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1 te h route The growing field of health technology is h^ipirigfdrni^ttie of medicine. BY N>Trt^ri, LJciiTMAN et me the epincphrlne, stat!" cries tbe fictional emergency room doctor as he plunges into another life-and-death drama on TV. Over tbe course of tbe next 60 minutes, the doctors race to save tbe lives of many patients. It's satisfying drama and riveting action. What you don't often see in prime time are allied health professionals, who, in real life, provide doctors and hospitals witb vital expertise and crucial supporr. Without tbeir contributions, many doctors would fmd themselves overwhelined. If you are looking for a career witb rapidly expanding opportunities, bealth care is it. Eight of the 20 fastest-growing fields are in bealth care, and more than 13.5 million people bold jobs in tbe Career World 19

2 ducting scans', or analyzing tissues, the health pros you're about to meet are a backbone to the physicians and patients they serve. 20 Phlebotomists collect" blood for testing. health-care field, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Tbe population in tbe United States is aging, and the number of people with chronic conditions is increasing. As a result, an ever-evolving and growing network of trained bealth professionals are on call to assist doctors in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. For just about every field of medicine, technicians (wbo hold two-year degrees or certificates) and technologists (wbo bold four-year degrees) assist pbysicians in the day-to-day activities of working witb and treating patients. Technologists also belp train technicians to better prepare for tbeir vital role in the medical environment. Allied health professionals work with both patients and doctors, serving as initial points of contact for patients and as support systems for tbe physicians wbo ultimately treat tbe patients. Tbey aiso work behind tbe scenes in laboratories, wbere they perform tests ajid diagnostic work tbat assist the doctor. So whether drawing blood, con- Career World November/Oeceml3er2006 Phlebotomist: Working Up Blood Tests Wlio: Candice Huntley, 25 Where: University Health Services. University of Wisconsin, Madison The Job: Phlebotomists carefijlly draw blood samples from patients. They work with nervous patients CO keep them calm while drawing blood. They also orj^anize, track, and store blood samples. This Tech Says: "You're in the lab drawing samples, but you've still got the opportunity to interact with people. Working on a college campus, it's great to interact with the students and assist them." Education: A phleboromist must have a high school diploma and typically complete training in an approved program for anywhere from one semester to one year, but requirements vary. Some technical schools offer phlebotomy programs, but a majority of technicians learn on the job from experienced professionals. Sonographers see what's really going o Inside the bo Electrocardiograph Technician: Managing Machines Who: Kevin Howze, 38 Where: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit The Job; Electrocardiograph (EKG) tecbs operate machines that track and measure heart activity. That information helps cardiologists and other technicians treat cardiovascular problems. EKG techs also keep an eye out for potential cardiac

3 emergencies that may reveal themselves on EKGs. This Tech Says: "I get to meet a lot of different people in different environments. I get to learn about them, and they get ro learn about what I do. Compared to when I began my training, the modern technology has improved so much that I can do an EKG in a matter of minutes, whereas it used to take much longer." Education: An electrocardiograph tech usually must have a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training under the supervision of an experienced tech for about six months. Some community colleges offer an as-sociate degree and board certification that can lead to higher pay grades. Sonographer: Taking Crucial Pictures Who: Melissa Humphreys, 27 Where: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit The Job: Sonographers use ultrasound machines ro scan internal organs 'such as the liver, pan-. reas, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys), the thyroid, and the head. They also perform prenatal scans (before a baby is born) on obstetric patients to monitor growth and progress and to determine a baby's gender. This Tech Says: "It is very cool to show parents their baby. They are very excited to learn whether they are having a boy or a girl and to see the baby moving around in the mother's uterus. It is a good feeling to know you made a difference in [people's lives] or just brightened their day a little." Education: A sonographer typically holds a two- or four-year degree in health sciences and completes a sonography program, which usually lasts 12 to 18 months. Medical Laboratory Technician: Reading Test Results Who: Mandy Martinson, 21 Where: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison Mandy Martinson gets ready to analyze a fluid sample in the lab. The Job: Medical laboratory technicians assist physicians by preparing, running, and aniilyzing laboratory tests on tissues and fitiid samples to detect infections. Some technicians use machines that automatically analyze samples. This Tech Says: "The best thing about the technolog)' is you can work on a lot more specimens in a shorter amount of time. Its so hands-on, but the technology does it for you. I like the flexibility of dealing with patients but also following their specimens all the way through the lab and doing the testing on them." Education: A medical lab technician must complete a two-year program. Alternate training routes exist for college graduates. Radiologic Technician: Finding the Facts, in Black-and-White Who: Fred Hanna, 38 Where: University Health Services, University of Wisconsin, Madison The Job: Radiologic techs produce X-ray films of the body for doctors to diagnose medical problems not visible to the human eye. They inject nonradioactive fluids into a patient's bloodstream before taking some X-rays. Radiologic techs work dirccdy with patients, so friendly Inieraction is part of thfi. day-to-day job. This Tech Says: "It's an inspiring career. I remember Novembef/December 2006 Career World 21

