Career Options in the Health Field
Demands and Advances in Technology Create New Opportunities
May 29, 2008
Since September 11, 2001, there has been a significantly increased interest in the health care professions and job opportunities. A strong desire to make a difference and to help others has brought many into the field.
Now with economic struggles throughout the world, many workers are seeking more stable occupations and health care offers this opportunity as well. Despite economic downturns, people continue to get sick and need health care. At one time most of the career options were limited to practitioners and nurses. Today the opportunities have grown and expanded. Technology has helped to open up hundreds of new fields.
Opportunities to Continue
Demands and advances in technology will continue to open even more new career paths well into the future. The growing and aging population will require more and better health care. This will ensure the security of health care careers even in the face of economic downturns. The demand for new and better health care also opens opportunities in technology including engineering, manufacturing and software development.
Second and Third Career Options
Health care opportunities are available as first time professions as well as many second and third career options. Although some career paths require a long education process such as physicians, veterinarians, and dentists, there are hundreds of career options in the health field, and some don’t require more than a high school diploma and on-the-job training.
Job opportunities in the health field require a variety of skills ranging from phone manners and organizational skills to the highly complex diagnostic and procedural skills.
Not Just Doctors and Nurses
Health field career opportunities include such jobs as medical secretaries, receptionists and assistants. Personal care aides, certified nursing assistants, therapy aides, dental assistants and veterinary assistants are just a few of the entry level opportunities. These can be full time career opportunities and they can lead to more advanced level of care.
Technical fields include such areas as X-ray, CAT and MRI imaging, ultrasound and radiation therapy. Biomedical engineers, medical writers and photographers provide some behind the scenes opportunities.
Medical librarians, medical billers and coders are some of the other jobs that don’t require hands-on care. Health insurance companies provide many career opportunities for health care professionals including case management, medical reviews and medical authorizations.
Where to Search
In its Occupational Outlook Handbook, the U.S. Department Bureau of Labor Statistics outlines many of the career opportunities in the health care industry and provides statistics to support the job outlook into the next decade.
Read more about some health care careers.
