Cross Posted From EchoWorld: Ultrasound Will Be A Great Job In The Near Future

I have an article here which is optimistic.  In this time of misery in terms of employment I hope the predictions are correct.  BTW, I am a teacher of sonography, and I am looking for a FT job.  If any of you readers would like to hire me, please contact me at gallgizzard@gmail.com   Thank you. Happy holidays and be safe driving.

According to a five-year jobs projection report from CareerBuilder and Economic Modeling Specialists, 26 of the 50 jobs projected to grow the fastest from 2013 to 2017 are in the healthcare industry.

The jobs range from high-skill jobs like occupational therapy to lower-skill personal care roles.

The following are the 26 medical, allied health or health-related jobs projected to grow the most in the next five years, listed by percentage growth:

1. Biomedical engineers: 23 percent change
2. Personal care aides: 21 percent
3. Home health aides: 21 percent
4. Physical therapist assistants: 16 percent
5. Occupational therapy assistants: 15 percent
6. Diagnostic medical sonographers: 15 percent
7. Medical scientists (except epidemiologists): 15 percent
8. Physical therapist aides: 15 percent
9. Medical secretaries: 14 percent
10. Nurse midwives: 13 percent
11. Nurse anesthetists: 13 percent
12. Audiologists: 13 percent
13. Physical therapists: 13 percent
14. Marriage and family therapists: 13 percent
15. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics: 13 percent
16. Dental hygienists: 12 percent
17. Nurse practitioners: 12 percent
18. Health educators: 12 percent
19. Mental health counselors: 12 percent
20. Healthcare social workers: 12 percent
21. Occupational therapists: 12 percent
22. Ambulance drivers and attendants: 12 percent
23. Occupational therapy aides: 12 percent
24. Medical equipment repairers: 11 percent
25. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians: 11 percent
26. MRI technologists: 11 percent

Here is the link.  Thanks Sonoworld

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce-labor-management/26-healthcare-jobs-among-50-projected-fastest-growing.ht

Ketamine, The Impact On Health

I picked up this lengthy article out of curiosity.  I subscribe to many blogs, and I am always the cat looking for the bug in a dark corner.  The reason I repost this article is because nobody I know has published any data on the long term effects of the drug known as ketamine.  I know it increases heart rate, and BP, but who knows what the lasting effects are?  I have never taken this drug, but I have seen it used in the early 1970's on old patients in surgery.  I was appalled.  These patients were not "OUT" they were mumbling and groaning.  I thought it was barbaric.  How does this drug which many asians take daily affect them?  What diseases and conditions are we missing?  Drug use in China is on the up-surge.  This indeed an interesting topic.  I am sure many of you will comment.  Great.

The first thing you notice are the straws: long, bright, pink-and-purple-striped, with bent necks reminiscent of childhood parties. They’re all over the place, on benches, tables and trays, being passed around like lemonade. Otherwise, the room is exactly as you’d expect a private karaoke room would look like in Guilin, known as south China’s most beautiful city, if you were to wander in at two in the morning.

A rumpled Taiwanese businessman makes eye contact. As his friends gear up for the next big song, he enthusiastically bids me enter. There’s a lot of collar loosening and hugging, flabby, middle-aged male bellies and toasting. A couple of women have lost their tops. Everyone takes a big hit of the enormous lines on the tray, and then they ignore me.

http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/the-great-k-hole-of-china

Thanks Joann

Debakey Type One Update

Update.  The patient "I" sent to the ED in Houston is stable on beta blockers, and is in hospital at this moment.  His surgeon was in contact with the referring physician to tell him all is well for now.  The surgeon is mulling over options including stints or an open procedure.

I will include a YouTube video regarding surgical resection of this lesion is addressed.  Not for the weak stomach.  TJW

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_u6SfPhHyc

Editorial. Interpreting Physicians Should Do A Better Job

Number one, I hate writing on a laptop.  The keys are small, and my fingers are big and bony.  Number two, I hate writing an editorial when I have not had coffee.  I hate editing my own words on a laptop.  Please forgive me my gentle readers.  What I am going to write is horror.  Do not eat before you read the following.

A patient presented to me for an echo, CIMT, Triple A screening, and a carotid U/S.  His symptoms included DM, and HTN, and mild obesity.  Typical patient.  He did not speak English, his grand daughter did so, and we go a few tidbits of information.  He said he had no problems.  I was there to screen him for underlying issues.  Usually i find no medical issues when I do these screenings. I noted this very kind gentlemen of Hispanic origin to be short of breath.  I applaud the physician for referring him for medical testing in the non-invasive manner.  I did the CIMT testing which was positive for PAD.  Bring in the cellos and tubas for the remarkable test. (Que the Orchestra).

I performed a standard TTE (Transthoracic echocardiogram) and found a 5.2 by 6.0 cm ascending aortic aneurysm.  I left the examination room to phone the doctor.  We spent the next 30 minutes getting the family to take him to a great hospital next door.  From what i have heard, this patient is doing well.  He went to surgery on MY CALL!  This should not happen!

Here is the horror:  Our interpreter has failed to provide a final interpretation of the echocardiogram.  His failure to provide a timely interpretation is unacceptable.  After many E-Mails, and phone calls, he has been unresponsive.  This should not happen.  I am a sonographer, not a physician.  And I am pissed off that this has happened.  The final report was posted at 13:36:45  Interesting.  He got the message while eating some very spicy food we think. No substantive evidence of course. Most pajama radiologists/cardiologists care less about the patients images they view.  They wake up and boot the computer and do thier thing, then go to bed.  I wish I could share the details.  Federal laws will not allow that. isn't that a shout!  Patient in surgery and out without a physicians interp?  How many of you sonographers deal with this?  Mark of Honor? or another lump to put in our backpacks as health care providers?  Really!  TJW

Comments are welcome.