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Guide to Healthcare Careers forWyandotte County YouthHow to earn a successful living in thegrowing healthcare field

Dear Educator,Today, the healthcare field offers new and promising opportunities forour young people. From medical assistants to primary care providers,healthcare features many skilled and well-paying careers with highplacement rates and increasing demand.THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION SHOULD REFLECT OUR COMMUNITYWyandotte County is blessed with an ethnically and linguistically diverse population. Yet thepeople who work in our hospitals and clinics don’t always reflect the characteristics of ourWyandotte County communities. Thus, our healthcare employers are seeking skilled workersfrom diverse backgrounds who more closely represent the people of our county.Research shows that racial and linguistic alignment between healthcare professionals and theirpatients increases patient satisfaction and trust in providers, improves the long-term managementof chronic conditions, and even reduces potentially fatal miscommunications. Put simply,representation matters.ABOUT THIS GUIDEWhether students want a meaningful career, to make a difference in their community, or to be ableto support their families, pursuing a healthcare profession listed in this guide satisfies all three.Working together, healthcare professionals and educators developed this guide for teachers,counselors and administrators in Wyandotte County. It provides an overview of high-impacthealthcare career opportunities in our county. We have selected opportunities that provide a livingwage ( 33,000 or more annually), along with job security and a bright long-term labor market outlook.Each listing gives an overview of the education needed for each career, the average regional wagefor each profession and projected job growth. This guide does not attempt to cover every healthcarecareer, but highlights those we believe offer the greatest opportunities in Wyandotte County.This guide is a product of the Wyandotte County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)Education-to-Employment Pipeline Committee. This committee seeks to create an education-toemployment pipeline for multicultural and multilingual Wyandotte County students pursuingcareers in healthcare. For more information about this committee or to get involved, contactkbradford@kcmedicine.org or msalsbury@vibranthealth.org.Development of this guide was funded in part by Health Forward Foundation funding to VibrantHealth and Sunflower Foundation funding to the Kansas City Medical Society Foundation.CONTENTS1MEDICAL – THERAPISTS5MEDICAL – OFFICE8DENTAL2-3MEDICAL – TECHNICIANS6MEDICAL – PHYSICIAN9WELLNESS4MEDICAL – NURSING6-7BEHAVIORAL HEALTHBCCONTACT INFORMATIONKEY TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABBREVIATIONSMCC – Metropolitan Community College, JCCC – Johnson County Community College, KCKCC – Kansas City, Kansas Community College, KUMC – University of Kansas Medical Center,UMKC – University of Missouri-Kansas City, KCUMB – Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, KSU – Kansas State University, NWMS – Northwest Missouri State University

MEDICAL – THERAPISTSPHYSICAL THERAPISTPhysical therapists help injured or ill people improvemovement and manage pain. They typically work inprivate offices and clinics, hospitals, patients’ homesand nursing homes.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Doctor of Physical Therapy DegreeD Physical Therapist LicenseLength of Training6-7 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 84,640Annual Job Openings in Kansas100Projected 10-Year Job Growth11%NEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D KUMC, Rockhurst University, University of St. MaryRelated career: The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) works with patientsunder the supervision of a Physical Therapist, by providing manual therapyand training patients in therapeutic exercises. Requires associate degree andPTA license; national median annual wage is 58,790 (U.S. Dept. of Labor).Physical TherapistRespiratory TherapistRESPIRATORY THERAPISTRespiratory therapists care for patients who have troublebreathing from a chronic respiratory disease such as asthma oremphysema. They conduct tests, provide treatment and delivereducation. Respiratory therapists primarily work in hospitals.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Associate or Bachelor’s DegreeD Respiratory Therapist LicenseLength of Training2-4 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 56,110Annual Job Openings in Kansas100Projected 10-Year Job Growth23%NEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D KCKCC, JCCC, KUMC1

MEDICAL – TECHNICIANSMEDICAL & CLINICAL LAB TECHNICIANLaboratory technologists and technicians collect samplesand perform tests to analyze body fluids, tissue, and othersubstances. They work in hospitals, medical and diagnosticlaboratories or doctors’ offices.Length of Training2 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 48,340NEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:Annual Job Openings in Kansas100D JCCC, University of Saint Mary, Rockhurst University,William Jewell CollegeProjected 10-Year Job Growth6%Length of Training2 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 77,430Annual Job Openings in Kansas10Projected 10-Year Job Growth4%Length of Training1 yearContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 34,400Annual Job Openings in Kansas130Projected 10-Year Job Growth11%DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Associate or Bachelor’s DegreeD Workforce Partnership funding eligible*NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGISTNuclear medicine technologists prepare radioactive drugsand administer them to patients for imaging and therapeuticpurposes. They work mostly in hospitals, but also inphysicians’ offices, diagnostic laboratories and imaging clinics.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Associate or Bachelor’s DegreeD Nuclear Medicine Technologist LicenseNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D KUMC, Research Medical CenterNote: This career builds on Radiologic Technician certification. For thosealready holding Radiologic Technician certification, training for NuclearMedicine Technologist is nine months in length.PHLEBOTOMY TECHNICIANPhlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, researchand blood donations. They work mainly in hospitals, medicaland diagnostic laboratories, blood donor centers and doctors’offices.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Phlebotomy Technician CertificationNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D JCCC, Washburn Institute of TechnologyD Workforce Partnership funding eligible** If you are a Wyandotte County resident and meet certain criteria, there may be funding for you to pursue education for this career throughWorkforce Partnership at no cost to you. Call 913-279-2600 for more information.2

