Careers in the Medical Field

If you're interested in careers in the medical field, one of the first things you'll have to decide is if you are interested in working in a clinical or non-clinical position. Clinical positions involve direct patient care, while non-clinical jobs focus on administration, sales, and other important behind the scenes activities.

Medical Occupations

There are many different types of clinical job opportunities in the medical field, with widely varying educational requirements and pay ranges.

To become a medical doctor, one must complete an intensive program of graduate and undergraduate studies, followed by extensive hands-on training via a clinical residency in a hospital setting. While attending medical school, future physicians select a specialty, such as family medicine, pediatrics, or obstetrics.

Physicians must pass board certifications and go through state licensing procedures prior to going to work. Doctors tend to be the most highly compensated medical professionals, whether working in private practice or for corporate groups.

Physical Therapy professionals, including licensed Physical Therapists and certified Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA) are in high demand in the medical field. Individuals who work in this capacity help patients with physical disabilities and well as those who are recovering from injuries that impair their physical mobility.

Physical Therapists must complete intense undergraduate and graduate-level education and training prior to becoming licensed to practice in their state. PTAs must complete a formal, yet shorter, program of study and are also required to fulfill state-specific licensure requirements.

Nursing is among the highest demand career fields. There is a great need for qualified nursing professionals in both hospital and outpatient healthcare settings. Becoming a nurse also requires a prescribed program of study, with the number of hours required varying on the type of nursing an individual wishes to perform. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) programs typically run between 18 and 24 months in duration. Those seeking to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSN) in Nursing or Registered Nurse (RN) credentialing typically spend four or more years in training.

Each state has its own licensing requirements, and licensure is necessary to gain employment as a nurse. Most states require regular continuing education to maintain licensure. Those seeking further advancement may pursue graduate degrees or advanced practice credentialing, such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Nurse Practitioner, etc.

Many non-clinical tasks must be performed to provide comprehensive healthcare for patients in all types of medical settings.

With the trend toward large, multiple physician practices, the field of practice management has expanded greatly. Some medical practice managers move up into their jobs from lower level office administration positions, and others enter the field after completing a prescribed program of study in Healthcare Administration.

Licensure is not required to work in this capacity, but most hospitals and large practices prefer to hire individuals with specific certifications to manage their offices. Popular certifications in this field include:

• Certified Medical Practice Executive (CMPE)
• Certified Medical Manager
• Registered Medical Manager

Most patients rely private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid to cover the costs of necessary medical treatments. Medical practices, hospitals, and other healthcare providers rely on timely payment of invoices for services rendered in order to pay staff salaries and support operations. Medical billing and coding professionals fill the important role of processing and filing insurance claims on behalf of patients, and following up to make sure that payment is made per the terms and conditions of each individual policy.

Some individuals move into this field after working in other clinical or non-clinical aspects of the medical field. Others become medical billing and coding professionals following completion of a prescribed course of study. There are no specific licensure or certification requirements to become a medical billing and coding specialist, but many organizations prefer to hire certified professionals, such as those credentialed by AHIMA.

Developing and marketing new medications is an important part of the medical field. In addition to employing large staffs of clinical researchers, pharmaceutical companies hire sales representatives to market their latest discoveries to physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare agencies. Individuals with strong communication skills, the ability to work independently, and who project positive professional images may be good candidates for employment in this field.

These are only a few of the many different opportunities available to individuals who want to pursue careers in the medical field. If you're interesting in learning about additional types of jobs in this industry, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

If you're looking for a high-demand occupation with long term growth potential, it's definitely a good idea to consider a medical profession. The combination of technological advances in healthcare and the aging baby boomer population ensures that medical professionals are likely to be in high demand for many years to come..

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