical settings:

* Evaluate the hearing process
* Counsel patients and their family members
* Evaluate and treat balance disorders
* Help individuals with devices
* Assist the patients in bridging the communication gap and speech reading

Education Requirements:

1. High School Diploma: It’s better to opt for subjects such as Biology, Anatomy or Chemistry at the High School to gain first-hand knowledge about use of technology and human behavior.

2. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree: A four-year bachelor’s degree program with coursework in Biology, Biochemistry, Communication Sciences or any related field, will be an added advantage.

3. Doctoral Degree: The Audiology Doctors or Audiologists must earn a doctoral degree (an AuD) accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) provides a listing of accredited schools offering an AuD program.

4. Licensure: Some states in the United States require a license while hiring the Audiologists. A current license in audiology or speech-language pathology will be very helpful for aspiring Audiology Doctors.

Working Conditions: Audiology Doctors or Audiologists work in health care settings, educational facilities, government agencies etc. They generally work for 40 to 50 hours in a week. They work with medical specialists, speech language pathologists, educators, engineers, scientists and other professionals.

Salary & Job Outlook: Job outlook for Audiology Doctors or Audiologists remains excellent at 34% for the period of 2012-22, which is much faster than average. The average annual salary for Audiologists was $69,720 per annum in 2012.

Becoming a Palliative Care Physician

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Palliative Care Physicians work hard to improve the functioning of body parts and improve the living conditions. They mainly focus on relieving the pain and other symptoms of serious and chronic illness. The Palliative Care Physicians work with patients and their family members to identify and alleviate physical and emotional pain and trauma associated with serious health conditions.

These professionals also spend time on family meetings and counseling process. They play as a strong link between the patients and family members and coordinate with the support groups and other service providers to ensure best services for them. The team where Palliative Care Physicians work, included nurses and social workers, pharmacists, massage therapists and nutritionists.

Key Challenges:

* Controlling pain, removing stress, addressing spiritual needs.
* Help the family members understand the patients’ conditions and treatment process.
* Improve communication between patients and care providers.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn a Medical Degree: The aspiring Palliative Care Physicians must earn a medical degree in any of the specialties: family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, psychiatry and neurology, radiology or surgery.

2. Residency Program: After completing the medical degree, they may opt for residency programs to gain hands-on experience. They can also go for a one-year palliative medicine fellowship program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Working Conditions: The Palliative Care Physicians mostly work in hospitals, clinics, private nursing homes, government agencies, shelter homes etc. In some cases, they also offer services at patient’s home.

Salary & Job Outlook: Job outlook for the Palliative Care Physicians remain excellent. They earn in the range of $150,000 – $170,000 per year depending on experience and expertise.

Becoming an Anesthesiologist Assistant

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Anesthesiologist Assistants work under the direct supervision of licensed Anesthesiologists. Certified by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), they adhere to all guidelines and provide flawless service to the patients. The Anesthesiologist Assistants handle the equipments and monitor patients’ health conditions while providing adequate anesthesia care. They deal with the patients before and after anesthesia.

The Anesthesiologist Assistants are trained to help the surgeons and other physicians in life-saving operations. It’s impossible to conduct the surgeries without their support. They are high in demand in the United States. They review health history of the patients and consult their family members apart from conducting physical tests to identify the effects of anesthesia drug administration.

Education Requirement:

Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: A bachelor’s degree in general science such as Chemistry and Biology is must for aspiring Anesthesiologist Assistants. Duration of the program will be four years and it may include other subjects such as Physics, Statistics, English etc.

Master’s Degree: A Master of Health Science Degree will boost the profile of Anesthesiologist Assistants. Certification through National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) is also helpful for them.

The Anesthesiologist Assistants need job experience by working under the licensed Anesthesiologists. They get trained in surgery related process, drug administration, reviewing patients’ medical history, trauma care, transplant surgery, neurosurgery etc.

Salary & Job Outlook: The projected job growth for Anesthesiologist Assistants is 38% during the period of 2012-2022, as per the data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The average annual salary for Anesthesiologist Assistant is $110,000 – $120,000. They work at medical centers, trauma centers, clinical laboratories and research labs.

