The Dangers of Polypharmacy April 24, 2019 Booker Chatman, CPhT Pharmacy Technician Program Chair A.A. College of Southern Nevada Polypharmacy is a term used to indicate that someone is taking multiple medications at once and it’s a phenomenon that is far more common than you might think. According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly half of all Americans over the age of 12 take prescription pain relievers, tranquilizers, sedatives or stimulants. This equates to nearly 119 million Americans or around 45 percent of the total population. Even more worryingly, the survey found that nearly 16 percent of people misuse the drugs that they have been prescribed. Deaths related to prescription drugs now kill more.. Read More
Medical Assistant or Medical Administrative Assistant? April 16, 2019 Amanda Beardsley, C.M.A. Medical Assisting Program Chair So, you want a position in the medical field and you are looking for study opportunities but you can’t quite tell the difference between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant? Don’t worry, it’s pretty common, the job titles sound fairly similar and don’t give any indication of the precise nature of the position. To help you out, we here at Northwest have put together a short guide to the differences between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant that should hopefully make your decision on which of these amazing career paths to choose a little easier. Job.. Read More
How Healthcare Became a Target for Hackers April 16, 2019 Nancy Ferrante, C.M.B.S. Medical Billing & Coding Program Chair Over the last 10 years, more than one thousand health care organizations have experienced directed cyber attacks that resulted in network breaches, causing unbelievable amounts of protected health data to be compromised. Attacking the vulnerable networks of health care providers has become an alarming trend among hackers because Health care facilities carry sensitive reserves of personal data files across the board. Unfortunately, this kind of sensitive information has almost limitless criminal potential, making healthcare providers an increasingly prime target for cybercriminals. What Are the Hackers Stealing? Healthcare provider store a range of sensitive information, from social security numbers to.. Read More
A Day in the Life of a Corrections Officer April 12, 2019 Lisa Myers, J.D., L.L.M. Legal Studies Department Director J.D. L.L.M. Campbell University B.A. Corllins University A lot what most people know about life as a corrections officer is built on what we see on TV. Shows like Orange is the New Black tend to lean on the idea that all corrections officers and corrupt or brutal, to increase the drama of the show. The reality is quite different. So if your favorite Netflix show has gotten it wrong, then what is it really like to work as a correctional officer? Correctional officers make up a vital part of our criminal justice system, working to protect the inmates under their care and civilians alike. Working as.. Read More
8 Reasons to Start Training as a Medical Assistant Today April 3, 2019 Amanda Beardsley, C.M.A. Medical Assisting Program Chair If you enjoy helping people and have a passion for science and medicine then becoming a medical assistant may be exactly the career you are looking for. Becoming a medical assistant means you will be in demand, challenged and stimulated in your work, but not to the point where your job takes a toll on your personal life. Additionally, there is a range of exciting specializations that offer wonderful opportunities for career growth. If you are interested in what does a medical assistant do and how can you become one, we’ve put together a short but comprehensive guide to why.. Read More
A Brief History of Dentistry April 1, 2019 Cynthia Lofquist, R.D.A. Dental Assisting Program Chair Concorde Career Institute Dentistry is a branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the teeth and gums, as well as diseases of the oral cavity and maxillofacial area. The earliest history of dentistry may be traced back to nearly 7000 BCE in the Indus Valley Civilization, in what is now Pakistan. Archeological finds from the area indicate that bead craftsmen used a drill made of flint heads to remove tooth enamel and rotting dental tissue and examination of recovered teeth and jawbones from the same time period suggest that this procedure was surprisingly effective. The Beginning of.. Read More
7 Signs That Becoming a Paralegal Is the Career for You March 28, 2019 Lisa Myers, J.D., L.L.M. Legal Studies Department Director J.D. L.L.M. Campbell University B.A. Corllins University Getting a position in the field of law has always come with the perception that you need to spend many years and thousands of dollars on becoming a lawyer. The reality is that most law firms wouldn’t be able to without their vital paralegals, and training to become a paralegal can take as little as nine months! The importance of paralegals to the modern legal sector can be seen in the rising demand for them. Employment for Paralegals is expected to increase 8% from 2014-2024, faster than average for all occupations according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics... Read More
5 “Facts” About Dental Assisting That Just Aren’t True March 27, 2019 Cynthia Lofquist, R.D.A. Dental Assisting Program Chair Concorde Career Institute Dental assistant isn’t a job that, at first glance, isn’t that easy to understand. The job title is pretty open-ended and most people are more familiar with the responsibilities of their dentist, rather than their dentist’s assistant. This has led to some misconceptions about exactly what a dental assistant does. Well, we at Northwest want to debunk some of those myths and emphasize that dental assistants are a vital part of any dental team. Becoming a Dental Assistant is Easy While it is true that it is possible to become a dental assistant without first attending a formal dental.. Read More
How to Master “Legal Writing” March 26, 2019 Lisa Myers, J.D., L.L.M. Legal Studies Department Director J.D. L.L.M. Campbell University B.A. Corllins University Strong writing skills are essential to your job as a paralegal. The legal industry relies on good communication, and written communication is one of the most commonly relied upon modes. Between emails and letters to clients, opposing counsel, and court officers and various pleadings and responses, paralegals play an important role in helping ensure that the law firm clearly transmits its message. Present Your Position In Active Voice You can find a lot of great tutorials out there about how you can learn to write in active voice. I’ll give you the same advice I received in high school from.. Read More
Three Things You May Not Know About Financial Aid For Veterans March 21, 2019 Dr. Thomas Kenny Chief Compliance Officer Financial aid for veterans is money provided by the federal government, normally in the form of non-repayable grants, to assist veterans in transitioning into civilian life by allowing them to purchase property or re-enter education. You Still Qualify For Federal Student Aid Even if you are receiving Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, you can still receive federal student aid as well. If you would like to apply for federal student aid, then you will have to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can save yourself some time by making sure you gather all the documents.. Read More
