Healthcare is one service that has directly or indirectly touched every individual at some point or the other. From receiving prescription medication from the local drugstore to getting a flu shot from your GP; from having an X-ray taken by a radiologist technician to the dreaded dental fix – healthcare forms an important part of our life.

That's perhaps one of the reasons why even at the peak of economic recession, healthcare professionals continue to be in demand. If there's one career for all seasons, it's got to do with healthcare.

And in case you want to join this evergreen industry, here are some in-demand healthcare job opportunities you can explore:

1. Medical Transcription: Although this is not the most notable of healthcare professions, we have included medical transcription as one of the top healthcare jobs because of the flexibility it provides to professionals involved in this work.

The fact that telecommuting is a very real possibility in medical transcription jobs makes it an attractive option for a particular class of people that include work at home moms, people with disabilities or anyone who may have difficulty working out of an office.Freelance opportunities may be more forthcoming so far as medical transcription jobs are concerned as compared to other healthcare fields.

Training wise also, medical transcription is probably one of the more accessible healthcare careers. at postsecondary career schools is an accepted credential for this job.

2. Medical Coding & Billing: Medical coding and billing professionals form part of the medical records and health information team and according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of these professionals is projected to grow by 21 percent in the 2010-20 decade.*

The reasons for the spurt in demand for these professionals include an aging population and technological advances in the health information management system requiring professionals trained in using software applications and tools to organize and maintain patient data.

The job of a medical coder is to assign codes to clinical procedures performed on patients, whereas medical billers use the documents coded by them for reimbursement from health insurance carriers.

Educational requirements include post secondary medical billing and coding training from a career school or a two year Associate degree from a college/university and professional certification like the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Certified Professional Coder (CPC). Although these certifications are not mandatory, they make your candidature stronger for medical coding and billing jobs.

3. Medical Assistance: There's currently a lot of buzz in the medical assisting industry. Not only is the profession expected to grow by 31 percent from 2010-20,** but it has also been listed as one of the top healthcare jobs of 2012 by the U.S. News and World Report based on its projected growth, unemployment rate, compensation and job satisfaction.***

Medical assistants are like the Man Fridays (or woman, if you please) of doctors, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other healthcare practitioners. From manning the front desk of their offices to taking care of routine clinical tasks (depending on the State laws), medical assistants perform a range of duties to ensure that primary healthcare practitioners can concentrate on treating patients.


 And how does one become a medical assistant? It couldn't have been simpler. Most states do not have any educational requirements for this job, so you can just walk into a hospital or private practice in need of a medical assistant and give it your best shot.

However, some employers may prefer candidates who graduate from formal medical assistant training programs. Taking online classes or enrolling for a training course at a career school may give you a competitive edge in the job market.

Sources:

*bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm#tab-1

**bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-assistants.htm#tab-1

***money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/best-healthcare-jobs

Author's Bio: 

Nancy is a 35-year old stay at home mom of two. She worked as a medical assistant for five years before taking a break to be with her children. Her experience as a medical assistant gave her valuable insights in to the medical transcription industry, which she likes to share with others through her writing. Medical transcription training often finds mention in her writings. Being an SAHM, Nancy is a huge exponent of online vocational training programs that provide women like her the power to be their own boss.

Her other interests include gardening and baking. She stays with her husband and two daughters.