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Medical Industry Overview

A major focus of American Financial Institute’s educational services is to provide a convenient platform for medical professionals to meet their professional development needs. We make renewing your certificate/license easy. Study at the pace that suits you...start and stop whenever you want and pick-up where you left-off! We have pricing options for our credits so that whether you need a few continuing education units (CEUs) to fulfill your credit needs or a plethora to advance your professional knowledge, you will find what you need here! We offer tightly woven continuing education credits which build upon your prior education and practical experience in order to provide you with the knowledge to better serve your patients.

At the completion of your training you will receive your online certificate. Print it out and keep it in your account for safekeeping until you need it. Recordkeeping made easy!

If you have any suggestions, topics that you would like to see covered in the future, or would like to write an article please email us. Your input will help us to better serve you. All of us at American Financial Institute would like to thank you for choosing us as your source for your continuing education needs!

Subjects Covered Under This Heading are Described Below.

Dental

Dentistry is a dynamic and rewarding profession filled with opportunities. Dentists diagnose and treat problems with teeth and tissues in the mouth, along with providing preventive care. They remove tooth decay, fill cavities, examine x-rays, place protective plastic sealants on children’s teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth. They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases. Dentists extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. They also write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications. Most dentists are general practitioners, handling a variety of dental needs. Dentists can also practice in any of following nine specialty areas:

Orthodontists, the largest group of specialists, straighten teeth by applying pressure to the teeth with braces or retainers. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the next largest group, who operate on the mouth and jaws. The remainder may specialize as pediatric dentists (focusing on dentistry for children); periodontists (treating gums and bone supporting the teeth); prosthodontists (replacing missing teeth with permanent fixtures, such as crowns and bridges, or with removable fixtures such as dentures); endodontists (performing root canal therapy); public health dentists (promoting good dental health and preventing dental diseases within the community); oral pathologists (studying oral diseases); or oral and maxillofacial radiologists (diagnosing diseases through the use of imaging technologies).

Learning in this field is a lifelong endeavor, especially in a world that is changing as quickly as this. Those who have been in dentistry for many years can attest to the need for staying current with today's legal requirements, technology, practice tools and other areas critical to the practice of dentistry. Take advantage of American Financial Institute’s lifelong learning opportunities.

Remember to verify the specific state dental boards' requirements for re-licensure in the state where you are licensed. Many states have restrictions on the subject matter that is acceptable for CE credit and or on the number of CE credits that can be earned through self-instructional online courses.

Laboratory

Laboratory testing is crucial to detecting and diagnosing diseases. Laboratory technicians perform most of these tests. These technicians examine and analyze body fluids, tissues and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites and other microorganisms. They analyze the chemical content of fluids, match blood for transfusions and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment.

People in this field use automated equipment and sophisticated, expensive instruments capable of performing a number of tests simultaneously. They also use other lab equipment, including microscopes and cell counters. Lab technicians also maintain glassware, instruments, logs and record books. They also troubleshoot and help with special projects.

Like many other highly regarded professions, learning in this field is a lifelong endeavor. Take advantage of American Financial Institute’s lifelong learning opportunities and register for one of our many on-line courses today! Remember to verify the specific state requirements for re-licensure in the state where you are licensed. Many states have restrictions on the subject matter that is acceptable for CE credit and or on the number of CE credits that can be earned through self-instructional online courses.

Nursing

Nursing is a highly regarded profession. A 2004 Gallup Poll announced that the public again voted nurses number one for "honesty and ethical standards of various professions."

Nursing as a profession has a long history, but in its current form probably dates back to the era of Florence Nightingale. The profession has gone through many changes in role and regulation. Nurses now work in a variety of settings in hospitals, health centers, nursing homes and in the patients' own homes.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an estimated shortage of 800,000 nurses by the year 2020. With the world population living longer and needing more care, the healthcare field is one of the best places to get a job, and will likely stay that way for many years to come. With over 100,000 vacant positions and an ever-growing need for healthcare workers, the career outlook is excellent for the nursing field.

