When tech meets health: the growing field of health technology is helping form the backbone of medicine

Career World, Nov-Dec, 2006 by Nathan Lichtman

Get me the epinephrine, stat!" cries the fictional emergency room doctor as he plunges into another life-and-death drama on TV. Over the course of the next 60 minutes, the doctors race to save the 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 with vital expertise and crucial support. Without their contributions, many doctors would find themselves overwhelmed.

If you are looking for a career with rapidly expanding opportunities, health care is it. Eight of the 20 fastest-growing fields are in health care, and more than 13.5 million people hold jobs in the health-care field, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The population in the 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 health professionals are on call to assist doctors in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

For just about every field of medicine, technicians (who hold two-year degrees or certificates) and technologists (who hold four-year degrees) assist physicians in the day-to-day activities of working with and treating patients. Technologists also help train technicians to better prepare for their 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 the physicians who ultimately treat the patients. They also work behind the scenes in laboratories, where they perform tests and diagnostic work that assist the doctor. So whether drawing blood, conducting scans, or analyzing tissues, the health pros you're about to meet are a backbone to the physicians and patients they serve.

Phlebotomist: Working Up Blood Tests

Who: Candice Huntley, 25

Where: University Health Services, University of Wisconsin, Madison

The Job: Phlebotomists carefully draw blood samples from patients. They work with nervous patients to keep them calm while drawing blood. They also organize, 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 phlebotomist 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.

Electrocardiograph Technician: Managing Machines

Who: Kevin Howze, 38

Where: Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit

The Job: Electrocardiograph (EKG) techs 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 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 to 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 associate 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 to scan internal organs (such as the liver, pancreas, 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

The Job: Medical laboratory technicians assist physicians by preparing, running, and analyzing laboratory tests on tissues and fluid samples to detect infections. Some technicians use machines that automatically analyze samples.

This Tech Says: "The best thing about the technology is you can work on a lot more specimens in a shorter amount of time. It's 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."