As an unexpected result of the more outlandish “therapies” people are choosing for their pets, they are also creating some problems for them. Treating animals like humans can mean an increase in diseases previously less common in animals, such as diabetes and severe allergies. Keeping pets like dogs and cats in an overly sterile home environment, for instance, can mean that their immune systems do not get the workout needed to initiate proper immune system functioning. As a result, the immune system in pets begins to react to things like pollen or other environmental factors that are not generally a threat to the body at all.

Likewise, people who feed their pets too much “people food” including food with high fat, salt and sugar content can contribute to the rising levels of other pet health challenges, such as obesity and diabetes. While this trend is unfortunate, it also provides an opportunity for veterinary technicians to also assist in an educational role for pet owners. Veterinary technicians are needed across many settings to assist with the increasing number of pet illnesses related to poor decision-making on the part of pet owners.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for veterinary technologists and technicians is increasing at a rate of 52% and is predicted to do so throughout the decade. For students and career changers interested in this field, it is possible to enter the profession as a veterinary technician with a two-year degree. A veterinary technologist performs specialized medical tests on pets; therefore, professionals in this career track need a four-year degree and additional experience to gain licensure. While the job can be demanding, the intrinsic rewards are many.

Helping people learn how to make better decisions about the health of their pet, as well as easing the pain of animals suffering from disease or injury are two of the main reasons why animal lovers gravitate toward these careers. In addition to a wide range of clinical knowledge, a successful vet tech needs to have a patient and caring personality. The ability to communicate clearly and remain calm in emergency situations is also vital for longevity in this field.

References:

1. http://media.americanpetproducts.org/press.php?include=143498
2. http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-08-05/the-pet-economy
3. www.nbcnews.com/id/21755451/ns/health-pet_health/t/just-people-diabetes-rising-pets/#.UXsP1Up2CSohttp://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-08-05/the-pet-economy
4. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/26/pet.allergies

Understanding the latest research into how the brain integrates and normalizes a prosthetic tool can help health professionals meet the needs of their patients in a more holistic way. The integration of prosthetics with the brain is still in its infancy, but the decade ahead promises astounding applications and many new jobs for students interested in this growing field of study.

Currently one of the most interesting developments in prosthetics involves electrodes integrated with body cells, such as nerve endings, to produce communication with the brain. One of the areas of quickly advancing therapy involves the use of a prosthetic eye that is fitted with electrodes that stimulate special cells in the eye called ganglion cells. These cells are vital to the vision process.

The ganglion cells and the electrodes can communicate with the brain to produce a rough visual field, but more work is needed to perfect process. When a person who has been blind their entire life regains vision, physical therapy is often needed to help him or her adjust to developing depth perception and other visual responses that most sighted individuals take for granted.

Another exciting advancement is in the development of computerized prosthetic limbs. Scientists have recently started using special implants to help the body better integrate the prosthetic limb and give the patient an opportunity for more coordinated movement.

With this new technology, a tiny cuplike structure is surgically implanted into a nerve at the interface of the prosthetic limb and body cells. The cup is seeded with muscle tissue that will integrate with the nerve cells and do the job of relaying impulses from the brain to the nerve tissue, which then will deliver that signal to the electrodes on the electronic prosthetic limb and produce the desired movement.

Health science students, physical therapists and behavioral scientists who study biofeedback are all working together in research settings to run clinical trials, collect data and improve the prosthetics for the patients they serve. The most recent research findings into how people integrate prosthetics have also provided better insight into how the body perceives tools like a wheelchair in patients who have been wheelchair-bound for an extensive period of time. Recent data suggests that the brain constantly updates signals from the body in order to create a holistic sense of self.

The automatic brain communication that becomes second nature to a wheelchair user when they are just going about their daily routine supports the conclusion that the chair becomes integrated to one’s sense of self. This holistic approach to prosthetics or wheelchairs opens new avenues for rehabilitative therapies that reflect the philosophy of this new biological data.

