It isn't without reason that there's such a hullaballoo over healthcare jobs right now. After all, a healthcare career promises everything that one desires from a profession – job security, challenging work, steady income, potential to grow, and satisfaction.
The flip side is that many healthcare careers, which pay top dollar, require extensive and rigorous training and we are not just talking about med school. A lot of them also involve dealing with extreme situations, especially if they have got to do with direct patient care.
If you don't have the stomach for direct patient care and extensive schooling is not your cup of tea, but still want to enjoy the perks of having a healthcare job, don't start to despair just yet. The sector has plenty to offer to people like you!
And to give you an idea, here are some healthcare jobs that don't have very demanding educational requirements, but offer a decent paycheck at the end of each month.
1. Medical Transcription
Medical transcription, in its traditional form, involves listening to voice recordings of doctors and other healthcare practitioners and keyboarding them on a word processor. However, evolving technologies like the speech recognition software have changed the nature of a medical transcriptionist's job making it more strategic and less laborious.
Modern day medical transcriptionists review the drafts of reports prepared by the speech recognition software at the backend; check for factual inconsistencies, spelling errors and grammatical mistakes; fix all inaccuracies and make other editorial changes; and finally, format the reports into standardized styles.
It's important, therefore, to make sure your medical transcription training is updated to cater to the changing demands of the job. Along with an up-to-date medical transcription training program, professional certification may boost your earning potential.
Compensation: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual median pay of medical transcriptionists in 2010 was $32,900.*
2. Medical Assistant
Medical assistants provide a range of administrative and clerical services to healthcare practitioners like doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists, etc. Depending on their training, employer, and the laws of the state they practice in, medical assistants may also perform certain clinical duties.
Professionals who complete medical administrative assistant training program have the skills to cover tasks like:
· Manning the front desk/reception at a healthcare facility.
· Answering phone calls and scheduling appointments.
· Recording patient history and maintaining files.
· Helping patient fill insurance and other forms.
· Ordering and storing supplies and equipment.
· Handling payments and billing related tasks.
Compensation: The median hourly wages of medical assistants were$13.87 in 2010**, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
3. Medical Billing & Coding
Medical coding and billing is one of the most important allied healthcare functions. When a patient visits a healthcare practitioner, he or she may be asked to undergo several diagnostic tests, referred to other specialists during the course of treatment, advised certain follow-up therapy, etc. All of this information is coded using standard classification system and becomes a part of a patient's record.
These records are used by doctors to review patient cases and by health insurance carriers to pay the hospitals or private practices for the healthcare services rendered to their clients. These patient records also become important evidence in medical lawsuits.
Post secondary medical billing and coding training is the standard entry-level educational requirement for this job. Getting certified may increase your chances of securing a bigger paycheck.
Compensation: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical billers and coders' median pay was$32,350 per annum in 2010. ***
Sources:
*bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-transcriptionists.htm
**bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-assistants.htm#tab-1
***bls.gov/ooh/Healthcare/Medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm
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.