Like many other highly regarded professions, learning in this field is a lifelong endeavor. Take advantage of the opportunities as a Child Care Professional and register for a class through American Financial Institute’s on-line portal. Remember to verify the specific state nursing boards' requirements for re-licensure in the state where you are licensed. Many states have restrictions on the subject matter that is acceptable for CE credit and or on the number of CE credits that can be earned through self-instructional online courses.

Radiology

Radiology is the medical specialty directing medical imaging technologies to diagnose and treat diseases. Originally, it was the aspect of medical science dealing with the medical use of electromagnetic energy emitted by X-ray machines or other such radiation devices for the purpose of obtaining visual information as part of medical imaging. Modern day radiological imaging is no longer limited to the use of x-rays, and now includes technology-intensive imaging with high frequency sound waves, magnetic fields, and radioactivity.

Today, following extensive training, radiologists direct an array of imaging technologies (such as ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) nuclear medicine, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) to diagnose or treat disease. Interventional radiology is the performance of (usually minimally invasive) medical procedures with the guidance of imaging technologies. Outside of the medical field, radiology also encompasses the examination of the inner structure of objects using X-rays or other penetrating radiation.

As with other medical fields learning in this field is a lifelong endeavor, especially in a world that is changing as quickly as this. Those who have been in radiology field for many years can attest to the need for staying current with today's legal requirements, technology, practice tools and other areas critical to the field of radiology. Take advantage of American Financial Institute’s lifelong learning opportunities.

Remember to verify the specific state radiology boards' requirements for re-licensure in the state where you are licensed. Many states have restrictions on the subject matter that is acceptable for CE credit and or on the number of CE credits that can be earned through self-instructional online courses.

Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapy is categorized as an allied health profession in the United States and Canada. In the United States there are currently two levels of respiratory therapist, the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) and the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), both credentials offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). The formerly entry level CRTT (Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician) credential is now recognized as the CRT designation for entry level therapists once the individual has taken the National Board's Certification Exam. All schools in the United States are two year Associate Degree programs or four year Baccalaureate Programs, essentially making all graduates Registry Eligible (able to take the National Registry Exam). Respiratory Therapists in the United States are licensed individually by each state as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP). RCPs specialize in the assessment and treatment of respiratory and cardiovascular pathologies. These include chronic lung problems (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD), and more acute multi-systemic problems stemming from other pathological conditions such as heart attacks, stroke, or trauma as well as complications at birth. RCPs are specialists in airway management, mechanical ventilation, and blood acid/base balance. RCPs work closely with other medical professionals such as physicians, nurses, speech therapists and physical therapists.

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) can be found in hospital intensive care units (ICU), as well as pediatric and neonatal units (NICU / PICU), emergency rooms (ER), operating rooms (OR), delivery rooms, and medical flight teams. They are cardiopulmonary specialists with vast training in both heart and lung function. Airway and ventilator management as well as clinical assessment including acid-base balance are the main clinical roles provided by a respiratory therapist. Their roles also include vascular access for intravenous lines (IV), arterial line insertions for arterial blood gas (ABG), and performing endotracheal intubation. They are an essential part of the Code Blue (Cardiac Arrest) team. Some RTs are specially trained in helping in the operating room (OR), high-risk deliveries, intra-aortic balloon pump management, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), chest tube and central line insertion, pulmonary function testing (PFT), and Clinical Exercise Stress Testing. Other roles include tracheostomy and bronchoscopy procedures. RTs may also provide an important role in the homecare environment. The homecare RTs role is different from the hospital RTs role in that there are fewer technical resources available. A homecare RTs must rely more on clinical assessments and experience-related decision making when evaluating the patient's current condition. Because of the potential for professional isolation and with limited collaborative assistance available, homecare RTs would benefit from hospital-based clinical experience before engaging in homecare work.

As with other medical fields, learning in this field is a lifelong endeavor, especially in a world that is changing as quickly as this. Those who have been in respiratory therapy field for many years can attest to the need for staying current with today's legal requirements, technology, practice tools and other areas critical to the field of respiratory therapy. Take advantage of American Financial Institute’s lifelong learning opportunities.

Remember to verify the specific state respiratory therapy boards' requirements for re-licensure in the state where you are licensed. Many states have restrictions on the subject matter that is acceptable for CE credit and or on the number of CE credits that can be earned through self-instructional online courses.