College Profile: Concorde Career College-Memphis

As an Advanced Respiratory Therapist, you deal with one of the critical life-sustaining functions of the human body - breathing. Our Advanced Respiratory Therapy Program is designed for those of you that have completed the Entry Level Program or have passed the NBRC Entry Level Exam. This program opens more doors within your profession. Some hospitals require the advanced credentials in order to work with neonates or in intensive care settings. By increasing knowledge in the field, you increase your chances of acquiring the better jobs. As an Advanced Respiratory Therapist, you will deal with life-death issues on a daily basis. You will conduct diagnostic testing procedures and administer treatments to improve patients' breathing, as well as implement and monitor life support equipment. You will diagnose and manage heart/lung deficiencies and abnormalities, and use sophisticated equipment to measure lung function and monitor heart functions. You might treat newborns, trauma victims, drowning victims, and patients suffering from asthma, bronchitis, coronary heart disease, emphysema, and pneumonia.

As a Dental Assistant, you will work chairside with the dentist, as well as in the dental laboratory and the business office. At Concorde, you will receive "multi-tasked" training, which means you will be trained in both clinical and administrative capabilities. Clinical responsibilities include sterilizing and preparing instrument trays, exposing and processing x-rays, conducting oral inspections, preparing patients for treatment, and taking vital signs. Administrative responsibilities include patient charting, appointment setting, completing insurance forms, accounts payable and fee collections.

Dental Hygienists provide dental health education, prevent and treat oral disease, promote and encourage the preventive aspects of dental care, and assume responsibility for patient care in the dental office. As part of their responsibilities, the dental hygienist will perform certain health care assessments including reviewing patient health histories, oral cancer screening, dental charting, and taking blood pressure. They expose, process and interpret dental radiographs. Dental Hygienists remove soft and hard deposits both above and below the gum line. They teach patients proper techniques to maintain healthy gums and teeth. They counsel their patients about the importance of good nutrition.

As a Medical Office Professional, you are an integral member of the healthcare team. Your organizational skills and clear understanding of medical and insurance coding terminology keeps your workplace running efficiently. You will mainly function in an administrative environment performing duties such as transcription, coding, billing, word processing, filing, and working with various medical office software packages.

As a Patient Care Assistant, you will work closely with doctors and other medical professionals in administering therapeutic programs and monitoring the condition of your patients. Your responsibilities will include monitoring patients for changes in condition and recording and reporting those changes, setting up and operating therapeutic equipment, instructing and supervising patients about rehabilitative therapy, helping to carry out planned patient care programs, and assisting medical staff in changing dressings and conducting patient examinations.

As a Pharmacy Technician, you will fill prescriptions in a variety of medical environments including hospitals, medical clinics and retail and institutional pharmacies. Your work involves performing pharmaceutical stock-keeping, delivery, technical assistance, and clerical duties. Examples of duties you will perform are: assisting pharmacists in filling prescriptions, assisting pharmacists in preparing drugs for unit-dose delivery, reconstituting sterile medications, preparing intravenous (IV) admixtures for patient administration, preparing IV chemotherapy drugs, entering prescriptions into a computer to obtain labels, ensuring information (such as drug generic name, expiration date, and lot number) is properly recorded on labels and log records for repackaged drugs, reviewing stock orders and replenishing supplies, and conducting physical inventories.

As a Pharmacy Technician, you will fill prescriptions in a variety of medical environments including hospitals, medical clinics and retail and institutional pharmacies. Your work involves performing pharmaceutical stock-keeping, delivery, technical assistance, and clerical duties. Examples of duties you will perform are: assisting pharmacists in filling prescriptions, assisting pharmacists in preparing drugs for unit-dose delivery, reconstituting sterile medications, preparing intravenous (IV) admixtures for patient administration, preparing IV chemotherapy drugs, entering prescriptions into a computer to obtain labels, ensuring information (such as drug generic name, expiration date, and lot number) is properly recorded on labels and log records for repackaged drugs, reviewing stock orders and replenishing supplies, and conducting physical inventories.

As a Surgical Technologist, you perform essential tasks before, during and after operations. You work closely with surgeons, anesthesiologists, registered nurses and other key surgical personnel in hospital operating rooms and outpatient surgery centers. Surgical Technologists play a critical role in patient care. There are four types of surgical technologists: scrub, circulating, first assisting, and second assisting. Scrub, circulating, second assisting, and first assisting surgical technologists have primary responsibilities in maintaining the sterile field, being constantly vigilant that all members of the team adhere to proper technique. The scrub surgical technologist (STSR) handles instruments, supplies, and equipment necessary during the surgical procedure. They also maintain sterile environment and anticipate the needs of the surgeon. The circulating surgical technologist (STCR) obtains additional instruments, supplies, and equipment while the surgical procedure is in progress. Monitors operating room conditions and assesses the needs of the patient and surgical team. The second assisting surgical technologist (STSA) assists the surgeon and/or first assistant during the operative procedure by carrying out technical tasks other than cutting, clamping, and suturing of tissue. Distinct from first assistant and may be performed at the same time as the scrub role.