Physical therapy assistant jobs will grow 31.5% in Ohio through 2018. This job requires a associate’s degree and has an average salary of $51,189. Demand for this job will grow for several reasons:
• Improved patient access to physical therapy services, due to changes in insurance restrictions
• Growth in key service areas:
- The elderly population who are vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require assistance during physical therapy
- Baby-boomers, who will increasingly experience heart attacks and strokes, and need cardiac and physical rehabilitation
- Infant and trauma victim survival; improved rates from medical developments.
Annually, in Ohio, over 220 new jobs will be added in this field, though 2018. However, it will be a very competitive field and most states require:
• Licensure, registration or certification
• A degree from an accredited institution
• Passage of the National Physical Therapy Exam and sometimes a state exam.
• Continuing education credits to maintain licensure.
• CPR certification or a minimum number of hours worked in a clinical setting
Physical therapist assistants have clinical responsibilities and assist physical therapists in treating patients who have had accidents or who have disabilities. The goal is to improve mobility, relieve pain, and reduce or prevent physical disabilities. The physical therapy assistant:
• Helps patients exercise or use equipment
• Provides patient instruction, and therapies such as electrical stimulation, traction, ultrasound and massage.
• Keeps track of and reports patient responses to treatment.
A supporting, even more competitive position, “physical therapy aide”, does not require licensure and is under the supervision of a physical therapy assistant. The physical therapy aide gathers and prepares equipment, keeps the treatment area organized, and transport patients within the facility. Depending on the staffing levels of the facility, the aide or the assistant orders supplies, answers the phone, and fills out insurance forms and other paperwork.
About 75% percent of positions are health practitioner offices and hospitals. Home health agencies and hospitals typically have the best pay scale, although nursing care facilities, and outpatient care centers offer additional opportunities.
How to Find the Best College for a Physical Therapy Assistant Degree
The American Physical Therapy Association’s Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredits two-year programs, which are divided into academic coursework and clinical field experience in facilities.
Schools currently accredited in Ohio are:
Cleveland State University
College of Mount St Joseph
Ohio University
The Ohio State University
The University of Findlay
University of Cincinnati
University of Dayton
University of Toledo
Walsh University
Youngstown State University
Courses include algebra, English, anatomy and physiology, and psychology. Clinical work includes certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid, and hands-on patient experience.
When evaluating schools, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and to explore their teaching philosophy.
Tips for Getting Hired
On-the-job training is considered critical in this field. Experience leads to permanent and better positions. Special skills, such as medical coding and billing, are an advantage in the hiring process. A demonstrated skill as an effective team member with good patient rapport will also be important in hiring decisions. The American Physical Therapy Association also recognizes additional training in specialties, such as geriatric, pediatric, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, integumentary, and cardiopulmonary therapy.
Acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic facilities are expected to have the most job growth, particularly in rural areas, since physical therapists tend to cluster in more urban and suburban areas.
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career as a physical therapy assistant, contact: The American Physical Therapy Association, 1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1488. Internet: http://www.apta.org
My mission is to empower youth with: - The knowledge about career possibilities, and the education and training needed to attain them - The creative-thinking and emotional skills that make for good career decisions and which employers prefer; - And the resilience needed to flourish in life.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
High-Demand Careers in Ohio: Physician Assistant
Physician Assistant jobs will grow by 33.5% in Ohio through 2018. This job requires a Master’s degree and has an average salary of $83,886. The expansion of the healthcare industry is responsible for the job growth, with an increasing use of PAs by healthcare establishments for cost containment purposes.
Annually, in Ohio, over 99 new jobs will be added in this field, though 2018. This occupation should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks.
However, the number of jobs is greater than the number of practicing PAs because about 15% of them hold two or more jobs (for example, with a supervising physician and also in another healthcare facility).
PAs work in primary care (general internal medicine, pediatrics or family medicine), or in specialty areas, such as general and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and geriatrics. Most job growth will occur in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities, where it is difficult to attract physicians. A possible downside of these locations is the lack of close supervision.
Over 50% of PAs work in physicians’ offices, and about 25% in hospitals. The rest of the positions are in outpatient care centers (like health maintenance organizations), the Federal Government; and colleges or professional schools.
According to the national accrediting commission, physician assistants are prepared academically and clinically to provide health care services under the direction and supervision of a surgeon or doctor of medicine or osteopathy.
PAs make clinical decisions for primary and specialty care, and provide diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, and health maintenance services. PAs’ work includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice and may include patient instruction and counseling, educational, research, and administrative activities, such as making progress notes. A physician assistant (PA) is a specially qualified health care professional who provides medical care under the supervision of a licensed physician in a variety of health care settings.