As medicine continues to advance, boundaries between fields of medicine become more blurred. For physical therapists and other behavioral science students interested in the body-brain connection with prosthetics, it is an exciting time to enter the field.

In addition to a sound educational background in health science and medicine, most researchers in the field are also delving into other specialty areas such as IT as well as materials science and engineering so that they can work with teams on producing the next generation of responsive and fully integrated prosthetic limbs.

References:

1. http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/10/muscle-integration-with-prosthetics-and.html
2. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130306221135.htm
3. http://www.livescience.com/22373-an-artificial-eye-that-can-see.html

Husband and wife team Albert Maguire and Jean Bennett have been working on devising a gene therapy protocol to treat specific forms of blindness for over 20 years. Their main work has focused on a very rare condition called Leber’s congenital amaurosis where a mutated gene prevents the retina from incorporating vitamin A into the signal process needed to support proper vision.

Dr. Bennett is the research scientist of the pair while her husband, Dr. Maguire, is an ocular surgeon. Once trials on mice were successful, they tried their gene therapy on a blind dog whose vision was subsequently restored once the corrective gene was inserted into the proper location in the retina. Next, they were ready for their first human patients.

As technology improved and the human genome project findings became available, the pair was able to perfect their treatment method. The treatment uses a harmless virus to carry the corrective gene into the cells of the retina exactly where the defective genes fail to do their job. Dr. Maguire injects the gene into the retina in a short out-patient procedure. The first human patients treated with this technique were 12 individuals of various ages who were blinded from the genetic mutation since birth.

In all cases vision improved. The youngest patients improved most significantly because over time the disorder can cause the optic nerve to be less responsive. While Leber’s congenital amaurosis is rare (occurring in approximately 1 in 80,000 births), the Maguire-Bennett team hopes to apply their success to tackle macular degeneration – the leading cause of blindness in the elderly.

Today’s ocular professionals and medical scientists have the advantage of developments in the study of genomics to provide exciting new career paths. As competition heats up in labs across the country to develop the most comprehensive therapies, highly skilled lab techs, assistants and other research professionals will be needed to support the amazing medical applications of gene therapy across a wide variety of fields.

In addition to successfully treating blindness, the newest gene therapies have also halted the progression of some forms of leukemia and decreased the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Whether medical scientists wish to work behind the scenes in a lab or directly with patients in clinical trials, the growing expansion of therapies such as these can mean unprecedented opportunities at all levels. Government agencies, university medical centers and private research firms are all in need of well-trained professionals to support ongoing advancements in the field of gene therapy.

In order to secure an opportunity in a cutting-edge research lab, professionals must seek out quality education as well as valuable hands-on experience. With the flexibility of online learning, current students, career changers and those currently working in health sciences can polish their skills and build the knowledge necessary to secure competitive internships and pursue other beneficial opportunities in the innovative medical field of gene therapy.

References:

1. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120208152252.htm
2. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Gene-Therapy-in-a-New-Light.html
3. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729104.100-gene-therapy-cures-leukaemia-in-eight-days.html
4. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/04/12/brain-injection-gene-treatment-parkinsons-disease_n_1420261.html

Experienced health professionals are no strangers to avian flu. Nearly a decade ago, the spread of the H5N1 strain of avian flu initiated world-wide pandemic preparedness responses and exercises. The flu virus killed 60% of the 622 people who contracted it and spread over 15 countries. Health officials are being guardedly optimistic about this new strain of avian flu. H7N9 does not seem to be spreading rapidly and no human to human transmission has been documented in family situations where the patient was living in close proximity to other people.

The illness causes severe respiratory symptoms with fever, shortness of breath and coughing. While no travel restrictions are in place, the CDC does recommend that travelers to China avoid contact with live chickens, as in open air markets. Once cooked, the poultry meat is fine to eat, according to health authorities. Poultry that are affected by the virus outwardly appear to be healthy so it is hard for officials to track which populations of birds are carrying the disease.

