Other Assisting Occupations in Support of Health Services (NOC 3414)
Description
This unit group includes workers who provide services and assistance to health care professionals and other health care staff. They are employed in hospitals, clinics, offices of health care professionals, nursing homes, optical retail stores and laboratories, pharmacies and medical pathology laboratories.
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Example Titles
- autopsy assistant
- blood donor clinic assistant
- cast room technician
- central supply aide
- chiropractic assistant
- clinical laboratory helper
- lens grinder, ophthalmic
- morgue attendant
- occupational therapy assistant
- ophthalmic laboratory technician - retail
- optical laboratory assistant
- optometrist assistant
- orthopedic technologist
- pharmacy assistant
- pharmacy technician
- physiotherapy assistant
- rehabilitation assistant
- therapy assistant
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Classified Elsewhere
- Eyeglass frame polisher (in 9517 Other Products Machine Operators)
- Medical technologists and technicians (in 321 Medical Technologists and Technicians (except Dental Health))
- Operating room technicians (in 3233 Licensed Practical Nurses)
- Other Technical Occupations in Therapy and Assessment (3235)
- Pathologists' assistants (in 3211 Medical Laboratory Technologists and Pathologists' Assistants
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Duties
The following is a summary of main duties for some occupations in this unit group:
- Orthopedic technologists assist orthopedic surgeons in the treatment of orthopedic diseases and injuries by applying and adjusting casts, splints, bandages and other orthopedic devices; assisting in the application, maintenance and adjustment of traction equipment; cleaning and dressing wounds; and removing casts, sutures, staples and pins. They also instruct patients and their families and other health care professionals with respect to orthopedic matters.
- Therapy assistants prepare and maintain equipment and supplies, assist patients as directed by health care professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors and may perform routine office functions.
- Optical/ophthalmic laboratory technicians and assistants operate laboratory equipment to grind, cut, polish and edge lenses for eyeglasses according to prescriptions received and fit lenses into frames; make minor repairs for customers such as replacing frame screws or straightening frames; and maintain and repair optical laboratory equipment or machinery.
- Pharmacy assistants assist pharmacists by compounding, packaging and labelling pharmaceutical products and by maintaining prescription records and inventories of medications and pharmaceutical products.
- Central supply aides collect and sort soiled supplies and instruments from hospital departments; operate machines such as instrument washers, sonic sinks, cart washers and steam autoclaves to clean, reprocess and sterilize these supplies for re-use; and assemble packs of sterile supplies and instruments for delivery to hospital departments.
- Blood donor clinic assistants set up and dismantle equipment; prepare and maintain cleanliness of collection areas; maintain supplies; record information on donors; monitor donors throughout procedure and assist with post-donation care and donor reaction care as assigned under supervision of a registered nurse; and label and process donated blood.
- Morgue attendants assist pathologists at autopsies by laying out surgical instruments; preparing solutions for preservation of specimens; transferring bodies from morgue to examining table; removing organs and tissue specimens, as instructed by attending pathologist, and placing them in preservative solutions; and cleaning and sewing up bodies for release to funeral home.
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Skills
Individuals working in these occupations should have the following characteristics:
Essential skills:
- able to relate well to a wide range of people and gain their confidence,
- ability to work independently and as a member of a team,
- good problem-solving and decision-making skills,
- ability to cope with stressful situations,
- physical strength , physical stamina and manual dexterity,
- good listening and observational skills,
- good verbal and written communication skills,
- knowledge of computers.
Technical skills:
- operation of technical medical or power equipment
- supervisory skills in directing and instructing staff,
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Employment Requirements
- Orthopedic Technologists/Technicians and Cast Room Technicians require the completion of high school or equivalent and/or an Apprenticeship program and sponsorship by an Orthopedic Physician. Employers may require registration with the Canadian Society of Orthopaedic Technologists (CSOT).
- Pharmacy Technicians require the completion of a college program. Employers may require registration with the Canadian Association of Pharmacy Technicians, Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist/Therapy Assistants usually require a college certificate.
- Chiropractor Assistants are generally trained on the job. Employers usually require completion of high school.
