Health 10

Learning Material
(unit 4)
PLANNING FOR A
HEALTH CAREER
UNIT 4
What is a career?
A career is an occupation or profession that requires special training.

 Health careers are designed to familiarize students with the

various careers in the medical profession and allied health
services. Students will learn skills necessary for their career path,
which in this case is in healthcare. These include working with
others, communication skills, legal and ethical responsibilities,
cultural considerations in healthcare industry, problem solving,
decision making, accepting personal responsibility, and self-
management.
 Health career Planning refers to an individual’s plan to make a
career choice, growing in the chosen career or making a career
shift. Career planning involves the very important step of self-
assessment.
 Self-assessment is necessary to understand one’s capabilities
and drawbacks. The various career options should be explored
in detail to find a fit between one’s abilities and the
opportunities provided by a career option. It involves
continuous learning and improvement to build and grow in the
chosen career path.

YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES

 • Good salary
 • Job Security
 • Do work that interests you
 • Find a health career that fits your educational plans
 • A clear path to advancement
 • Work with people (or not)
What are the components and steps
in making a health career plan?

1. Self Assessment - Discover your personal

strengths through self-assessments (values,
interests, personality, testing, skills, etc.
2. Career Exploration - You can
explore different careers and work
environments through career fairs,
online research, meetings, internships,
alumni connections, professional resources.
3. Decision Making - Before you decide on taking
a career that works for you, you can evaluate and
narrow down your options through listing the
pros and cons, comparing your personal
strengths and interests, and deciding which
career fulfills both current and future goals.
4. Plan of Action - Plan achievable goals and
develop strategies to reach your goals,
organize your goals into smaller steps, identify
actions for each step, utilize helpful people and
resources, review and adapt your plan regularly
 HEALTH CAREER PATHWAYS

 Career pathways are clusters occupations that

are grouped because of shared skills. All
pathways include a variety of occupations
that require different levels of education,
skills, and training. Selecting a career
pathway provides you with an area of focus,
along with flexibility and a variety of ideas to
pursue for personal development.
 to er
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Do H ys? Makes it easier for you to
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W rsta athw identify health career
n de P professions
U

Assist you in choosing a health

career

Helps you a plan on how to prepare

your chosen health career
What are the examples of Health
Career pathways?
1. Disease Prevention and Control
People who specialize in this career path focus
on communicable and non-communicable
diseases. Their work includes immunization,
screening of newborns, promotion of
breastfeeding, infant diseases prevention,
adolescent healthcare, and life skills.
Sample Careers:
• Community Health Work
• Education and Research
2. Personal Healthcare
Professionals in this field perform healthcare related tasks in a
personal care level. These include monitoring patients;
administering and assisting in personal care and hygiene;
performing housekeeping duties; and advising clients on related
healthcare issues like infant care, hygiene and nutrition.

3. Maternal and Child Care

These health workers deal with complex public health issues that
affect women, children and their families. These include providing
information on reproductive health, family planning, healthcare of
pregnant women and their children, and improvement of health
delivery system through advocacy, education and research.

Sample Careers:
 Midwifery

 Community Health Educator

 Outreach Specialist
4. Mental HealthCare
These medical professionals specialize in dealing
with interpersonal and intrapersonal relationships
and life skills. These include cognitive and
psychosocial development, promotion of healthy
self-esteem through feelings and anger
management and identifying warning signs or red
flags of learning disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety,
mood disorders, stress, and bullying.
 Sample Careers:

 Social Work

 Clinical Psychology

 Psychiatry

 Guidance Counseling
5. Community Healthcare
Specialists in this area focus on the maintenance, protection, and
improvement of the health of all community members.
Sample Careers:
 Barangay/Community Health Work
 Rural Sanitary Inspection

