Other assisting occupations in support of health services

Audiometric technicians:

• Under the supervision of audiologists, administer tests, such as pure tone hearing screening, impedance tests and noise level measurements using equipment, such as audiometers and sound level meters to determine hearing thresholds of patients
• Instruct patients on test procedures and record results
• Monitor, check and calibrate auditory equipment
• May take earmold impressions and fit and adjust hearing instruments
• Assist speech-language pathologists during assessment of patients
• Carry out treatment programs and develop materials for use with patients, under the supervision of speech-language pathologists
• Document patient rehabilitation progress
• Check and maintain therapeutic equipment and materials

Orthopedic technologists:

• Help orthopedic surgeons in the treatment of orthopedic diseases and injuries by applying and adjusting casts, splints, bandages and other orthopedic devices
• Help with the application, maintenance and adjustment of traction equipment
• Clean and dress wounds
• Remove casts, sutures, staples and pins
• Teach patients and their families and other health-care professionals about orthopedic matters

Rehabilitation aids:

• Prepare and maintain equipment and supplies
• Help patients as directed by health-care professionals such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and chiropractors
• Routine office functions

Ophthalmic assistants:

• Operate ophthalmic testing and measuring instruments to aid ophthalmologists in assessing patients' vision
• Record test results
• Assist ophthalmologists in office surgery
• Administer eye drops, ointments and medications as directed by ophthalmologists
• Clean and maintain instruments and equipment used during examinations
• Take patients' general medical and ophthalmic history
• Perform various administrative duties

Optical and ophthalmic laboratory technicians and assistants:

• Operate laboratory equipment to grind, cut, polish and edge lenses for eyeglasses according to prescriptions received and fit lenses into frames
• Make minor repairs for customers such as replacing frame screws or straightening frames
• Maintain and repair optical laboratory equipment or machinery

Sterile processing technicians:

• Operate and maintain machines such as instrument washers, sonic sinks, cart washers and steam autoclaves to clean and sterilize these supplies for re-use according to standardized safety
• Reassemble equipment and assemble packs of sterile supplies and instruments for delivery to hospital departments

Blood donor clinic assistants:

• Set up and take apart equipment
• Prepare and maintain cleanliness of collection areas
• Maintain supplies
• Record information on donors
• Monitor donors throughout procedure
• Help with post-donation care and donor reaction care as assigned under supervision of a registered nurse
• Label and process donated blood

Morgue attendants:

• Help pathologists at autopsies by laying out surgical instruments
• Prepare solutions for preservation of specimens
• Transfer bodies from morgue to examining table
• Remove organs and tissue specimens, as instructed by the attending pathologist, and place them in preservative solutions
• Clean and sew up bodies for release to funeral home

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.