After completing intensive training, a hospital corpsman takes a pledge that says they will hold the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and a sacred trust. This pledge isn’t taken lightly, and becomes ingrained in those who dedicate their military career to providing medical care to those in need. 

Contributor: Janet Rapuano, Ph.D.

How High School Students are Entering Healthcare Careers Earlier and More Prepared

CTE in the community

Across the United States, communities watch with pride as high school graduates walk across the stage and then into career opportunities. Many of these career and technical education (CTE) graduates earned not only their high school diplomas, but also received hands-on experience and education toward a specific career path. Often, students who choose a health sciences track within their CTE program can graduate with one or more allied health credential, providing them with a direct path to employment. These students and their communities are reaping the benefits of their achievements.   

After working as a medical assistant for nearly 30 years, LeAnn Thorne, CCMA, sought career advancement by earning industry credentials — and she didn’t let a brain tumor diagnosis stop her.

Contributors: Beth Boynton, RN, MS and Lisette Martinez, MBA

Every patient and every provider has a unique story. Ethnicity, economic status, religious beliefs, weight, height, gender identity…all of these factors and more can play a role in how each patient and each provider experiences and interacts with the world around them. These differences add complexity in the provider-patient relationship — but they also add opportunity to grow and personalize the care experience. That personalization can lead to improved communication, trust, and ultimately, to better patient outcomes.

Finding your calling can often be a winding and indirect journey. For Deitra Watson, it was the journey that led her to a fulfilling, exciting career.

Carolyn Mayer worked as a corporate travel agent for most of her professional career, but after leaving the travel industry to be a stay-at-home mom, she learned about a career in pharmacy. At the age of 53, with a college background in math and science, becoming a pharmacy technician appealed to Mayer, who started working for Kinney Drugs just five years ago.

In an increasingly diverse population, healthcare providers continue to face unique situations where culture intersects with healthcare delivery and often impacts outcomes. With a new focus on improving providers’ cultural competence, healthcare systems are deploying educational programs to elevate healthcare professionals’ abilities to connect with patients in a meaningful way, regardless of culture.

The field of medical assisting is on an upswing. Job postings per medical assistant (MA) completion more than doubled between 2011 and 2014, and the faster-than-average employment growth is likely to continue over the next decade.^1,2

Elizabeth Woodcock is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer and author dedicated to improving the business of medicine. She helps physician practices achieve and sustain patient satisfaction, practice efficiency and profitability. We met with Woodcock to gather experts take on MACRA and what it means for medical practices and medical assistants.

Working in healthcare, you are more than likely familiar with internships, externships, clinicals or even practicums – the classroom experiences typically required later in certain allied health or nursing programs. Where does external learning (education outside of the typical lecture or lab setting) or service learning (using a skill to give back to the local community) fit in?

Health promotion and disease prevention (HPDP) play a vital role in avoiding disease, delaying onset of signs and symptoms of disease, preventing premature death, promoting quality of life and decreasing economic liability on the healthcare system. Promoting a lifestyle that includes healthy eating patterns have been deemed to be cost effective for the prevention of diabetes,¹ cardiovascular disease² and an optimal nutrition status has been shown to be crucial in obesity prevention.^3,4