Who are medical technician and medical technologist

Medical technician and medical technologist are highly skilled workers who work with physician and patient. They help doctor in many activities. Medical technician usually work in hospitals, clinics. They are differentiated most commonly by the level of education they receive. Some medical technician enter the field with a high school diploma and on-the-job training, but greater part of medical technician positions require a one- to two-year certificate program or associate’s degree. Many medical technologist positions require at least an associate’s degree, but a bachelor’s degree generally gives job candidates an edge on the competition and guarantees a better salary and increased opportunity for advancement. The health care industry employs many medical technician and medical technologist. Current medicine is increasingly dependent on sophisticated machinery to help make diagnoses, provide effective treatments, and keep the body functioning while patients undergo surgical procedure. These machines require the special skills of medical technician and medical technologist to operate properly. There are varying educational requirements, salaries, and advancement opportunities associated with these careers. An example of the evolving role of medical technology is in the field of heart disease. Doctors order a number of tests to discover heart disease more conclusively and at a much earlier stage. These include tests that discover heart sounds and murmurs, tests that record the heart’s electrical activity, stress tests, ultrasound tests (echocardiography), and procedures such as cardiac catheterization, in which a tube is inserted into a patient’s heart to detect blockages.

They help doctors in some procedures, such as the cardiac catheterization procedure, but most medical technician and medical technologist perform tests themselves and pass the results on to doctors for interpretation. Some medical technician and medical technologist, such as dialysis technicians and radiologic technologists, see patients all day every day, while others, such as medical laboratory and dental laboratory technicians, spend all their time in laboratories and rarely see patients at all. Medical technician and medical technologist careers are appealing for a very practical reason: They are a fast track to a good job. For someone who is interested in medicine but who wants neither the educational commitment nor full responsibilities of being a doctor, a career as a medical technician or technologist may be a good option. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the health care industry will create approximately three million new jobs by 2016. Employment in health care is projected to increase 22 percent during this period. Medical technician and medical technologist will continue to be in high demand, especially since the emphasis on preventive care requires more physicals and more tests.

Medical technician jobs and medical technologist jobs

Cardiovascular technologists assist cardiologists in diagnosing and treating cardiac diseases and blood vessel diseases. They can operate EKG machines, do Holter monitor and stress testing, and assist in cardiac catheterization procedures and cardiac ultrasound. These test help the cardiologist diagnose blood vessel diseases and heart diseases, follow up patients during treatment.

Dental laboratory technicians do dental appliances, such as bridges, crowns dentures, inlays, and braces, according to dentists’ written prescriptions. They do with ceramics, and metals plastics, using models of a patient’s mouth or teeth made from a physical model or digital impression done by the dentist. Some dental laboratory technicians perform a whole range of laboratory activities or only one area. Some specialties include making orthodontic appliances, such as braces for straightening teeth; applying layers of porcelain paste or acrylic resin over a metal framework to form crowns, bridges, and tooth facings; making and repairing wire frames and retainers for teeth used in partial dentures; and making and repairing full and partial dentures. Job titles often reflect a specialization. For example, technicians who make porcelain restorations are known as dental ceramicists.

Diagnostic medical sonographers, or sonographers, use advanced technology in the form of high-frequency sound waves similar to sonar to produce images of the internal body for analysis by radiologists and other physicians.

Dialysis technicians operate hemodialysis artificial kidney machines for patients with chronic renal failure. Kidney of patients does not work normally. Many hypertension and diabetic patients suffer renal failure. These patients require hemodialysis to remove the toxic substances and fluids out of their blood and sustain life. The fresh blood is then sent back to the body. Dialysis technicians also help educate family and the patient about dialysis.

Dietetic technicians work in hospitals, nursing homes, public health nutritional programs that require food service management and nutritional care services. Nutritionist give them instruction.

Electroneurodiagnostic technologists, sometimes called EEG technician and EMG technician, operate electronic instruments called electroencephalographs and electromyographs. These instruments measure and record the brain’s electrical activity and nerve – muscle activity. They can do technique themselves first and neurologist will review later.

Emergency medical technicians, often called EMTs, respond to medical emergencies to provide immediate treatment for ill or injured persons both on the scene and during transport to a medical facility. They function as part of an emergency medical team, and the range of medical services they perform varies according to their level of training and certification.

