MK Education Blog

GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING COURSES

  

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This might come as a surprise; there are plenty of job openings across the county. The catch?  You need sufficient training to even be considered qualified for those positions.  Positions in healthcare often require licensing, certification, even degrees.  And gaining these credentials can be expensive. I constantly hear from friends and people in the community how difficult it is to pay for a program when they are unemployed or underemployed.

What they don’t know is that there is a list of programs that the government supplies money for through a program called WIA (workforce investment act)!If you are low income or displaced from work, you may be eligible for some of these funds.

First, you must to find your local office and make an appointment with a representative from your area. Use this website to locate an office near you. http://www.servicelocator.org/program_search.asp?prgcat=1&officeType_1=0

They will assist you in picking a training program and ensure you have the ability to complete that program.  You may be required to take placement exams before taking a course, but don’t let that intimidate you!  This is your chance to take advantage of a program that can change your life and start you on a new career.

Once you have completed a healthcare training program, take advantage of the other services the college has to offer.  Career Services will help review your resume and practice your interviewing skills.  These services are priceless, so use them!

MK Education offers many WIA approved programs in colleges across the country.  Check out our website at mkedu.org to see what programs are available in your area, and then give us a call to get started!

Inside MK Education: Interns and Experience

  

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Inside MK Education...

Here at MK Education I get to work with all our different departments, in addition, I also get to work with our pharmacy student interns.  Midwestern University interns come every 8-10 weeks. When I started in 2005, I was excited to know that in addition to offering great training programs, we also work with universities and offer our company as a location for student rotations and internships, so in essence, we practice what we preach. 

As a preceptor, MK, our pharmacy interns have a list of objectives, similar to the list we send with our externship students to their respective externship sites, whether it be a Veterinary Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, or Medical Billing and Coding student. 

Recently I started to ask our interns about their experience with us here at MK Education. The coolest part is they always find something different that engages their interest. I will start showcasing our students as they end their time with us and ask them... what was it like?

Check out the first entry from one of our students, Jalpa Thakkar, below!

Diary of a Pharmacy Intern...

Jalpa Thakkar
4^th year Pharmacy Student
Midwestern University 

                It was left up to me to pick a topic for a lecture handout and presentation. So, I thought for a while and was like, I need to brush up on my over-the-counter (OTC) products and decided it would be interesting to do my project on this topic.  As I started doing my research, it was a lot more than I expected. This is such a broad topic! I even had to include vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplementation. I didn’t know when to stop researching and including information, but yet I wanted to keep it as informational as possible for my audience, the pharmacy technician students. My lecture handout was about 20 pages, but do not be scared it included a lot of tables and charts (that is the way I learn). After the handout was complete, the bigger challenge for me lay ahead, how was I going to condense all of this information, yet keep it informative, include all of it into a powerpoint presentation, and keep it interesting and engaging for the students. It took a lot of work, several pairs of eyes, and multiple revision drafts to get my presentation to perfection. That was the tedious and difficult part of this project, but now came the scariest part for me!

                I had to practice my lecture and perfect it before I stood up in front of a class of 24-27 pharmacy technician students. The day finally arrived and I can recall all the minutes and seconds before my time had come to present. I was so nervous! I was starting to sweat, mostly because I knew how long the presentation would be (about 1 hour). I arrived to the class location a half hour earlier to set up my props and get all the technology aspects of my presentation sorted out. I got everything organized and was just waiting on the course instructor to start class. I was waiting for about 10 minutes and all the students were in class just staring at me, wondering who I was and why I was there. Then without further panicking, I decided the course professor may be running late and I needed to keep my composure and begin class. As class began, it started to get more interactive and interesting. I just kept telling myself, “YES! I can do this!” It was definitely not as bad as I thought. I guess getting nervous and having butterflies in the beginning is common, but the lecture turned out great! I had props, the class seemed engaged, and many students were asking questions. I left time at the end of the lecture to answer any questions the students may have had about the presentation, personal questions about my pharmacy school experience, and/or about my experiences as a pharmacy technician/intern. I really enjoyed the opportunity and am looking forward to my next presentation in a few days.