Luckily H7N9 does appear to responding to antiviral medication if caught in time. For healthcare workers, being vigilant and practicing good hand-washing habits is the best prevention of the spread of most diseases, H7N9 included. Nurses and other direct care providers are often the best ally a patient has for a rapid response to a developing illness. Asking good questions about possible exposure when a patient presents with respiratory illness is now vital to saving lives for those exposed to the H7N9 strain of avian flu in China – so far there are no confirmed cases anywhere else.

For allied health professionals, quality training pays off in unexpected circumstances – like dealing with a potential pandemic-causing illness. Having the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to help early identification of possible victims is one positive step toward preventing transmission. While no patient-to-patient transmission has been documented in this current outbreak, viruses can mutate very quickly and can later become transmissible among people. For patients approaching healthcare workers with questions, concerns or visiting to rule out a possible exposure, receiving calm, caring attention is essential for reducing possible panic.

When unexpected situations arise, allied health professionals are essential to support the research, diagnosis and treatment of patients caught in the middle of an emerging outbreak. As direct care providers, strong patient advocates and sources of the most updated patient education, allied health professionals not only support healing, but also promote understanding for patients all over the world who come to them seeking advice and healing.

References:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/avian-flu-h7n9-china.htm
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2013_04_03/en/index.html

Vaccines can be highly effective against the spread of contagious diseases. However, since Edward Jenner’s first vaccine in 1796, the only human illness that has been completely eradicated by vaccination is smallpox. The World Health Organization announced that smallpox had been completely eradicated on May 8, 1980 and hopes that by the end of 2018 they can make a similar announcement for polio.

CDC leaders believe that this goal is completely attainable with the current increased funding through a number of organizations including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In addition, the goal has inspired intensive participation by increased numbers of healthcare workers across the world. For health professionals looking to take a direct part in this historical moment in time, the CDC is still looking for volunteers to assist in the efforts.

Through their “Stop the Transmission of Polio” program (STOP), skilled health professionals can volunteer for training to work in remote locations where the administration of polio vaccines and disease monitoring are needed most. Travel and per diem payment for food and lodging is included along with training. For allied health professionals seeking international experience and a chance to have a direct hand in eradicating polio forever, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. While the locations can be remote and outside communication may be difficult at times, the experience of taking part in the eradication of a disease that has crippled over 20 million people in modern times is a strong incentive for the thousands of people who have volunteered their time since the world-wide program began in 1988.

In addition to the doctors and nurses who work with the STOP program, the CDC seeks direct field workers, data management volunteers and professionals to handle program communications. A wide variety of skills are needed to address the STOP program needs throughout the countries that still need to mitigate the spread of polio. Medical and non-medical personnel with a wide range of talents are needed to bring about the 2018 goal. For more information about participating in this worthwhile cause, see: http://www.cdc.gov/polio/stop. For more information about pursuing an important career in an allied health field get matched with a compatible program for you.

References:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm79sp.html
http://www.cdc.gov/polio/updates/
http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/poliomyelitis/en
http://www.polioeradication.org/Portals/0/Document/InfectedCountries/India/PolioIndiaFactSheet.pdf

1. When learning new material, experience it in different ways.

The brain uses the senses to integrate material and make memories for later recall. Creating diagrams, making study questions, reading aloud and quizzing another student may all help provide opportunities to experience the information in a different way. Re-reading large passages of text without using it in a different context is not as effective as revisiting the material in a more experiential way.

2. The brain likes order and patterns.

Organize information effectively. Facts are easier to remember if they are assembled logically. When trying to remember large complicated diagrams, try to see smaller patterns or connections between a subset of the information. Use the analytical and the artistic sides of the brain when describing what a structure looks like. The use of color to mark patterns or to distinguish manageable chunks of information may help the brain to recall complicated processes, formulas and anatomical diagrams.

