ALLIED HEALTH …

                                                      ALLIED HEALTH
                          Physical & Occupational Therapy, Cytotechnology, Dental Hygiene,
                                Health Information Management, Medical Technology
                                            What can I do with these degrees?
                    AREAS                                        EMPLOYERS           STRATEGIES/INFORMATION

PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical therapy involves treatment through        Hospitals                    Earn a master's degree in physical therapy from a
physical means for people disabled by illness,     Clinics                          program accredited by the American Physical
accident, or congenital handicap. Physical         Home healthcare agencies         Therapy Association. Programs include super-
therapy seeks to improve mobility, relieve pain,   Nursing homes                    vised clinical experiences. Some programs are
or minimize permanent physical disabilities.       Sports medicine facilities       moving toward a doctoral degree. Obtain a
                                                   Rehabilitation centers           doctoral degree for teaching and research posi-
Clinical Practice                                  Schools                          tions.
   Acute care                                      Group or private practices   All states require licensure which includes
   Neuro-rehab                                     Universities and colleges        passing an examination.
   Out-patient                                                                  One third of physical therapists work in hospitals
Management                                                                          and one quarter are employed in physical
Education                                                                           therapy offices.
Research                                                                        Attain superior grades in pre-physical therapy
Consultation                                                                        course work due to intense competition for
                                                                                    admittance to physical therapy programs.
                                                                                Obtain knowledge of several basic sciences
                                                                                    including anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry,
                                                                                    and physics.
                                                                                Volunteer for a physical therapist in a hospital or
                                                                                    clinic to gain experience and improve chances
                                                                                of acceptance into a program. Many programs
                                                                                    require volunteer experiences and a good
                                                                                    knowledge of the field for admission.
                                                                                Develop strong interpersonal and communication
                                                                                    skills. Must possess patience and a desire to
                                                                                    help individuals of all ages with disabilities. A
                                                                                    positive attitude is important when working
                                                                                    with patients.
                                                                                Manual dexterity and physical stamina are impor-
                                                                                    tant in succeeding in physical therapy work.
                                                                                Some physical therapists specialize in pediatrics,
                                                                                    geriatrics, sports, orthopedics, etc. after gaining
                                                                                    several years of general experience.
(Allied Health, Page 2)

                  AREAS                                                EMPLOYERS                                 STRATEGIES/INFORMATION

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Occupational therapy is the treatment of people        Hospitals (including psychiatric and rehabilitative)   Earn a bachelor's or master's degree in occupational
who are unable to function independently due           Schools                                                    therapy to gain entry in the field.
to an injury, illness, or disability. Occupational     Group or private practice                              Some programs offer a "certificate" in occupational
therapists utilize activities with specific goals to   Nursing homes                                              therapy for students having a degree other than
enhance the quality of life and increase the           Community mental health centers                            O.T.
independence of individuals who have a                 Adult daycare programs                                 All states regulate O.T. licensure. Requirements
mentally, emotionally, or physically disabling         Job training centers                                       include passing a certification exam given by the
condition.                                             Residential care facilities                                American Occupational Therapy Certification
                                                       Out-patient rehabilitation facilities                      Board and a supervised clinical internship. Those
Screening                                              Federal and state government                               who have passed the exam become Registered
Evaluation                                                Armed Forces                                            Occupational Therapists (OTR).
Treatment                                                 Public Health Service                               Doctoral degree is preferred for university teaching
   Physical                                               Veterans Administration                                 positions.
   Psychosocial                                        Universities and colleges                              Occupational therapists may choose to specialize
   Social                                                                                                         in a particular age group or type of disability.
   Vocational                                                                                                 Build a solid foundation in physical, biological, and
Follow-up                                                                                                         behavioral sciences.
Administration                                                                                                Individuals working in occupational therapy should
Teaching                                                                                                          possess patience and a true interest in helping
                                                                                                                  people with disabilities reach their full potential.
                                                                                                              Develop communication skills which are important
                                                                                                                  when interacting with patients and their families.
                                                                                                              Volunteer in an occupational therapy or related
                                                                                                                  healthcare setting to experience the field first-
                                                                                                                  hand and improve chances of program
                                                                                                                  admittance.
                                                                                                              Learn to work well within a team. O.T.'s work with
                                                                                                                  many other professionals, including physicians,
                                                                                                                  physical therapists, and social workers in the
                                                                                                                  rehabilitation of patients.
(Allied Health, Page 3)