Dental Assistant: The flash behind those pearly white smiles

  

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As children, we are taught that an apple a day will keep the Dentist away. So what do we do? We eat tons of apples so we don’t ever have to see the man in the white coat with drills! Then we grow up and realize that having a nice smile is one of the best things you could ever hope for. The Dental Assistant is the Dentist’s partner in crime during your check-ups. What exactly does a Dental Assistant do and how can you turn your childhood fear into a prosperous career? 

 Dental Assistants are the happy faces that perform a variety of patient care, office and lab duties. Other duties include the sterilization and disinfecting of instruments required to treat each patient as well as obtaining a patient’s dental records. They are the gatekeepers to your perfect smile because they have to first make you smile and feel comfortable with their extraordinary people skills. If you’re not relaxed, how can you lower your guard to get a proper cleaning? Being comfortable in the hands of your healthcare provider is the difference between a successful visit and a terrible one. 
               

Interested? Where can you get trained as a Dental Assistant? How can taking this first step propel you into an exciting and rewarding career? Many community colleges offer short term training courses that give you the necessary tools to be a viable candidate to work at a Dental office. Not only will this be a great career, but it can also be a great stepping stone for someone who is interested in taking it a step further and becoming a Dental Hygienist or Dentist. MK Education partners with several colleges across the nation to help bring more smiles to everyone! If you are interested, take this opportunity to learn more about becoming a Dental Assistant. Do you think you have what it takes to become a Dental Assistant? Take a look at the websites provided below and find out! Take that first step towards success!

http://mkedu.org/dentalassistant.html - Dental Assistant Program

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos163.htm - Bureau of Labor Statistics (great overview) overview

http://www.dentalassistant.org/ - American Dental Assistant Association

http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx - Dental Admissions Test

 

Health Career Expert | 4 Tips for Your Loved Ones

  

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A Pharmacy Student’s Tips |
Your Loved Ones Taking Blood Pressure Medications

A whopping 68 million Americans have high blood pressure*. With so many people being prescribed medications to help lower their blood pressure, chances are you have family members who are too. Because patients don’t always ‘feel’ the effects of their blood pressure medications working, it becomes important for them to remember to take their medications regularly. This is especially true during the holiday season when so many people are on the go. Here are four simple tips you can share with your family to help them take their medication correctly and help keep them safe:

1. Always try to have your loved ones keep a list of the medications they are currently taking nearby. This will help any doctor who wants to look over their medications to make sure they are being treated effectively and safely.

    

2. If your loved one is on many different medications, as is common with those being treated for high blood pressure, they can buy a pillbox that is marked with the days of the week. This helps patients to get more organized and help develop a routine for taking their heart medications.

    

3. They should try to fill their medications early to avoid running out. They can ask their local pharmacist how many refills a medication has left, and when it will be ready to fill again.

    

4. When traveling, your loved one should take the medications they need with them so they can continue to take them. For longer vacations, they can take an extra weeks supply if possible. They should always have their regular pharmacies number in case they need a prescription transferred to a nearby pharmacy while on vacation.

Remember, these tips are not just for blood pressure medications and can be used for anyone taking long-term drug therapy.

If learning about blood pressure medications makes your heart skip a beat then maybe a career as Cardiographic Technician is right for you.

Visit http://www.mkedu.org/cardiographictechnician.html for more information.

Reference:
*CDC. Vital signs: prevalence, treatment, and control of hypertension--United States, 1999-2002 and 2005-2008. MMWR. 2011;60(4):103-8.

Tobias Doherty

Midwestern University, Chicago College of Pharmacy

PharmD candidate, Class of 2013

Best Free Health Smartphone Apps

  

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Best Free Smartphone Apps That Can Improve Your Healthcare Game! 

Whether you currently work as a healthcare professional, are an aspiring healthcare worker, or just someone with a casual interest in medical knowledge, obtaining information on the fly is a great way to improve your healthcare skills! Both iPhone and Android smartphones provide many free applications (apps) that provide a vast amount of medical information right at your fingertips. Here are a few of my favorite free apps for both platforms that can definitely improve your healthcare game…..

What's the next step after being a certified healthcare professional?