Histologic technicians perform basic laboratory procedures to prepare tissue specimens for microscopic examination. They process specimens to prevent deterioration and cut them using special laboratory equipment. They stain specimens with special dyes and mount the tissues on slides. Histologic technicians work closely with pathologists and other medical personnel to detect disease and illness.

Medical laboratory technicians carry out routine tests in medical laboratories. These tests help doctors and other professional medical personnel diagnose and treat diseases. Technicians do laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts; and make chemical and biological analyses of cells, tissue, blood, or other body specimens. They usually work under the supervision of a laboratory manager. Medical laboratory technicians may work in many fields, or specialize in one specific medical area, such as cytology (the study of cells), hematology (the study of blood, especially on the cellular level), serology (the study and identification of antibodies found in the blood), or histology (the study of body tissue).

Medical record technicians collect, code, and keep in good condition patients’ records. They arrange information into rows, analyze data from groups of records in order to put together reports. They review records for wholeness and accuracy; allot codes to the diseases, operations, diagnoses, and treatments in accord with detailed standardized classification systems; and post the codes on the medical record. They make written medical reports; maintain arrangement of patient data, diseases, operations, and other categories of information; compile patient census data; and file records. In addition, they may direct the day-to-day operations of the medical records department. They keep the flow of records and reports to and from other departments, and sometimes assist medical staff in some studies or research that get information in the records

Medical technologists, also called clinical laboratory technologists, are health professionals whose jobs include many health care roles. They perform laboratory tests essential to the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. They work under the direction of laboratory managers and pathologists.

Nuclear medicine technologists prepare and administer chemicals known as radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive drugs) used in the diagnosis and treatment of certain diseases. These drugs are administered to a patient and are absorbed in specific locations in the patient’s body, thus allowing technologists to use diagnostic equipment to image and analyze their concentration in certain tissues or organs. Technicians also perform laboratory tests on patients’ blood and urine to determine certain body chemical levels.

Ophthalmic laboratory technicians make prescription eyeglass lenses. They edge, cut, grind, and finish lenses according to instructions provided by dispensing ophthalmologists. Now they use computerized technology to make lenses more than manually.

Orthotic technicians and prosthetic technicians, sometimes called medical appliance technicians, make, fit, repair, and maintain orthotic and prosthetic devices according to specifications and under the guidance of orthotists and prosthetists. Orthotic devices, some-times also referred to as orthopedic appliances, are braces used to support weak or ineffective joints or muscles or to correct physical defects, such as spinal deformities. Prosthetic devices are artificial limbs and plastic cosmetic devices. These devices are designed and fitted to the patient by prosthetists or orthotists. Orthotic and prosthetic technicians read the specifications prepared by orthotists and prosthetists to determine the materials and tools required to make the device. Part of their work involves making models of patients’ torsos, limbs, or amputated areas. Most of the technicians’ efforts, however, go into the actual building of the devices. Some technicians specialize in either orthotic devices or prosthetic devices, while others are trained and able to work with both types. A technician whose work is closely related to that of the orthotic and prosthetic technician is the

Phlebotomy technicians help doctors to draw blood from donors and patients in clinics, hospitals, blood banks, physicians’ offices, or other facilities. They confirm patient ID numbers, and draw blood from a vein or artery. They name, transfer, and store blood for analysis or for some medical purposes.

Psychiatric technicians work with mentally ill, emotionally disturbed, or developmentally disabled people. Their duties vary considerably depending on place of work but may include helping patients with hygiene and house-keeping and recording patients’ pulses, temperatures, and respiration rates. Psychiatric technicians participate in treatment programs by having one-on-one sessions with patients, some-times under a nurse’s or counselor’s direction. Another prime aspect of the psychiatric technician’s work is reporting observations of patients’ behavior to medical and psychiatric staff. Psychiatric technicians may also fill out admitting forms for new patients, contact patients’ families to arrange conferences, issue medications from the dispensary, and maintain records.

