Kathy Quan 's Blog
Posted by Kathy Quan
Are you a high school or college student trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up? The Bureau of Labor Statistics has produced a guidebook speciically to help students make informed decisions about their future.
The trend for growth in service industries as opposed to gods and manufacturing, will continue well into the next decade. With the growing and aging population, health care will continue to expand and provide job security.
Registered nurses will see the largest growth in employment during this time frame. Other health care jobs in the top 20 include home health aides, personal care aides and nursing assistants. Social workers, and teachers also rank high in the growing needs in the service industries.
Health care also provides opportunities for computer technology, IT, engineering and support positions such as food services, and hosekeeping. Management and executive positions will continue to grow as well. Degrees in science, math, and business can open opportunities in the health industry.
As advances in automation and technology continue, many jobs such as cashiers will dissapppear. On the other hand, technology continues to create jobs in health care as new diagnostics and treatment options become available. Students today have many more opportunities to consider.
 |
Posted by Kathy Quan
This past weekend my neighborhood experienced yet another Internet and cable TV outage as our server worked on the unreliable lines. We all missed watching Michael Phelps earn his seventh gold medal in the 100 meter butterfly.
Locked out of our access to the world, I was reminded that although electronic records can be an excellent choice, having access can be challenging at times. There are numerous options available for developing and storing your own electronic health records online.
This helps to assure that in the event of a disaster like Hurricane Katrina of 2005, displaced persons could access medical records easily and not suffer the consequences of having to be re-diagnosed and possibly be without vital medications for days.
Being able to access these records can be a challenge in the event of power outages and server downtime. In a true emergency, power backup systems would be available and alternative server options may be as well.
It’s also a good idea to have your own back up copy and to keep it up to date. Paper copy may not be practical or secure, but a copy on your own hard drive as well as on a CD with passwords would be recommended. A portable generator may be handy as well if your computer is a desktop variety. Access to a laptop powered by battery would be a preferred option.
This can be especially important in the event you are in charge of the care for an elderly or ill relative and need to access the information frequently for hired caregivers. Don’t rely completely on technology. It is after all, controlled by fallible human beings.
Posted by Kathy Quan
The Olympics begin in a few days which will likely keep more people indoors for a few days, but in the meantime, be sure take care if you are outdoors. If you’re attending the games, be sure to protect yourself from the elements.
Heat exhaustion and sunburn are common issues when enjoying summer activities and events. If you’re attending an event, take care to ensure you remain safe from the elements. Sunscreen is an essential item. Be sure you have several containers of it. Keep it cool. Some refrigerate it so it provides a cooling sensation when applied.
If you keep an extra sunscreen in the car, protect it from getting too hot. It can actually cause a burn if you apply sunscreen that has been sitting in a hot car for a long time. Be sure the lid is on tight and the outside of the container is clean. Stick it in a cooler when you travel to the beach or other outdoor activity. You might want to put it in a plastic bag to separate it from your food and drinks.
Be sure you drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Try to remain in the shade as much as possible. If you’re attending a ball game for instance, and your seats are in the direct sun, get up and go for a walk under the cover at least a couple of times.
A trip to the bathroom can provide you an opportunity to splash yourself with cool water or wipe your face, neck and arms with a wet paper towel. You might take a wet towel with you back to your seat to place on the back of your neck or to wipe down your arms again. Enjoy and be safe.
Posted by Kathy Quan
On May 26, 2008, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) told the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) that evidence pointed to tainted tomatoes in the recent outbreak of Salmonella saintpaul. This was based on the fact that over 84% of the infected individuals reported having eaten tomatoes.
And so the tomato was removed from restaurant menus and shunned in grocery stores for weeks while the FDA searched for infected samples until a tainted jalapeno pepper was found at a Texas plant on July 21. This week, the FDA has added the fact that jalapeno and Serrano peppers from a specific Mexican farm are now the most likely culprit.
Controversy surrounds this investigation and many fingers are being pointed at different agencies. Tomatoes grown in Florida became a prime suspect even though the infection outbreak occurred in the Southwest where the tomatoes are imported from Mexico.
Outbreaks in several areas of the country were traced to the peppers by state public health agencies such as Minnesota in about half the time spent trying to track down the tomato link.
Mexican authorities are now upset because the FDA was possibly citing the wrong Mexican farm and causing unnecessary concerns for growers and consumers.
Tomatoes have ben cleared and the investigation continues.
Posted by Kathy Quan
The news in the housing industry continues to be depressing. Foreclosures and short sales are on the rise. Lenders are in trouble and it’s all very scary.
Several of my friends have lost their jobs in the last few months and others have young adult children who recently graduated from college and aren’t able to find jobs. Times are very tough.
My advice to my friends has been to look for new jobs in the health care industry. Jobs in health care continue to boom despite the economic downturns. For the most part, these will be jobs with specialized training such as nurses, doctors, dental assistants, physical therapists, home health aides, etc.
However, as the health care industry grows and expands, the need for ancillary services grows. Office managers, data entry and financial support such as billers and accounts receivable and accounts payable personnel are just a few of the obvious needs.
The right person with some varied experience and a willingness to learn can easily fit into a medical office, clinic or hospital setting. Someone who is able to easily multi-task can be a great asset. For instance, someone who can handle phones, schedule appointments and in between times provide data entry or bookkeeping skills could be a rare find.
Don’t be intimidated by the “must have medical office experience” if you are a strong self-starter, a quick learner and have several skill sets to offer. That line often is just to deter the high school student or recent grad who wants pocket cash, but wants to play on the Internet or talk on the cell phone while “working.”
In your cover letter introduce yourself and explain how your skills and experience can help you to adapt to this position. Express a willingness to learn new things and an ability to grasp them quickly.