  

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When’s the last time that you've taken a good look at the industry that you're in? If you happen to be in the healthcare industry, it’s a good idea to stay ahead of the pack by making sure that you keep up with the latest and greatest changes. For example, doctors attend school for a maximum of 20 years, yet they never stop taking classes and learning because things in their field continue to evolve on a daily basis. If you are working as a Pharmacy Technician, Cardiographic Technician, or even a Phlebotomist, you will need to take continuing education credits to become recertified. Why does this need to happen? Healthcare is an ever-changing field and new methods and ideas are constantly on the horizon.

Every year, healthcare professionals are required to take continuing education courses to keep their minds fresh with the latest technologies and procedures. Although there are many great industries from which you can choose, professions in the healthcare industry will always be in demand. As we see many industries around us fade away due to technology updates, the healthcare industry is here to stay for as long as mankind continues to evolve. We will always need someone to take care of the sick. 

With that said, you never want to be caught off guard when it comes to your career, especially if you're just starting off. With the economy the way it is and so many people looking for employment, there’s always someone out there who thinks they’re better, and ready to step into your position, if given the opportunity. So, you always want to stay on top of your game. A lot of the times, taking classes can be done in the evening after you get off of work. This way, it does not interfere with your work schedule. There are also weekend classes that you can take. The main thing is that you stay up to date and current with what's going on in your industry, so that no one gets the opportunity to surpass you.

If you're in one of the professions that's constantly changing, your employer is aware of this, and will be ahead of you as it relates to ensuring that you receive the proper training. Many local community colleges offer healthcare refresher courses that count towards Continuing Education Credits. Some can be a full on course and some can also be one hour webinars and all you’ll need is the presenter’s signature. Take the proactive approach and research your local community colleges and see if there are any relevant courses that pertain to your specific field. MK Education partners with various colleges and offers many programs that qualify as CE credits.

Here's to your success in your future endeavors. Now, go and get your learning on!

Hemodialysis Technicians - Helping people since 1974

  

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Imagine walking into your office and there is no place to sit or stand. There is so much waste and junk cluttering the entire space that it makes it virtually impossible to function. Now imagine that instead of your office that is cluttered with waste, it is your body.  People who cannot remove waste products in their blood are called dialysis patients.  In the United States, there are over 200,000 people who use dialysis techniques on an ongoing basis (www.medicinenet.com). Hemodialysis Technicians (Patient Care Technicians) are the professionals who care for dialysis patients.

The dialysis process basically removes waste, excess water and other fluids from the kidney when it is suffering from renal failure. The technician also operates dialysis machines and equipment during dialysis treatments under the supervision of a nurse or other healthcare professional. Several other duties include recording patient information and measuring a patient's vital signs before, during and after dialysis under the supervision of a doctor or nurse.

As a Hemodialysis Technician, you have an opportunity to help make significant changes in your patients’ lives. You will be interacting with the same patients at least three times a week. Treatments usually last anywhere from 2 ½ to 4 ½ hours and during that time, Hemodialysis Technicians check the blood pressure frequently and keeps an eye on the dialysis machine to ensure that the proper amount of fluid is being removed from the patient’s body. Patients are able to do other work or even sleep throughout the entire treatment. Not only can you keep an eye on the machine, but you can also make the patient’s visit more enjoyable! This is an ever evolving career that continuously is growing due to the high volume of dialysis patients.

Certification and licensing is a requirement for hemodialysis technicians in all states and require that prospective state-certified technicians be first certified by the Board of Nephrology Examination for Nurses and Technicians (BONENT).

BONENT is a National exam accepted in every state however each state has its own requirements. Please look into your own state requirements for more specific information.

How do I get started?

Well for starters my personal recommendation is to look in to BONENT’s website and look under approved programs to find an approved program in your area. MK Education also offers an approved BONENT program which is currently not listed in their website but do partner with many colleges nationwide, you may also want to look at the listing of colleges there as well to see if there are any colleges they partner with near your area.

How to avoid infections as a Veterinary Assistant?

  

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        Fido is man's best friend, but what happens when Fido gets sick? What happens when you see a stray dog hurt on the side of the street? As much as your heart desires, you cannot just pick up an injured animal off the street and begin caring for them. It becomes even harder when the animal that is sick, is your own. If you love to help animals, perhaps consider getting training as a Veterinary Assistant. Even though the puppy that you love to snuggle up with is cute and cuddly, you have to remember that they ARE animals and can become vicious in a heartbeat. It is best to leave it to a professional to care for your injured pet.

