What Do Public Health Professionals Do? Public health is a broad field covering diverse professions that include public health specific professionals such as epidemiologists to professionals that can focus on public health, such as a public health registered nurses, community health workers, health educators, and biostatisticians. To access specific public health professionals, click on any of the following links: Biostatistician Environmental Health Workers Epidemiologists Health Educators Health Policy Analysts Occupational …Read More
Tag Archives: bachelor’s
Athletic Trainers and Exercise Physiologists
What Do Athletic Trainers and Exercise Physiologists Do? Athletic trainers specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating muscle and bone injuries and illnesses. Exercise physiologists develop fitness and exercise programs that help patients recover from chronic diseases and improve cardiovascular function, body composition, and flexibility. Athletic trainers work with people of all ages and all skill levels, from children to professional athletes and soldiers to industrial workers. They are usually one of the …Read More
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists
What Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Do Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice nurses who specialize in providing anesthesia and related care before and after surgical, therapeutic, diagnostic, and obstetrical procedures. They also provide pain management and emergency services. CRNAs develop individualized anesthetic care plans for each patient using a full range of anesthetic techniques, drugs, and technology. They also participate in preoperative patient education and assess and …Read More
Chiropractors
What Do Chiropractors Do? Chiropractors are licensed health professionals who diagnose and treat patients with problems related to the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation and other techniques to treat patients’ ailments, such as back or neck pain. Chiropractors focus on patients’ overall health. Many believe that misalignments of the spinal joints interfere with a person’s nervous system and can …Read More
Creative Arts Therapists
What Do Creative Arts Therapists Do? Creative arts therapists use active engagement in art, dance or movement, drama, and music as therapeutic approaches to address mental, emotional, developmental, and behavioral disorders of their clients. Creative arts therapists work with individuals of all ages who may have a variety of mental or physical health issues, including those who are temporarily or permanently disabled. Creative arts therapists, working with clients one-on-one or …Read More
Dental Hygienists
What Do Dental Hygienists Do? Dental hygienists are licensed health professionals who provide preventive dental care, perform oral health assessments and teeth cleanings, apply cavity preventive agents to teeth, take and develop x-rays, and educate patients on proper oral hygiene techniques. In some states, dental hygienists are allowed to place and carve filling materials, place temporary fillings and periodontal dressings, remove sutures, perform root planing, and smooth and polish metal …Read More
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
What Do Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Do? Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (DMSs), also known as ultrasonographers or sonographers, use special equipment that directs high frequency sound waves into a patient’s body to collect images for interpretation by physicians to assess and diagnose various medical conditions (procedures commonly known as ultrasounds, sonograms, or echocardiograms). This diagnostic medical procedure can be used to examine the abdomen, breasts, female reproductive system, prostate, heart, and blood …Read More
Health Care Administrators and Medical and Health Services Managers
What Do Health Care Administrators and Medical and Health Services Managers Do? While healthcare administrators and healthcare managers share similar responsibilities, they do perform different tasks. Healthcare administrators oversee the staff of a medical facility. They may supervise and manage one department or the whole facility depending on the need and availability of administrators. Responsible for staffing and financial aspects of the medical facility in which they work, healthcare administrators …Read More
Health Educators
What Do Health Educators Do? Health educators teach people about behaviors that promote wellness and encourage people to make healthy decisions. Health educators promote and improve individuals’ and community health by identifying disease risk behaviors and developing programs that help people adopt and maintain healthy behaviors. Program development may include collecting and analyzing data to determine the scope of problems and the community needs prior to planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating programs and campaigns …Read More
Massage Therapists
What Do Massage Therapists Do? Massage therapists use their hands to manipulate and work a client’s muscles and soft body tissues. There are many different types of massage therapies, called modalities, such as Swedish massage, reflexology, acupressure, sports massage, reiki, and neuromuscular massage. Most massage therapists specialize in several modalities, which require different techniques. Massage therapy can offer medical benefits by helping to rehabilitate injuries and be part of a healing process by …Read More
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
What Do Medical Records and Health Information Technicians Do? Medical records and health information technicians compile, process, organize, and maintain health information data and medical records of hospital and clinic patients in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. They ensure that health information data is complete, accurate, and secure in both paper and electronic systems. They use various classification systems to code …Read More
Nuclear Medicine Technologists
What Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Do? Nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients and then monitor the characteristics and functions of tissues or organs in which the drugs localize. The radioactive drugs cause abnormal areas of the body to appear different from normal areas in the images. The particular drugs NMTs are …Read More
Nurse Practitioners
