Download Medical Support - Instructional Resources

Careers
Medical Support
Information Provided By:
Georgia Statewide Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
PowerPoint Presentation By:
Juliane Monko & Dr. Frank Flanders
CTAE Resource Network, June 2009
Based On PowerPoint Ideas From:
Penny Howard, RN, Healthcare Science Instructor
 There are six centers in the Georgia AHEC
Network, and each serves a multi-county
region.
A
H
E
C
 The AHEC mission is to meet the health needs
of Georgia by improving the supply, distribution
and quality of healthcare providers.
 AHECs offer enrichment programs, camps,
learning tools, student counseling, volunteer
and mentoring activity coordination, and access
to other educational resources.
 Contact your regional AHEC for more
information.
Objectives
 Students will be able to describe health careers in the
field of Medical Support.
 Students will be able to plan a healthcare career path
in Medical Support.
Careers in Medical Support
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Athletic Trainer
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
Medical Assistant
Perfusionist
Surgical Technician
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Anesthesiologist Assistant
 Anesthesiologist assistants work directly under the
supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist to provide
quality anesthesia care.
 They cannot work independently or under the
direction of any physician other than an
anesthesiologist.
 They are trained to administer drugs, obtain vascular
access, apply and interpret monitors, establish and
maintain the patient’s airway, and assist with
preoperative assessment.
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Work Environment
Salary
 Ambulatory surgical centers
 Average Starting Salary
 Hospitals
$110,500 (bachelor’s level)

Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Anesthesiologist Assistant
Academic Requirements
 Prior to applying to an anesthesiologist assistant
program, one must have a bachelor's degree and
completed the required pre-medical
curriculum. Programs leading to a master's degree
last 24 to 28 months and include both classroom and
clinical work. Two of the nation's four
anesthesiologist assistant programs are located in
Georgia.
Athletic Trainer
Athletic Trainer
 Athletic trainers work to keep athletes and other
physically active people in top condition.
 Their duties entail two main areas: injury
prevention, recognition and management, and the
evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries
that happen during physical activity or sporting
events.
 Certified athletic trainers develop conditioning and
nutrition programs.
Athletic Trainer
 They must be knowledgeable about the
environment, protective equipment and safety.
 When injuries occur, athletic trainers develop and
carry out the treatment and rehabilitation
prescribed by a physician.
 In addition to a broad knowledge of anatomy,
physiology, psychology, nutrition, and
conditioning, athletic trainers must be skilled in
first aid procedures, CPR, and therapeutic
rehabilitation.
Athletic Trainer
Work Environment
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Colleges and universities
Corporate heath programs
Health clubs
Hospitals
Industrial medicine
Professional sports teams
Sports medicine clinics
Salary
 Average Starting Salary
$35,000 (bachelor’s)

Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Athletic Trainer
Academic Requirements
 A bachelor's degree is the minimum education level
for practice in this field, however, more than 70
percent of athletic trainers have a master's degree or
higher.
Emergency Medical
Technician/Paramedic
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
 Emergency medical technician (EMT) is a broad
term used to address EMTs and paramedics. These
technicians respond to health care crises.
 They drive ambulances, give emergency medical
care, and, if necessary, transport patients to
hospitals.
 They explain the situation to local hospital staff and
under the direction of a physician, EMTs are told
how to proceed with medical care.
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
 Paramedics receive additional training and therefore
may be given more responsibilities, such as
administering life-saving cardiac medication and
performing EKGs.
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
Work Environment
Salary
 County ambulance services
 Average Starting Salary
 Fire departments
 Hospital ambulance services
 Hospital emergency rooms
 Private ambulance companies
Basic EMT $25,771
Paramedic $28,412

Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
Academic Requirements
 A high school diploma or equivalent is
required. EMTs and paramedics receive both
classroom and practical training in emergency
medical care.
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Basic EMT education requires 120 to 220 hours of instruction
over three to six months. Intermediate EMT education
requires 378 hours of training, which usually lasts nine
months.
Paramedics receive approximately 1000 hours of
instruction. This usually takes one year to a year and a half. A
paramedic may obtain an associate degree in emergency
medical services with additional general college courses. A few
bachelor's and master's programs are available.
Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant
 Medical assistants perform both clinical and
administrative duties.
 They prepare patients for examinations and take
vital signs, such as blood pressure, temperature,
pulse and respiration. They assist with first aid,
collect and process specimens, and perform
procedures such as EKGs.
 Medical assistants also maintain patient records,
type reports, process health insurance forms and
serve as a liaison between the physician and others.
Medical Assistant
Work Environment
Salary
 Chiropractic offices
 Average Starting Salary
 Medical clinics
 Optometrists' offices
 Physical therapy clinics
 Physicians' offices
 Podiatrists' offices
$22,380

Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Medical Assistant
Academic Requirements
 A high school diploma or equivalent is required. On-
the-job training is available but many choose a oneor two-year medical assistant program. Two-year
programs result in associate degrees while one-year
programs grant certificates or diplomas.
Perfusionist
Perfusionist
 Perfusionists are important members of the open
heart surgical team. During open heart surgeries,
perfusionists manage and monitor the heart-lung
machine which performs the function of the human
heart and lungs.
 They sometimes perform similar functions outside
the operating room such as maintaining artificial
hearts, ventricular assist devices, and other
circulatory assist devices.
 Perfusion care is performed in a team-oriented
setting and is considered to be highly stressful.
Perfusionist
Work Environment
 Equipment manufacturers
Salary
 Average Starting Salary
 Hospitals
$79,000
 Private surgeons' offices

Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Perfusionist
Academic Requirements
 A strong background in science is
recommended. Some programs require candidates
to have backgrounds in medical technology,
respiratory therapy or nursing. A bachelor's degree
is required for all programs that are not bachelor
degree granting programs. Programs are generally
one to two years in length. Admission into schools of
perfusion is extremely competitive.
Surgical Technologist
Surgical Technologist
 Surgical technologists provide care for patients
before, during, and after surgery.
 Before a procedure they help surgical staff scrub and
put on gloves and gowns, as well as position patients
on the operating table.
 During an operation, they maintain the sterility of
the operating room, pass instruments and prepare
specimens for the lab.
Surgical Technologist
Work Environment
Salary
 Ambulatory surgical facilities
 Average Starting Salary
 Animal hospitals
$29,399
 Crime labs/autopsy labs

 Physicians' offices
 Hospitals
 Veterinary offices
Figures according to 2006 data. To see
updated figures, visit the SOWEGA-AHEC
website at:
http://www.sowega-ahec.org/index
Surgical Technologist
Academic Requirements
 A high school diploma or equivalent is
required. Education in surgical technology usually
lasts from nine to fifteen months for a diploma or
certificate and two years for an associate degree.
Summary
There are a variety of careers available in Medical Support.
Educational requirements vary by career and career level.
Students interested in these careers should use the
information provided here as a basis for a career plan. The
student should also research the career further to complete a
career plan.
Career available in Medical Support include:
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Anesthesiologist Assistant
Athletic Trainer
Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
Medical Assistant
Perfusionist
Surgical Technician