Top Recession-Proof Healthcare Careers at Allen School

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Number OneWe continue to be un-surprised by report after report confirming what Allen School Online students already know – that jobs serving the healthcare fields are never in short supply.  This is probably one of the main determinants that factored into your decision to pursue an Allen School Online diploma.  True to form, the latest report, courtesy of Time.com confirms that indeed, healthcare industry jobs top the list of safest, most recession-proof jobs.

Privacy Concerns When Submitting Online Applications For Employment

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Sooner or later, most people will have to apply for a job online. The number of employers who utilize the online application method to find the best people continues to grow. Some people feel that the online application process limits their ability to showcase particular skills and stand apart from the competition. It really does not have to be that way.  Here are some suggestions on  how to use the electronic application process in an effective manner. Continue reading…

Best Job Markets in the US: Part Deux – NJ’s Monmouth-Ocean Counties

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Today, let’s examine the career environment in the Monmouth and Ocean Counties of New Jersey. These two coastal counties just south of New York City are home to many of the famed New Jersey Shore communities. Offering summertime visitors and residents alike sun, surf and proximity to the cultural and economic powerhouse that is New York City, Monmouth and Ocean Counties also rank very high in terms of their career potentials for those seeking employment in healthcare related industries. Monmouth-Ocean is among the top 25 “medium sized” cities for jobs and business in the US and ranks 57th out of the top 100 largest metropolitan areas. The Department of Human Services has significant resources in this area and provides services in a number of relevant areas such as aging, mental health, addictions and others. No less than 3 of the top 10 source industries in Monmouth-Ocean are in healthcare related fields. And there are plenty of large organizations to support solid job growth in this field including:
  • Southern Ocean County Hospital
  • St. Barnabas Healthcare System
  • CentraState Healthcare System
  • Monmouth Medical Center
  • Bayshore Community Health Center
Besides strong opportunities for stable employment, this area also boasts great quality of life. Strong green community development initiatives and the spectacular natural beauty of famous shorepoints like Seaside Heights, Point Pleasant, Barnegat Light, Long Beach Island and Springsteen’s favorite, Asbury Park, make this coastal area a wonderful place to be during work hours and during play time too! As a young man, I spent many summers traveling to the New Jersey Shore. Etched into my memory are the sounds and smells of the beach boardwalk commingling salt air, coconut oil, sausage & pepper heroes, corn on the cob and salt water taffy. Add to these intoxicating aromas the delighted squeals of rollercoaster riding kids, the perpetual throb of the surf and the cries of maritime birds. The relaxing vibe of the sleepy coastal towns always helped tranquilize me and wash away the stresses of life. How great would it be to live and work in such a attractive and prosperous environment? For more detailed info on Monmouth-Ocean demographics and job data, visit: http://hubpages.com/hub/Monmouth-Ocean-NJ

Types of Medical Assistant Careers

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Medical assisting training programs have a relatively short training period, and prepare you to sit for the certification exam (CMA exam.) As a Certified Medical Assistant, the career potential is vast and rewarding, offering the ability to specialize in an array of healthcare fields and environments. For example, after certifying, an MA has the choice to work with patients of all ages and in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, or other medical facilities. Finally, a career in medical assisting is an ideal place to begin for those individuals seeking career advancement. Following is a list of available medical assistant opportunities upon completing your training and sitting for the CMA exam.

Administrative Medical Assistant

If your skills are suited for an MA position that is focused toward administrative duties, you can look for a medical assisting position that focuses on clerical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, answering phones, filing patient records, and arranging for medical tests. You could also be in charge of general billing, accounting, and bookkeeping. While identifying an administrative focus can certainly help funnel responsibilities toward your strengths, you may also have some clinical duties, such as ushering patients into their private rooms.

Clinical Medical Assistant

The clinical tasks of a medical assistant are similar to those of a licensed vocational nurse. If you choose to take an MA training program and sit for the CMA exam, this path allows you to provide more personal, hands-on care. Medical Assistants are typically the first medical professionals with whom patients engage upon arriving for an appointment. You may also record medical histories, assist physicians during medical examinations, explain upcoming medical procedures, and educate patients about any necessary home care.

Additionally, you will be expected to record vital signs, order prescriptions with pharmacies, transport and collect specimens from labs, update patient records, and provide minor medical treatments like dressing wounds, drawing blood, and removing bandages.

Specialty Medical Assistant

Healthcare is a multi-dimensional industry with many specialties to consider. If, after certifying as a Medical Assistant, you find that working directly with patients is not your preference, you might consider specializing in a medical laboratory environment. As a specialized medical assistant, opportunities include work in chiropractic, ophthalmology, podiatry, optometry, obstetrics/gynecology, pediatric, and EKG/cardiology.

