photo by: Kade Han

Nicholina Chronister was a wildfire firefighter, but now she's an LMH Health phlebotomy supervisor.

The health care industry offers a diverse array of career paths, encompassing administrative and clinical positions in multiple specialties and areas of care. The pathway to entering the clinical side of health care does not have to be through a traditional four-year college degree or a doctorate, but rather it can be through on-the-job training, vocational certifications or an associate’s degree.

Phlebotomy

A phlebotomist is trained to draw blood samples and prepare them to be tested and analyzed. Phlebotomists primarily work in hospitals, labs, clinics and blood donation centers. Everyday tasks for phlebotomists include:

• Preparing and labeling collection vials.

• Preparing patients for blood draws.

• Performing blood draws.

• Maintaining blood draw instruments and supplies.

Individuals who are interested in becoming a phlebotomist can receive on-the-job training or pursue in-person or online certification. Most LMH Health phlebotomists received on-the-job training after being hired.

“The hardest part about completing my phlebotomy training was being afraid to hurt my patients,” said Nicholina Chronister, LMH Health phlebotomy supervisor.

Chronister, a former wildfire firefighter, was seeking a career change that would allow her to enter the health care industry. She wanted to get her foot in the door to see if a career in emergency medicine was right for her. Phlebotomy was a great way for her to get hands-on experience without investing time and money in a specialized degree.

“I know of a few people who used phlebotomy as a way to kick start their career,” Chronister said. “Some of them have gone on to become registered nurses, therapists or achieve higher levels of education.”

Chronister began her career with LMH Health in 2011 after she connected with a phlebotomist during an emergency department visit. She received additional training in administrative and laboratory processes and progressed to become the phlebotomy supervisor in 2019.

“I fell in love with phlebotomy and how important and impactful it is to patient care,” Chronister said. “Our work influences treatment plans, provides answers and gets patients on the road to recovery.”

Think of the health care industry as a beehive and every position within it as a different bee. Each position has a role that impacts how other health care professionals respond and work. Chronister likens phlebotomists to the worker bees of the hive, but instead of collecting pollen, they draw blood.

“We are a part of a large system, and it is important that we do our tasks in a timely manner so that our lab can do theirs without rushing,” Chronister said.

Phlebotomy is a fast-paced career that has a lot of interaction with patients. A phlebotomist needs to be good with people, be attentive to detail and be self-motivated.

“When we are looking at phlebotomist applications, we aren’t always looking for previous health care experience,” Chronister said. “Often times, we are looking for the candidates who have no experience, but are willing to learn and adapt on the job.”

Certified medical assistant

A certified medical assistant, or CMA, is an advanced form of a certified nurse’s assistant, or CNA. They work closely with nurses, providers and doctors in clinics and medical offices. A CMA is responsible for handling administrative and clinical tasks and is often the first line of contact for patients receiving care. These professionals are responsible for:

• Obtaining medical histories and personal information.

• Taking and recording patient’s vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, etc.

• Preparing patients for examination.

• Instructing patients in follow-up care.

• Scheduling appointments.

• Updating patient medical records.

Individuals who want to become a CMA do not have to begin as a CNA. The only requirement for entering a CMA program is a high school diploma or a GED. Once an individual has completed the program, they are required to take the Certified Medical Assistant test through the American Association of Medical Assistants. After they have passed and are certified, they are able to be employed in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic labs and more.

photo by: Kade Han

MaKayla Hastings, a medical assistant with Lawrence Cardiovascular Specialists, began her health care career as a CNA.

MaKayla Hastings, a medical assistant with Lawrence Cardiovascular Specialists, began as a CNA. During the height of COVID Hastings applied to the CMA program through Peaslee Tech and participated in the LMH Health reimbursement program.

LMH Health employees who have completed the 90-day introductory period and have 20 or more agreed hours per week are eligible for tuition reimbursement for selected courses, such as CMA, sterile processing and coding, through Peaslee Tech. Employees who participate in the Peaslee Tech tuition reimbursement program commit to one year of employment with LMH Health following completion of the course.

“Becoming a CMA allowed me to receive a pay raise and the course was more of a review since I had completed my CNA,” Hastings said.

The CMA is composed of two sections, medical technology and a practical for anatomy, vitals and medication. At Peaslee Tech, students have a year to complete the course at their own pace.

“I had a coworker who did it in three months, but I took the whole year,” Hastings said. “The hardest part for me was making sure I set aside time to sit down and do it.”

Hastings was able to complete her practical training on the job at LMH Health. Individuals interested in pursuing a CMA or a higher level of certification, such as registered nurse, should be able to work in a fast-paced environment, pay attention to detail and have a willingness to problem-solve.

“The medical field can be hard, but as a CMA you learn that a lot of aspects of it can be really worthwhile when you know you are helping someone,” Hastings said.

CMAs are able to use their training and experiences to pursue a degree in nursing or in other areas of health care.

Biomedical technician

Not every position in the health care industry requires patient contact. Biomedical technicians work behind the scenes to keep hospital and clinic equipment up and running. Depending on the size of the employer, these technicians can service up to more than 2,500 unique pieces of equipment.

Some of the daily tasks of biomedical technicians include:

• Installing, maintaining and repairing medical equipment.

• Performing routine tests and inspections of equipment.

• Performing preventive maintenance

• Identifying parts and equipment for removal or replacement

• Maintaining records of equipment replacement, repairs and maintenance.

photo by: Kade Han

Curtis Weilert used to work on wind farms. Now he’s an LMH Health biomedical technician.

“You don’t get bored. Every day there is a new surprise,” said Curtis Weilert, LMH Health biomedical technician. “I often find myself asking ‘what’s this piece of equipment and what does it do?'”

There are two common ways to enter the biomedical field. The first is through an associate’s degree with a focus in computer sciences, engineering or biomedical, and the second is through a military biomedical program.

Weilert earned an associate’s degree in electronics and computer engineering technology from Grantham University. To lower the cost, he completed all of his general education credits through a community college and later transferred to a specialized online college for the core electronic credits.

“While working for a wind farm on wind towers, I decided it was time to get out of that business,” Weilert said. “My experience was in electronics, but I did not know a lot about the biomed aspect. I was able to learn the biomed aspect on the job.”

Individuals interested in pursuing a career as a biomedical technician should have an interest in how and why things work, as well as a basic knowledge of troubleshooting and mechanical sciences.

“BioMed is a hidden gem within health care,” Weilert said. “You get to move around and get your hands on lots of different equipment.”

Sometimes the biggest challenge biomedical technicians face in a larger health care setting is finding the equipment. LMH Health has over 6,000 pieces of equipment spread across multiple cities and clinics. Because of the quantity of equipment, LMH Health biomedical technicians may only touch a piece once each year. This results in the techs having to reacquaint and re-learn the equipment constantly.

“I had to restart at 47 after 10 years working with family,” Weilert said. “I turned towards the wind farm and then to biomed. Even at that age I was able to start over, learn new things, finish my associate’s degree and start a new career. If I can do it, anybody else can.”

— Kade Han is the social media and digital communications specialist at LMH Health.

Jobs at LMH Health

You can’t define it, but you know it when you see it: the difference between an average life and the good life. When your cup is full – with joy, purpose and lifelong health – it shows. At LMH Health, we are all about healthy people, healthy communities and healthy futures, and that makes us your destination for an exceptional career. From flexible, work-life harmony to competitive pay and great advancement potential, find everything you’re looking for at LMH Health.

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