What Do Nurse Practitioners Do? Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses (RNs) with advanced training in a practice specialty. NPs specialize in areas such as acute care, adult health, women’s health, family health, school health, community health, oncology, gerontology, psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, palliative care, mental health, and others. NPs serve as primary and specialty care providers, providing a blend of nursing and health care services to patients and families. NPs …Read More
Occupational Therapists
What Do Occupational Therapists Do? Occupational therapists (OTs) treat patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. They help people with chronic or new disabilities develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working, and help patients learn or regain the skills they need to live as independently as possible and have productive, satsifying lives. OTs help patients improve their ability to perform …Read More
Occupational Therapy Assistants
What Do Occupational Therapy Assistants Do? Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to patients with physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. They help patients develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for daily living and working through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Following a treatment plan developed by an occupational therapist, OTAs may assist patients with activities and exercises designed to …Read More
Ophthalmologists
What Do Ophthalmologists Do? Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialize in eye and vision care and function, including diagnosing and treating eye diseases and injuries. Eye M.D.s, as ophthalmologists are often called, are specially trained to provide the full spectrum of eye care, from prescribing corrective glasses and contact lenses and medications, to performing complex and delicate surgical procedures of the eye, including laser eye surgery, to prevent the occurrence …Read More
Optometrists
What Do Optometrists Do? Optometrists, also known as doctors of optometry, or ODs, are health care professionals who specialize in vision and eye care, but are not medical doctors. They examine people’s eyes to diagnose vision problems, such as nearsightedness and farsightedness, and they test patients’ depth and color perception and ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists may prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses, or they may prescribe or …Read More
Patient Care Coordinators
What Do Patient Care Coordinators Do? Patient care coordinators facilitate communication between patients, family members, medical staff, administrative staff, social service organizations, and other health care providers. They assess the person’s physical, social, psychological, and financial needs. They are often the first contact for provision of information to the patient or physician on behalf of attending physicians. Patient care coordinators may also explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using medical …Read More
Physical Therapists
What Do Physical Therapists Do? Physical therapists (PTs) are licensed health care professionals who help people with injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. PTs are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment for patients with chronic conditions or injuries that limit their ability to move well or comfortably or do functional activities as well as they would like in their daily lives. PTs help patients …Read More
Physicians
What Do Physicians Do? Physicians diagnose and treat diseases, illnesses, injuries, and physical and psychological problems. They examine and treat patients; obtain medical histories; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They may also counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive health care. There are two types of physicians, the Medical Doctor (MD), or allopathic physician, and the Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). Both types of physicians may use all accepted …Read More
Podiatrists
What Do Podiatrists Do? Podiatrists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of foot and ankle problems. They use medical and surgical interventions to treat foot deformities, growths, and injuries, as well as foot problems associated with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or arthritis. In diagnosing foot problems, podiatrists may conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all body systems, using x-rays, blood tests, and physical exams. As part of treatment, …Read More
Psychiatrists
What Do Psychiatrists Do? Psychiatrists are primary mental health physicians who assess, diagnose, and treat mental illnesses and emotional and substance abuse disorders through personal counseling (psychotherapy), psychoanalysis, hospitalization, and medication. Psychotherapy involves regular discussions with patients about their problems to help them find solutions through changes in their behavioral patterns, exploring their past experiences, or group and family therapy sessions. Psychiatrists may work with people with chronic mental illness, such as schizophrenia or …Read More
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians
What Do Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Do? Radiologic technologists and technicians perform diagnostic imaging examinations. Radiologic technologists use imaging modalities such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and mammography, while radiologic technicians perform imaging examinations like x-rays. Radiologic technologists perform more complex imaging procedures. When performing fluoroscopies, for example, radiologic technologists prepare a solution for the patient to drink, allowing the radiologist (a physician who interprets radiographs) to see …Read More
Recreational Therapists
What Do Recreational Therapists Do? Recreation therapists (also known as therapeutic recreation specialists) provide treatment services and recreation activities to individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Recreational therapists use a variety of techniques, including arts and crafts, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, activities with animals, and community outings to aid the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of their clients. Recreational therapists’ efforts help individuals reduce depression, stress, and anxiety; …Read More