By: Sierra Jenkins, National HOSA President Elect

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in China By: Sierra Jenkins, National HOSA President Elect The health care system in China focuses on preventive medicine, referred to

In Chinese culture, it is believed that physical sickness is caused by imbalances in energy, otherwise known as the yin and yang.

Chinese assume personal responsibility for maintaining their daily health and turn to traditional and herbal remedies, should they feel

Some of the traditional remedies used in China are herbs, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, and cupping of skin with heated bamboo.

For example, Chinese are very hesitant when asked to give blood because they fear it will weaken their bodily energy.

1 in China By: Sierra Jenkins, National HOSA President Elect The health care system in China focuses on preventive medicine, referred to as active medicine. Curative medicine is considered passive. In Chinese culture, it is believed that physical sickness is caused by imbalances in energy, otherwise known as the yin and yang. The balance between yin and yang extends beyond the body to include each person s environment and mental outlook. Chinese assume personal responsibility for maintaining their daily health and turn to traditional and herbal remedies, should they feel ill. These herbal remedies are used as treatment for minor sicknesses such as colds and indigestion. Some of the traditional remedies used in China are herbs, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, and cupping of skin with heated bamboo. Certain aspects of health care in the Chinese culture are quite different than health care in America. For example, Chinese are very hesitant when asked to give blood because they fear it will weaken their bodily energy. Also, mental illnesses are viewed as somewhat shameful conditions that are generally not discussed. If diagnosed with an illness, a Chinese patient may tend to have a fatalistic view of their diagnosis, meaning they feel that their illness has been caused by fate. Because of this, it is especially difficult to offer treatment options.

Patient Centric Portals By Meghan Homa, Region II Vice President A recent health care industry trend is patient portals or web based health care communication for patients.

2 Patient Centric Portals By Meghan Homa, Region II Vice President A recent health care industry trend is patient portals or web based health care communication for patients. The portals that have been established across the country so far offer services ranging from standard communication between patients and health care staff to secure prescription refill requests. Patient portals can also send direct physician-patient communication text messages via the health care system s messaging system. The portals allow patients to communicate with their physician and clinic staff via the Internet and, although the growth of the portals is slow, the interest among patients is high. Research shows that a number of health care systems and organizations are investing in patient portals. However, a negative aspect to the patient portals is the potential lack of acceptance by health care staff and physicians because the portals require a significant change in the established daily operations. It is much like technology implementation in the past; however, the portals will become easier to utilize once the process is learned and embraced. Patient portals offer health care systems and organizations the ability to save money and are a convenient way to promote quality and effective patient care.

D I A B E T E S By: Marko Mijic, Region I Vice President Diseases seem to be all around us. Some diseases can be more common than others and some affect people differently than others.

3 D I A B E T E S By: Marko Mijic, Region I Vice President Diseases seem to be all around us. Some diseases can be more common than others and some affect people differently than others. Overall, diseases affect our lives continuously and the Centers for Disease Control is the government affiliated agency that one might turn to for more information regarding a particular disease and how it is treated in the United States. One of the most common diseases people talk about in the 21 st century is Diabetes. This particular disease is characterized by the high levels of blood glucose from defects in insulin products, insulin action, or even both. Diabetes can be associated with serious complications and premature death, however, people with diabetes can take proper actions to lower their risks of any complications. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; and Gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and sometimes is referred as juvenile-onset diabetes. This type usually develops in the body when the immune system destroys the pancreatic beta cells. These pancreatic beta cells are the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin which regulates our blood glucose. This particular diabetes is often seen in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes is known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. This diabetes may account for an estimated 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. This is the most common diabetes in the US and affects a large amount of people. It usually begins as an insulin resistant syndrome. This is a disorder in which the cells do not use insulin properly, therefore, the body does not function properly. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. Those that are at high risk are African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, American Indians, and some Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders. The third type of diabetes is Gestational diabetes which is a form of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed in some women during pregnancy. This particular diabetes occurs most common in obese women and women with a family history of diabetes. During pregnancy gestational diabetes requires treatment to normalize maternal blood glucose levels to avoid complications in the infant. It is obvious that diabetes is continually on a rise and is affecting the entire United States. As future health care professionals, we need to make sure that our communities are aware of the risks of diabetes and the proper actions that individuals need to take to ensure they live a healthy and safe life. For more information: American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria VA Telephone ADA-ORDER to order publications toll free (800-DIABETES) for diabetes information Internet

What is a What is a surgical technologist? A surgical technologist is a person who assists the surgeon, nurses, and medical assistants in the operating room.

operation, clean the equipment and transfer patients to the recovery room after the operation. Where do they work?

To become a surgical technologist, you may join one of the nine to twenty-four month programs in several community colleges across the United States.