4 that are bundled in with more traditional four-year degree programs. Postcollegiate training toward a certificate in cytogenetic technology is also offered by some hospitals and can last up to a year. Want to work with X-rays? That's ttie job of a radiologic technician. when I started..., my salary was $6 or $7 an hour, about $500 a month, and now an average X-ray tech makes about $20 an hour. [There's] a shortage of training programs, [so] there are plenty of jobs available for someone who wants to pursue this field." Education: Hospitals, colleges, and tech schools offer X-ray technician-training programs that range from one to four years. Cytogenetic Technologist: Scrutinizing Genes Who: Temitopc Akin wale, 31 Where: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit The Job: Cytogenetic techs analyze chromosomes retrieved from samples of blood, bone marrow, tumors, lymph nodes, and amniotic fluid to detect either chromosomal abnormalities in an unborn child or different types of cancer. This Tech Says: "If you love the sciences and love tbe biology behind life itself, then you'll get satisfaction from helping diagnose illnesses, such as tbe different types of leukemias and lymphomas that exist." Education: A background in the sciences and a four-year degree are required. Many universities offer one-year programs in cytogenetic technology MRI Technologist: Scanning the Body Who:TomMcKinIay, 39 Where: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison The Job: MRI techs perform an array of high-quality, high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to acquire the most detailed anatomical portrait of a patient. Tbe most common MRIs are of the joints and brain. This Tech Says: "MRI changes every day. There's always something new, and jusr being able to work with different physicists, physicians, and radiologists to help develop different [practices] that become standard is the best part of the position." Education: Training can last from one to four years and resuks in a Temitope Akinwale certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor's degree, with each advanced degree holding more clout over the other for skill level and hiring potential. Histotechnologist: Collecting Samples for Diagnosis Who: Jamie Gratrix, 26 Where: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison The Job; Use equipment to take samples of body tissues, and stain the samples for microscopic inspection. ^ s- jamie Gratrix 22 Career World Novembet/Oecember 2006

5 This Tech Says: "It's really challenging, and there's a lot to learn. It can be challenging to collect frozen samples. That's where a patient is in surgery, and we have to freeze the tissue, take a sample, make a slide, and give it to the pathologist [to] make a diagnosis while the patient is still in surgery. You have to be efficient." Surgical technicians are on hand to provide tools and assistance in the Education: Technical schools offer histotechnology training programs that typically last a year. Some students train as part of an associate degree program in health or science. Many histotechnologists also train on the job. Medical Technologist: Analyzing the Evidence Who: Mary Story, 42 Where: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison The Job: Medical technologists analyze specimens and cells from samples of bodily substances, such as blood and urine, for the deteaion, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and to gauge a body's response to medical treatment. This Tech Says: "It's always an education working at a teaching hospital," says Story. "1 love the challenge of troubleshooting a patient's case [and specimens] and getting involved with pathology residents and feculty." Education: Medical technologists have a fouryear degree in the sciences, usually in medical technology or life sciences. Most programs con.sist of three years of coursework and one year of clinical training. Surgical Technician: Setting the Stage Who: Mandy Dale. 35 Where: Meriter Hospital, Madison, Wis. The Job: Surgical technicians prepare operating rooms and assist physicians during surgical procedures. They organize and prepare tools for use, prepare patients for surgery, observe vital signs, make sure proper procedures are followed, and assist physicians with miscellaneous requests during surgery. This Tech Says: "Seeing the anatomy of the body and its functions is really interesting. The hardest part of heing a surgical tech is that you can be standing in one position for several bours wbile a surgery is taking place, so it takes a physical toll." Education: Surgical techs prepare by earning a twoyear associate degree r a certificate from a community or technical college. Career World 23

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