As a member of a healthcare team, a PA’s span of control is wide and determined both by state law and the supervising physician. Prospective students should get familiar, and stay current, with the Ohio state law governing the scope of a PAs work. Physicians may delegate to PAs medical duties that are both within the physician’s scope of practice and aligned with the PA’s training and experience and state law.
He or she:
• Takes medical histories
• Examines and treat patients
• Orders or carries out therapy
• Orders and interprets laboratory tests and x rays
• Makes diagnoses
• Treats minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting
• Prescribes specific medications
• Performs managerial duties, such as ordering medical supplies or equipment
• Supervises medical technicians and assistants
• Makes house calls or goes to hospitals and nursing care facilities to check on patients, and then report back to the physician.
• PAs who specialize in surgery may work as first or second assistants during major surgery to provide preoperative and postoperative care.
How to Find the Best College for a Physician Assistant Degree
Attending a school accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant is critical to passing the national exam and obtaining a license. PAs are licensed and regulated by the Ohio State Medical Board, the same as physicians. About 80% of programs offer the master’s degree.
Most applicants have a college degree and typically, four years of health-related work experience. Nurses, EMTs, and paramedics often apply to these programs.
Schools current accredited in Ohio are:
Cuyahoga Community College / Cleveland State University
Kettering College Of Medical Arts
Marietta College
Medical University of Ohio at University of Toledo
Mount Union College (*provisional)
University Of Findlay (on probation)
The curriculum includes medical, behavioral, and social sciences courses that cover health policy and professional practice issues. Students are given an introduction to clinical medicine and patient assessment; and supervised clinical practice.
Classroom and laboratory instruction includes biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics.
Only the University of Toledo is included, as number 69, in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top schools nationwide for physician assistant training. The top-ranked are: The University of Iowa, Duke University, Emory University, George Washington University, The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of Utah.
In school, physicians, PAs and others provide instruction in a curriculum following the medical school model. Here, the relationship between PA and physician begins. Many accredited programs offer clinical experience, in affiliation with a medical school. PA students share classes, facilities and clinical rotations with medical students.
Physician assistant educational programs usually take at least 2 years to complete on a full-time basis. Most programs are at schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools, or 4-year colleges. Some are at community colleges or hospitals, or are part of the military.
When evaluating schools, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and to explore their teaching philosophy. PA programs include supervised clinical training in areas like family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatrics.
Tips for Getting Hired
PA students sometimes serve in one or more of clinical areas under the supervision of a physician who is seeking to hire a PA. The rotation may lead to permanent employment in one of these areas.
To obtain a license, physician assistants must complete an accredited education program and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which is open only to graduates of accredited programs and is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). After passing the exam, PAs are “Physician Assistant-Certified.”
To maintain certification, PAs must obtain 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years (as physician must do). PAs must then pass a national recertification exam every six years or complete an alternative program that combines learning experiences and a take-home examination.
Although the physician-PA relationship is critical, in many settings (particularly the growing rural and urban practices), close physician supervision is not possible, as a doctor may only be present a couple of days per week. In such cases, conferences with a supervising physician and other medical professionals are required by law.
According to the commission, excellent soft skills are, therefore, mandatory: “The role of the PA demands intelligence, sound judgment, intellectual honesty, appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to the patient’s welfare are essential attributes of the graduate PA.”
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career in Ohio as a physician assistant, contact: the Ohio Association for Physician Assistants, 4700 Reed Road, Suite N • Columbus, OH 43220 Tel: 800.292.4997 • Fax: 614.824.2103 • OAPA@OhioPA.com
For information a list of accredited programs, contact:
American Academy of Physician Assistants Information Center, 950 North Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.aapa.org
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistants, 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Johns Creek, Georgia 30097. Internet: http://www.arc-pa.org
For eligibility requirements and a description of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, contact: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Inc., 12000 Findley Rd., Suite 200, Duluth, GA 30097. Internet: http://www.nccpa.net
Annually, in Ohio, over 99 new jobs will be added in this field, though 2018. This occupation should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks.
However, the number of jobs is greater than the number of practicing PAs because about 15% of them hold two or more jobs (for example, with a supervising physician and also in another healthcare facility).
PAs work in primary care (general internal medicine, pediatrics or family medicine), or in specialty areas, such as general and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and geriatrics. Most job growth will occur in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities, where it is difficult to attract physicians. A possible downside of these locations is the lack of close supervision.
