Are you thinking about taking a job in healthcare, but you don’t want to be involved in the clinical side? There are plenty of jobs out there for you!
Working in healthcare can be an incredibly rewarding role, and it has a massive impact on the lives of those involved. Whether you want to work in a hospital, hospital laboratory, or as a Primary Care Doctor, there are plenty of jobs that can accommodate you.
Your Non-Clinical Options
There are also many non-clinical aspects of healthcare that can also be rewarding too, let’s have a look at some of them.
Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare administrators are responsible for the overall management of medical facilities, their budgets, and all staff within them.
They are the vital link between doctors and nurses in their healthcare facility.
Healthcare records are managed by administrators who are often required to keep detailed patient notes, review records for legal purposes, meet regulatory requirements and inform patients about their rights. They also organize insurance coverage for medical facilities, equipment purchases, and personnel needs, including security personnel.
If you thought being a healthcare administrator was a simple task, you’d be mistaken. It’s a full professional role and one where aspiring healthcare administration professionals can expand their education, even going as far as to take a doctorate dba programme to reach the top levels of the career path.
Medical Transcriptionist
Medical Transcriptionists transcribe the medical notes of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
They are transcribing an important part of healthcare that nurses have traditionally carried out. Employing a professional transcriptionist means that transcriptions can be done in much less time. The transcription can be part of a standardized medical record in the patient’s file, in addition to the patient’s primary medical record.
Patient Advocate
Patient advocates are a legal term for a lawyer who deals with medical malpractice claims, but the role of advocate can also be extended to other areas such as class action cases or reviewing regulations in relation to the patient’s rights.
In this role, a patient advocate can oversee and negotiate patient compensation from health providers if they have been harmed through medical malpractice.
Health Educator
Health educators are responsible for the health education of the public, from one-to-one training to teaching large groups.
As a healthcare educator, your role would be to teach aspiring medical students, residents, and healthcare professionals about the appropriate use of specific medical equipment or medications.
For example, you could be responsible for providing continuing education sessions on the use of the stethoscope in hospitals, teaching doctors how to administer injections, and teaching patients about their obligations when visiting hospitals.
Medical Writer
Medical writers use the knowledge gained in research and publications in medical journals to write news releases and other materials that promote new medical insurance products or medical technology. They may also create health newsletters in specialist healthcare areas.
Medical writers obtain the necessary information and write about it, distilling complex scientific and medical terms into stories that laymen can understand. Medical writers can obtain information from medical journals and research studies to publish in print or electronic media such as newsletters, magazines, web pages, and e-books.
Personal Trainer
A personal trainer is a professional role, not a fitness instructor.
With a fitness instructor, you can learn exercises and practice them for yourself at home, but with a personal trainer, you have access to an expert throughout the process of achieving your goals.
A personal trainer will provide you with specific instructions and advice on how to achieve certain goals, such as losing weight or gaining muscle. They will also create tailored exercise plans for your individual needs and lifestyle, helping you keep fit.
Nutritionist
A nutritionist works with patients and healthcare professionals to help them understand the link between food and health and how diet can play a role in specific conditions and diseases. A nutritionist will also work with patients to change their diet if they have certain health conditions or allergies.
Nutritionists can provide nutritional counseling through one-on-one sessions or group workshops, depending on the patient’s needs.
To be an effective nutritionist, you will need to be familiar with the U.S. Department of Agriculture food guidance system, dietary supplements, how to read nutrition labels, understand calories and nutrients in foods, vitamins and minerals that are essential for health, food allergies, and even cooking styles.
Medical Social Worker
Medical social workers are healthcare professionals who help patients, families, and staff deal with illness’s emotional, social, and psychological challenges.
They are an important member of the healthcare team because they enable people to manage their illness-related emotional problems through social support. Medical social workers also assist patients with understanding medical information that is provided during diagnosis or treatment.
A medical social worker may assess current stressors, identify financial or other problems related to healthcare and provide referral services for patients so they can access help through community services. They may also be responsible for helping workplaces develop programs to benefit employees who are coping with serious illnesses.
Becoming A Part Of The Healthcare Team
If you are interested in taking a non-clinical role in healthcare, courses, diplomas, and certification courses can help you get your foot in the door.
Before embarking on an education program, it’s important to be aware of the working hours involved in healthcare administration jobs. Working shifts, weekends, and public holidays, which are common in medical careers, can mean that it’s hard to find time available to study.
Before starting your vocational training route, it’s important to be aware of the actual workload that’s expected when applying for graduate or postgraduate study.
Next Steps For Medical Degree Courses
The choice of career is all up to you. However, the needs of the healthcare system are not set to decrease any time soon, so there is no better time than now to start looking at medical careers and preparing for your future.
There are all sorts of degree options available for you, such as online learning courses, distance learning courses, vocational degrees, and even graduate degrees.
More than just training the mind, medical degree courses themselves are mentally and physically demanding.
There are many courses that are available to you, depending on what pathway you’re interested in taking to become a healthcare professional.