RADIOLOGIC TECHNICIANRadiologic technicians perform diagnostic imagingexaminations such as x-rays on patients. They workin hospitals and healthcare facilities.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Associate DegreeLength of Training2 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 48,300Annual Job Openings in Kansas50Projected 10-Year Job Growth9%D Radiologic Technician LicenseNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D MCC, Cleveland UniversityMedical & Clinical Lab TechnicianSurgical TechnologistSURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTSurgical technologists assist in surgical operations inhospitals or surgical centers.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:Length of Training2 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 46,960Annual Job Openings in Kansas80Projected 10-Year Job Growth6%D Associate DegreeNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D MCC, JCCCKEY TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABBREVIATIONSMCC – Metropolitan Community College, JCCC – Johnson County Community College, KCKCC – Kansas City, Kansas Community College, KUMC – University of Kansas Medical Center,UMKC – University of Missouri-Kansas City, KCUMB – Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, KSU – Kansas State University, NWMS – Northwest Missouri State University3

MEDICAL – NURSINGREGISTERED NURSE (RN)Registered nurses provide and coordinate patient careand educate patients and the public about various healthconditions. They work in hospitals, physicians’ offices,home health care services, and nursing care facilities.Others work in outpatient clinics and schools.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Associate or Bachelor’s DegreeD Practical Nurse LicenseNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:Length of Training2-4 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 66,190Annual Job Openings in Kansas1,870Projected 10-Year Job Growth10%D Associate Degree – KCKCC, JCCC, MCCD Bachelor’s Degree – KU, UMKC, Park University,Research College of Nursing, Avila University, WilliamJewell College, Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciencesat Rockhurst University, University of Saint MaryD Workforce Partnership funding eligible*Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE (LPN)Licensed practical nurses provide basic nursing care innursing homes and extended care facilities, hospitals,physicians’ offices and private homes.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Practical Nursing CertificateLength of Training1-2 yearsContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 46,160Annual Job Openings in Kansas520Projected 10-Year Job Growth- 1%D Practical Nurse LicenseNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D Donnelly College, KCKCC, JCCC, MCCD Workforce Partnership funding eligible** If you are a Wyandotte County resident and meet certain criteria, there may be funding for you to pursue education for this career throughWorkforce Partnership at no cost to you. Call 913-279-2600 for more information.4

MEDICAL – OFFICEMEDICAL ASSISTANTMedical assistants complete administrative and clinicaltasks in hospitals, offices of physicians, and otherhealthcare facilities.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Certified Medical AssistantLength of Training2 years or lessContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 34,050Annual Job Openings in Kansas600Projected 10-Year Job Growth14%Length of TrainingLess than 1 yearContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 56,760*Annual Job Openings in Kansas80Projected 10-Year Job Growth13%Length of Training2 years or lessContinuing Education RequiredYesMedian Annual Wage (KC Metro) 41,180Annual Job Openings in Kansas150Projected 10-Year Job Growth7%NEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D KCKCC, MCC-Penn ValleyD Workforce Partnership funding eligible*MEDICAL INTERPRETERHealth or medical interpreters work in healthcare settings andhelp patients communicate with doctors, nurses, technicians,and other medical staff. They must have knowledge of medicalterminology and of common medical terms in both languages.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Certified Medical Interpreter (through National Board ofCertification for Medical Interpreters)*NEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D JCCC, MCC*Wage data is based on individuals with National Board of Certification forMedical Interpreters Certification. This is not the same as the certificate ofcompletion provided by the JCCC and MCC programs.MEDICAL RECORDS/HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNICIANMedical records and health information techniciansorganize and manage health information data. Theywork in medical offices.DEGREE/CERTIFICATION NEEDED:D Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)or other certificationNEARBY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS:D MCC, JCCC, Park UniversityD Workforce Partnership funding eligible*KEY TO EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ABBREVIATIONSMCC – Metropolitan Community College, JCCC – Johnson County Community College, KCKCC – Kansas City, Kansas Community College, KUMC – University of Kansas Medical Center,UMKC – University of Missouri-Kansas City, KCUMB – Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, KSU – Kansas State University, NWMS – Northwest Missouri State University5