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What They Do
About This Career
Diagnoses and performs surgery to treat and prevent rheumatic and other diseases in the musculoskeletal system.
This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.
A person in this career:
- Analyzes patient's medical history, medication allergies, physical condition, and examination results to verify operation's necessity and to determine best procedure.
- Conducts research to develop and test surgical techniques that can improve operating procedures and outcomes related to musculoskeletal injuries and diseases.
- Diagnoses bodily disorders and orthopedic conditions, and provides treatments, such as medicines and surgeries, in clinics, hospital wards, or operating rooms.
- Diagnoses or treats disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
- Directs and coordinates activities of nurses, assistants, specialists, residents, and other medical staff.
- Examines instruments, equipment, and operating room to ensure sterility.
- Examines patient to obtain information on medical condition and surgical risk.
- Follows established surgical techniques during the operation.
- Manages surgery services, including planning, scheduling and coordination, determination of procedures, or procurement of supplies and equipment.
- Operates on patient's musculoskeletal system to correct deformities, repair injuries, prevent and treat diseases, or improve or restore patient's functions.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
- Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
Work Hours and Travel
- Irregular hours
- Overtime work
- Weekend work
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- General Surgeon
- Hand Surgeon
- Orthopaedic Surgeon — Diagnoses and treats diseases and injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
- Physician — Diagnoses and treats diseases, injuries, and other disorders and work to promote good health and prevent illness.
- Surgeon
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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