About Medical Career Options
The medical field is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the American economy, and the job prospects for trained medical professionals are expected to continue to grow. Careers in medicine are not just for doctors and nurses. If you enjoy helping people and have an interest in health care, there are numerous opportunities to choose from in the health-care industry.
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Types
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Although most people think of doctors and nurses when they think of health-care jobs, the truth is that they are just one segment of a very large career field. For those who are interested in health care, but not able to make such a commitment of time and money as medical and nursing school require, there are many other career choices. Allied health workers are trained professionals who work in clinical capacities other than as doctors or nurses. They include, among others: phlebotomists, massage therapists, physical therapists, radiologic and ultrasound technicians, surgical technicians and midwives.
Function
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Allied health professionals work with doctors and nurses as a part of a health-care team, but are trained to complete procedures independently. Many allied health positions involve working with emerging medical technology, and the health worker is responsible for being up-to-date on the latest developments in her field. Ultrasound technicians, for example, must adapt as new ultrasound technology develops and complete continuing education as needed. Doctors and nurses, who tend to be more generalized in their knowledge, are not able to attend to new developments in every type of medical subspecialty.
Considerations
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The training that is required for allied health careers varies greatly from specialty to specialty. The majority of allied health-care certifications require, minimally, a two-year degree and a passing score on a professional board examination as a condition of licensure. This is the case for radiologic and ultrasound technicians, physical-therapist assistants, and respiratory and radiation therapists. However, some specialties, such as speech-language pathology and physical therapy, are taught in a postgraduate program and the programs require a much greater time commitment to complete.
Benefits
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For jobs that do not require a bachelor's degree, positions in the allied health field are among the best-paying. For example, in 2007, the average salary for an entry-level physical-therapist assistant was just under $45,000, much higher than for teachers, social workers and office managers, to name a few. Because allied health workers are in such high demand, there are jobs available in every geographic region, as well as plentiful temporary and travel positions.
Significance
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Although allied health-care workers may not be the first ones that come to mind when one thinks of health-care careers, their work is critical. As Susan Chapman, a director of allied health studies in San Francisco has said, "You can't run a hospital without people to take the X-rays or do the lab tests." The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2006 and 2016, more than 3 million new jobs will be generated in the medical field.
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