Becoming a Naturopathic Physician

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Naturopathic Physicians are primary care providers who diagnose, treat and manage patients with chronic conditions. They address disease and dysfunction at the level of body, mind and spirit and provide appropriate treatment and care. For the Naturopathic Physicians, health promotion and disease prevention are the foremost concerns. They provide personalized therapies to remove the harmful effects on the body and restore optimal health.

Naturopathic Physicians focus on the healthcare of patients of all ages and genders. They work on each patient separately and put strong emphasis upon prevention and self-care. They use the most natural and least toxic therapies to treat patients. They identify and treat the causes while looking beyond the symptoms to find the underlying cause. Educating patients to achieve and maintain their health, is another key aspect of naturopathic healing.

Education Requirements:

1. Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree: Aspiring Naturopathic Physicians must earn a bachelor’s degree in any field. The coursework may include chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, cellular biology etc. Experience at a laboratory and some training are necessary to become a Naturopathic Physician.

2. Professional Medical Education: After completing the bachelor’s degree, the aspiring Naturopathic Physicians may go for a professional medical degree to boost their profile in many states that look beyond an entry level degree education while employing the Naturopathic Physicians. A professional degree in Medicine, Chiropractic, Oriental or traditional Chinese medicine, Osteopathic medicine or another recognized discipline, will always be preferable.

Salary & Job Outlook: The career in naturopathic medicine, remains excellent in the United States. It is projected to grow at 18% during the period of 2012-22. The average annual salary for Naturopathic Physicians was $187,200 in May 2013.

Becoming a Clinical Laboratory Scientist

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The Clinical Laboratory Scientists are highly skilled professionals who detect the presence of a disease and provide data to the physicians, which help them in coming up with best possible treatment plan. They are not directly involved with patients, but act as a guiding force from behind. They play a crucial role in the process of providing personalized care to the ailing people.

Clinical Laboratory Scientists often face big challenges of identifying and treating serious diseases such as cancer, heart ailments, diabetes and others. They use sophisticated biomedical instrumentation and technology and highly skilled manual techniques to examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and cells. The Clinical Laboratory Scientists also evaluate test results to provide accurate information to the physicians.

Working Conditions: The Clinical Laboratory Scientists are generally employed at hospitals, clinical laboratories, public health labs, commercial labs, pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology companies, forensic labs, veterinary clinics, law enforcement laboratories, research institutions, transplant centers, blood donor centers, fertility clinics and cosmetic industry.

Education Requirements: A four-year bachelor’s degree program is the first step towards becoming a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. A bachelor’s degree in clinical science, medical technology, or any life science subject such as microbiology, is most preferable. The bachelor’s degree programs may include biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and statistics. In addition, in-depth knowledge in microbiology, immunology, hematology, will give a big boost to the profiles of aspiring Clinical Laboratory Scientists.

Many states in the United States, require the Clinical Laboratory Scientists to be licensed. The licensure can be obtained from the American Medical Technologists (AMT), the Board of Registry of the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), and the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).

Salary & Job Outlook: The career outlook for Clinical Laboratory Scientists, remains excellent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) put the projected growth rate at 22% during the period of 2012-22, which is much faster than average. The average annual salary for these professional was $79,600 as of May 2013.

Becoming an Occupational Therapy Aide

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They are not doctors or physicians. But, they assist during key treatment procedures. The Occupational Therapy Aides are responsible for various tasks such as scheduling appointments with patients/clients, answering their calls, keeping supplies in stock, filling out insurance forms and other paperwork and many more. They prepare materials and gather all equipments required during the treatment.

The Occupational Therapy Aide works under the direct supervision of an Occupational Therapist. They mainly work at outpatient therapy offices, clinics and healthcare organizations.

Education Requirements:

1. Earn an Associate’s Degree: The minimum educational requirement for an Occupation Therapy Aide is a two-year associate’s degree. It can be obtained from any institution accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Coursework may include biology, psychology,

kinesiology (the science of movement) and other occupational therapy subjects. Students can also opt for training and field work, which will give a tremendous boost to their profile.

2. Licensing and Certification: The aspirant Occupational Therapy Aides may take the exams conducted by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) to complete the certification. They can also apply for licensure, as many states in the United States seek licensed professionals.

Salary & Job Outlook: The job outlook for Occupational Therapy Aides remain very bright. The job will have a projected growth of 41 per cent during the period of 2012-22. This is much above the national average. The average annual salary for Occupational Therapy Aides was $26,850 in May 2012.