Every time you turn on the news you hear about how the great recession may be ending—in every area, it seems, except for jobs! Banks are solvent, auto companies report increased sales, and the stock market is climbing. And yet you are either unemployed or dreaming of a better job. Is there any hope out there for hard-working people like you?
Yes there is! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), one bright spot in the current employment situation is health care. Here is what the Bureau reported for July 2009: “Health care employment increased by 20,000 in July 2009.”*
Health care jobs are being created now! And according to the USBLS, the trend is long-term: “Health care will generate three million new wage and salary jobs between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.”**
A Wide Variety of Health Care Jobs What kinds of health care jobs are opening up? You might think that the growing health care jobs are only for highly-trained specialists like brain surgeons. Not true! The jobs that are being created are ones that you can be trained for in less time than you think. Many require a high school diploma or GED and one or two years of college or career school. These are job opportunities that can be within reach of people just like you. Here are a few growing jobs:
Medical records and health information technicians. Today’s busy hospital or doctor’s office cannot function without accurate recordkeeping and information management. The offices rely on dedicated health care workers who may specialize in one aspect of health information, or who might supervise health information clerks and transcriptionists. Some medical records and health information technicians specialize in coding patients’ medical information for insurance purposes. Medical records and health information technicians also may serve as cancer registrars, responsible for maintaining facility, regional, and national databases of cancer patients.
How much training do you need? Medical records and health information technicians generally earn an associate degree from a community or career college. To make getting your college degree easier, many career schools, especially the ones found here on Education-For-Careers.com, offer flexible schedules for working adults, online programs, and even financial aid for those who are qualified.
Dental hygienists. Working under the supervision of a professional dentist, dental hygienists teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, clean teeth, and provide a range of preventive dental therapies. They help patients look and feel better by examining patients’ teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities, and assisting the dentist when necessary.
These dedicated health care workers generally obtain a two-year associate degree or certificate. Many adult learners go to school while they are working a regular job or taking care of family. To make the process easier, most career schools offer financial aid to those who are qualified, and even job placement assistance.
Medical Assistants. A vital part of any health care organization, medical assistants perform administrative tasks, arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services, update and file patients’ medical records, and fill out insurance forms. They also perform general administrative tasks including scheduling appointments, answering telephones, handling correspondence, and taking care of billing and bookkeeping.
Clinical medical assistants may take medical histories and record vital signs, explain treatment procedures to patients, assist physicians during examinations, and prepare patients for examinations.
What qualifications do you need for this rewarding career? Postsecondary medical assisting programs usually last either one year and result in a certificate or diploma, or two years and result in an associate degree. Programs are offered in vocational-technical high schools, postsecondary vocational schools, and community and junior colleges.
You can do it! Check out the many career training opportunities right here on Education-For-Careers.com and get your application started!
*http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm **Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Career Guide to Industries, 2008-09 Edition, Health Care, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs035.htm (visited August 18, 2009 ).
