Discover 5 High-Demand, Non-clinical Careers in Healthcare

If you have a strong desire to get involved in the rapidly growing healthcare industry but aren’t interested in a clinical position, there are plenty of in-demand non-medical careers to explore. Some are patient-facing roles, and others are carried out behind the scenes.

All of these careers offer a great opportunity to take part in the 15% growth – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects over the next eight years. This is expected to create about 1.9 million new jobs. This rapid growth rate for healthcare employment opportunities, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, is mainly due to the United States’ large aging population. Today’s seniors are living longer, and this means a growing rate of chronic conditions that creates a greater demand for healthcare services.

Let’s look at five in-demand career choices for nonmedical healthcare professionals that provide opportunities for workers with all levels of education. Some of these careers require less than a bachelor’s degree for an entry-level position.

1. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Health information technicians organize and manage medical records and other health information data. They ensure the accuracy, accessibility, security, and confidentiality of patient information in both paper files and electronic systems.

They are typically proficient in medical reimbursement and coding procedures. Employment of medical records and health information technicians is projected to grow 11% by 2028, according to the BLS. Jobs are found in hospitals, private practices, long-term care facilities, and with insurance providers. Some positions require an associate degree or certification.

2. Medical and Health Services Manager

Healthcare is big business, and if you’ve got a mind for business, you can pretty much chart your course when it comes to management careers in the industry. A career in Health Services Administration or Medical Services Management is often an executive role in which you’re responsible for planning, coordinating, and directing the business activities of a healthcare provider. You might oversee an entire facility, such as a hospital, clinic, or nursing home, or specialize in managing one specific area or department, such as operations, purchasing, finance, or information systems.

The BLS predicts an employment growth rate of 18% by 2028 for medical and health services managers, explaining “As the large baby-boom population ages and people remain active later in life, there should be increased demand for healthcare services.” Entry-level positions typically require at least a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration or a similar program. Higher-level professionals in this field often hold master’s and non-medical doctoral degrees.

3. Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and Technicians

These professionals help organizations meet workplace health and safety standards. They inspect, test, and evaluate the environment and the equipment workers use to ensure they meet with government regulations and adhere to safety standards. Additional duties include:

? Design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous work conditions

? Educate employers and workers about workplace safety by developing and conducting training programs

? Investigate incidents and accidents to identify what caused them and how they might be prevented

Overall employment of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians is projected to grow 6% by 2028, according to the BLS. These workers are needed in a wide variety of industries to ensure that employers comply with both existing and new regulations. You’ll typically need a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or a related scientific or technical field, although some positions may only require an associate’s degree or certificate.

4. Biomedical Engineer

If you love both engineering and the biological sciences, consider combining your passions for a career as a biomedical engineer. Professionals in this fascinating field design equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare to improve the quality of the patient care delivery system. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree and strong math, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

As both the medical needs of an aging population and the number of technologies used in healthcare increase, the U.S. will need more skilled biomedical engineers. The BLS predicts a projected employment growth rate of 5% from 2019 to 2029.

5. Medical Administrative Assistant

Put your talent for organization and superior people skills to work as a front-end administrative assistant in a medical office, hospital, clinic environment, or government agency. You can offer a warm smile to greet patients and put them at ease. You’ll also probably handle duties such as scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and processing insurance payments.

Secretaries and administrative assistants held about 3.6 million jobs in 2020, 597,100 of which were medical secretary roles. The BLS reports that healthcare and social assistance organizations were the largest employers of secretaries and administrative assistants during that period. A Medical Administrative Assistant associate degree program, such as the one from Bryant & Stratton College, focuses on both the business and the administrative sides of the medical field.

Some of the skills you’ll need to step into this role successfully include:

? The ability to multitask and stay organized in high-pressure situations

? Good decision-making skills

? A thorough understanding of how to apply HIPAA standards for the creation, distribution, and release of medical information

? Strong interpersonal skills that let you relate with a diverse patient population and create a positive environment

? A working knowledge of medical/legal and ethical issues

? Sharp computer skills

These are just a few of the in-demand non-medical healthcare careers open to you with the right education and training. If you’d like to learn more about professions and careers, we’d love to chat with you. For more information on Bryant and Stratton College’s programs for nonclinical healthcare careers, please call the Admissions Office at 1.866.948.0571.