3. The brain enjoys social interactions and pleasurable experiences.

Share your learning. Studying in a group can help recall. Making quizzes for another student and going over them socially, as well as playing memory games with flashcards is beneficial to learners of all ages. Creating crossword puzzles or just sitting and talking through a professor’s PowerPoint presentation are all ways to support effective learning. Keeping a positive outlook and taking breaks when feeling overly stressed is important toward maintaining the positive learning environment necessary to build a strong permanent storehouse of academic information.

4. Get plenty of exercise. The brain needs oxygen.

Taking breaks to walk briskly may enhance memory by increasing oxygen levels in the blood. In addition, active engagement in learning material can be diminished by sitting in one place for too long, especially if a feeling of boredom begins to settle in over time. When looking for ways to restore energy, a quick walk may do more lasting good for most learners than a cup of coffee.

5. Locate factual information in more than one place.

Utilize all your study resources. When studying vocabulary or diagrams, reading the text passages that explains the words while reviewing the other class materials such as handouts, PowerPoint slides and textbook related web animations can enhance learning. Reviewing all the different materials provided and noting the nuances in the presentation of information can provide strong study clues. For instance, words in boldface type or terms explained in several different ways will most likely appear on future exams.

6. Keep a regular schedule – the brain likes positive habits.

While work or extracurricular activities may prevent most students from keeping the exact same schedule every week, maintaining a consistent schedule is important for effective memorizing. Logging in the hours spent each week can be one way to be sure that cramming doesn’t become a habit. Effective studying requires time, patience and practice.

7. Repetition is key for long-term memory.

Be sure to review before mastering new concepts. A portion of each study session should be set aside to review a concept or set of terms from the last study session. The brain needs repetition for information to make it into long term memory, so reviewing mastered information is just as important as learning new material.

8. Make an individual strategy; pay attention to what works best.

Every person learns differently. Brain-based learning gives insight into general patterns of learning and can be beneficial to understanding learning in many ways. The specific nuances for what works best for any one individual will vary. For some students, creating color coded binders for each body system and keeping information compartmentalized works best. For others, a head-to-toe system or a numerical system of organizing large amounts of information may work better. While organizing information is necessary for learning, the specific strategies that work best will vary from person to person.

9. Eat a balanced meal and get enough sleep

The brain needs proper nourishment and rest. Downtime is important for proper brain development and learning to take place. Eating a balanced meal before studying can provided all the nutrients needed for an efficiently working brain. In addition, getting enough rest is the best way to be sure the body is getting all the restorative time it needs to maintain a healthy energy level conducive to learning.

10. Be engaged and active. Learning is a life-long process

From sharing knowledge with others to participating in study groups to reading related articles in health magazines, creating a sustained level of intellectual engagement helps create strong habits of active learning. While exploring peripheral topics, the brain is still integrating and storing facts covered in the last study session.

The field of brain-based learning has contributed a deeper understanding of what constitutes “best practice” teaching and learning in recent years. With the huge amounts of information covered in coursework, as well as the need to remember information for years to come, allied health students are among the best group of students to put this set of knowledge to the test. Understanding and utilizing tips related to how brains learn best may help promote more positive and effective study sessions, as well as possibly raise personal test scores.

For nurses looking for interesting ideas to present at their spring health fair, the American Cancer Foundation offers tremendously helpful information related to the number one most prevalent cancer in the U.S. – skin cancer.

Fast Facts about Skin Cancer:

• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
• Over two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer annually.
• Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidences of cancers of the prostate, breast, colon and lung.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer at some point in their lives.
• People who use indoor ultraviolet (UV) tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma than those who have never used indoor tanning devices.
• The incidence of melanoma increased by 800 percent among young women and 400 percent among young men from 1970 to 2009.
• One person dies of melanoma every hour (every 57 minutes).
• An estimated 9,480 people will die of melanoma in 2013.
• Melanoma accounts for less than five percent of skin cancer cases, but the vast majority of skin cancer deaths.
• Of the seven most common cancers in the US, melanoma is the only one whose incidence is currently increasing.

