The medical secretary has an incontrovertible intermediary role to play between patients and their family, the doctor and care personnel. A human touch and interpersonal skills are therefore highly sought after. The medical secretary's tasks are often administrative, recurrent and carried out as per fixed standards.

Governments have decided to do something about promoting this profession, which is the keystone of the health care system. The nursing profession is characterized by the variety of jobs, large responsibilities and excellent career opportunities, even more than previously.

The medical diagnostic sector is doing well. The increasing elderly population has a direct impact on the level of the activity of labs and medical imaging requirements. While looming retirements should free up some positions, increased use of automated diagnostic and treatment procedures could slow down job creation.

The objective of medical research is to improve the diagnoses, treatment, prevention and cure of patients. It comprises basic research—which does not have an economic finality at the outset—and clinical research and its technological applications (e.g. vaccines, drugs, devices, prosthetics).

Medical equipment comprises a wide range of equipment– except drugs—used to diagnose, mitigate, prevent or treat diseases. Medical equipment sales are currently $4 billion, a number that has been rising steadily for the past few years as a result of technological progress and health research. The future is rosy for medical sales representatives.

The role of family doctor was redefined by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in 1967 to provide it with greater value with respect to specialists, whose influence was becoming too broad. GPs now have specific skills; they may be involved in prevention, early diagnoses and provide special care.

Throughout their careers, specialists update their knowledge to master the application of new technologies and new treatments, to follow the development and the latest research perspectives and to discover the emergence of new pathologies. At a time when certain fields and regions are experiencing a shortage of specialists, the profession is pondering how technical progress in telecommunications could promote the development of remote services between specialists and GPs.

The need for audiologists and speech therapists is continually increasing due to the aging of the Canadian population (Parkinson's disease and deafness). They can practise in schools or hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation centres, long-term care centres or in universities (teaching, research).

Midwives draw on their experience and knowledge to help other women bring life into the world. The profession has been around for ever but it was only in 1999 that it was regulated in most Canadian provinces and territories. Plus de 21 maisons de naissance au Québec devraient voir le jour d’ici 2018.

Psychologists help individuals deal with their personal difficulties and reach their full potential. To do this, they draw on a variety of methods dealing with emotions, memory, language, thought and communication, etc. Psychologists may work as practitioners in hospitals, schools, clinics, correctional facilities, in private practice, or as investigators or professors.

Social workers are therapists who help people who are unable to resolve their family, professional or personal difficulties. They also intervene with support groups and with communities and associations who help each other meet their needs.

Social workers have the possibility of working in a great number of professional environments (hospitals, children's help centres, community health centres, schools, etc.) with many bridges between them.

Dietitians are active throughout the food supply chain: from development to management and production to distribution. They can also do nutrition prevention, training and education.

Health care project managers work for companies, laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and independent or government organizations. Their job is to make sure that projects run smoothly and are completed successfully.

Canadian placement agencies specializing in health care are experts at recruiting in this sector. On the basis of this experience, many gave us their recommendations for candidates and their vision of the market.

The medical secretary has an incontrovertible intermediary role to play between patients and their family, the doctor and care personnel. A human touch and interpersonal skills are therefore highly sought after. The medical secretary's tasks are often administrative, recurrent and carried out as per fixed standards.

Nursing graduates and doctors educated abroad are a non-negligible source of labour for the Canadian health care system. Among the nurses authorized to practise in Canada, some 6% to 8% were educated abroad, while foreign-trained doctors account for 22% of Canadian doctors. There are still many foreign health care professionals who are not authorized to practise in Canada, however.

Governments have decided to do something about promoting this profession, which is the keystone of the health care system. The nursing profession is characterized by the variety of jobs, large responsibilities and excellent career opportunities, even more than previously.

The medical diagnostic sector is doing well. The increasing elderly population has a direct impact on the level of the activity of labs and medical imaging requirements. While looming retirements should free up some positions, increased use of automated diagnostic and treatment procedures could slow down job creation.

