Lots of Opportunity in Health Care Technology

Health care and technology have been growth industries for years - and some of the best job openings today are in fields where health care and technology meet. Radiology technician schools are turning out professionals that have been trained to work with the ever-expanding diagnostic tools used in medicine today. Some of these positions have high growth rates projected by the U.S. Department of Labor; all of them are being put to new uses as medicine devises new examinations.

Radiologic Technologists

Training in this field is usually through an associate degree program. While radiology is still an important diagnostic tool, the shift in specialization for the field is toward magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT scans). Most of these positions are in hospitals or in imaging clinics and employers are often looking for someone who can manage both radiologic exams and scanners. This professional category is expected to expand by fifteen percent over the next several years, but people who have trained in the newer technologies will be in demand. The average salary in this field was $52,210 in 2008. There are currently almost 200,000 people employed in the field so the number of new jobs will be substantial.

Cardiovascular Technician

These technologists assist physicians in diagnosing heart and blood vessel ailments. Their day-to-day duties often include scheduling appointments, explaining procedures to patients, and maintaining equipment. Cardiovascular technologists generally specialize in one of three areas: invasive cardiology, echocardiography, or vascular technology. Some cardiovascular technicians learn the trade in a radiologic technology school, and some enroll in two year programs that are dedicated to the cardiovascular specialty.

This profession is projected to grow by over twenty five percent over the next several years along with the number of medical procedures that require a cardiovascular technician in the operating room. The median salary for this position in 2008 was $47,010.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

Sonography is the use of sound waves to create images of the human body based on the echo that returns to the sonography machine. The result is an image not unlike an X-ray but obtaining it is much safer because there is no radiation exposure for either patient or sonographer. The job entails positioning the patient for image exposure similar to what X-ray technicians do, making the exposure and handling any processing of the image that may be required.

The technology is new enough that researchers are still experimenting with various types of diagnostic procedures using sound waves as an alternative to radioactive technology. Job openings in the field are expected to increase by nearly twenty percent over the next several years. An associate's degree in the field is sufficient for an entry level position; some people still refer to the training program as ultrasound technician school. The average annual salary is $61,980.