Alternative Medicine: Unique Medical Careers To Consider
If you’re considering a job in the medical field, becoming a doctor or nurse needn’t be the only options. There are plenty of jobs out there in the medical sector with a similar paycheque and an equal sense of reward. Here are just some careers along with their requirements and duties.
Insurance underwriting
Medical insurance companies employ underwriters to assess the risk of clients and consequently determine the cost of insurance rates. Medical know-how can be advantageous, but many companies may only look for a degree in insurance or finance, offering on-the-job training when it comes to specifics. There are also internships available that may allow you to get your foot in the door without a degree. Either way, you will need to have a brain for mathematics and finance to help calculate risk and get your head around many of the terms of the trade.
Healthcare administration
Hospitals and local surgeries have to deal with mass amount of admin, which requires staff to carry out these jobs. Those that are able to rise up the ranks to managerial positions can earn more than most doctors. A qualification such as a healthcare administration MBA is generally needed. You may be able to complete and graduate in such a course in 18 months. There are many different aspects to administration from medical billing to accountancy to marketing to secretarial reception work.
Medical equipment repair
If you’re technical-minded and interested in entering the medical field, a job repairing medical equipment could be for you. This work is well-paid and vital to the industry – ensuring that all machinery is kept services and fully-operational. You may be able to learn many aspects on the job, although generally previous work in biomedical technology or biomedical engineering will be required. This may require some form of higher education in engineering. Job openings for these jobs are thought to increase by 30% by 2022.
Prosthesis manufacturing
It’s unlikely you’ve ever thought about a job in prosthetics. As every amputation is different, every prosthetic must be personally manufactured to meet the individual. Prosthetic technicians work with patients to design and manufacture these limbs. You don’t always need a degree, although it’s likely to be advantageous. Knowledge in woodwork, mechanical engineering, anatomy, physics and chemistry can all help making it a niche job but one that’s well-paid, in demand and very rewarding.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is most often used to help those recovering from cancer, but is also used in the treatment of other diseases. Radiation therapists counsel patients, providing them with their options, as well as administering the radiation treatment. A specific qualification in radiation therapy is generally needed. This is a job that’s very much in demand, plus it’s very well paid.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists help patients with debilitating conditions to recover and make adjustments to their daily lifestyle. This could involve helping someone that has recently become severely visually impaired make adjustments to their home, or helping somebody with temporary mobility issues to still do their job. The need for occupational therapy is growing as the aging population increases making this a career with a lot of prospects. A course in occupational therapy is generally required, which takes four years to complete. From here you be able to get work as an assistant, which could later grow into work as a senior occupational therapist.
Physical therapy
Linked to occupational therapists, physical therapists deal more with the physical side, which may involve helping someone with mobility issues to walk again after an operation or providing care for someone with back pain. You can do a full course in physical therapy, although you may be able to get your foot in the door with good grades in all three sciences, which could lead to an apprenticeship. You may have to become a physical therapy assistant first.
Nutritionist
Nutritionists work with patients to ensure that they meet the right dietary requirements for their needs. Patients often use nutritionists to lose weight, either in preparation for surgery or voluntarily. Nutritionists can also help those with certain dietary conditions such as celiac and lactose intolerance. You may need a degree in food health to get a position in a hospital. If you’re simply looking to become a dietician on a freelance basis, a short course may be all you need. A scientific background and an understanding of how the body responds to various nutrients is important.
Hospital porter
Porters are needed to carry items around the hospital. This could include collecting medicine for doctors or transporting machinery into a room before surgery or even helping to move a patient. You do not need any qualification to become a porter – being good with people and having an enthusiasm for the job may be all you need. It’s unlikely that many people will pursue a job as a porter as a career as it’s fairly low paid. However, it can give you useful hospital experience and often serve as a stepping stone to other medical careers.