5 Healthcare Careers You Might Not Have Heard Of

As long as there are people on this planet there will be a need for healthcare. And as our population ages the need to fill those healthcare jobs will only increase over time.

Obviously doctors and nurses are the ones that immediately come to mind when we think about healthcare professionals, but it takes an army to make a hospital or clinic run efficiently and to provide quality care to the patients who need it.
But who are these people? If you’re interested in a career in healthcare but aren’t sure that the hands on aspect of it is right for you, these are five healthcare careers that pay well and are vital to the success of any healthcare facility.

1. Genetic Counseling

While a genetic counselor does need to have a master’s degree in their field, the actual work of a genetic counselor is rewarding and incredibly fascinating. A genetic counselor usually works in a hospital or clinic setting and assists patients and physicians by identifying genetic disorders that could potentially cause diseases. They also work with couples who may have a genetic abnormality that could be passed on to their children.
This is very sensitive work so in addition to extensive training in the science of human genetics one must also train as a counselor.

2. Healthcare Administrator

No business can function without a top-notch administrative team and the healthcare field is no different. A healthcare administrator manages the back office and clerical aspects of the clinic or hospital, including patient records, accounting, and case management.
Healthcare administrators might also work with insurance companies or with human resource departments in a variety of healthcare settings. This is a very versatile position that offers the person with the right training a number of different jobs to choose from.

3. Medical Device Repair

Medical technology has changed rapidly over recent years and the devices used today for diagnostic and treatment services are very complex pieces of machinery. If one of these machines fails for some reason it’s absolutely not cost-effective to buy a new one. Enter the medical device repair person.
Also referred to as biomedical equipment technicians, these people usually complete specialized training in electronics and the functionality related to the equipment they’ll work on, like MRI machines. Some cases can be urgent and the technician may be required to work during off hours but most technicians work typical daytime shifts and may work at several different hospitals or clinics.

4. Occupational Therapist

An occupational therapist is one of the most vital members to any large healthcare team. Someone in this position takes on several aspects of both a physical therapist and a mental health therapist, but their main focus is ensuring that patients are able to perform day to day to tasks and deciding what type of assistance they may need to accomplish that.
Some occupational therapists work with children who are developmentally delayed and assist them in achieving age appropriate milestones. Others work with stroke or accident victims to help them regain loss of fine motor skills. This job does require an advanced degree but it’s extremely rewarding work.

5. Medical Social Worker

A medical social worker is a specialized field that is all about assisting patients and their families by ensuring that their healthcare needs are met. In many situations, such as a severe illness or accident, a patient may not know what to do or how to find appropriate resources. This is where the medical social worker comes in.
The social worker acts as a patient advocate and works with doctors, home healthcare agencies, nursing homes and other health-related businesses to arrange for their client to have the equipment or treatment that they need. Many medical social workers also work with homeless or disadvantaged people to help them fill out the paperwork necessary to apply for government sponsored healthcare.
The healthcare workers like doctors and nurses are the ones that we see on the front lines, but those that work behind the scenes make their jobs possible. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in healthcare consider one of these five positions that are not only important but very inspiring as well.