6. Environmental Healthcare Management

These health workers try to establish the correlation between and
among the physical, chemical, biological, social, and psychosocial
factors in the surrounding environment. These include monitoring
the quality of environment and impact of human activities on
ecosystems, and developing strategies for restoring ecosystems.
Sample Careers:
 Air quality monitoring
 Soil science analysis
 Hazardous and solid waste management
 Environmental noise control
 Radiological assessment
7. Drug Prevention and Control
People whose careers revolve around this area seek to reduce
community and individual problems related to alcohol and drug
abuse through evidence-based programs and policy advocacy.
Sample Careers:
Drug Enforcement
Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation

8. Nutrition
Specialists in this area find ways to balance individuals’ food
and nutrition and their impact on patients’ health. These
include meal planning, food preparation and economics.
Sample Careers:
Clinical Dietetics
Food and Nutrition Management
Public Health Nutrition
Education and Research
9. Health Education
Those who work in this field are tasked with
promotion of healthcare and training of health
workers on managing change in healthcare. Their
work involves assessing individual and
community needs, planning, implementing and
evaluating health programs, promoting the
understanding of various health-related bahaviors
plus coordinating health education services.
Sample Careers:
 Education and Research
 Community Health Work
10. Dental Health
Dental Health workers deal with various oral
conditions which include chronic mouth and facial
pain, oral sores, periodontal (gum) disease, tooth
decay and tooth loss, other diseases and
disorders that affect the oral cavity, and risk
factors for oral diseases which include unhealthy
diet, tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, and poor
oral hygiene.
 Sample Careers:
 Dental Hygiene
 Dental Nursing
 Dental health support
11. Occupational Safety
Careers in this path are related to the safety, health and welfare
of people engaged in work or employment. These include
protecting workers from sickness, disease, and injury arising
from possible hazards of their employment and workplace.
Sample Careers:
 Occupational Health and Safety Technician

 Health Inspector

 Industrial Hygienist

12. Emergency Medical Services

People assigned in this work specialize in out-of-hospital
medical care. Their skills include first-aid procedures,
emergency medical treatment and transport of patients, rapid
emergency medical response and immediate medical attention.
 Sample Careers:

 Emergency Medical Aid

 Paramedic
MEDICAL AND ALLIED
HEALTH PROFESSION
Along with medical professions,
there are hundreds of allied health
professions which complete the
workforce in contributing to the
whole-person care of patients,
support to healthcare
professionals, and the efficient
operation of healthcare
organizations.
Medical and Allied Health Professions
 The medical profession is a group of individuals
qualified to practice medicine. Allied health
professions, on the other hand, are lines of work that
still deal with healthcare, but are distinct from
medicine.
 They have distinct and specialized knowledge and

