Health Careers

The job of the dental hygienist is just as hands-on as any dentist's-and it offers an outstanding springboard for a career in the healthcare and dental fields. This program shows what a dental hygienist can expect as far as training, duties, and compensation, while outlining the personal qualities and people skills that any successful D.H. should possess. Featuring interviews with experienced hygienists and those who train them, the program highlights the cleaning and examination procedures a D.H. will perform and the special rapport he or she must be able to establish with patients. Students are advised to prepare for a dental hygienist career by excelling in high school biology courses and volunteering at clinics and hospitals. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (22 minutes)

Whether they are needed to ensure properly dispensed prescriptions, monitor a patient's recovery, or make an urgently needed diagnosis, accurate health records are crucial to a patient's safety. This program highlights the important work of health information technicians and shows how electronic health records can help make medical care both safer and more efficient. In-depth commentary on medical information technology and its challenges comes from Dr. David Bates, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Don Detmer, Professor of Medical Education at the University of Virginia. Both are leading experts in medical informatics. (28 minutes)

Compiling and retrieving up-to-date information on patients' illnesses, injuries, and medical history is more important than ever for effective medical care. This video focuses on opportunities in the field of healthcare information management and technology. Examples of HIM-related positions are covered-including medical billing specialist, diagnostic and procedural coder, and privacy officer-along with the two main types of schooling that precede a HIM career: an associate degree leading to work as a Registered Health Information Technician, and a baccalaureate degree required for employment as a Registered Record Administrator. Patient confidentiality is an important subject in the video. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Meridian Production. (15 minutes)

Because of a growing need for detailed records, health information management technicians are increasingly in demand. This program looks at the specific duties and peculiarities of the HIM tech's job, focusing on organizational and process-related skills. Responsibilities highlighted in the video include maintaining databases of medical records, complying with legal and ethical privacy guidelines, managing diagnostic and procedural codes, and producing reports for physicians to analyze. Featuring conversations with skilled practitioners in the field, the program explains the steps to becoming a HIM technician, including graduation from a 2-year, CAHIIM-accredited associate degree program and passing the AHIMA written exam. Special attention is given to the position of medical coder. A viewable/printable instructor's guide containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (24 minutes)

The aging of the baby boomer generation will dramatically increase the need for home care, opening up opportunities in a frequently overlooked field. This program explores the challenging and deeply satisfying work of the home health aide and the personal care assistant-revealing the skills and special personality traits these jobs require and the personal rewards that come from helping people age in place" with a degree of independence. Interviews with experienced practitioners clear up any confusion a student might have, showing that home health aides and personal care assistants deal with a patient's nutrition, hygiene, and safety more than with cooking, cleaning, and other household duties that may be needed. The program also points out the pleasant variety these positions involve, as aides and assistants often commute to several different homes during the course of a day. The training and certification courses for becoming a home health aide or personal care assistant, along with the possibilities for career advancement, are highlighted. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (22 minutes)"

Many young people are interested in entry-level healthcare jobs that balance clinical duties with administrative functions. This program illustrates the ins and outs of just such a position-the certified medical assistant. The video examines a CMA's typical responsibilities, such as maintaining patient records, managing a physician's schedule, and preparing examining rooms, as well as the skills a successful medical assistant will need-including data entry, customer service, specimen collection, and first aid. Incorporating interviews with experienced medical assistants and the specialists who train them, the program describes what it takes to become a CMA, from the best high school courses to take to passing the AAMA CMA certification exam. A viewable/printable instructor's guide containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (20 minutes)

Healthcare is among the fastest-growing areas of employment in America-and while the opportunities are great, there is also plenty of job competition. This three-part series provides much-needed information for high school and vocational college students who are interested in assistant-level medical careers. It features an overview of the healthcare field as well as detailed guidance concerning three specific jobs-Medical Assistant, Health Information Management Technician, and Physical Therapy Assistant. Each episode covers what a particular job requires, who it would likely appeal to, and what it offers in terms of salary, long-term career prospects, and personal rewards. Viewable/printable instructor's guides containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-are available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. 3-part series, 20-24 minutes each.

