| Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in | | | | a patient's chart. They update medical records |
| America today. The aging and retiring of the | | | | every time a patient receives healthcare. Some |
| largest population segment in the country, known | | | | upward mobility is available in management. Many |
| as "baby boomers", has left the healthcare | | | | people secure a job as a coder as a way to |
| industry racing to find enough employees to fill | | | | subsidize further medical education. |
| the void. Advances in medical technology and | | | | Medical office administration is another healthcare |
| treatment are causing people to live longer as | | | | position that doesn't involve patient care. These |
| well. Add the fact many universities and colleges | | | | positions answer phones, coordinate with hospitals |
| don't have enough teachers to train new | | | | and check in/out patients. Moves to office |
| employees; there becomes a ripe market for | | | | management or medical coding/billing are |
| healthcare careers. | | | | advancement opportunities. Some people also use |
| You would be amazed how many types of | | | | this position to further their education. |
| healthcare careers there are available. This article | | | | Healthcare institutions are a large employer of |
| will discuss three main categories; patient care, | | | | operational positions as well. |
| non-patient care and operations. We'll also discuss | | | | Information technology professionals are in strong |
| an amazing new trend with tremendous | | | | demand since hospitals utilize state of the art |
| opportunity - home health. | | | | databases to store patient's medical and billing |
| Three main healthcare jobs in the category of | | | | records. Database administrators and web |
| patient care are nursing, medical assisting and | | | | programmers are a vital part of a hospital's daily |
| dental hygiene. | | | | operations. |
| Nursing consists mainly of direct patient care, but | | | | Medical billing and administration is another key |
| this can take place in a hospital, private doctor's | | | | component of healthcare operations. Medical |
| office, or an institution like a school, ski resort or | | | | facilities hire for billing positions, collections and |
| cruise ship. With additional education or experience, | | | | administrative support. Special courses / |
| some nurses become nurse managers, shift | | | | experience are required in medical terminology and |
| supervisors, epidemiologists, or counsel to | | | | billing to obtain these types of jobs. |
| insurance companies and law offices. | | | | A rapidly growing sector of healthcare where all |
| Medical assistants primarily provide patient care; | | | | of these positions are required is that of home |
| performing routine medical functions to free up | | | | health. In the next six years, Medicare funding of |
| the time of the doctor. In the past, some of | | | | home healthcare is expected to double. Over 7.6 |
| these medical services could only be provided by | | | | million patients are being treated at home for both |
| doctors. Medical assistants administer medication, | | | | long term and short term care. Home healthcare |
| take vital signs and update medical history. | | | | is considered by the medical field and health |
| Dental hygienists perform a similar function to | | | | insurers to be the most cost effective, humane |
| medical assistants, only in a dentist's office. A | | | | and compassionate method of care. |
| hygienist will clean teeth, advise patients on proper | | | | The shortage of experienced healthcare workers |
| dental health and assist dentists with more | | | | in the United States is creating a boom for people |
| complex procedures. The outlook for this | | | | who want to enter this field. There are many |
| profession is excellent, with demand far outpacing | | | | career options including positions that involve |
| supply. | | | | patient care and those that don't. The current |
| Many non-patient care positions also exist in the | | | | shortage of employees has created excellent |
| healthcare field. | | | | starting salaries, generous benefits and signing |
| Medical coding is one such profession. Medical | | | | bonuses. |
| coders must know terminology and how to read | | | | |