The objective of medical research is to improve the diagnoses, treatment, prevention and cure of patients. It comprises basic research—which does not have an economic finality at the outset—and clinical research and its technological applications (e.g. vaccines, drugs, devices, prosthetics).

Medical equipment comprises a wide range of equipment– except drugs—used to diagnose, mitigate, prevent or treat diseases. Medical equipment sales are currently $4 billion, a number that has been rising steadily for the past few years as a result of technological progress and health research. The future is rosy for medical sales representatives.

The role of family doctor was redefined by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) in 1967 to provide it with greater value with respect to specialists, whose influence was becoming too broad. GPs now have specific skills; they may be involved in prevention, early diagnoses and provide special care.

Throughout their careers, specialists update their knowledge to master the application of new technologies and new treatments, to follow the development and the latest research perspectives and to discover the emergence of new pathologies. At a time when certain fields and regions are experiencing a shortage of specialists, the profession is pondering how technical progress in telecommunications could promote the development of remote services between specialists and GPs.

The need for audiologists and speech therapists is continually increasing due to the aging of the Canadian population (Parkinson's disease and deafness). They can practise in schools or hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation centres, long-term care centres or in universities (teaching, research).

Midwives draw on their experience and knowledge to help other women bring life into the world. The profession has been around for ever but it was only in 1999 that it was regulated in most Canadian provinces and territories. Plus de 21 maisons de naissance au Québec devraient voir le jour d’ici 2018.

Psychologists help individuals deal with their personal difficulties and reach their full potential. To do this, they draw on a variety of methods dealing with emotions, memory, language, thought and communication, etc. Psychologists may work as practitioners in hospitals, schools, clinics, correctional facilities, in private practice, or as investigators or professors.

Social workers are therapists who help people who are unable to resolve their family, professional or personal difficulties. They also intervene with support groups and with communities and associations who help each other meet their needs.

Social workers have the possibility of working in a great number of professional environments (hospitals, children's help centres, community health centres, schools, etc.) with many bridges between them.

Dietitians are active throughout the food supply chain: from development to management and production to distribution. They can also do nutrition prevention, training and education.

While there is a serious shortage of health care professionals throughout Canada, rural areas—which account for 21% of the Canadian population—are even harder hit, with only 9.4% of all the country's doctors practising there.

Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors. This number, which initially appears benign, provides food for thought considering that indoor air is the greatest cause of exposure to atmospheric pollutants. The importance of indoor air quality has led to the recent emergence of new organizations and occupations—such as indoor environmental consultant—whose role is to build awareness regarding this issue and to protect people at risk.

The large number of Canadians who are willing to immigrate has led to the creation of firms specializing in placing professionals abroad. Working conditions are sometimes much more appealing outside Canada. In addition, many countries are doing everything they can to attract these professionals. Interview with two health care expatriation specialists.

All the studies agree that the need for nursing staff will increase in Canada over the next five years. These jobs represent just under 50% of all jobs in the health care field, a vast sector where aging workers will lead to more job openings.

Professional deontology includes the set of ethical rules and duties that govern the practice of a profession. In medicine, more than in any other field, these principles have a fundamental importance.

10 provinces, 3 territories: 13 codes of deontology. That being said, the underlying values and principles are the same—humane medicine that is respectful of patients.

Regardless of their exact numbers, all demographic statistics forecast the inexorable aging of the Canadian population and an increasing lifespan: within seven years, people over 65 will outnumber those under 15 years of age, and in 2032, will account for one quarter of Canada's population. Canada must be able to rely on a sufficient number of skilled geriatrics professionals to support these elderly people as they get sick and lose their independence.

Health care project managers work for companies, laboratories, hospitals, clinics, and independent or government organizations. Their job is to make sure that projects run smoothly and are completed successfully.

Carlee-Ann Dueck, project officer with the Health Department of Manitoba