Assignments on Epidemiology and Healthcare Reflection Professions

Assignment One: Epidemiology

According to C. R. (2017, Epidemiology is a professional career whose mandate is to ensure proper study design, collection and statistical analysis of data, interpretation, and dissemination of results to help prevent and control known diseases. The epidemiologists provide the distribution and determination of health-related issues in a specified population and the application of this study to manage health problems. This field of study requires scientists who study diseases existing within societies of people. Notably, these public health professionals examine what causes disease outbreaks to treat existing infections and prevent future attacks of a similar illness. This career field work involves constant interaction with sick patients, by adopting safety precautions to avoid the likelihood of contact to diseases. On the other hand, Epidemiologists often work in offices and laboratories at health departments in the health facility such as the hospitals. Epidemiology as a career is expansive to offer job opportunities as a result of the expected expansion in research related illnesses such as cancer influenza and AIDS as well as rapid growing treatment problems like resistance to antibiotics. In addition epidemiologists are also needed in the areas of infectious diseases, chronic disease and the other terrorism related cases.

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Career description

However health epidemiologists is a demanding career that requires prerequisite training in the public health as well as knowledge epidemiology, for one to be a health epidemiologists should have at least MPH (Master of public Health) degree with epidemiology specialization. Notably, individual organization, passion and one driven by improving outcome and highly knowledgeable are capable of pursuing health epidemiology career and duties. Attentively, Admission into a degree program is competitive and selective, a bachelor degree in public health takes typically four years, an associate degree takes two years, a master degree another two years and a doctorate program runs for five years.

The health epidemiologists work in medical facilities like nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centers. They help manage patient's files, medical records draw the administrative plan, coordinate budgeting practices, strategic planning, law and ethics, health economics and general examination on the outbreak of diseases and their control measures.The magnitude of the duties assigned to health epidemiologists depends on the size, population and the depth of the research on the prevention of diseases. Notably handling of these varied research duties requires a combination of the managerial skills and the knowledge of the medical services as well as the regulation that governs the industry. The health epidemiologist's duties require those with the expertise in handling healthcare administration, medical terminologies, communication skills, and problem-solving attitude. The professionals work flexible hours, traveling, attending conferences and working in satellite material; this exposes the administrators to the emerging issue in the profession and to cope with the dynamics and trends in the healthcare industry. A specialist health epidemiologist is obliged to work at least 40 hours a week though this is subject to change where one can be called at any time to attend to the emergency call. The health epidemiologists can earn up to $63,414 per year, though the highest paying skills depend on the nature of the tasks and responsibility, the strategic planners, strategic project management and data analysis tends to earn high, the job experience also affects the annual income for this job.

Inclusively the research skills are core requirement since an administrator is continuously needed to plan and execute administrative and office procedures like events and exhibition, completion of projects on time to drive the office into realizing its productive mandate.

The health epidemiology as a career in the healthcare industry is among the most thriving and demanding disciplines of all the professions since it targets the attendance on the prevention and control of the outbreak of diseases. Importantly the health epidemiologists are active and expanding, with the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting 17% growth spurts by 2024, this is considered a faster rate of growth as compared to the other professions. The more rapid increase in the frequency of the outbreak of diseases spur the need for qualified health epidemiologists; the U.S Bureau labor Statistics affirms the procedure shifts from the doctor's office to the office of the health epidemiologists this calls for about 2.3 new million jobs to be created by 2014. Apparently, the salary potential and job opportunity are profoundly affected by trending factors such as candidate's educational attainment and profile, training and work experience, as well as trending regional marketing conditions.

The health epidemiologist's tasks include investigating diseases by collection sampling and examining health data from field research, observation and making a relevant recommendation on the suitable methods of prevention of various diseases. Epidemiologists use a variety of statistical software to analyze the information and report their findings on the appropriate measures to be employed in disease control and prevention. Epidemiological responsibility also entails sensitizing the community and healthcare workers to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases. Notably, this career is lucrative with steady expansion in the job creation both in private and public sector. The health regulatory specialist goes beyond the usual medical training but instead tends to organize the health facility and all the personnel to adopt the principles and guidelines put in place for effective management within the facility and in the country.