skills that actively work with people accessing health

and disability that are offered services across a range
of settings. These professions include clinical
laboratory or medical technology, physical therapy,
occupational therapy, dietetic services, medical record
personnel, radiologic services, speech-language
pathology and audiology, and respiratory therapy.
Who are the medical and allied health
professionals?
 Allied health professionals are healthcare
practitioners with formal education and
clinical training credentials through
certification, registration and/or licensure.
They collaborate with physicians and other
members of the healthcare team to deliver
high quality patient care services for the
identification, prevention, and treatment of
diseases, disabilities, and disorders.
These professions may be
categorized into either
technicians or
Therapists/Technologists.
Technicians are those who
undergo training to perform
specific procedures. They are
required to work under the
supervision of technologists
or therapists. This category
includes physical therapy
assistants, medical
laboratory technicians,
radiological technicians,
occupational therapy
assistants, recreation therapy
assistants and respiratory
therapy technicians.
 Health Care Provider- a person
who helps identify, prevent, or
treat an illness or disability
 Health Care Practitioner/
Provider- an independent
healthcare provider who is
licensed to practice on and
provide general and/or
specialized care to a specific area
of the body.”
 Allied Health Professionals- a
trained healthcare provider
practicing under supervision of a
physician or healthcare
practitioner. They include
pharmacists, dental hygienists,
physical therapists and nurses.
 Therapists or technologists have more intensive
training, which includes acquiring procedural
skills. They evaluate patients, diagnose
conditions, develop treatment plans, and
understand the rationale behind various
treatments in order to judge their
appropriateness and potential side effects. They
also assess patients’ responses to therapy and
make appropriate decisions about continued
treatment or modification of treatment plans.
Furthermore, they are licensed to perform these
tasks.
Allied health professionals provide
services and engage in activities
which include:
a. prevention - keep illness or injury from
happening
b. assessment/evaluation - appraisal of the
condition based on the patient’s subjective
report
c. identification/diagnosis - analysis based on
signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings
d. treatment - management and care of a
patient or the combating of disease or disorder
e. rehabilitation/habilitation - treatment designed to
recover from injury, illness, or disease towards a normal
condition as possible
f. advocacy - a method by which patients, their families,
attorneys, health professionals, and citizens’ groups
can work together to develop programs that ensure the
availability of high-quality healthcare for a community
g. promotion of health and well-being - the process of
enabling people to increase control over their health
and its determinants, and thereby improving their
health
h. education - the process of sharing and gaining
knowledge
i. research - the diligent inquiry or examination of data,
reports, and observations in a search for facts or
principles
What are the allied health
professions that we presently
have in the Philippines?
These are the common allied health professionals practicing in
the country with available education and professional training.

