Healthcare science
Healthcare science, also known as biomedical science, is a set of applied sciences applying portions of natural science or formal science, or both, to develop knowledge, interventions, or technology of use in healthcare or public health.[1] Such disciplines as medical microbiology, clinical virology, clinical epidemiology, genetic epidemiology, and biomedical engineering are medical sciences. Explaining physiological mechanisms operating in pathological processes, however, pathophysiology can be regarded as basic science.
Roles within healthcare science
There are at least 45 different specialisms within healthcare science, which are traditionally grouped into three main divisions:[2]
- Specialisms involving life sciences
- Specialisms involving physiological science
- Specialisms involving medical physics or bioengineering
Life sciences specialisms
- Analytical toxicology
- Anatomical pathology
- Blood transfusion science
- Cervical cytology
- Clinical biochemistry
- Clinical embryology
- Clinical immunology
- Electron microscopy
- External quality assurance
- Haematology
- Haemostasis and thrombosis
- Histocompatibility and immunogenetics
- Histo and cytopathology
- Molecular and cytogenetics
- Microbiology including mycology
- Phlebotomy
- Tissue Banking/transplant
- Virology
Physiological science specialisms
- Audiology and Hearing Therapy
- Autonomic neurovascular function
- Cardiac physiology
- Clinical perfusion
- Critical care science
- Gastrointestinal physiology
- Neurophysiology
- Ophthalmic and vision science
- Respiratory and sleep physiology
- Urology
- Vascular science
Physics and bioengineering specialisms
- Biomechanical engineering
- Biomedical engineering
- Clinical engineering
- Clinical measurement
- Diagnostic radiology including MRI
- Equipment management
- Maxillofacial prosthetics
- Medical electronics
- Medical engineering design
- Medical illustration and clinical photography
- Non-ionising radiation
- Nuclear medicine
- Radiopharmacy
- Radiation protection and monitoring
- Radiotherapy physics
- Rehabilitation engineering
- Renal technology and science
- Ultrasound
Healthcare science in the United Kingdom
The healthcare science workforce is an important part of the UK's National Health Service. While people working in healthcare science are only 5% of the staff of the NHS, 80 percent of all diagnosis can be attributed to their work.[3]
The volume of specialist healthcare science work is a significant part of the work of the NHS. Every year, NHS healthcare scientists carry out
- Nearly 1 billion pathology lab tests
- More than 12 million physiological tests
- Support for 1.5 million fractions of radiotherapy
The four governments of the UK have recognised the importance of healthcare science to the NHS, introducing the Modernising Scientific Careers initiative to ensure that the education and training for healthcare scientists ensures there is the flexibility to meet patient needs while keeping up-to-date with scientific developments.[4]
See also
- Medical scientist
- Medical diagnosis
- Medical laboratory
- Academic health science centre
- Biomedical research
- Biomedical technology
- Health care
- Public health
- Publicly funded health care
- Health Sciences Descriptors
References
- ↑ "The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce. Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps.". 26 Nov 2008. p. 2. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ "Extraordinary You". Department of Health. 16 July 2010. p. 116. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ "Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward". 26 Feb 2010. p. 3. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ↑ "Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward". 26 Feb 2010. p. 5. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
External links
- What is Healthcare Science: NHS Careers
- Extraordinary You: Case studies of Healthcare scientists in the UK's National Health Service
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- The US National Library of Medicine
- Health Science Researchers, Jobs and Discussions
- Healthcare Reviews
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