What Allied Health Career is Right For You ?

Allied health careers are in high demand, with positions offered in settings as disparate as hospitals, ambulatory care, military bases, Veteran’s Administration and private medical practices. Allied health professionals are different from those working in nursing, medicine, and pharmacy.

Instead, according to the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, they may use scientific principles and evidence-based practice to assist in diagnosing, evaluating and treating acute and chronic diseases, promote disease prevention and wellness for optimal health, and use their administration and management skills in the support of health care systems.

A few of the options available as allied health careers include:

• Anesthesiology

• Cardiovascular sonography

• Emergency medical services

• Health care administration

• Medical assistance

• Medical office administration, billing, and coding

• Mental health technology

• Surgical technology

• Veterinary technology

All of these careers involve working closely with physicians, nurses and other professionals in the health field to provide a higher quality of care. Keeping allied healthcare in mind as an option is a good way to broaden your horizons for health-related jobs, and training from City College is a great way to begin your journey. Choosing to get into one of the health careers in allied health is a wise choice. Each of these positions has exciting opportunities.

Anesthesiology

This position is one of the most important health positions available. Anesthesiologists have a constantly rising need for additional assistants)(Anesthesia Technologists) due to the rapidly aging US population. –An Anesthesia Technologist’s education typically takes around two years, after which there is a six-year anesthesiologist certification cycle. Settings where Technologists  with this training in anesthesiology work include:

• Hospital operating rooms
• Outpatient surgical centers
• Emergency rooms
• Delivery rooms

Cardiovascular sonography

Cardiovascular sonography is one of the most-demanding allied health professions. Technicians who know how to use ultrasound technology to scan cardiac and vascular systems play a crucial role in assisting in the  diagnosing of many health problems. Those who do well at sonography are often fast, lifelong learners. As sonography technology rapidly advances, sonographers must continue to learn new image modalities. Some of the job opportunities for those with career training in this area include:

• Diagnostics in cardiology practices
• Cardiovascular diagnostic technicians in hospital and diagnostic center settings
• Consultants for ultrasound sales
• Diagnostic applications specialists

Emergency medical services

Fire departments and private ambulance services alike are always looking for credentialed professionals to meet the needs of their prospective patients. Some of the many tasks that Paramedics with EMS training may perform include:

• Treating cardiac or respiratory emergencies
• Helping patients experiencing blood sugar issues
• Controlling bleeding
• Starting an IV and administering medications

Health care administration

Health care administration is a good choice for those interested in working in an administrative capacity in the field of Healthcare. With Healthcare being a major employer in Florida, a degree in Health Care Administration from City College is a good segue to get a promotion in your current healthcare profession and/or to branch out into the field of healthcare in a administrative or management capacity.

Some of the skills that those who go into these positions will develop include:

• Working with health information systems
• Understanding medical law and ethics
• Strategic planning
• Human resources administration
• Budgeting and accounting
• Marketing
• Organization and management in a hospital setting

Graduates of health care administration programs play key roles  Ensuring that organizations are able to meet the ever changing healthcare landscape. Choosing this career path is very rewarding for graduates who desire to play a role in healthcare administration.

Medical assisting

The field of Medical Assisting has a projected growth of 23 percent by 2024. While MAs responsibilities vary depending on the size and type of practice, medical assistants perform routine clinical and administrative tasks.

One thing that medical assistants can be sure of is that doctors’ offices and hospitals alike will always be in need of their services.And, for those who are interested, they can pursue certifications in areas such as Phlebotomy giving them an ever greater level of flexibility and employability in the field. . With this further training, you can consider research facilities and labs for options, along with other allied health careers.

Medical office administration with billing and coding

There is always a high demand for medical office administration professionals. Experience in billing and coding helps broaden the range of options that are available for job seekers after graduation. In addition to medical basics such as anatomy and physiology, students with this allied health career training also have the chance to learn about:

• Medical records management
• Claims management
• CPT and ICD-10 billing

Mental health technician

Mental health technicians assist patients with a broad range of activities. In addition to working with patients who have mental health issues, mental health technicians may also assist in  providing social services to seniors, mentally challenged patients, and substance abuse counseling patients. Some of the allied health professions available to mental health technician program graduates include:

• Positions offered in hospitals and mental health clinics
• School counseling positions
• Social service agency employees

Surgical technology

Surgical technology is a great choice for those who enjoy working in a faster-paced setting. Surgical technologists work closely with surgeons, registered nurses and anesthesiologists to help ensure a smooth, safe procedure.

Just some of the important duties these allied health professionals perform are:

• Preparing the surgical instruments before surgery
• Identifying the correct instruments to give to surgeons
• Helping with patient bandaging and transport out of the OR
• Prepping the OR for the next patient

In addition to working in a surgical setting, additional opportunities include working for tissue procurement groups and as medical device representatives.

Veterinary Technology

Some allied health careers involve caring for animals rather than people. Veterinary technicians learn a variety of skills also found in other allied health professions, including:

• Nursing and technical skills
• Reception and office management skills
• Disease prevention and treatment
• Using imaging equipment
• Assisting veterinarians with anesthesia and surgery

Besides acquiring skills useful in a veterinary practice, graduates can also find work in other animal-related settings, such as animal shelters, research facilities, veterinary product sales and zoos.

Conclusion

Positions that let you work alongside doctors and nurses are quickly growing and worth considering for anyone looking for a new career path. Whether you have worked in a medical setting before or are coming from another industry, these positions are worthy of your consideration. After receiving an excellent allied health profession education from City College, you will be well on your way to a rewarding allied health career.