What are the Different Health Care Jobs?

Health care jobs are in high demand. In addition to careers such as a doctor or nurse, there are hundreds of health care jobs to choose from, some of them requiring as little as one year of training. Some may involve working with patients, while others focus on lab work or data management.

One common health care job is medical billing and transcription. These career fields require minimal training compared to some other jobs in the health care industry. Some medical transcriptionists and billing specialists learn on the job, but many doctors' offices and hospitals require a certification course to be taken to get started. These are offered online, at community colleges, and at many technical schools.

Technicians work in hospitals, doctors' offices, and clinics to help with a variety of equipment and patient care. Some health care jobs under this category include radiology technicians, ultrasound technicians, and emergency medical technicians. How much training is required for each field varies based on location, and many have different levels of training. This way, students can begin working while finishing their training.

Another job in health care is that of the physical therapist or assistant. These specialists help patients regain control and function of their bodies after accidents or illness that results in injury to the muscles, bones, or ligaments. Patients may have to re-learn how to walk, use a spoon and fork, or bend certain parts of the body.

Not all careers in health care involve helping patients physically. Grief counselors, for example, provide therapy to patients who are dealing with serious illness or loss. Health care jobs in counseling usually require training. How much training varies widely based the amount of responsibility given. Counseling assistants may only need a few semesters of schooling, while a therapist or psychologist may require years of classes.

There are also careers available aiding doctors and nurses with their jobs. Nurses' aides participate in caring for patients by delivering food, cleaning patients, replacing bed sheets, and giving medication. Doctors' aides are generally nurses who have taken additional education courses to allow them to work as nurse practitioners.

Orderlies, food service workers, accountants, and maintenance workers all play an important role in health care. They keep hospitals and doctors' offices running smoothly. This ensures that the trained professionals who are tending to patients can focus on their jobs without having to worry about crunching numbers or fixing broken equipment.