Area

Employer


Area:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy involves treatment through physical means for people disabled by illness, accident, or congenital handicap. Physical therapy seeks to improve mobility, relieve pain, or minimize permanent physical disabilities.

Sub-Area:
  • Clinical Practice:
    • Acute care
    • Neuro-rehab
    • Out-patient
  • Management
  • Education
  • Research
  • Consultation
  • Specialties Include:
    • Pediatrics
    • Geriatrics
    • Sports Medicine
    • Orthopedics
    • Neurology
    • Cardiopulminary
Employers:
  • Hospitals
  • Clinics
  • Home healthcare agencies
  • Nursing homes
  • Sports medicine facilities
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Doctors offices, particularly orthopedic
  • Schools
  • Group or private practices
  • Universities and colleges
  • Federal and state government:
    • Armed Forces
    • Public Health Service
    • Veterans Administration

Area:

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is the treatment of people who are unable to function independently due to an injury, illness, or disability. Occupational therapists utilize activities with specific goals to enhance the quality of life and increase the independence of individuals who have a mentally, emotionally, or physically disabling condition.

Sub-Area:
  • Screening
  • Evaluation
  • Treatment:
    • Physical
    • Psychosocial
    • Social
    • Vocational
  • Follow-up
  • Administration
  • Teaching
  • Research
Employers:
  • Hospitals (including psychiatric and rehabilitative)
  • Schools
  • Group or private practice
  • Nursing homes
  • Community mental health centers
  • Adult daycare programs
  • Job training centers
  • Residential care providers
  • Out-patient rehabilitation facilities
  • Home healthcare agencies
  • Federal and state government:
    • Armed Forces
    • Public Health Service
    • Veterans Administration
  • Universities and colleges

Area:

Cytotechnology

Cytotechnologists are highly skilled laboratory professionals who study the patterns of disease progression found in human cells. They detect subtle changes and clues within cells. With expert eyes, the cytotechnologist looks for the smallest abnormalities in color, shape, and size that may indicate clinically significant conditions. This profession provides the potential to help save lives by discovering disease early and uncovering information that informs effective treatment.

Sub-Area:
  • Screening and Diagnosis:
    • Cancer
    • Pre-cancerous abnormalities
    • Benign tumors or growths
    • Infectious organisms and inflammatory conditions
  • Evaluation of Tissue:
    • Bladder
    • Body cavities
    • Bone and soft tissue
    • Breast
    • Central nervous system
    • Female reproductive tract
    • Gastrointestinal tract
    • Liver
    • Lung
    • Lymph nodes
    • Pancreas
    • Salivary glands
    • Thyroid
  • Technological Equipment Operation:
    • Light microscopes
    • Biomedical instrumentation
    • Laboratory information systems
  • Molecular Diagnostic Testing
Employers:
  • Hospital and private laboratories
  • Federal and state government laboratories
  • Clinics and university medical centers
  • Public health facilities
  • Research and biotechnology industry
  • Healthcare administrative departments
  • Educational institutions

Area:

Dental Hygiene

Dental hygienists help people of all ages maintain optimal oral health by working with dentists to prevent and treat tooth decay, periodontal disease, oral cancer, and other conditions that affect oral function.

Sub-Area:
  • Specific areas of activity for dental hygienists include:
    • Gathering data for a dental diagnosis
    • Recording medical and dental histories
    • Screening and charting oral structures and conditions
    • Exposing and processing oral radiographs
    • Dietary analysis
    • Providing oral disease prevention information and instruction
    • Monitoring oral health status of individuals
    • Providing therapeutic services
    • Removing calculus and plaque from the teeth
    • Applying fluoride and dental sealants to the teeth
Employers:
  • Private dental offices and dental clinics
  • Federal, state, and local health departments or associated institutions
  • Hospitals and nursing homes
  • School districts or departments of education
  • Private business/industry
  • Correctional facilities
  • Private and public centers for pediatric, geriatric, and other individuals or groups with special needs
  • Managed care organizations

Area:

Health Information Management

HIM professionals play critical roles in maintaining, collecting, and analyzing the data that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers rely on in the delivery of quality healthcare.

Sub-Area:
  • Patient Health Information Management
  • Medical Records Administration
  • Computer Information Systems Management
  • Diagnosis and Procedure Coding
  • Personnel and Budget Administration
  • Quality Management and Improvement
  • Risk Management
  • Utilization Review
  • Research
Employers:
  • Physician offices and clinics
  • Long-term care facilities
  • Insurance companies
  • Government agencies
  • Home care providers
  • Behavioral health facilities
  • Information systems vendors
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Hospitals
  • Research facilities

Area:

Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical laboratory scientists, also known as medical technologists, work together with other members of the healthcare team to perform and supervise laboratory analyses on blood, body fluids, and tissue. They also provide data to detect, diagnose, and monitor disease. Medical technologists use medical equipment such as microscopes, computers, and other highly technical instruments to assist them in their work.

Sub-Area:
  • Hematology
  • Immunohematology (Blood Banking)
  • Microbiology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Immunology
  • Urinalysis
  • Mycology
  • Parasitology
  • Histocompatibility
  • Molecular Diagnostics
  • Laboratory product development and sales
Employers:
  • Hospital and private laboratories
  • Biotechnology industry
  • Research and forensic laboratories
  • Public health laboratories
  • Universities and colleges
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Armed forces