Healthcare science

"Biomedical Science" redirects here. It is not to be confused with Medical research.

Healthcare science is the applied science dealing with the application of science, technology, engineering or mathematics to the delivery of healthcare. ^[1]

Healthcare scientists are those scientists directly involved in delivering the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of patients in healthcare systems, rather than those individuals whose primary focus is on academic research. ^[2]

Healthcare science stretches across a wide range of scientific specialisms, encompassing biology, genetics, physiology, physics and bioengineering

Healthcare science in the UK

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]

Roles within healthcare science

There are at least 45 different specialisms within healthcare science, which are traditionally grouped into three main divisions:^[5]

• Specialisms involving life sciences
• Specialisms involving physiological science
• Specialisms involving 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
• Opthalmic and vision science
• Respiratory and sleep physiology
• and urological measurement
• Vascular science

Physics and bioengineering specialisms

• Biomechanical 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

See also

• Medical diagnosis
• Medical laboratory
• Academic health science centre
• Biomedical research
• Biomedical technology
• Health care
• Public health
• Publicly-funded health care

References

1. ^ "The Future of the Healthcare Science Workforce. Modernising Scientific Careers: The Next Steps.". 26 Nov 2008. p. 2. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_091137?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=181510&Rendition=Web. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
2. ^ "The facts about healthcare science". Federation for Healthcare Science. http://www.fedhcs.net/healthcare_science_facts.htm. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
3. ^ "Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward". 26 Feb 2010. p. 3. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_113275. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
4. ^ "Modernising Scientific Careers: The UK Way Forward". 26 Feb 2010. p. 5. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_113275. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
5. ^ "Extraordinary You". Department of Health. 16 July 2010. p. 116. http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_117982.pdf. 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