HE A LT H C A R E ER PAT H WAYS

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“ THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO
BELIEVE IN THE BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS.”
- ELEANOR
ROOSEVELT
WHAT FACTORS CAN INFLUENCE A PERSON’S DECISION IN CHOOSING A CAREER?
PLANNING FOR A HEALTH CARE
• THERE IS A SAYING THAT THE ONLY THING ON EARTH THAT IS PERMANENT IS CHANGE.
THIS IS VERY NOTICEABLE IN MANY ADULTS---A GRADUATE OF CERTAIN DEGREE OR
COURSE MAY SWITCH TO ANOTHER CAREER SEVERAL TIMES.

• CHANGE IS AFFECTING NOT ONLY THE NEW TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT THAT ARE SO
VITAL FOR HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM BUT ALSO THE FINANCIAL ASPECT.
• HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS CONTINUE TO FIND A NEW MARKETS FOR THEIR
SERVICES. FACTORS SUCH AS A SHIFT IN THE FAMILY DYNAMICS AND IN THE ECONOMY
ENABLE SOME CAREERS TO BE IN DEMAND.

• OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY ARE PLENTY BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL
CONTINUE TO SEEK HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THUS, A BACKGROUND IN ANY MEDICAL
AND HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY PROVIDES ADVANTAGES THAN THOSE WITHOUT ANY
EXPERIENCE.
 A DELIBERATE PLAN OF ACTION FOR A HEALTH CAREER IS AN IMPORTANT STEP TO
PREPARE STUDENTS LIKE YOU FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE. CAREERS IN HEALTH CARE
INVOLVE VARIOUS TYPES OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

- HERE ARE SOME GUIDE QUESTIONS THAT MAY HELP YOU IN MAKING A WISE
DECISION:

• DO YOU WANT TO WORK WITH PEOPLE?

• DO YOU ENJOY WORKING DIRECTLY WITH A PATIENT
• WOULD YOU LIKE TO PERFORM MEDICAL PROCEDURES OR TESTING?
• WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK IN THE FRONT OFFICE?
• IF YOU LIKE WORKING WITH PEOPLE, BECOMING A NURSE, DIETICIAN, OR PHYSICIAN WILL SUIT YOU. IF
YOU WANT TO WORK WITH MACHINES, THEN BEING AN X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND TECHNICIAN WILL BE
YOUR ULTIMATE PREFERENCE. IF YOU WANT TO WORK WITH HEALTH DATA, THEN PERHAPS PURSUING TO
BECOME A DATA ANALYST OR STATISTICIAN WILL BE YOUR PRIORITY.

• PLANNING AIMS TO HELP THE YOUNG BECOME INDEPENDENT, CONFIDENT, AND EFFECTIVE IN THEIR
CHOSEN CAREER. BASED ON THE INQUIRY-BASED FRAMEWORK, 4 QUESTIONS WERE FORMULATED THAT
SERVE AS IMPORTANT COMPONENTS IN ACHIEVING A SUCCESSFUL HEALTH CAREER.
THESE ARE THE FOLLOWING:
KNOWING YOURSELF: WHO AM I?
EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES: WHAT ARE MY OPPORTUNITIES?
MAKING DECISIONS AND SETTING GOALS: WHO DO I WANT TO BECOME?
ACHIEVING GOALS AND MAKING TRANSITIONS: WHAT IS MY PLAN FOR
ACHIEVING MY GOALS?
PATHWAYS IN HEALTH CARE

• THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE OFFERS A WIDE ARRAY OF OPPORTUNITIES.

WITH THE NUMEROUS CAREERS TO CHOOSE FORM, IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT
TO DECIDE WHICH PATHWAY TO TAKE.
  FIVE HEALTH CARE PATHWAYS NAMELY:
Pathway Description Careers
• Involves high level of direct
1. Direct Patient Care or patient interaction and follow-
• Dentist
Hands-On Patient Care up care.
• Dietitian/Nutritionist
• Aims to maintain or improve • Occupational/Physical
the health of patients over a therapist
period of time.
• Career setting: health centers,
• Nurse
hospitals, lying-in clinics, and • Pharmacist
rehabilitation centers. • Physician
• Psychologist
2. IMAGING AND • INVOLVES A VERY LIMITED • MEDICAL LABORATORY
PATIENT INTERACTION TECHNOLOGIST
DIAGNOSTICS • INVOLVES THE USE OF
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS SUCH AS • PATHOLOGIST
IMAGING AND BLOOD • PHLEBOTOMIST
EXAMS • RADIOLOGIST
• GOAL: DETERMINING • X-RAY TECHNICIANS
ACCURATE PATIENT’S • ULTRASOUND
DIAGNOSIS TO FACILITATE
PROPER MEDICAL
TECHNICIANS
INTERVENTION • CARDIOVASCULAR
• REQUIRES SPECIFIC TECHNOLOGIST
EDUCATION OR TRAINING IN
IMAGING TECHNOLOGY.
• INFECTION CONTROL
3. HEALTH CARE FACILITY • ENSURES PROPER
FUNCTIONING OF ALL THE OFFICER
SUPPORT AUXILIARY SERVICES AND • HOSPITAL MAINTENANCE
DEPARTMENTS OF THE ENGINEER
HOSPITALS. • SANITARY ENGINEER
• PROVIDES AND MAINTAINS • BUILDING/HOSPITAL
SANITARY AND ADMINISTRATOR
THERAPEUTIC • BIOMEDICAL EQUIPMENT
 • DOES NOT INVOLVE PATIENT • DATA ANALYST
4. HEALTH INFORMATICS CARE INTERACTION • HEALTH INFORMATION
OR BUSINESS SERVICES
• FOCUSES ON ESSENTIAL
SPECIALIST
• HEALTH SERVICES
SERVICES THAT SUSTAINS ADMINISTRATOR
DAILY HOSPITAL • MEDICAL ENCODER
OPERATIONS (e.g., • BILLING CLERK
ADMINISTRATION SERVICES, • MEDICAL
PATIENT DOCUMENTATION TRANSCRIPTIONIST
SERVICES, MEDICAL • MEDICAL RECORDS STAFFS
RECORDS MANAGEMENT,
AND
INFORMATION/COMMUNICAT
ION SYSTEMS
DEVELOPMENT)
• CAREER SETTING:
HOSPITALS , COMMUNITY
HEALTH CENTERS, MENTAL
HEALTH FACILITIES, AND
PRIVATE OFFICES.
\

5. RESEARCH AND • UTILIZES RESEARCH • BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER

FINDINGS IN A SCIENCE AND • BIOMEDICAL CHEMIST
DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOY TO IMPROVE
• BIOSTATISTICIAN
HEALTH CARE.
• EPEDEMIOLOGIST
• DEVELOP THE LATEST • GENETICIST
ADVANCEMENTS IN HEALTH • PHARMCEUPTICAL
CARE SCEINTIST
• DEVELOPS THE LATEST
• TOXILOGIST
ADVANCEMENTS IN HEALTH • LAB TECHNICIAN
CARE.
“CHOOSE THE CAREER THAT INTERESTS YOU OR PERHAPS EXPLORE MANY
OPTIONS IF YOU ARE NOT YET SURE WHICH DIRECTION TO TAKE.”
ACTIVITY: HEALTH CHECKUP

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