Therapeutics

This course is focused on careers that assist in restoring and maintaining mobility, mental and physical health, such as physical therapists and their assistants, occupational therapists, massage therapists, athletic trainers, neurotherapists, art therapists, dieticians and dietetic technicians, registered dental hygienists and vocational rehabilitation counselors. Every career is explored in-depth, through examinations of typical job duties, licensure and educational requirements, job outlook, average salary and working conditions. Specific skill sets and key concepts are introduced in the lessons, which allow students to apply what they have learned to health careers. The course is important since skilled health care workers are in high demand and are expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. Unprecedented growth in this field is because of an aging population with more chronic conditions, new technology that has lengthened and saved lives, and increased demand for high-tech services. Students taking this course will emerge with a broader perspective of the various career opportunities in modern health care. They will understand how individuals in differing health care professions interact with one another, and how significant expected industry growth can allow them flexibility, high job satisfaction and good pay.

OBJECTIVES

• Compare and contrast what assists in maintaining and restoring mobility and enhancing mental and physical health.
• Evaluate the importance of prevention and preventative health services.
• Assess the importance of education, training, certification, and licensing in various health professions.
• Examine the responsibilities and roles of health care workers as part of the health care team.
• Understand legal limitations and ethical guidelines in every career.
• Examine variations in scope of practice that may impact job descriptions by state.
• Summarize the importance of therapy in maintaining health and treating the whole being rather than merely a disease or one part.

THERAPEUTICS COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Students will need to research various health care aspects in the areas of medicine, science, social science, microbiology and psychology. They will also be required to find and summarize job-specific information including their state’s licensure requirements.Some of the chapter project tasks require answers that can be found in the lessons themselves, while others need internet research. Students need access to a computer with internet, and a good working knowledge of how to find information on the Web. Although sample URLs are typically presented as a starting point, the student will require basic knowledge of how to use search engines to find specific information.