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"Health care" is a general term covering a wide range of health, medical and human services professions in which the central goal is to assist those in need, whether medically, emotionally or socially. Medical services, social programs, and therapeutic professions and counseling all offer treatment, guidance, and assistance to the physically ill, as well as to children at risk, the abused, the physically or mentally challenged, the psychologically damaged, the poor, the aged, substance abusers, and many other individuals who find themselves in troubling circumstances.

These services exist to assist individuals and families when the circumstances of life become too difficult for them to deal with on their own. Those at risk or in trouble can be children, adolescents, adults, or families, and this assistance can be accomplished in numerous ways, including medical services; social work and counseling; substance abuse intervention and rehabilitation; child care and welfare; family and women's health; aid for the handicapped; various forms of therapy; and senior care, such as day care and assisted living facilities.

Although the health care field is broad and encompasses numerous different disciplines, professions, and levels of skill, the ultimate goal of all these professions and programs is the same: to enhance the quality of life of those individuals who seek these services, regardless of their age or their needs, as measured by their sound physical and mental health.

Health Care Degrees

As the health care field grows, so does the demand for trained professionals. This has led to the development of numerous education and training programs for various facets of the field. All 50 states have at least one health and human services program that leads to a degree, for example, and many states (such as New York and California) offer more than 20 programs. An increasing number of potential health care and human service professionals are earning their degrees online, as the freedom from geographical restrictions and the flexibility of online courses allows this study to be accomplished on a schedule convenient to employed individuals wishing to forward or switch their careers.

Many community colleges offer associate degrees in one of the core disciplines in this field, as well as programs that lead to certification in specialized areas. Often the goal of these two-year programs is vocational, preparing the student with the certification necessary to start working as a professional practitioner with minimal delay. Many four year colleges offer programs that lead to a bachelor's degree in numerous concentrations, and a growing number of colleges and universities are offering graduate programs leading to advanced degrees in this field.

Since much of the work performed in the health care, human services and medical fields has a direct impact on the physical or emotional well-being of an individual, strong emphasis is placed on formal education, training and experience. Most employers prefer applicants for these positions to have some work experience, or a degree, or both, even for entry-level positions.

Most states and private agencies require a master's degree in social work for any position which provides clinical or consulting services, as well as for most administrative positions. Many states also require licensing or certification in addition to an advanced degree and clinical training for any professional holding a position in the field. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a college degree has the potential to nearly double one's annual income. While a general degree in a health and human services discipline can provide an overall introduction to the field, the more advanced and specific the degree, the greater one's chances for success will be, in any of the many fields of service.

Choice of schools is of key importance when pursuing a degree. The serious student should investigate and compare the curricula of many schools that offer degrees in these fields before deciding on the course of study and the degree which will lead to a desired career.

Degree Programs and Careers in the Health Care Field
Job opportunities in the health care field are abundant, both in the private sector and at every level of government. Each state has a Health and Human Services division, for instance, and the federal government's Department of Health and Human Services is one of the largest employers in the field.

According to the U.S. Census Dept., more than 15 million people were employed in the health and human services-related professions in 2002, including nurses, physicians and dentists; mental health counselors and various types of therapists; home health care and family planning specialists; hospital and emergency medical personnel; retirement home and eldercare facility staff; child and youth advocates; and many other professions and positions.

Among the most popular careers in this field are:

Psychology
Psychology is a field of study and academic discipline involving the study of human behavior and mental processes. The goal of psychologists is to describe, understand, predict, and modify behavior. There are many options for specialization in this popular field, including counseling, forensics, human development, child development, mental health care and rehabilitation, abnormal psychology, and clinical research.

Social Work
Social work is a general term for a wide-ranging occupation in which the goal is to assist disadvantaged populations deal with various problems, improving the quality of their lives by enabling them to cope with stresses and difficulties of life too great for them to handle on their own.

Counseling
A counselor provides advice and guidance to people with temporary problems too great for them to solve on their own. These problems can be of a personal nature, or might concern family, education, mental health, or career decisions.

Forensic Medicine
Forensic science (or, as it more commonly called, forensics) is the field in which science is applied to law enforcement and the legal system. Forensic medicine is a discipline within the medical profession which applies the principles, techniques and knowledge of medicine (including dentistry, clinical psychology, biology and chemistry) to a legal context.

Health Care Administration and Management
Health care administrators, managers and executives plan, manage, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of health and medical services in numerous venues.

Pharmacy Technician
If you want a health care career working in a pharmacy, but don't have the time or money to complete the numerous years of schooling required to become a pharmacist, there is another option: the fast-growing field of pharmacy technicians. Find out what's involved in becoming a pharmacy technician, education and training options for pharmacy technician certification, and pharmacy technician salary and employment opportunities.

Physical Therapy
The goal of physical therapists is to improve the overall physical functionality of their patients. They accomplish this goal using a variety of methods, including guided exercise, massage, or dance, among others.

Medical & Dental
Medical and dental assistance services rank among the fastest-growth jobs in the United States at this time. Caregivers of many varieties are in high demand in any number of locations, from traditional venues such as hospitals and physicians' offices to clinics, industry, academia, and the military.

Pharmacy
A pharmacist is both qualified and licensed to dispense medicines and drugs on the written orders of physicians. Pharmacists also educate and counsel patients about the use, risks and potential side effects of these substances.

Public Health
Public health is an effort to promote, maintain, preserve and improve the health of large populations which constitute a society. This general term includes numerous wide-ranging initiatives to ensure public health, including disease prevention, life prolongation and citizen education.

Radiology
Radiology is the branch of medical science that specializes in internal imaging. This can involve the use of high-energy radiation, such as x-rays, or other technologies. It also includes the use of radiant energy for therapeutic purposes, such as the treatment of cancer.

Financial Outlook for Careers in the Health Care Field
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "some of the fastest growing occupations in the Nation" are in the area of health care and human services. Job opportunities should be abundant during the next decade. The growth rate for positions which provide individual and family services, for example, is anticipated to grow at more than twice the rate of all jobs in general. Entry-level social and human service assistant positions could see the greatest rise, demanding as many as 46 percent more trained personnel during the coming decade as are currently employed in these positions.