                    AREAS                                           EMPLOYERS                     STRATEGIES/INFORMATION

CYTOTECHNOLOGY
 Cytotechnologists are detectives who study the     Hospital and private laboratories           Supplement curriculum with courses in biology that
 patterns of disease progression found in human     Federal and state government laboratories      emphasize body structure, development, tissue
 cells. These laboratory professionals detect       Clinics and university medical centers         organization, and function. Recommended
 subtle changes and clues within cells. With        Public health facilities                       courses include histology, cellular biology, and
 expert eyes, the cytotechnologist looks for the    Research and biotechnology industry            genetics. Additional recommended coursework
 smallest abnormalities in color, shape, and size   Healthcare administrative departments          may include other biological sciences such as
 that may indicate clinically significant           Educational institutions                       zoology or ecology.
 conditions. This rewarding profession provides                                                 Become familiar with applied learning techniques.
 the potential to help save lives by discovering                                                   Most programs utilize a combination of training
 disease early and uncovering information that                                                     activities such as microscopic evaluation,
 informs effective treatment.                                                                      laboratory skills development, case presentations,
                                                                                                   research, community health projects, and
 Screening and Diagnosis:                                                                          supervised clinical laboratory site experiences.
    Cancer                                                                                      Earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cytotechnology
    Pre-cancerous abnormalities                                                                    from a program accredited by the Commission on
    Benign tumors or growths                                                                       Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
    Infectious organisms and inflammatory                                                          (CAAHEP).
        conditions                                                                              Prepare for and pass the certification examination
 Evaluation of Tissue:                                                                             given by the Board of Registry of the American
    Bladder                                                                                        Society of Clinical Pathologists.
    Bone and soft tissue                                                                        Develop problem solving as well as effective written
    Breast                                                                                         and verbal communication skills.
    Female reproductive tract                                                                   Display personal characteristics such as accuracy,
    Liver                                                                                          responsibility, and motivation.
    Lung
    Lymph nodes
    Pancreas
    Thyroid
 Technological Equipment Operation:
    Light microscopes
    Biomedical instrumentation
    Laboratory information systems
(Allied Health, Page 4)


                  AREAS                                                 EMPLOYERS                                   STRATEGIES/INFORMATION

DENTAL HYGIENE

Dental hygienists help people of all ages                Private dental offices and dental clinics              Associate or bachelor's degree is required to enter
maintain optimal oral health by working with             Federal, state, and local health departments or           the field in all states except Alabama.
dentists to prevent tooth decay, periodontal                associated institutions                             A passing score on the Dental Hygiene National
disease, oral cancer, and other conditions that          Hospitals and nursing homes                               Board Examination and state or regional clinical
affect oral function.                                    School districts or departments of education              examination is also required for licensure.
                                                         Private business/industry                              A master's degree in dental hygiene is available at
Specific areas of activity for dental hygienists         Correctional facilities                                   some institutions.
include:                                                 Private and public centers for pediatric, geriatric,   The scope of practice for dental hygienists is
    Gathering data for a dental diagnosis                   and other individuals or groups with special           determined by individual states.
    Recording medical and dental histories                  needs                                               Opportunities for practice are available throughout the
    Screening and charting oral structures and           Health maintenance organizations                          world.
        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


HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

HIM professionals play critical roles in                 Physician offices and clinics                          Earn a bachelor's degree in Health Information
maintaining, collecting and analyzing the data           Long-term care facilities                                 Management from a program accredited by
that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare               Insurance companies                                       the American Health Information Management
providers rely on in the delivery of quality             Government agencies                                       Association.
healthcare.                                              Home care providers                                    A passing score on a national examination is
                                                         Behavioral health facilities                              required for certification as a Registered
Patient Health Information Management                    Information systems vendors                               Health Information Administrator (RHIA)
Medical Records Administration                           Rehabilitation centers                                 Visit a health information management
Computer Information Systems Management                  Pharmaceutical companies                                  department in a hospital to better understand
Diagnosis and Procedure Coding                           Hospitals                                                 the role of health information managers.
Personnel and Budget Administration                                                                             Develop strong oral and written communication
Quality Improvement                                                                                                skills, interpersonal skills, orientation to detail,
Research                                                                                                           flexibility, and basic computer skills in word
                                                                                                                   processing, spreadsheets, and databases.
(Allied Health, Page 5)

                    AREAS                                                  EMPLOYERS                                          STRATEGIES/INFORMATION

MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
Medical technologists, also known as clinical          Hospital and private laboratories                                 Earn a bachelor's degree in medical technology from
laboratory scientists, work together with other        Biotechnology industry                                               a program accredited by the National Accrediting
members of the healthcare team to perform and          Research and forensic laboratories                                   Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences
supervise laboratory analyses on blood, body           Public health laboratories                                           (NAACLS).
fluids, and tissue. They also provide data to          Laboratory industry sales and lab product                         Be prepared to participate in supervised clinical
detect, diagnose, and monitor disease. Medical            development                                                       experiences.
technologists use medical equipment such as            Universities and colleges                                         Many states require a license to practice. Obtain
microscopes, computers, and other highly               Pharmaceutical companies                                             licensure by passing a certification exam given by
technical instruments to assist them in their          Armed forces                                                         the National Certification Agency for Clinical
work.                                                                                                                       Laboratory Sciences (NCA) or the American
                                                                                                                            Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Registry
Blood Banking                                                                                                               (ASCP).
Microbiology                                                                                                             Attain good grades in pre-medical technology course
Hematology                                                                                                                  work, including biology, anatomy, physiology, and
Chemistry                                                                                                                   general and organic chemistry.
Immunology                                                                                                               Develop manual dexterity, fine motor skills, and an
Urinalysis                                                                                                                  attention to detail.
Molecular Biology                                                                                                        Visit a clinical laboratory. Talk with practitioners
                                                                                                                            to gain critical knowledge of the profession.




                            Prepared by the Career Planning staff of Career Services at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. (1998, Revised 2003)
                                 Editorial assistance and additional information provided by The University of Tennessee College of Allied Health.
                                                        UTK is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA Employer.