Skin Cancer a Worthwhile Presentation Topic for Spring Health Fair

Through promoting awareness programs such as the Skin Cancer Foundation’s “Sun Smart” sun safety program, allied health students of all specialties can help educate community members about the importance of protecting skin from UV radiation. In addition to a scripted and ready-to-deliver education program, the Skin Cancer Foundation also offers images and education about the five early warning signs of skin cancer, which is another great health fair resource.

For nurses and other allied health students looking for a salient topic for upcoming spring health fairs, skin cancer is one topic that can generate life-long learning opportunities for people of all ages. For instance, parents should know that having just one bad sunburn can increase their child’s risk of skin cancer later in life. In addition, some of the most commonly burned areas of the body are the top of the ears, the nose and the back of the neck. Children and young adults who play sports may easily forget to cover these areas, so creating educational pamphlets to distribute to parents and kids is a great service to support the long-term health of community children.

As adults age, their skin becomes more susceptible to sunburn, therefore sharing information about skin care with older adults and their caregivers is another way to support community health initiatives across the lifespan.

Remember to Share the Good News

Many people are scared away by discussions of cancer, but there are actually many positive facts to share with community members when discussing skin cancer. While skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers, prevention greatly reduces the risk. With early detection, treatment is generally successful and the cancer does not return. The most lethal type of skin cancer only occurs in 5% of all skin cancer cases, so the vast majority of skin cancers are preventable and/or treatable. In addition, education plays a vital role in the prevention of any disease.

When allied health students share their knowledge with the community members, those people then can spread the news to other people in their families and community. Spring health fairs are a great experience for nurses and other allied health students. They offer opportunities to build professional soft skills while at the same time serving as an important educational resource for fellow community members.

References:

http://www.skincancer.org
http://www.cancer.org

This family of bacteria is problematic for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it is resistant to nearly all known antibiotics and combination treatments attempted over the last decade. Occurring most often in hospital settings, this microbe infects patients, causing a potentially lethal infection.

In addition to being resistant to even the most aggressive antibiotics, this group of nightmare microbes can easily increase antibiotic resistance in other bacteria in the environment. If the resistance is widely spread to bacteria such as pathogenic E. coli (the bacteria responsible for common urinary tract infections) the results could be monumentally catastrophic.

Currently a number of treatments are most often linked to CRE. These include:

• Urinary (bladder) catheters
• Intravenous (vein) catheters
• Ventilators (breathing machines)
• Long courses of certain antibiotics

Most often CRE infections are thought to be spread from person-to-person. For healthcare workers, washing hands thoroughly between patients (even where gloves are used) is vital to mitigating the spread of this serious bacteria strain.

Bacteria can easily be spread while re-gloving. Healthcare workers in a hurry may slip off old gloves and contaminate their hands and then re-contaminate new gloves while putting them on if they do not wash their hands between gloving. In addition, there is some evidence to suggest that some hand sanitizers are ineffective against these bacteria, so rigorous hand washing with soap and water remains the number one way to diminish possible cross-contamination.

Hospitals, nursing homes and residential long-term care facilities are among the top settings currently experiencing increased cases of CRE.  Because CRE has a death rate of 50% for the people who become infected with it, the Centers for Disease Control is engaged in a comprehensive plan to document, track and prevent the spread of CRE.

In order to address the concerns of healthcare workers and healthcare leaders across the nation, the CDC has scheduled an informational Internet chat on Monday, March 25^th 2013 at 2 PM, ET. The chat will be led by CDC Director Tom Frieden. For more information about CRE or the upcoming medical chat, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2013/dpk-vs-hai.html.

On one side is the explosion in the growth of jobs for professionals in allied health fields. On the other is growth in home-based businesses. When combined with the requisite educational credentials, it means the opening of new career doors for those just starting out as well as adult learners transitioning to something new.

