5 Health Science Career Pathways

​Understanding Health Science Career Pathways

​The five health science career pathways allow for the grouping of similar health care careers because workers in those jobs share common duties and responsibilities. The career pathways provide a framework (structure, outline, or means of organizing) for studying a multitude of careers in health care. The framework can be useful in determining a career match. Health science career pathways are also referred to as health care career clusters or health service areas. The five health science career pathways are:

1. Biotechnology Research & Development

2. Diagnostic Services

3. Health Informatics

4. Support Services

5. Therapeutic Services

​DESCRIPTION OF THE FIVE PATHWAYS

​The Biotechnology Research & Development pathway consists of careers that focus on highly scientific research and the application of that research to life, health, and human problems. Careers in this area focus on research, experimentation, and the development and evaluation of new equipment, medicine, organisms, models, and treatments.
Biotechnology is the application of science and technology to living organisms (and to parts, products, or models of living organisms) to alter living or nonliving materials for the production of knowledge, goods, and services (adapted from an OECD definition at http:// www.oecd.org). Bioinformatics is the use of computer technology to analyze biological information. The study of the human genome is accomplished through the use of bioinformatics.

​Biotechnology Research & Development

​Sample Occupations

• Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers

• Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists

Diagnostic Services

​The Diagnostic Services pathway focuses on creating a picture of a patient’s health status, usually at a single point in time or over a short interval. Diagnostic services generally concentrate on establishing a diagnosis for illness and disease by way of tests to detect, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, or other physical conditions. In general, someone in this pathway will need to be trained on using the proper equipment to run the tests and evaluations.

As part of this, they will also need to follow instructions and procedures to accurately complete tests. That requires keen evaluating and reporting skills to share what they have found with other medical professionals.

Someone in this pathway may not directly interact with patients, but that depends on the occupation they choose.

Many careers within diagnostic services require a specific level of education or training, but this can vary depending on the job.

In addition, many states require professionals to obtain a certification, registration, or licensure.

Some common careers that fall under diagnostic services include:

• EKG technician

• Phlebotomist

• Radiology technician

• Ultrasound technician

• Dental laboratory technician

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Therapeutic Services

Careers in the Therapeutic Services pathway are concerned with providing care and changing a patient’s health status over time. Health care workers in this pathway interact directly with patients and their health care environment and may provide care, treatment, counseling, and health education information along with utilizing a variety of medical instruments and equipment in their work with patients.

Some common careers that fall under diagnostic services include:

• Phlebotomist

• Occupational Therapist

• Dental Lab Technician

• Paramedic

• Registered Nurse

• Chiropractor

• Physician Assistants

• Nurse Practitioner

• Physician

• Respiratory Therapist

Support Services

Careers in the Support Services pathway provide a therapeutic environment for the delivery of healthcare. Support Services offers a full range of career opportunities from entry level to management, including technical and professional careers.

Some common careers that fall under diagnostic services include:

• Administrative Assistant

• Data Entry Specialist

• Environmental Sampling and Analysis Tech

• Food Service Worker

• Fornt office Assistanct

• Medical Trnascriptionist

• Medical, Clinical Lab Tech

• Mortician

• Records Processing Assistant
  
  

Health Informatics

Careers in the Health Informatics pathway include includes health care administrators who manage health care agencies as well as those individuals who are responsible for managing all of the patient data and information, financial information, and computer applications related to health care processes and procedures.

Some common careers that fall under diagnostic services include:

• Admitting Clerk

• Bioinformatics Tech

• Clinical Ethicist

• Computer Programmer

• Dental Lab Tech

• Financial Manager

• Health Educator

• Medical Biller, Patient Financial Services