Healthcare is one of
hottest career fields in America today. The aging and retiring of largest population segment in country, known as “baby boomers”, has left healthcare industry racing to find enough employees to fill void. Advances in medical technology and treatment are causing people to live longer as well. Add fact many universities and colleges don’t have enough teachers to train new employees; there becomes a ripe market for healthcare careers. You would be amazed as to how many types of healthcare careers there are available. This article will discuss three main categories; patient care, non-patient care and operations. We’ll also discuss an amazing new trend with tremendous opportunity – home health. Three main healthcare jobs in category of patient care are nursing, medical assisting and dental hygiene.
Nursing consists mainly of direct patient care, but this can take place in a hospital, private doctor’s office, or an institution like a school, ski resort or cruise ship. With additional education or experience, some nurses become nurse managers, shift supervisors, epidemiologists, or counsel to insurance companies and law offices.
Medical assistants primarily provide patient care; performing routine medical functions to free up time of doctor. In past, some of these medical services could only be provided by doctors. Medical assistants administer medication, take vital signs and update medical history.
Dental hygienists perform a similar function to medical assistants, only in a dentist’s office. A hygienist will clean teeth, advise patients on proper dental health and assist dentists with more complex procedures. The outlook for this profession is excellent, with demand far outpacing supply.
Many non-patient care positions also exist in healthcare field.
Medical coding is one such profession. Medical coders must know terminology and how to read a patient’s chart. They update medical records every time a patient receives healthcare. Some upward mobility is available in management. Many people secure a job as a coder as a way to subsidize further medical education.
