Non-Clinical Healthcare Careers You Can Pursue with an Online Degree

The healthcare industry has been offering stable careers for millions of people for decades, and it is always growing and changing. Some people that enter into this field are not interested in working in clinical settings. Luckily, there is an abundance of nonclinical professions that can be pursued that don’t involve you having to conduct direct patient care.

There are several different career paths to explore in the medical industry and the nonclinical positions have different academic requirements than clinical professions like medical doctors and nurses. From counseling to back-end administration positions, the range of careers continues to grow even as the healthcare industry evolves.

To be successful in nonclinical medical careers, students must still apply dedication and pursue academic goals that will help them find the profession that is right for them. Be warned, some career paths may require extensive academic commitment, just as many clinical careers do.

Here are some possible careers and tips for success in nonclinical jobs that can be explored:

Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcriptionists transcribe voice recorded information, such as reports and notes, provided by medical professionals like nurses and physicians. To be successful in this position becoming fast and efficient is one of the main keys. The faster and more accurately you can work will determine income level in this career. If you are entering this career with the intention of working from home, make sure you practice good self-management routines so you can stay on task.

Patient Advocate

Changes in the healthcare industry like privacy issues and new care options have necessitated advocates that can guide patients through the complexities of medical institutions. If you are interested in this path, some skills to develop include understanding and promoting patients’ rights, having a solid grasp of medical terminology, knowledge of insurance and financial matters, and being proactive with medical staff and administrators. Patients need help with a range of issues so being able to solve problems is the core of this work. Patients will have many problems they express to their advocate making the ability to remain patient and having a positive attitude necessary to succeed as a patient advocate.

Medical Receptionist

If you have excellent organizational and administrative skills, and are passionate about the healthcare industry, becoming a Medical Receptionist may be the right career path for you! Working at the front desks of hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities, these individuals are responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and assisting staff where necessary. To be successful, it is essential that you are compassionate and personable while working in a fast-paced environment.

Patient Coordinator

A patient coordinator manages a patient’s healthcare plan and ensures that they understand procedures, the use of home health care aids, and medical terminology. Often times these individuals act as an intermediary between the patient and healthcare providers as many of these patients are elderly or disabled. Organization is essential in this role as patient coordinators maintain and update patient information such as medical history, symptoms, and test results. The ultimate goal of this role is to deliver quality care that will help patients reach their wellness goals.

Social and Community Service Manager

Prepare to fight homelessness, ease hunger, or help treat mental illnesses as a social and community service manager. Those who work in this role are compassionate yet analytical as they need to not only recognize the needs of people across all different kinds of communities, but identify ways to help them.

The size of the community you are serving will determine how focused your programs are. For example, if you work in a large community, your programs most likely will have a tighter focus on a specific group so you can have a large impact in one area. On the other hand, smaller communities typically allow for the creation of a diverse range of programs.

Medical Office Manager

A medical office manager oversees and coordinates staff to ensure that the non-clinical aspects of day to day activities are of the utmost quality. Some typical tasks assigned to this role are managing the healthcare facilities budget, creating office policies, hiring and training new staff, and checking that the office is compliant with healthcare and other governmental laws. Individuals must have strong leadership skills in this role as they are not only responsible for supervising, but guiding others on how to provide the best care.

Medical Coder

When patients visit clinics and hospitals, certain codes are assigned for the reason of the visit. These codes are used for billing and insurance purposes. Medical coders work with insurance claims in the medical billing process. Being able to focus for long hours and search through patient records and bills are some aspects of this job. There are a lot of details to learn as a medical coder and it can be overwhelming for some. If you plan on pursuing this career path, make sure you can handle the rigors of retaining a lot of information. Understanding what you have learned will be essential for success in becoming a medical coder.

The modern campuses of Bryant and Stratton offer libraries, computer centers, and other resources to help students excel. With our Career LifePrep assistance, students can learn about internships, scholarships and effective ways to map their career paths. The instructors and staff at Bryant & Stratton College want you to succeed, to be able to apply what you’ve learned with the top-notch training and instruction offered.

Bryant and Stratton offers a wide range of academic studies to pursue your career goals. You will be given a well-rounded education with classes offered daytime and at night on-campus, as well as online. 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 security guards or other criminal justice careers, call the Admissions Office at 1.866.948.0571.