Over 50% of PAs work in physicians’ offices, and about 25% in hospitals. The rest of the positions are in outpatient care centers (like health maintenance organizations), the Federal Government; and colleges or professional schools.
According to the national accrediting commission, physician assistants are prepared academically and clinically to provide health care services under the direction and supervision of a surgeon or doctor of medicine or osteopathy.
PAs make clinical decisions for primary and specialty care, and provide diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive, and health maintenance services. PAs’ work includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice and may include patient instruction and counseling, educational, research, and administrative activities, such as making progress notes. A physician assistant (PA) is a specially qualified health care professional who provides medical care under the supervision of a licensed physician in a variety of health care settings.
As a member of a healthcare team, a PA’s span of control is wide and determined both by state law and the supervising physician. Prospective students should get familiar, and stay current, with the Ohio state law governing the scope of a PAs work. Physicians may delegate to PAs medical duties that are both within the physician’s scope of practice and aligned with the PA’s training and experience and state law.
He or she:
• Takes medical histories
• Examines and treat patients
• Orders or carries out therapy
• Orders and interprets laboratory tests and x rays
• Makes diagnoses
• Treats minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting
• Prescribes specific medications
• Performs managerial duties, such as ordering medical supplies or equipment
• Supervises medical technicians and assistants
• Makes house calls or goes to hospitals and nursing care facilities to check on patients, and then report back to the physician.
• PAs who specialize in surgery may work as first or second assistants during major surgery to provide preoperative and postoperative care.
How to Find the Best College for a Physician Assistant Degree
Attending a school accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant is critical to passing the national exam and obtaining a license. PAs are licensed and regulated by the Ohio State Medical Board, the same as physicians. About 80% of programs offer the master’s degree.
Most applicants have a college degree and typically, four years of health-related work experience. Nurses, EMTs, and paramedics often apply to these programs.
Schools current accredited in Ohio are:
Cuyahoga Community College / Cleveland State University
Kettering College Of Medical Arts
Marietta College
Medical University of Ohio at University of Toledo
Mount Union College (*provisional)
University Of Findlay (on probation)
The curriculum includes medical, behavioral, and social sciences courses that cover health policy and professional practice issues. Students are given an introduction to clinical medicine and patient assessment; and supervised clinical practice.
Classroom and laboratory instruction includes biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and medical ethics.
Only the University of Toledo is included, as number 69, in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top schools nationwide for physician assistant training. The top-ranked are: The University of Iowa, Duke University, Emory University, George Washington University, The University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of Utah.
In school, physicians, PAs and others provide instruction in a curriculum following the medical school model. Here, the relationship between PA and physician begins. Many accredited programs offer clinical experience, in affiliation with a medical school. PA students share classes, facilities and clinical rotations with medical students.
Physician assistant educational programs usually take at least 2 years to complete on a full-time basis. Most programs are at schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools, or 4-year colleges. Some are at community colleges or hospitals, or are part of the military.
When evaluating schools, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and to explore their teaching philosophy. PA programs include supervised clinical training in areas like family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, prenatal care and gynecology, geriatrics, emergency medicine, and pediatrics.
Tips for Getting Hired
PA students sometimes serve in one or more of clinical areas under the supervision of a physician who is seeking to hire a PA. The rotation may lead to permanent employment in one of these areas.
To obtain a license, physician assistants must complete an accredited education program and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, which is open only to graduates of accredited programs and is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). After passing the exam, PAs are “Physician Assistant-Certified.”
To maintain certification, PAs must obtain 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years (as physician must do). PAs must then pass a national recertification exam every six years or complete an alternative program that combines learning experiences and a take-home examination.
Although the physician-PA relationship is critical, in many settings (particularly the growing rural and urban practices), close physician supervision is not possible, as a doctor may only be present a couple of days per week. In such cases, conferences with a supervising physician and other medical professionals are required by law.
According to the commission, excellent soft skills are, therefore, mandatory: “The role of the PA demands intelligence, sound judgment, intellectual honesty, appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to the patient’s welfare are essential attributes of the graduate PA.”
