Parents: Encourage your kids to lock their career targets on health care!

More wage and salary jobs—about 3.6 million—will be created in health care than in any other industry between 2004 and 2014, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects. And an overwhelming Eight of the 20 fastest-growing occupations will be in health care. Seems like a solid place to be.

Dr. M. LaCheeta McPherson, dean of health and legal studies at El Centro College in Dallas said that sign-on bonuses are commonly mentioned in employment ads for imaging technicians as well as respiratory therapists.

That sounds great, but where can you find jobs that offer such bonuses? CompHealth can often find them for you. Just contact the country’s top health care staffing company for more information. Wink!

El Centro has experienced a 10 percent growth rate in applicants not only in nursing, but also in its associate degree programs in radiologic sciences and specialized imaging, such as diagnostic medical sonography and invasive cardiovascular technology.

Other schools are experiencing similar trends. Radiologic technology is the most sought-after program at Tarrant County College in Hurst, said Dr. Woody V. Kageler, director of health sciences.

According to McLennan Community College in Waco Texas, the total cost for the radiologic technology program in 2008 is approximately $4875, with the first semester typically costing about $1500. Considering that a chief radiologic technologist averages between $61,101 and $79,362 annually, this is a pretty good investment.

As technological advancements increase the use and application of imaging modalities, the growth radiologic and cardiovascular technology have experienced in the past several years will only increase. I almost hate to say it because it almost sounds cliché these days, but baby boomers are aging and will continue to need more and more health care.

This field combines health care and technology; neither of those are fading any time soon!

Learn about hiring a Cardiovascular Tech or Radiologic Tech

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Sources:

1. Salary.com
2. http://www.mclennan.edu/departments/hsp/rtp/
3. http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/hp/dmn_1-1-06.pdf

Playing in the Super Bowl is not for the weak hearted; apparently, neither is watching it. According to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looking on as your favorite team teeters the thin line between exhilaration and exile could trigger cardiovascular events. The emotional stress could just be too much to handle.

For the study, researchers examined data involving 4,279 residents of the Munich, Germany area who experienced cardiovascular events between June 9, 2006, and July 9, 2006, when Germany participated in and hosted the seven FIFA Cup championship games. The research team, led by Gerhard Steinbeck of Ludwig-Maximilians University, found that the rate of heart attacks and other acute cardiovascular events was 3.26 times higher for men and 1.82 times higher for women during the World Cup matches. Further, the study shows that the general risk for cardiovascular events that were severe enough to be worthy of treatment, exploded from only one out of 100,000 people on a usual day to two to three per 100,000 people on the days when Germany played in World Cup championship games! For the men who already had known cardiovascular troubles, the risk was 100 times greater; researchers found that these chaps became treatment-worthy in the one to two per 1,000 people range during the seven games.

To make things worse, the study found that overeating, eating too fast, drinking alcohol, and smoking also contributed to an increased risk of heart attack. Wisely, Steinbeck recommended limiting such behaviors while watching games. I don’t know about you, but any major sporting event I’ve witnessed, whether at the stadium or in a sports bar, has included an overindulgence in all of these behaviors.

Thankfully, Steinbeck and Steinbrenner won’t need to battle; the German researcher and the Yankees baseball club owner can remain at peace. Steinbeck said the findings do not mean that people should skip big games, and that they only translate into a small increase in risk.

He also said that people should not delay seeking treatment if symptoms arise, such as heart palpitations or chest pains. Steinbeck said people “should regularly take their prescribed drug regimen,” too, adding, “They should not stop it.”

Learn about hiring a Cardiovascular Tech
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Source:

1. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/5/475
2. Sataline, Wall Street Journal, 1/31
3. Goldberg/Smith, Boston Globe, 1/31