With the popularity of television shows like House and Scrubs, many people are drawn to the idea of becoming a doctor or nurse. However, you don’t have to go through medical school or do rounds in the hospital to work in healthcare. In fact, there are hundreds of non-medical careers that support medical fields without requiring years of education and a burdensome amount of debt.
More importantly, there are plenty of careers that also tackle specific problems within the healthcare industry. Indeed, patients from ethnic minorities can feel intimidated or fear no doctor will take them seriously. Additionally, people who are anxious about medical visits struggle to accommodate in the healthcare decor. Another frequently ignored issue is how mental health can affect people when they try to make and keep up with appointments.
Here are 7 healthcare careers that don’t require you to be licensed by the state as an MD or RN but that can make a huge difference to the industry. Some may even pay more than your average 9-5 desk job!
Healthcare receptionist
The healthcare receptionist is the first person who greets patients when they come to the office and can be the last person they see before leaving. They are responsible for answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, scheduling emergency room visits, maintaining files, and providing general administrative support such as filing papers or sending faxes to other offices. As a receptionist, you can also ensure that patients feel confident about their health.
For people interested in healthcare but not interested in going to school for years of training as a doctor or nurse, this job can be an excellent entry point into the field. You will require to pass a certificate to manage the reception tasks. You can learn more about medical receptionist course online via this link.
Healthcare cleaning services
Many people are not aware of the importance of healthcare cleaning services, but they’re an essential part of maintaining a healthy environment in hospitals. Professional cleaning services for the healthcare sector can help prevent the spread of disease, reduce the risk of injury to patients and staff alike, and make sure sanitation is maintained throughout your facility. A cleaning expert will need to be comfortable with cleaning:
- Blood
- Saliva and other body fluids
- Discarded items such as tissues
- Etc.
These tasks are crucial to patient safety and should not be underestimated. In an environment where the presence of viruses and germs is frequent, the cleaning team is indispensable in protecting patients and employees.
Medical copywriter
Medical copywriters are a key part of the medical marketing team. They’re responsible for writing content that supports the sale of medical services, including brochures, e-mail campaigns, print advertising materials, and blog articles. Medical copywriters can write about anything from surgery to mental health issues to wellness programs and more – as long as their work supports the sale of medical equipment or services. A copywriter doesn’t necessarily need a background in medicine but will need an understanding of medical terms and treatments to write blog content that is accessible to the patients.
Typically, the copywriting team is in charge of running the web content and blog. Therefore, it is essential to understand how to keep the digital content secure at all times. The last thing you need is to see someone hack into the healthcare business site and destroy your content!
Nutritionist
It isn’t uncommon for patients to be told they need to improve their diet ahead of surgery or to support their health treatment. However, if they already have an existing condition, it can be tricky to figure out the best diet plan for their needs.
A specialist nutritionist who understands how to balance nutrients to meet someone’s dietary preferences and health requirements can be a great ally. You can find nutritionist degrees that can get you certified in under a year, and many are even accessible as online courses.
What kind of services can a nutritionist deliver within the healthcare sector?
- Weight loss diets for patients at risk of type 2 diabetes
- Specialist diet for kidney disease patients
- Balanced diets for patients with eating disorders
- Diets helping patients to prevent or correct nutrient deficiencies
- Specialist baby or toddler diets for families with dietary preferences (vegan, etc.)
- Etc.
Healthcare decor designer
What is the first thing patients will notice when they visit a health center? The answer is its decor and how it makes them feel.
Indeed, many patients experience medical anxiety, for healthcare in general or for more specialist professions, such as dental anxiety. This anxiety can affect their access to medical treatments. It can also make it very difficult for them to feel comfortable and confident talking about their problems with a doctor.
The decor can play a vital role in making the healthcare industry appear more approachable and less stressful by:
- Removing white-only designs in communal areas and waiting rooms, as these often feel too clinical and cold
- Creating a friendly color palette; there is no reason why painting your walls blue, purple, pink, or yellow would be detrimental to medical diagnosis and treatments.
- Building a living room inspired waiting rooms; ultimately uncomfortable chairs and outdated magazines can make patients feel like they are being punished
- Introducing soothing sensory elements such as water sounds or music in the waiting areas
- Introducing a child-friend zone where little ones can relax and play while waiting for an appointment
Brand communication on social media
What does Twitter, Instagram, or even Facebook have got to do with healthcare? The answer is everything. People are likely to ask medical questions, share their experiences, and simply to talk about medical woos and worries. A social media manager can help establish not only the specific healthcare business, but also overall trust in the medical system.
There can be a variety of interactions that fall under the responsibility of a social media manager:
- Recording small interviews of people as they come to the healthcare center
- Running polls to engage with the audience
- Monitoring activities and answering questions
- Reassuring users who are worried about booking an appointment
- Liaising with existing patients who have a complaint – so the situation can be resolved
- Directing people to the website
- Sharing news and achievements
- Sharing videos about everyday life at the center
- Etc.
Essentially, as a social media manager, your role is to support the business’s reputation and help patients through information and entertaining content.
Stress consultant or counselor
Becoming a stress management counselor is not an overnight study project. However, if you already have a degree in human service or psychology, this could be a fantastic opportunity to make healthcare services more approachable for patients.
Indeed, you can provide your services to people who have medical anxiety through speech therapy and coping techniques. Someone who is nervous about seeing a doctor may accidentally withhold some medical information out of fear. This can make it hard to receive appropriate treatment, which can only increase their anxiety. Offering a friendly space where people can come and talk about their worries can transform the benefits they’ll get from healthcare services.
Additionally, you can also assist doctors and nurses when supporting patients with mental health issues. For instance, you can suggest ways of reducing appointment management stress for individuals with social anxiety, ADHD forgetfulness, etc.
In conclusion, not everyone needs to be a doctor to make a difference in the healthcare sector. You can support doctors and patients alike through a variety of skill sets, including copywriting, reception management, and even interior decor.
If you enjoyed this post head over to 5 Self Love Habits And Practices To Start and 5 Easy Ways To Step Up Your Self-Care Game
Leave a Reply