1. Audiologist – identifies and rehabilitates hearing

impairments and related disorders
2. Chiropractor - diagnoses and treats neuromuscular
disorders, with emphasis on treatment through manual
adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine.
3. Clinical psychologist - assesses, diagnoses, treats and helps
prevent mental disorders
4. Dietitian / Nutritionist - promotes good health through
proper diet and treatment of diseases
5. Emergency Medical Technician – also known as ambulance
technician; responds quickly to any emergency and life-
threatening situation to immediately treat serious injuries,
physical or mental trauma to increase a patient’s chances of
survival
6. Guidance Counselor - assists students with personal,
family, education, and career decisions and concerns; also
helps them develop job-finding skills and other life skills
needed to prevent and deal with problems
7. Health Educator - specializes in health education and
promotes the development of health knowledge, life skills,
and positive attitudes toward the health and well-being of
students
8. Massage Therapist - performs the scientific manipulation of
the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing
those tissues; uses manual techniques that include applying
fixed or movable pressure on affected parts of the body
9. Medical assistant – performs, under the direction of a
physician, various routine administrative and
nontechnical clinical tasks in hospitals, clinics, and other
similar facilities
10. Medical technologist – performs a variety of tasks on
body fluids, from simple blood tests to more complex
tests to uncover abnormalities in the body, and
underlying causes of illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS,
diabetes, and cancer which are not easily detected
through physical examination
11. Midwife - professionals with the expertise and skills in
helping women maintain healthy pregnancies, assist in or
perform childbirth delivery, and help in women’s recovery
process through the postpartum period
12. Nurse - trained to provide care for people who are sick or
injured; monitors patients’ health and records symptoms,
assists physicians during examinations and treatment,
and administers medications.
13. Occupational therapist - uses purposeful activity and
interventions to maximize the independence and
health of any client who is limited by physical injury
or illness, cognitive impairment, psychosocial
dysfunction, mental illness, or learning disability
14. Orthotist/Prosthetist – makes and fits prosthetics or
artificial parts for the human body
15. Paramedic - gives emergency medical treatment or
assists medical professionals in emergency situations
16. Pharmacist - prepares and dispenses medication
prescribed by licensed health professionals; also
provides information to patients regarding drugs,
and consults with healthcare professionals on
advances in drugs or medicine
17. Radiologic Technologist/Radiographer -
healthcare professionals who perform imaging
procedures, such as x-ray examinations, Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans and Computed
Tomography (CT) scans (health careers.org)
18. Physical Therapist - examines, evaluates, and
treats physical impairments through use of special
exercise, application of heat or cold, and other
physical modalities
19. Speech Language Pathologist - diagnoses and
treats patients with functional and organic speech
defects and disorders
20. Phlebotomist - professionals with special training
in phlebotomy or drawing blood from patients
21. Radiation therapist - administers radiation therapy
services to patients and observes patients during
treatment; other duties may include tumor
localization, patient follow-up, patient education,
and record keeping
22. Respiratory therapist - specializes in the promotion
of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health;
regularly deals with various chronic respiratory
diseases, such as asthma and emphysema
23. Social Worker - investigates, treats, and gives aid to
people with social problems and helps people with
mental illness, serious health conditions, financial
difficulties, substance abuse problems, domestic or
child abuse, unwanted pregnancy and other social
problems
There are also allied medical
professions whose specialized training
is available in other countries.
1. Cardiovascular technologist - uses imaging technology
to help physicians diagnose patients with cardiac
(heart) and peripheral vascular (blood vessel) ailments
2. Clinical officer - performs general medical duties such
as the diagnosis and treatment of disease and injury,
recommendation and interpretation of medical tests,
performance of routine medical and surgical
procedures, and referral of patients to other
practitioners
3. Dental hygienist - specializes in the removal of
calcaneous deposits and stains from patients’ and
provides additional services and information on
prevention of oral diseases
4. Diagnostic medical sonographist - uses ultrasonic
imaging devices to produce diagnostic images, scans,
videos, or 3D volumes of patients’ anatomy
5. Kinesiotherapist - develops and monitors exercise
programs to help people regain muscle strength and
function lost due to injury or disease
6. Neurophysiologist - specializes in the diagnosis of
conditions affecting the nervous system such as
neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy, and nerve
entrapments
7. Medical dosimetrist - designs treatment plans for
patients by means of computer and/or manual
computation to determine a treatment field technique
that will deliver the prescribed radiation dose while
taking into consideration the dose-limiting structures
8. Medical radiation scientist - performs complex diagnostic
imaging studies on patients and plans and administers
radiation treatments
9. Music therapist - uses music within a therapeutic
relationship to address a client’s needs, such as facilitating
movement and physical rehabilitation, motivating the client
to cope with treatment, providing emotional support, such
as an outlet for expressing their feelings through music