The nature in which the data collection, interpretation, and implementation health epidemiology projects conducted shows more innovations are needed to help create an ultimate environment for efficiently use of technology in the health epidemiological management. The health education programs ought to be fully integrated with information technology to improve the efficiency and accurate data analysis in the health epidemiology sector. Also, the weaknesses experienced on the modalities and customs on the implementation of health epidemiological programs cause's abnormal and improper management within the facility which in return lowers the ethical standards in the profession.

Health epidemiology as career interests several people to pursue a degree in the health epidemiology. This career choice requires those who are passionate and willing to invest deeply in research to help detect and prevent diseases using the modern techniques.

Reflection

In sum, I stoutly believe health epidemiology is a field worth pursuing given that it exposes the candidates to research skills, information and data analysis expertise and robust statistical presentations according to needs and the demands of the epidemiology. My enthusiasm and the compassion to help identify and control diseases influence my career` path in that direction. These professionals are mandated to strategies and plan desirable goals and objectives on the most appropriate methods to prevent wrecking outbreak of disease. For a candidate to gain full competencies to attain the health epidemiologists position, one is mandated to pursue an Undergraduate Degree in healthcare health epidemiology as a concrete base to start and continue these career opportunity. This training will help equip the graduate with both theoretical and practical foundation in the principles of appropriate research design strategies.

Assignment Two: Healthcare Reflection - Comparison and Contrast

This paper will offer a comprehensive discussion about the comparison and contrast of two healthcare careers that include Nutrition and Podiatry. The professionals in these two careers have different roles and responsibility. Fundamentally, nutritionists work in a preventative role on a one-to-one and a group basis with patients of all the ages. On a wider note, these professionals assist people in the identification and changing of their dietary habits that could promote future health problems. Nutritionist has the strong understanding of the connection between the diet and diseases, as well as the manner in which the nutrition and lifestyle factors influence individual's overall well-being. Podiatry, on the other hand, is a career that entails the provision of the medical and surgical care for people with foot, ankle, and the lower leg problems. In fact, the experts in this career perform the diagnosis of illnesses, treat injuries, and perform the surgeries that involve lower extremities. To conduct a comprehensive and clear comparison and the contrast between these two careers, I did internet research, peer-reviewed articles, and books within the field of healthcare, specifically, in the nutrition and Podiatry areas.

Career Descriptions

Overview and title of career/position: Setting

Individuals who work in the field of nutrition are referred to as Nutritionists. As mentioned before, nutritionists work in a preventive capacity with the objectives of assisting people to identify and change their dietary habits. In addition to providing the nutritional assessment, they provide advice and support to clients, as well as coordinating community health initiatives. As such, the experts in this career may carry out various roles depending on the level of their qualifications including managerial and administrative. Typical employers of nutritionists include national and local governments, hospitals, schools, colleges, and the universities. Food and animal manufacturers and retailers also employ individuals with nutrition qualifications. The health and food departments within the non-governmental agencies can also employ the nutrition experts.

Common and Specific Work Activities

The roles and duties of nutritionists vary depending on the setting and the environment where one works. However, the common duties include:

• Discussion of an individual's dietary habits with them with an objective of assessing their health needs.
• Explanation of nutrition and nutritional deficiencies
• Conduct the development of meal plans to meet a client's health needs, goals, budget and the personal preferences.
• Make a consultation with other health professionals when a client has special needs.
• They also facilitate the group sessions and participate in supervised lunch groups as well as the meal planning.
• In the managerial positions, a nutritionist can help the food service director to develop and provide in-service education and training for dietary employees.

Skills and Ability Required

The critical skills for nutritionists include team working skills, good interpersonal skills, communication, knowledge, and understanding of the biochemistry or human physiology. These skills are necessary for all the career levels that nutritionists get employed.

Preparation (Training and Qualification)

To become a nutritionist, one needs at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition, food, and dietetics or any related areas. As part of the training, the learners will be required to take courses in food, nutrition, institution management, chemistry, and physiology. It implies that an individual must study in college or a graduate school to attain all the qualifications for becoming a nutritionist. Registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration after that permits experts to exercise their duties within the United States and other nations.

Job Outlook

The employment of the nutritionist in the U.S. is projected to grow 15 perce...