There are numerous medical military professionals just as in the civilian world, such as, general healthcare assistants who assist doctors and physicians by performing laboratory tests, maintaining records/equipment, repairing glasses, and other general medical duties. Healthcare officers have more responsibilities because they are required to perform emergency surgeries when needed, diagnose illnesses, distribute drugs, administer physical/mental therapy, plan meals for those who have special diets, and treat those who have speech and hearing disabilities. There are many medical military careers available to those who seek a lucrative medical career, such as, medical service technicians, dentists, speech therapists, optometrists, nurses, dieticians, general physicians and occupational therapists, surgeons, radiological technicians, dental technicians, optical technicians, cardiopulmonary/EEG technicians, pharmacy technicians, and medical laboratory technicians.
Medical service technicians are the backups to those physicians and doctors who are unable to attend to those in need at the time. Medical service technicians may perform basic medical duties such as give shots, maintain personal healthcare records, take patient’s blood, pulse, temperature, and store and prepare blood samples for analysis.
Dentists in the military perform the same duties as the regular dentists who have their own private practices. Dentists must perform routine check-ups, diagnose teeth and gum problems, add fillings, correct and straighten teeth with braces, and administer dental plans to prevent such problems from occurring, such as tooth decay, gum diseases, and cavities.
Speech therapists identify speech and hearing problems for patients. Communication is very important in the military and being able to communicate effectively is crucial because it can save someone’s life some day in the line of duty. Military weapons can be very loud and hearing loss can occur. Speech therapists need to be aware of this and treat as necessary, and administer hearing aids. Those who have speech impediments such as a lisp or stammer are treated so they can communicate effectively with fellow military personnel.
Optometrists treat those who have vision problems and administer corrective contacts or eyeglasses. They also check for diseases such as glaucoma, and prescribe training exercises to strengthen weak eye muscles.
Nurses perform a variety of duties and are responsible for keeping up-to-date records of patients, assisting physicians during surgeries, giving injections, administering blood, and changing bandages and cleaning wounds. Nurses should have a calm disposition when situations become very stressful.
Dieticians help those who are looking to lose weight and get in better physical shape, by administering a healthy diet. Along with your work-out what you put in also contributes in making you physically fit. Dieticians provide a healthy eating guide, ensure that the food meets the necessary sanitary guidelines set in place, and plan the overall menu the military serves. It is very important to get military personnel in the best possible shape, enabling them to perform their duties to their maximum potential.
Physicians and occupational therapists treat those who have physical disabilities by helping them recuperate through physical exercise, plan work-out programs to meet their specific needs, and provide general support to those who may struggle with their disabilities. The loss of limbs and injuries are common in the military so it is critical to help them get back on the road to recovery, if not back to 100% again, if possible.
Surgeons diagnose serious health issues and perform surgeries when necessary. Surgery may be needed when internal medicine doesn’t provide the patient with the care or recovery they need. Surgery is usually the last option because of the high cost and considerable risks involved. Sometimes, surgery may be the only option when it comes to very serious, life threatening health problems.
Radiological or X-Ray technicians perform x-ray scans to determine specific healthcare problems and diseases.
Dental and optical technicians construct braces, dentures, eyeglass frames, and perform general maintenance as necessary for the patients to meet their specific needs.
Cardiopulmonary and EEG technicians diagnose; administer tests; evaluate blood, brain, and lung disorders through electrocardiographs; and monitor blood pressure and heart rate through an EKG machine. There are three types of cardiological practices, which are vascular technology, invasive cardiology, and echocardiography.
Pharmacy technicians prepare, label, and administer prescription drugs to patients. The correct amount of prescription drugs given by the pharmacy technician is vital for maintaining a healthier lifestyle. While the physician prescribes the medication, the pharmacy technician is responsible for providing the drugs to the patients.
Medical laboratory technicians perform tests on blood and tissue samples, enabling detection of diseases and viruses that may exist; they also collect samples from autopsies.