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career in Ohio as a physician assistant, contact: the Ohio Association for Physician Assistants, 4700 Reed Road, Suite N • Columbus, OH 43220 Tel: 800.292.4997 • Fax: 614.824.2103 • OAPA@OhioPA.com
For information a list of accredited programs, contact:
American Academy of Physician Assistants Information Center, 950 North Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.aapa.org
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistants, 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Johns Creek, Georgia 30097. Internet: http://www.arc-pa.org
For eligibility requirements and a description of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, contact: National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Inc., 12000 Findley Rd., Suite 200, Duluth, GA 30097. Internet: http://www.nccpa.net
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
High-Demand Careers in Ohio: Athletic Trainer
Athletic Training jobs will grow by 35.6% in Ohio through 2018. This job requires a Bachelor’s degree and has an average salary of $42,860. Technological advances and an increased emphasis on preventive care (particularly in schools and employment settings) are also expected to increase the demand for athletic trainers. Most job growth will occur in the health industry, like doctor’s offices and ambulatory healthcare services.
Annually, over 29 new jobs will be added in this field in Ohio, though 2018. Both sports and non-sports work setting are common. About 60 percent of athletic trainers work for non-sports employers, like recreational or youth sports teams, colleges and professional schools or hospitals.
Athletic trainers help athletes and clients to rehabilitate from injuries. They assess injuries, and develop treatment plans, and apply tape, bandages, braces and other protective devices. They also educate people about how to avoid injuries through the proper use of equipment. Physicians collaborate with athletic trainers in all of these areas and often supervise athletic trainers’ work to some extent, depending on work setting.
How to Find the Best College for an Athletic Training Degree
Accredited colleges in or near Northeast Ohio are: Ashland University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein College, The University of Akron, The University of Findlay, The University of Mount Union, and The University of Toledo. A bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training or Sports Medicine includes education in the classroom and clinical settings. Courses include human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics.
Nationally, there is no published ranking of top athletic training programs. The best way to look, if you’re interested in rankings, is to use U.S. News and World Report’s Top Colleges and Universities lists, then search for nationally certified Athletic Training programs, using the listings published by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Programs. Look for schools that offer graduate level education. Resources for these programs should be optimized.
Once you find them, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and what internship support they can provide.
Tips for Getting Hired
Certification and/or licensure are increasing requirments for being hired for certain athletic trainer positions. And about 70 percent of certified athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree. To work in a high school setting, a teaching certificate or license may also be required.
Board certification is required for licensure, registration or both, which is required in 43 states, including Ohio. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited athletic
trainer program is part of the requirement for becoming certified by the Board of Certification.
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career as an athletic trainer, contact: The National Athletic Trainer Association, 2952 Stemmons Freeway #200, Dallas, TX 75247 214.637.6282 Career Center: 1.888.491.8833 Ext. 2029
Annually, over 29 new jobs will be added in this field in Ohio, though 2018. Both sports and non-sports work setting are common. About 60 percent of athletic trainers work for non-sports employers, like recreational or youth sports teams, colleges and professional schools or hospitals.
Athletic trainers help athletes and clients to rehabilitate from injuries. They assess injuries, and develop treatment plans, and apply tape, bandages, braces and other protective devices. They also educate people about how to avoid injuries through the proper use of equipment. Physicians collaborate with athletic trainers in all of these areas and often supervise athletic trainers’ work to some extent, depending on work setting.
How to Find the Best College for an Athletic Training Degree
Accredited colleges in or near Northeast Ohio are: Ashland University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Ohio Northern University, Otterbein College, The University of Akron, The University of Findlay, The University of Mount Union, and The University of Toledo. A bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training or Sports Medicine includes education in the classroom and clinical settings. Courses include human anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and biomechanics.
Nationally, there is no published ranking of top athletic training programs. The best way to look, if you’re interested in rankings, is to use U.S. News and World Report’s Top Colleges and Universities lists, then search for nationally certified Athletic Training programs, using the listings published by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Programs. Look for schools that offer graduate level education. Resources for these programs should be optimized.
Once you find them, I recommend that you look closely at the course listings offered, and talk directly to the professors who teach them to find out where their recent students are working and what internship support they can provide.
Tips for Getting Hired
Certification and/or licensure are increasing requirments for being hired for certain athletic trainer positions. And about 70 percent of certified athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree. To work in a high school setting, a teaching certificate or license may also be required.
Board certification is required for licensure, registration or both, which is required in 43 states, including Ohio. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited athletic
trainer program is part of the requirement for becoming certified by the Board of Certification.
As always, What’s Your Major? strongly recommends joining a professional association and attending local or national meetings to get a better understanding of the field and to kick off your job networking campaign. For additional information about a career as an athletic trainer, contact: The National Athletic Trainer Association, 2952 Stemmons Freeway #200, Dallas, TX 75247 214.637.6282 Career Center: 1.888.491.8833 Ext. 2029
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