10. Nuclear medicine technologist - performs imaging
procedures using radioactive drugs and materials to make
diagnostic evaluations of the anatomic or physiologic
conditions of the patient’s body, and facilitates therapy
with the use of unsealed radioactive sources
11. Orthoptist - investigates, diagnoses and treats defects of
binocular vision and abnormalities related to eye
movement; involves seeing patients of all ages from infants
to the elderly
12. Pedorthist - are foot orthotic and orthopedic
footwear experts trained in the assessment of
lower limb anatomy and muscle and joint
function
13. Perfusionist - assists in performing procedures
that involve extracorporeal circulation, such as
during open-heart surgery or hypothermia
14. Surgical technologist - a member of the
surgical team who serves as a scrub technician
or as a circulator
 PRACTITIONER’s
PERSPECTIVE
NAME: JENNIFER A. ROMBO
POSITION: GUIDANCE SERVICE SPECIALIST 1
DEGREE/INSTITUTION: BS PSYCHOLOGY/
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
MAJOR: CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
Implements Guidance Program which includes:
1. Counseling
2. Testing
3. Placement
4. Information Services (conducts orientation)
WHAT I LIKE MOST OF MY JOB:
It is fulfilling because I am able to help other people and I have interaction
with students.
WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY JOB:
It is emotionally draining; sometimes I can’t help but be affected by my
student’s concerns.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE PREPARING TO BE A COUNSELOR...
Develop genuine
NAME: ED HERPERT D. BRIONES
CURRENT POSITION/TITLE: Unit Head /
Guidance Service Specialist 1
EMPLOYER: Philippine Science High School
– Main Campus
DEGREE/ INSTITUTION: Bachelor of Arts; Master of
Arts / University of the Philippines - Diliman
MAJOR(s): Psychology; Educational Psychology
MINOR(s): None
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Supervises and oversees the implementation and operation of the unit’s
programs
• Coordinates and oversees inter/intra-office activities
• Performs guidance services and counseling to students
• Prepares intervention programs and reports
• Conducts career learning programs and orientations
• Administers, scores, and interprets psychological tests to personnel and
faculty applicants
• Administers, scores, and interprets aptitude tests and personality tests to
students
• Administers diagnostic exams to freshmen students
• Administers admission tests to incoming freshmen
WHAT I LIKE MOST OF MY JOB:
My everyday interaction with the students is one of the things I like about
our job as Guidance Counselors. The conversations with the students provide
learning experiences that are not actually discussed inside the classrooms.
Through
counseling, the students are able to share their concerns, heart aches,
struggles,
failures, joys, successes, and achievements. If I am able to help them in one
way
or the other, I become a part of their triumphs and it’s very fulfilling.
Consequently, I
believe that I have contributed in the holistic development, maturity, and
character
formation of my students through the guidance programs, counseling
sessions and
group dynamics.
WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY JOB:
Sometimes, listening and absorbing too many concerns and stresses of the
students and parents cause compassion fatigue thus, making us helpless at
times.
RECOMMENDATIONS for those PREPARING to be a GUIDANCE
COUNSELOR:
Any person who aspires to become a Guidance Counselor should possess a
compassionate and caring attitude.
NAME: LORRAINE G. DE GUZMAN
POSITION:CTM Operations
Pharmacist/
Zuellig Pharma
DEGREE/INSTITUTION: M. S.
Pharmacy
(36units) /University of Santo
Tomas
MAJOR: Pharmacy
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:
• In-charge of the day to day operation of Clinical Trial Material Business
Unit
• Back-up personnel for CTM Operations Supervisor
• communicates with the principals, local and overseas
• communicates with the internal clients
• ensures that all depot project instructions are followed per principal and
per protocol
• ensures confidentiality of every transaction
• participates in teleconferences
• supervises receipt of inbound shipments
• ensures smooth dispatch and delivery of clinical trial materials from depot
to site
• especially those under cold chain
• spearheads investigations if deviations from outbound shipments occur
• makes weekly report for assigned principals
• ensures all orders are processed within the timeline
WHAT I LIKE MOST OF MY JOB:
compensations and benefits; working environment
WHAT I LIKE LEAST ABOUT MY JOB:
working hours since overtime work happens almost everyday
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THOSE PREPARING TO BE A PHARMACIST...
Pharmacy is a good pre-med course if you are planning to pursue medicine. If
not, you can choose other fields but not limited to community, hospital,
manufacturing/
industrial, academe, pharmacovigilance, clinical trialist. clinical research associate
and safety data analyst.
 HEALTH CAREER
ORIENTATION
PROGRAM
Are you interested to know what
causes illnesses? Would you like to
help people get and stay healthy in any
aspect of health?
Medical research, scientific research,
and technical breakthroughs have
made
the health science industry one of the
most exciting and personally rewarding
fields to explore. And the most popular
jobs in this cluster include those of:
doctors, dentists, nurses,
chiropractors,
pharmacists, radiology technicians,
and
physical and occupational therapists
A Health Career Orientation is an
activity –based career exploration
to broaden your knowledge about
careers in the health field. Health
career orientation helps you to:
• evaluate and assess such factors
as personal needs, interests and
skills
• provide an opportunity to
identify
and explore health careers
• learn about the duties and
responsibilities
of health professionals
• acquire an awareness of a wide
variety of educational training and
resources for both academic and
vocational fields
• pursue health career
pathwaysfor
future education/ training