- Autopsy Assistants, Morgue Attendants and Laboratory Assistants/Technicians require a certificate, diploma or degree and may require certification by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS).
- Central Supply Aide/Sterile Processing Technicians may require a certificate/diploma.
- Certification by the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materials Management may be required.
- Blood Donor Clinic Assistants are generally trained on the job. Employers usually require the completion of high school.
- Optical Laboratory Technicians are trained on the job. Employers usually require completion of high school.
- Membership with the Canadian Society of Ophthalmic Medical Personnel and Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in ophthalmology (JCAHPO) may be required for
- ophthalmic assistants.
Employers usually require a certificate in a related program or course for the following occupations:
- Orthopedic technologist,
- Pharmacy technician,
- Occupational therapy assistant,
- Physiotherapy assistant,
- Central supply aide.
- For other occupations, employers will require completion of high school and related on-the-job training.
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Terms & Conditions
The working conditions for members of this group vary greatly depending on their specialty. Chiropractic assistants, orthopaedic technicians and occupational therapist assistants usually work regular business hours Monday through Friday. They may work some evenings or weekends if the clinic where they work is open. Hospital central supply and sterile processing departments may operate 24 hours a day so those technicians must work shifts. Most jobs in this occupational group can be physically demanding as much of their time is spent standing, walking, bending and assisting clients. They may lift clients or equipment.
Many optical technicians and pharmacy assistants or technicians work in retail operations where evening and week end work is common. They spend much of their time on their feet. They may have some contact with chemical agents. Like most occupations in this group, accuracy is critical as errors can have serious consequences for the patients or clients.
There is no self-employment in this occupation but slightly less than one quarter of those employed (22%) work part time.
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Earnings
$27,000 per annum - starting
$33,700 per annum - average
$43,000 per annum - high
Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.
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Education / Training
Orthopedic Technologist/Technician/ Cast Room Technician:
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant:
Physical/Occupational/Rehabilitation/Therapy/Chiropractic Assistant:
Autopsy Assistant/Morgue Attendant/ Clinical Laboratory Assistant:
Central Supply Aide/Sterile Processing Technician:
Ophthalmic Dispensing and Optometric Assistant:
- Red River College offers a 2-part course in Ophthalmic Dispensing. http://me.rrc.mb.ca/Catalogue/ProgramInfo.aspx?ProgCode=OPHDP-NA&RegionCode=WPG
- The Canadian Association of Optometrists offers an Optometric Assistant certificate course. In order to enroll in the Optometric Assistant Course, the candidate must currently be employed by an optometrist in an optometric practice and remain employed by the optometrist throughout the duration of te course. www.opto.ca
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Career Paths
Persons employed in occupations in support of health services may be employed community health centres, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, specialized retail sales or private professional practices.
Support workers in private clinics, laboratories or pharmacies may learn the technical skills required and with further training may advance to full-time work in these assistant or technician positions. Advancement to professional positions is possible with additional training or education.
In larger organizations there may be supervisory positions available for technicians with extensive experience.
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Outlook
Employment prospects for assisting occupations in support of health services are expected to be good in the period 2010 - 2014. Employment in 2010 is estimated at 2,155.
This occupational group includes a wide range of varied occupations found in both the public and private sectors. The occupation has experienced above average growth as a result of rising incomes, and the health needs of an aging population. This trend is expected to continue. The prospects for this group are only partially influenced by public funding, and are closely tied to the demand for the services of the healthcare professionals they support. Inclusion of these services in more healthcare plans will also have a positive impact on employment. Advances in technology and medical research are generating more options for treatment, and making them more accessible and affordable.
The employment prospects for pharmacy technicians were adversely affected by the downsizing in the internet pharmacy sector in 2005 and 2006. Those workers have now been reabsorbed into the work force and the outlook has improved. Some recent graduates are finding it difficult to obtain full time positions.
Jobs in this occupation are found throughout Manitoba, with a greater concentration in Winnipeg. Across industries, the majority are employed in Retail Trade (49%), followed by Health Care and Social Assistance (44%) and Manufacturing (2.5%).
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Employment by Age Group
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Employment by Industry
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Employment by Region
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Employment by Gender
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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
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Employment by Visible Minority
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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
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