          The number one concern for ALL Vet Assistants is safety and being careful not to get any infections or diseases animals could potentially have. There are various ways to avoid infection, but the best way is to GET TRAINED from a PROFESSIONAL!!! Most errors are preventable in a medical setting when the worker has been properly trained. Various community colleges across the United States can help with animal care training. MK Education partners with some of those colleges and has been developing and offering Veterinary Assistant training for over 5 years. 

Here are some of those tips you would learn in the classroom on avoiding infections on the Job! 

1. Wear protective latex gloves. 
2. Keep the animal’s head pointed away from your face. 
3. If the animal is showing aggression put a muzzle on it to prevent it from biting you. 
4. Keep all pets on a leash or caged when not giving them direct attention. 
5. Make sure soap and water are on hand as washing the wound for 5 minutes directly after being bitten is the best option. 

Below are some links that contain facts about Veterinary Assistants. Help the animal lover in you do more by finding out more information about becoming aVeterinary Assistant!

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occupations/p/vet_assistant.htm

http://careerplanning.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=careerplanning&cdn=careers&tm=25&f=10&su=p284.13.342.ip_p554.21.342.ip_&tt=11&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.bls.gov/oco/ocos168.htm

It's Electric...Electronic Health Records

  

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In 2009, President Barack Obama, planned to convert all medical records to be electronic by 2014. The recent growth of this profession has had individuals learning the intricacies of the duties of an Electronic Health Records Specialist.  Having medical health records going digital, Electronic Health Record specialists are posed with the question, “Will the quality of electronic records be better than that of paper notes, or will there be a loss of medical diagnostic information?”

EHR specialists will need to take the time to be accurate when inputting the patient’s data to prevent medical diagnostic errors. Shifting records to electronic systems will aide in the efficiency and convenience of patients’ allowing for easy access to their medical records, test results, and personal information.

The back-end of building EHR systems is contingent on having designers build systems that can be streamlined in various formats. The flow of information from doctors to patients should be documented in ways to facilitate easy tracking for the future.

An EHR specialist will not just be inputting data from print to computer, but will also aide in follow-up duties for clinicians. Electronic documentation will also help patients monitor and educate themselves with their own symptoms. EHR specialists will also help in preventing potential diagnostic errors. The computerization of medical records will constantly be evolving with the technological trends.

If you are in the healthcare career field, the tools that you learn as an EHR specialist will add to your skillsets. If you are breaking into the healthcare career field, this growing profession holds great potential. Visit http://mkedu.org/electronichealthrecords.html for more information on the programs in your area. 

For more information please take a look at the link below as it will give a thorough description of a being an Electronic Health Records Specialist:

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos103.htm

You Say Hippo… Pharmacy Techs Say HIPAA

  

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No matter which healthcare program or type of certification you wish to take, all healthcare professionals will be required to learn and understand HIPAA. So, what is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

This privacy act is in place to keep patient’s health information confidential. This patient information is known as Protected Health Information (PHI). So whether you are a phlebotomist, pharmacy technician, or a medical coder and biller, you need to keep all patient information protected at all times. PHI is any information that can be used to identify a specific patient. Protected Health Information includes:

• Any information transmitted or maintained in electronic form or any other form
• Any information about a patients past, present, or future physical or mental health
• Any information about treatments the patient will undergo
• Any information about how the patient pays or will be paying for their medical care

So, what are the consequences that you can face is you break HIPPA regulations? You could be:

• Terminated by your employer
• Face civil ramifications: Health and Human Services can impose fines of $100 – $25,000 per violation
• Face criminal ramifications: Federal Department of Justice can impose a fine of $50,000 and up to one year in jail to anyone who discloses PHI
• In addition, any person who obtains PHI and attempts to sell it for personal gain or harm can face a fine up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in jail

As you can see, the consequence of breaking HIPAA regulations can be very severe. So, make sure you do not leave patient health information laying around for others to see. If you are speaking with a patient, make sure you use a lower tone and speak away from other customer or patients.

As a healthcare professional, what can you do to ensure HIPPA is not violated in your work place?

For more information about HIPAA check out: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/