The Iowa Department of Public Health – Bureau of EMS is seeking applications from individuals who are interested in receiving initial EMS education.  In return, individuals will agree to provide needed EMS staffing for underserved areas in Iowa.

Eligible applicants must:

• Be at least 17 years of age at the time of application
• Have a high school diploma or its equivalent if enrolling in an EMT-I, EMT-P or PS course
• Be able to speak, write and read English
• Hold a current course completion card in CPR if enrolling in an EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-P or PS course
• Be currently certified, as a minimum, as an EMT-B, if enrolling in an EMT-I, EMT-P, or PS course

Funds will be awarded to applicants to assist with expenses associated with initial EMS education and training. Allowable expenses include course tuition, training program fees, books and course supplies, and testing and certification fees. Applicants may apply for up to $4,500.

Applications will be accepted now through the closing deadline of June 1, 2010, or until all program funding has been awarded. Applicants are encouraged to apply early.

The days of health care providers looking up information in reference books may soon be a thing of the past thanks to the rising popularity of smartphone applications.

In April 2009, Manhattan Research stated that 64% of physicians are currently using smartphones and the number of physicians using iPhones more than doubled in the last year.

Smartphones apps not all fun and games; physicians finding real uses

HealthLeaders Media recently interviewed Dr. Michelle Eads, a primary care physician who routinely reaches for her smartphone before writing a prescription. Dr. Eads relies on Epocrates, a comprehensive drug and disease reference application, to quickly decide what the safest medication options are by looking up drug interactions, side effect profiles, adverse reactions and contraindications.

In addition to the numerous applications available for health care professionals, companies like Think Safe, an Iowa-based company, offers apps for the general public that will verbally coach users through assisting with severe allergic reactions or emergencies requiring CPR.

Here’s a look at some of the more popular medical applications available:

• Epocrates: A drug reference containing information on more than 3,300 drugs, including dosing, adverse reactions, pricing, and pictures.
• Skyscape Medical Resources: Comprehensive drug information, clinical information, medical calculator and up-to-the-minute medical alerts by specialty
• EyeChart: A mobile Snellen eye chart that can provide useful screens for rough visual acuity.
• MedCalc: A collection of clinical calculators including Body Mass Index (BMI), I.V. drip rates, ABG interpretation and pregnancy wheel.
• Speed Bones Lite: Free version of Speed Bones MD that tests your speed and challenges your memory of the human anatomy.
• Taber’s Medical Dictionary: Includes more than 60,000 terms, 1,000 photos and 600 Patient Care Statements.
• Davis’s Drug Guide for Nurses: Includes nearly 5,000 trade and generic drugs, the most common natural and herbal products, as well as monographs of indications, side effects and interactions.
• Eponyms (for students): Short descriptions of medical eponyms, such as Rovsing’s sign and Virchow’s node.
• uHear: A mobile hearing loss screening test that lets you test hearing to determine if it is in normal range.
• Pocket First Aid & CPR: The latest up-to-date information from the American Heart Association on first aid and CPR procedures. Also allows user to enter personal medical information including allergies, medications and emergency contacts.
• Police Scanner: For people who love to listen in to police scanner frequencies. Allows users to select from nearby streams or from feeds around the world. Great for “On Call” volunteer fire fighters, news crews, and emergency responders.

What kind of phone/mobile device are you using? Are you using any apps on your phone to assist you in your work? What are your favorite apps?

[Photo via johanl on Flickr]

U.S. News and World Report added physical therapy to the 2009 best careers list based on five criteria:

1. Job outlook
2. Average job satisfaction
3. Difficulty of the required training
4. Prestige
5. Pay

As jobs such as investment bankers and editors dropped off the 2009 list, health care careers remained strong, comprising one-third of all careers listed.

Physical therapists restore, maintain and promote overall fitness and health

Physical therapists are valuable members of a health care team and provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to increase much faster than average and job opportunities should be good, particularly in hospital, rehabilitation and orthopedic settings. A March 2009 Washington Post article emphasized that careers in health care, specifically physical therapy, continue to grow despite the country’s employment crisis.

Hear from a physical therapist in Iowa

A few weeks ago we had the chance to speak with a physical therapist at Cass County Memorial Hospital about how he got started and the most rewarding part of his job.

Take a look to see what it’s like working as a physical therapist in an Iowa hospital.

Clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease and pursuing a career as a CLS allows individuals to develop their analytical abilities, perform complex procedures and utilize high-tech computerized equipment. According to an article in Money magazine, Clinical Laboratory Scientists, aka Laboratory Technologists, rank 46th out of the 50 best jobs.

Faster employment growth, excellent opportunities

On a national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted faster than average employment growth and excellent job opportunities. The Iowa Hospital Association has consistently ranked the Clinical Laboratory Scientist as one of the greatest hiring needs in Iowa hospitals.

Allen College launching new CLS program

Starting this fall, Allen College will implement a new clinical laboratory science (CLS) program. CLS graduates will receive the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree.  Students planning to seek admission to the program must complete all general education requirements at an accredited college or university before enrolling in the health sciences program at Allen College.

Hear from a medical lab technician in Iowa

Recently we had the chance to speak with a medical laboratory technician at Cass County Memorial Hospital about how she got started and the most rewarding part of her job.

Take a look to see what it’s like working as a medical lab tech in an Iowa hospital.

Summer campers who are accustomed to swimming, riding horses and sitting by a campfire will have the opportunity to attend a different kind of summer camp at Genesis Health System in Davenport, Iowa.

With the assistance of a grant from the Genesis Health Services Foundation, the Genesis Adventures in Nursing Summer Camp (GAIN) will be held for the first time this July.

Getting an early start in health care

This camp will reach out to young people who may someday be interested in a health care career. Campers will tour the hospital, observe a mock trauma in the emergency department, visit an operating room and learn first aid and CPR.

Campers will also learn the basic anatomy and physiology of the heart and brain and will learn about health assessment.

Ensuring an adequate supply of nurses is essential to any health care delivery system. Genesis is doing its part by creating an exciting summer adventure that will allow campers to explore the many options a career in nursing can provide.