Allied health refers to professions that are distinct from dentistry, nursing, medicine and pharmacy. People in these fields work within the healthcare system, offering various services to patients and other health professionals to make the system function smoothly. Radiation therapists, physical therapists and health information technicians or billing specialists are some popular allied health fields. About 6 million professionals work in allied health jobs, and that’s likely to grow by another 3 million by the end of the decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Then there is the trend toward home-based businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that over half of all small businesses launched in the last decade have been home-based.  That amounts to 24 million.

So where do the two come together?

Not every one of the 80+professions falling under the allied health banner has to be practiced in a hospital, clinic or medical/healthcare facility. Some lend themselves nicely to be outsourced services performed by individuals who have launched their own businesses from home to help meet growing needs. Two of the specialties that are particularly suited for home-based work are medical coding and billing and medical transcription.

Medical coding requires knowing the universal medical coding system and using it to manage patient files, ensuring they meet federal regulations and insurance requirements. It’s the first step of the billing process, with medical billing being the second. In addition to applying the medical codes for procedures to create invoices, these professionals also do the processing and submit claims to both private insurers and Medicare. They also manage claims and prepare claim appeals. This career typically requires at the least, specialized training that covers the basics – from medical and insurance terminology to medical practice management systems and billing and coding applications.

Medical transcription involves converting voice-recorded reports by physicians about patient’s conditions into text. Accuracy is key. The role requires an in-depth knowledge of medical terminology, a good understanding of medical procedures and treatments and a mind for details. It takes a high school degree, or equivalent, and specialized training that results in either a medical transcription certificate or associate’s degree.

Once you’ve received the training and necessary certifications for either specialty, you’ll find it helpful to make self-employment as a home-based business a goal, but one best achieved if you first find employment in a setting that meets your interests.

This doesn’t have to be a forever job, but long enough for you to be able to cite on-the-job experience while also growing confidence and a network of referral sources while gathering testimonials. It should also enable you to put money aside for necessary startup costs.

Other helpful steps to get you started:

• Research your market. Check with physicians and medical facilities in your area. Do they more commonly farm out billing and transcription services or handle them internally? What facets of billing do outside companies do – insurance claims only or other accounting? What software is preferred? For transcriptions, is analog or digital more common? What are competitive rates and billing approaches for independent practitioners in your area?  As a guide, median salary for medical coding and billing experts is $32,500; for medical transcriptionists, its $32,900, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• Save for startup costs. In addition to office furniture and supplies, you will need a computer, printer, fax machines and Internet access. Your biggest expense as a billing expert will be specialized medical billing software (beginning at approximately $500). For the medical transcriptionist, you will also need to invest in the transcription machine (can be several hundred dollars). You’ll also want to have a “nest egg” to tide you over during your launch period.
• Develop a business plan. This charts the course you will take as a business owner. It outlines what form of business ownership you’ll adopt, such as sole proprietorship or sub-chapter S. It also identifies your market and who your likeliest prospects are. It also outlines your financial plan, including your billing rates.
• Market your business. Whether you use flyers or something fancier, you’ll want to have a handout to supplement your business card to either mail to likely prospects or distribute at events. Networking is going to be the best way to raise awareness and get to know more people who are in a position to refer business to you. This may take you to meetings of the local chamber of commerce or of specialty associations catering to various medical professions in your area.

Self-employment in a home-based business is not for everyone. It takes discipline and organization and a certain level of comfort with risk-taking. However, combined with the right capabilities to meet growing marketplace needs, it is an opportunity for those who value a flexible and independent work environment to establish and maintain a successful career.

Since the beginning of the recession in late 2007, the U.S. Department of Labor shows the healthcare sector has experienced a cumulative job growth of 10.1 percent. Non-healthcare related employment, on the other hand, has dropped by 4.6 percent. Looking ahead, Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce projects that 5.6 million new jobs will be created in the sector by 2020.