While it is growing by leaps and bounds, the healthcare labor market is also extremely competitive, even for entry-level and support positions. This series equips students with vital knowledge about three jobs that are not only lucrative and satisfying occupations but also solid first rungs on the professional ladder. Each episode covers what a particular job requires, who it would likely appeal to, and what it offers in terms of salary, long-term career prospects, and personal rewards. Viewable/printable instructor's guides containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-are available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. 3-part series, 22-23 minutes each.

As opportunities in the healthcare industry continue to grow and evolve, job-seekers who stay aware of the field's wide-ranging positions have a decided advantage. This series invites students into the world of three exciting medical occupations that require important skills while building chances for career advancement. Each episode explores a specific job and its requirements, the type of individual who might be attracted to it, and the typical salary range it offers. Viewable/printable instructor's guides containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-are available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. 3-part series, 22 minutes each.

When searching for blockages or damaged areas of the body's many organs and systems, radioactive tracer drugs are extremely helpful. This program travels to the Moffitt/Long Hospital to find out how technicians use radiopharmaceuticals to conduct examinations. A thallium study is performed to highlight some of the proficiencies necessary for a career in this field. Avenues for career growth that are open to nuclear medicine technologists are also considered. A Cambridge Educational Production. (13 minutes)

Many people think occupational therapy helps with employment or career guidance. This program clears up any misunderstanding and gives students a solid overview of what an O.T. Assistant does. Illustrating the responsibilities of the O.T.A. and the skills and personal qualities needed to become one, the video also describes the pay level and personal satisfaction that many people in the job have achieved. Including interviews with a number of accomplished O.T.A.'s, the program shows viewers the wide variety of settings in which the work can take place-from homes and offices to clinics around the country, in the case of itinerant assistants. Another important subject is building the right skill set and a basic knowledge of human anatomy through volunteer work and by taking the proper biology classes in high school. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (22 minutes)

To support the crucial work of pharmacists, special technicians are often employed to assist patients and customers. This video shows students what it's like to be a pharmacy technician-a specialization in high demand at many medical facilities and drugstores. The core duties of a pharmacy tech are outlined, including stocking, retrieving, counting, pouring, weighing, mixing, packaging, and even pricing medications. The video also explores the responsibilities of ensuring accuracy and communicating with physicians and insurance providers to verify prescriptions and coverage. In addition, the opportunities afforded by on-the-job training and educational programs are highlighted. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Meridian Production. (15 minutes)

Of all the healthcare disciplines, physical therapy may require the widest range of talents and interests. This program profiles the jobs of physical therapy assistant and aide, detailing their responsibilities, essential skills, and differences. The video explores the duties the assistant and aide must perform-such as helping patients under the supervision of a physical therapist, performing treatments according to customized programs, observing and reporting patient behavior, and providing physical and emotional encouragement. The skill set outlined in the video includes an in-depth knowledge of human anatomy as well as the ability to work with ill and disabled people, collaborate with and serve under other health professionals, and maintain one's own physical fitness, motivation, and organization. Educational requirements are also addressed-most importantly, graduating from an APTA-accredited program. A viewable/printable instructor's guide containing additional material-including student activities, discussion questions, vocabulary terms, and fast facts-is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (23 minutes)

Although it requires far less time and training, the job of Physician Assistant brings with it many of the challenges and rewards of being a doctor. This program explores the responsibilities of the Physician Assistant, the skills and personality traits needed to become one, and the financial and personal advantages that most people in the position enjoy. Including interviews with both young and veteran P.A.'s, the program describes their rigorous training and their typical duties, such as performing preliminary exams for the supervising physician and providing diagnoses or prescriptions with no help from a doctor. The opportunity to work in a variety of clinical settings and help patients of all backgrounds is also emphasized. Students are urged to get started early by taking the right high school courses and volunteering at clinics and hospitals. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to national and state board certification standards. A Meridian Production. (23 minutes)

This four-part series-endorsed by the Radiologic Society of America and the Associated Sciences Consortium-introduces viewers to a diverse group of doctors and technicians who are pursuing rewarding careers in the radiological sciences. After watching these programs, students will see that the field of radiology includes much more than X-rays. A Cambridge Educational Production. 4-part series, 13-14 minutes each.