With a growing demand for healthcare administration professionals, associates degree holders have a wide range of enticing opportunities available to them. Seamlessly switch careers or seek a promotion by following this guide illustrating what jobs can be had with an associates degree in healthcare administration.
Healthcare administration associates degrees can lead to a variety of careers. The most common jobs related to this type of degree are medical secretaries, insurance clerks, and health information technicians. Other healthcare administration associate degree holders may go on to become hospital administrators or even nursing home managers.
The demand for workers with these degrees is expected to increase by 12% from now until 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This means that there will be plenty of opportunities for recent graduates as well as those who are looking for a change in their career path.
What jobs can you get with an associates degree in healthcare administration
Introduction
If you’re looking to pursue a career in the medical field, a healthcare administration degree can be a great stepping stone. After all, people in this field are needed now more than ever before. Plus, many jobs in the healthcare sector don’t require years of experience or grueling medical school—though some do require certification. With an Associate’s degree in healthcare administration, you can work as:
Medical Records and Health Information Technician
Medical records and health information technicians work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical facilities. They work with doctors and other healthcare professionals to keep accurate records of patient care. Medical records technicians are responsible for maintaining patient files and ensuring that they are kept confidential. Health information technicians may need to help patients fill out forms related to their medical history or test results if they have been hospitalized or seen by a doctor within the past year.
Medical Assistant
If you’re interested in working as a medical assistant, there’s no reason not to go for it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), by 2024 there will be about 1.4 million jobs for medical assistants nationwide and that number is expected to grow by more than 17 percent over the next decade.
Medical assistants are an integral part of healthcare facilities everywhere, from hospitals and clinics to research labs and private practices. They work directly with patients who need assistance with daily tasks like bathing or dressing and also assist doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals with administrative duties such as scheduling appointments or answering phones. They may even help educate patients about their condition and treatment plan through one-on-one conversations on top of everything else they do at work!
Pharmacy Technician
- What is a pharmacy technician?
- Education requirements:
- Job description:
- Salary range: $25,000 to $36,000
- Job outlook: Steady growth for the foreseeable future
- Job satisfaction rating (scale of 1-10): 7 out of 10; not as fulfilling as a career in healthcare administration but still rewarding if you enjoy working with people and helping them improve their health through medication management
Nurse Practitioner
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with advanced education and training. They can do everything that a physician can do, but in a less expensive setting. In fact, many healthcare institutions are moving to care teams that include NPs because of the savings associated with their lower salaries.
NPs work throughout all healthcare settings—hospitals, clinics, schools and private practices—and have been shown to improve access to care for patients who need it most.
Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcriptionists are professionals who listen to voice recordings of patient medical history and charts, then transcribe the information into text. They work with doctors and other healthcare professionals in order to ensure that a patient’s chart is complete and accurate.
Typically, you’ll need at least an associate’s degree in healthcare administration or medical transcription to become a medical transcriptionist. Most programs offer on-site training by experienced practitioners as well as online courses that teach you how to use medical terminology correctly. You may also be able to take classes part-time while working full-time so your education doesn’t have to stop when you start making money!
In addition to knowing how to type fast (and make sure everything is spelled correctly), it’s important for any professional dealing with sensitive information like this job requires them not only know what they’re doing but also be good listeners too – because there will always be someone asking questions about what they’re saying! It’s also important that they have excellent communication skills since they’ll likely interact regularly with other departments within their company (like billing), patients themselves when answering questions over phone calls or emails/chat services like Skype; as well as supervisors whose job it might be oversee certain aspects of their work flow such as ensuring deadlines are met consistently.”
Medical Biller and Coder
Medical billers and coders are responsible for processing insurance claims for healthcare providers. They are responsible for all billing and coding tasks related to patient care, insurance and government reimbursement. Medical billers and coders ensure that the patient’s medical record is accurate and complete.
Phlebotomist
A phlebotomist is a healthcare professional who draws blood for testing or transfusion. They work in hospitals, clinics and private offices to administer blood tests and identify potential problems with the patient’s health.
The duties of a phlebotomy technician vary depending on their employer and location. In general, they collect blood samples from patients as well as help prepare them for lab procedures (such as drawing blood). Phlebotomists may also be responsible for maintaining medical supplies and equipment used during these procedures.
Patient Service Representative
You can get a job as a patient service representative. In this role, you’ll answer questions about medical billing and insurance from patients and doctors. You might also be responsible for helping to explain claims denials to patients, so it’s important that you’re able to remain calm when dealing with irate customers (like angry nurses).
Another option is becoming an insurance assistant. This job involves working in underwriting at an insurance company, where you’ll take care of paperwork related to the processing of new policies and renewals. Insurance assistants are required to have strong attention to detail—you’ll be running reports that show how much certain individuals should pay in premiums based on their age and health status every month—so this might not be the right role if you can’t stand sitting down all day long!
Physical Therapist Assistant
A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a healthcare professional who works with a physical therapist to provide care and treatment to patients. PTAs often work one-on-one with patients, helping them with their exercises and monitoring their progress. They may also assist in the exam room by taking patient histories and vital signs, as well as passing instruments and supplies to the doctor or PT during treatment sessions.
PTAs must complete an associate degree in order to qualify for licensure as an occupational therapy aide; however, this does not guarantee employment after graduation. The job outlook is predicted at 16% growth through 2026; however, these positions are highly competitive and often require more than just an associates degree for entry into the field.
these are the top 9 jobs you can get with an associates degree in healthcare administration
- Medical Assistant
- Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Records and Health Information Technician
- Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurse (LPN/LVN)
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Optician or Dispensing Optician (OD) or Certified Orthoptist (CO)
- Surgical Technologist
- Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
- Radiologic Technologist
Conclusion
As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity for a career in healthcare administration with an associates degree. It’s a great field to be in and there are many jobs available. If you’re interested in the medical field but aren’t sure where to start, then I hope this list has given you some ideas about what types of careers might be right for you.
