4 Careers In Healthcare To Consider

4 Careers In Healthcare To Consider : The United States of America is a healthcare industry trailblazer, housing over 800,000 companies. American patient care accounts for roughly 60% of the total healthcare revenue, while inpatient services make up 3% of this value.

But the healthcare sector is not limited to one job. There is much you can do here. Depending on where your interest lies, you may work in administration, on the latest tech developments, or become a healthcare provider dedicating your energy to the welfare of your patients. Each career has its benefits, allowing you to make a good life for yourself. As the population grows, technology expands, and new techniques to provide patient care center this business, here are some employment opportunities worth considering:

Medical assistants

Treating patients and managing a clinic requires an entire support network of professionals. Doctors and nurses alone cannot handle an influx of cases without having help. This gets provided to them in the form of medical assistants. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are the foundation of the medical sector, as they are pivotal in managing and maintaining administrative and clinical tasks necessary for patient care. Pursuing this career is much faster than getting a medical degree or nursing license.

A high school diploma is enough to get you started. Still, you can elevate your skills and become a much more polished candidate by applying to the best medical assistant schools and enhancing your knowledge about your field. Once you finish your medical assistant program, you can apply for your license and become a certified medical assistant. Your task includes streamlining administrative work like filling out medical records, scheduling appointments, and handling billing.

On the clinical side, you will have to take a patient’s medical history and prepare them for examinations like checking their vital signs and measuring their weight. You may also help with other clinical responsibilities, for instance, performing a lab test to collect a small blood sample. This sector is rapidly growing, with an expected 19% increase in employment by 2029.
Audiologists

The ear is a delicate organ. If it gets damaged or infected, the patient must see an audiologist. These are primary healthcare professionals who manage all problems related to the ear. So as a practicing audiologist, you will be responsible for evaluating, treating, managing, and helping reduce hearing loss. You may get a range of patients, from infants to adults to those who served in the military. The ear is prone to many conditions and infections resulting from falls, loud noises, sports injuries, and misusing speakers.

Before you can lend your services to care for your patients and their ear-related conditions, you must have the relevant degree. To build a strong foundation, you must get a bachelor’s degree in any stem field. While a master’s is not needed, it can help your career. Consider getting a master’s in speech pathology that can further help your patients communicate and speak as they adjust to their hearing. However, your most crucial degree is earning a doctor of audiology, but you can alternatively pursue a doctor of philosophy or science in hearing and balancing.

When you have the relevant qualification, you will need to appear for your board exam to earn a license and get a certificate from the American Board of Audiology. As an expert, you can treat several ailments, including sensorineural hearing loss, hidden hearing loss, and noise-induced hearing loss. You can also provide hearing aids and cochlear implants, encouraging patients to look into aural hearing rehabilitation facilitation. Additionally, this field will grow by 16% by 2030, which is faster than average.
Podiatrists

According to the BLS, podiatry will grow by 2% by 2030. While this is slower than average, the median annual wage you will make in this field is a high six-figure income, making it worth pursuing. As a podiatrist, you will treat all ailments related to your patient’s feet and lower legs. These can include issues related to diabetes, fractures, sprains, and arthritis. Therefore, you need to be highly skilled and experienced to handle these conditions and work before you can practice.

The educational credentials you need include a bachelor’s degree in any science-related field, after which you must attend podiatry school for at least four years. During your time here, you will study the bones, nerves, and muscles with their injuries and illnesses. Once you graduate, you need to dedicate three more years to work in a hospital. This is your residency as a podiatrist, and you will have to work with surgeons, pediatricians, and specialists in infectious diseases.

If you wish to become a surgeon, you will need to earn additional certificates and go back to studying a full-time curriculum for another four years, making it an extensive timeline. Your range of patients will include those who were born with foot problems at birth, sustained while playing sports, or due to an illness.
Dental hygienists

Oral health is a fundamental part of the healthcare sector. Your job as a dental hygienist is to provide preventative measures to curb tooth decay and cavities in your patients. This elaborate process involves studying your patient’s oral health before you start working on them. So you may need to know their habits and the frequency with which they brush, followed by X-rays, and use your tools to check the strength of your patient’s teeth.

Also, cleaning, removing plaques, and treating cavities and rotten teeth are part of your responsibility. If your patient needs surgery or an extensive procedure like a root canal, you may have to refer them to an orthodontist. However, guiding your patients on proper oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing, falls upon your shoulders.

According to the BLS, dental hygienists have a demand, and for the next ten years, this sector will see a growth rate of over 20%. Regarding your education, you need to attain an associate degree in an accredited program and get your state’s license. While a bachelor’s degree is not necessary, it will make it easier to advance your career as you will have more traits to put on your resume.

Conclusion

The healthcare sector is vast, with many careers for you to choose from. Depending on where your interests lie, you can explore many avenues, including working as a medical assistant, an audiologist, a podiatrist, and a dental hygienist. When you figure out what piques your interest, map out your academic journey and start applying to relevant schools.