When you consider healthcare careers, do you just think about doctors and nurses? There are so many more opportunities in the vibrant and growing healthcare industry and many positions do not require years and years of medical school. Check out these 7 healthcare careers that you can prepare for in less than a year.
1. Medical Assistant
As a Medical Assistant, you check patients into appointments and take their vitals. You update records, schedule follow-ups, and serve as a liaison between patients and their primary caregivers or specialists. You prepare exam rooms, help doctors and nurses during small procedures, and keep the front office running smoothly. You may administer vaccinations or draw blood for tests. And because you’re trained in life-saving techniques like CPR, you never know when you might indeed use your skills to save a life!
You can learn the fundamentals of medical assisting in just eight months but will need laboratory training and externship experience to expand your scope of practice. Even with that additional training, you can complete a Medical Assistant program in less than a year.
2. Medical Billing & Coding Specialist
Do you want to work in a medical setting but you’re more comfortable at a computer than a bedside? As a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, you are an important member of the healthcare system. You make sure patients receive the benefits their insurance entitles them to, and your facility gets paid for the services it provides. You fill out and correct billing forms, process insurance claims, and code medical records for the software your office uses. You can complete a Medical Billing and Coding program in just 17 weeks and be ready to take the Certified Medical Insurance Billing and Coding (CBCS) exam.
3. Phlebotomist
Did you know that the person who draws your blood at a checkup is called a Phlebotomist? If you don’t mind the sight of blood and want to do important work where you also get to meet lots of people from all walks of life, you might want to consider the career of a Phlebotomist. In this role, you draw blood from patients prior to their doctor’s visit and assist with analysis for their physician. In a phlebotomy program, you are taught how to carefully and properly perform venipuncture. You learn the importance of safety, security, and sterilization. You also learn how to calm patients, communicate well, and act professionally. You can complete your program in less than 20 weeks and be ready for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
4. Medical Administration
As a Medical Administrative Assistant, you are the face, voice, and heart of your facility. You are often the first point of contact for patients. You help patients with paperwork, check them in for their appointments, and help them understand what they can expect from a visit. You also keep the office running smoothly. Whether you update medical records, order supplies, or handle day-to-day communication, you are a very important member of the healthcare team. You need strong communication and interpersonal skills and a deep understanding of who works in your clinic and what roles they play. You could complete a Medical Administration Assistant program in less than 17 weeks and be ready to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam administered by the National Healthcareer Association.
5. Medical Equipment Technician
All medical facilities use medical equipment. And that equipment needs regular maintenance, repairs, and updates. Do you have the skills to provide that kind of technical expertise? You can learn it! In as few as nine weeks, you could become qualified as a Medical Equipment Technician. Your program should teach you to diagnose equipment issues and fix machinery so doctors can give patients their needed treatments. You learn about how equipment functions, how to perform routine repairs, and how to troubleshoot common problems. Upon completion of your program, you should be prepared to take the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) national Certified Associate in Biomedical Technology (CABT) certification exam.
6. EKG Technician
Electrocardiograms help diagnosis heart conditions and EKG technicians are the professionals who perform the tests. In just 20 weeks of training, you can learn how to correctly operate the equipment, prepare patients for the tests, conduct EKGs, and review diagnostics images for quality and coverage. You also learn to recognize abnormalities and summarize findings for the doctors treating the patients. And you make sure to record it all in a patient’s records. Upon completion of your program, you should be prepared to sit for the EKG Technician (CET) certification administered by the National Healthcareer Association.
7. Biomedical and Imaging Information Security
You may have heard the phrase “doctor patient confidentiality,” but how do clinics ensure patient information is secured and protected? This is where your role as a Biomedical and Imaging Information Security Specialist would come in. You would manage access to sensitive information in a hospital or clinic through data encryption and other techniques. You would analyze the risk of cyberattacks and put in place measures to prevent them. You also ensure other medical staff know how to properly use systems and teach them how to reduce their chances of mishandling sensitive records. Your Biomedical and Imagining Information Security program can last six to nine weeks. At the end of your program, you should be ready for the CompTIA — Security+, certification exam focusing on the Healthcare Internet of Things (HIoT) administered by CompTIA, and an entry-level information security position.
Do any of these healthcare careers sound like the right fit for you? Charter Career Academy offers healthcare training that can teach you the skills you need for entry-level work in the healthcare industry. Want to learn more? Fill out the form and request info.