And many of the types of positions behind the growth will expose professionals to not a single drop of blood. Here is a look at some of the fastest growing:

Pharmacy Technician -  Pharmacy technicians work under the direct supervision of pharmacists in the retail environment, filling prescriptions for medications, mixing them, and distributing them to patients. This part- or full-time job involves considerable on-the-job training, and, increasingly, either a college education or certification (which some states require) through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association.  Median pay, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is $28,400 annually.

Healthcare Administrator - These professionals focus on business operations of the medical office, with responsibilities as varied as the environments in which they can work:  billing, patient interaction, scheduling, and, at the highest levels, managing the overarching financial resources of the organization. This can be in the practice setting, or within hospitals, nursing homes or clinics, among others. A bachelor’s degree is required, at the least, with coursework focusing on such areas as accounting, budgeting, health economics and human resources administration. Increasingly, however, employers are requiring master’s degrees in health administration, with such study areas as health services, public and business administration. Median annual salary according to the BLS is $84,270.

Physical Therapy Assistant - Patients who have undergone surgery or are recovering from an illness or an injury often need physical therapy to aid in the recovery process, and the physical therapy assistant supports both therapists and patients in seeing this through. Duties can range from monitoring patients to helping them with their workouts and in using the equipment that might be utilized in the process. Physical therapy can be performed in a variety of environments, including practitioner offices, nursing homes and hospitals. An associate’s degree is required by most states to perform this physically challenging job, which commands a median annual salary of $49,690.

Medical Billing Specialists - These professionals are trained in the various facets of medical billing. They apply the medical codes for procedures to create invoices and do the processing, working with the parties responsible for paying them (patients and insurers). Medical billing specialists submit claims to both private insurers and Medicare, and also are called upon to manage the disposition of insurance fraud cases that may arise. They also may monitor claims and prepare claim appeals. They are in demand by hospitals, physicians’ offices and insurance companies, among others.  There is no fixed educational criterion for this profession, but, at the least, most employers require certificate training that covers medical terminology, medical billing software and procedures and medical coding. According to www.medicalbillingandcoding.org, the certified professional with a bachelor’s degree earned an average annual salary of $51,389 in 2010. The non-certified professional with the same degree earned $47,421.

Dietitian -  If you have an interest in food and its relationship to a healthy lifestyle, becoming a dietitian or nutritionist might be for you. Dietitians devise meal plans and nutrition program that make a difference.  They work in a variety of environments, from hospitals and long-term care facilities to health spas. Distinct jobs under the general heading include clinical dietitians, medical nutrition therapists for hospitals or long-term care facilities, and management dietitians, who create meal programs for hospitals, cafeterias and food corporations. Most earn their bachelor’s degrees in dietetics, food or nutrition, followed by considerable time in training. According to the BLS, median pay is $53,250 annually.

Health Informatics - Health information technicians and managers are responsible for patient information in a hospital or physician’s office. Technicians organize and maintain databases of patient records, analyze the data and track outcomes. They typically have an associate’s degree and employers usually also require certification as a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Health information managers have deeper capabilities; in addition to database skills, they must know medical coding, software, terminology and industry rules and regulations. They effectively bridge the gap between healthcare practitioners and computer and data processing specialists. Employers usually require at least a bachelor’s degree, along with certification.  Median salaries for technicians are $32,350, according to BLS.

Radiation Therapists - Radiation therapists are part of the medical team working with cancer patients, specialists in using the machine that aims x-rays at cancer cells to shrink or eliminate them. In addition to working with patients, they usually will also be charged with duties such as maintaining the equipment and keeping detailed records of patient treatments. This job requires a formal training program that usually leads to an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in radiation therapy. Most states also have licensing requirements. Median salary is $74,980.

All of these career paths have very promising outlooks and don’t involve contact with blood. To take advantage and get started, dig deeper into the educational requirements of those options that are most attractive to you, and then check out schools that offer education programs to fit.