Radiologic technologists operate equipment that creates images of a patient’s body tissues, organs, and bones for the purpose of medical diagnoses and therapies. These images allow physicians to know the exact nature of a patient’s injury or disease, such as the location of a broken bone or the confirmation of an ulcer. Before an X-ray examination, radio-logic technologists may administer drugs or chemical mixtures to the patient to better highlight internal organs. They place the patient in the correct position between the X-ray source and film and protect body areas that are not to be exposed to radiation. After determining the proper duration and intensity of the exposure, they operate the controls to beam X-rays through the patient and expose the photographic film. They may operate computer-aided imaging equipment that does not involve X rays and may help to treat diseased or affected areas of the body by exposing the patient to specified concentrations of radiation for prescribed times.

Respiratory therapists evaluate, treat, and care for patients suffered pulmonary diseases. Respiratory technicians have many of the same duty as therapists; however, technicians do not manage other respiratory care workers. They operate mechanical ventilators and other respiratory devices with the instruction of physicians. They observe the functioning of the equipment and the patients’ response to the therapy and maintain the patients’ charts. They also help patients with breathing exercises, and inspect, test, and order repairs for respiratory therapy equipment.

Special procedures technologists are trained individuals who operate medical diagnostic imaging equipment such as computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, and assist in imaging procedures such as angiography and cardiac catheterization (CC). They are employed in various health care settings such as hospitals, clinics, and imaging centers. Their skills will continue to be in high demand as the population ages and cancer and heart disease continue to be major health concerns.

Surgical technologists or surgical technicians work in the operating room with surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists during and after surgery. They guarantee a safe and sterile environment. To prepare a patient for surgery, they may wash, shave, and disinfect the area where the surgical procedure will be made. They arrange the instruments equipment, and supplies in the operating room according to the preference of the surgeons and nurses. During the operation, they adjust lights and other equipment as needed. They count sponges, needles, and instruments used during the operation, hand instruments and supplies to the surgeon, and hold retractors and cut sutures as directed. They maintain specified supplies of fluids (for example, saline, plasma, blood, and glucose), and may assist in administering these fluids. Following the operation, they may clean and restock the operating room and wash and sterilize the used equipment using germicides, autoclaves, and sterilizers, although in most larger hospitals these tasks are done by other central service personnel.

Medical technician schools

There are dozens and dozens of options when it comes to choosing a school. You can check with your local community college to see if they offer this kind of training. In either case as mentioned previously be sure it is accredited. The vast majority of employers will not hire you if your training was obtained from a non accredited program.

Other options you should look for depend on your own needs. Location is important, especially if you’re employed. If you cannot find an accredited program near you, there are several qualified programs available online. Again, we can’t stress the importance of being sure the program is accredited.

Something else to consider is financial aid. Let’s face it. Education is very expensive. Make sure the program you choose is also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This is the only way you will be eligible to apply for government grants and scholarships. The popular Pell Grant pays for tuition and fees. Some non-profit organizations offer educational grants as well. Last but not least you can apply for a student loan to pay for your education.

 

Medical technician and medical technologist certification

An advanced degree such as a bachelor’s or master’s is not necessary or required. However, if you hope to advance your career further in the future, it is highly recommended that you think about getting more education.

But in the beginning of your career, you’ll need to get your associate’s degree in medical technology. It typically takes 2 years to get an associate’s degree. There are also several technical and vocational schools that offer training. These offer programs that can be completed in a little as 9 months or as long as 22 months. Just make sure that the program or school of your choice is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences.

In most states you will also have to be licensed. You will need to check with your state to find out specifically what is required before you can become a medical technician.

You can choose to become certified if you want. Some individuals don’t want to go through the hassle of spending more time learning. They want to get a job as soon as possible. Well the problem with that idea is simple.

Those who take the time to get certified are taken a lot more seriously by potential employers. Plus the majority of doctors prefer to work with a medical technician who has taken the time to obtain their certification. Doing so says a lot about an individual’s determination and abilities. Organizations such as the American Medical Technologist or AMT offer certification.

A certified technician is more desirable due to the complex nature of various situations that may arise at any given moment. Doctors and nurses feel a lot more confident knowing they have a tech that has taken and passed a rigorous exam. They know this individual is already capable of executing certain functions.

The bottom line is, the more prepared you are in the beginning the better for your career.

If you have a keen interest in health field then a career as a medical technician or medical technologist might be right for you.

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