4 What is a What is a surgical technologist? A surgical technologist is a person who assists the surgeon, nurses, and medical assistants in the operating room. Their duties include preparing the operating room before an operation by setting up the surgical equipment that will be needed, pass the surgical instruments to the surgeons who are conducting the operation, clean the equipment and transfer patients to the recovery room after the operation. Where do they work? Surgical technologists work in hospital operating rooms and in surgeon s private practices. What kind of education do they receive to become certified? To become a surgical technologist, you may join one of the nine to twenty-four month programs in several community colleges across the United States. These programs provide students with hands-on experience in the operating room by working with the equipment and supplies that the surgeons will be using. How much do surgical technologists earn? They earn between $25,000 to $44,000 annually depending on experience and the demand in the area. Careers and the Medical Profession Quitman High School Students participated in CAMP week in observance of National HOSA Week. CAMP is an acronym for Careers and the Medical Profession, a program developed by White County Medical Center to allow students an opportunity to consider career choices in various health-care professions. Students in 7th and 8th grade, and 11th grade Medical Professions Students spent a week in preparation for mock trauma scenarios that were reenacted. Interest inventories were given to all students before they researched their career choices. Students were then allowed to apply for medical positions. They took examinations over their job choice, filled out a job application, interviewed for the position, and participated in a simulated random drug screen. Health Care Professionals answer Quitman Students who fared well on job criteria were allowed to work one-on-one with Students questions. health care professionals for the trauma scenario. Those students who failed the drug screen were assigned roles as victims for the scenario. Over thirty health care professionals participated in the event. Second-year HOSA members, under the direction of Todd Wofe, Education Coordinator, were administrators and coordinators. Old Main auditorium was arranged to simulate a typical hospital setting. Once the disaster alert was sounded, multiple victims arrived in the emergency room triage center to be prioritized and transferred to the appropriate unit of the hospital. Students were able to reenact with actual health care professionals duties typical of their job choices in hospital setting. The trauma scenario was reenacted for each grade level. At the conclusion of each scenario, students were allowed question and answer time with the professionals. Quitman Medical Professions Classes are available to Students in grades ten through twelve from all area schools. Students interested in participating in the fall of 2006 should contact their school counselor or hoyts@quitman.k12.ar.us for more information. Hailey Davis bags a victim in cardiac arrest (Lacey Nelson), while other medical personnel prepare to defibrillate.

Career Spotlight Medical Photography By: Sierra Jenkins National HOSA President Elect Medical photographers, also known as biomedical photographers, have the artistic ability and knowledge of

The main purpose of a medical photographer is to assist in research and education.

5 Career Spotlight Medical Photography By: Sierra Jenkins National HOSA President Elect Medical photographers, also known as biomedical photographers, have the artistic ability and knowledge of scientific processes. They use their skills to record and document scientific information in the following areas: biology, chemistry, medicine and other health related subjects. The main purpose of a medical photographer is to assist in research and education. Medical photographers perform the following tasks in their line of work: make charts and graphs, photographautopsy, use photomicrography to see microscopic objects in full detail, and process photographs of the human body and diseases for further research. Photographic representations of medical photographers can be found in many different areas such as, medical and biological subject that are found in textbooks, civil/criminal legal procedures and teaching models. A person interested in the career of a medical photographer should be detail oriented and creative. Medical photographers can be employed by medical schools, hospitals, research organizations, publishing companies, advertising agencies, pharmaceutical manufactures or health organizations. Many medical photographers contract out for their services, but there are some who are employed part-time and full-time. Medical photographers make an average annual salary of $32,400. Medical photography is a small and competitive field with an expected growth between 10% and 25% in the job market through the year High school students interested in medical photography should take the following classes in high school to prepare for this career: art, biology, chemistry, algebra, photography, drawing and design, English, history, graphic arts, printing, health occupations/medical professions education and computer illustration. For those students in college, a bachelor s degree program with a great deal of photography experience is required to become a medical photographer. Certification is offered by the BioCommunications Association s Board of Registry in order to become a Registered Biological Photographer (R.B.P.). After all educational requirements are met, an individual must pass written, practical, and oral examinations in order to become a R.B.P. Students interested in medical photography should contact schools for information on admission and course of study. If you are interested in Medical Photography, get started with HOSA. HOSA has a Medical Photography pilot event in Category III for The top three competitors in each division (secondary and postsecondary/collegiate) will be recognized with a plaque during the Recognition Session at the HOSA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. For more information on the Medical Photography event, visit the HOSA website under the title HOSA Handbook Section B: Competitive Event Guidelines for

The Bird Flu Epidemic in Asia By Brittney Earle HOSA Region III Vice President The bird flu has become a human epidemic in South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and China caused by the H5N1 strain of avian

It can be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment, and clothing. Although bird flu is very infectious in birds, it does not spread easily to humans.

6 The Bird Flu Epidemic in Asia By Brittney Earle HOSA Region III Vice President The bird flu has become a human epidemic in South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and China caused by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza viruses. These viruses range from a mild disease to a more fatal infectious disease. It is spread by waterfowl and sea birds. It can be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment, and clothing. Although bird flu is very infectious in birds, it does not spread easily to humans. Human deaths from this flu occur when the avian virus mixes with human influenza creating a new disease. The mixture of these viruses is very fatal to humans, who have no natural defense against the virus. Bird flu has infected at least 141 people and killed 73 in the Asian countries. The victims with the virus have had direct contact with the infected poultry. Scientists believe that the virus could develop to spread from one person to another as easily as the common cold. The United States Department of Health and Human Services plans to develop vaccines, antiviral medications and strategies to block the spread of this virus so it will not become the next pandemic.

SAFETY BULLETIN #3-05 November 11, 2005 Key Facts About Avian Influenza

Pacific Maritime Association Accident Prevention Department 550 California Street, P. O. Box 7861 San Francisco, California 94120-7861 SAFETY BULLETIN #3-05 November 11, 2005 Key Facts About Avian Influenza