Medical assisting is a versatile field with many opportunities for growth, beginning with entry-level CMA positions after graduation. At The Allen School of Health Sciences, our Medical Assistant Training Program includes clinical skills and theory classes, and the included internship helps students fully prepare to sit for the CMA exam. Contact us for more information.

We’re Number One! (In Hiring for 2012)

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The folks over at Yahoo! Education published a list of the hottest career fields for hiring in 2012.  Not surprisingly, the very top of the list, the number one hottest hiring position for 2012 was medical assistant.  The article reports that employers intend to hire medical assistants at a rate 10% higher than they did in 2011 which was also a banner year for people seeking employment as medical assistants.  If you’re a student of medical billing and coding or medical assistant training at Allen School Online, you’re in exactly the right place at the right time.  If you’re still considering this program, what are you waiting for?  Now is the time, and this is the place!

Great Data from BLS on Medical Billing and Coding Employment

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The website, medicalbillingandcoding.org is chock full of tools and data you can use to learn more about the employment environment for your chosen career field. And I have to say, the data looks pretty good. The salary figures, the projected growth of the industry, and other related statistics all point to a positive environment for jobs in medical billing and coding.  Stop by their site and see for yourself, and be sure to check out our programs at the Allen School of Health Sciences.

Get a Real Job! **UPDATED**

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This story has been exposed as a hoax.  Sorry for any inconvenience! You may have seen this story on the Interwebs today about the sneering banker who left a 1% tip on a $135.00 lunch tab at a restaurant in tony Newport Beach, CA.  Worse than that, he circled the “tip” line on the credit card receipt (where he filled in the whopping $1.35 gratuity) and left the server the nasty-gram, “Get a real job!”  What a Jerka-saurus Rex!  Now, you probably won’t make as much as a bankster with your certification in Medical Billing and Coding from the Allen School Online.  But you will have what no one – not even an overly entitled, imperious jerk like this banker – could ever accuse of being anything other than a “real” job.  A good job, with a respectable salary and benefits.  So keep on studying and remember to be nice to one another out there!

Tips on Interviewing Via Skype

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This blog has frequently shared tips for succeeding in job interviews with Allen School Online students once they’ve completed their course of study in medical billing and coding or medical office assistant.  As online students, you’re well aware of the many ways that technology has changed the nature of studying and working.  Skype is one such exciting technology.  The internet-based communication tool lets users make phone calls, instant message, hold video conferences and even share desktops.  It has revolutionized many fields including the medical field.  A good example comes from Education First’s Ming Chen who says, “Skype has transformed a lot more than just the telephone industry. Its ease of use and ubiquity is opening up new opportunities in health, education and business. Telehealth, largely fueled by Skype, has allowed doctors to communicate with rural and remote patients.” In the same article at the Huffington Post, Chen shares the “Seven Deadly Sins of Skype Interviewing“.   Yes, Skype is being used by increasing numbers of employers as a tool for holding job interviews without the need to meet with candidates in person.  This saves time, money and headaches for both interviewers and job candidates.  Yet, as you might expect, there are plenty of ways to torpedo your Skype interview.  Just like an in-person interview, there are some rules and best practices to follow if you want to put your best foot forward.  Moreover, there are new rules, specific to online interviewing, which should be followed by any candidate wishing to make a good first impression, even if it is over a broadband connection.

CNN: Healtcare Jobs a Bright Spot For Hiring

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CNN recently reported on something that as an Allen School Online student you’re likely already hip to.  If you’ve not yet decided to study medical billing and coding or medical office assistant with Allen School Online, you should read this article from Yahoo! Education entitled, “How to Prepare for a Booming Health Career”.  The money quote: “Statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor show that 3.2 million jobs will be created from 2008-2018. And according to a July 2011 CNN Money article, “Health care jobs a bright spot for hiring,” an aging population and health care reform will most likely lead to an increased demand for health care workers.” Success in life is often all about timing.  With that in mind, you might agree after reading the above linked piece, that this is an excellent time to pursue a career in the medical office.

Top Job Locations for 2012 – Hope You Like the Desert

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Forbes magazine is out with its list of top states for job growth in 2012.  Four of the top 5 on the Forbes list of 10 are desert states.  Texas, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico are numbers one through four.  Before you pull up stakes though, pack your freshly minted Allen School Online medical billing and coding certificate and head West, consider this important caveat.  All the states on Forbes’ list are so-called “right to work” states.  These are states that have instituted laws making it more difficult for unions to organize.  As a result, lots of large companies, particularly manufacturers, have made the move into these states to take advantage of lower wage standards in the absence of collective bargaining.  This may explain the jump in available positions and new hiring in these states.  While medical billing and coding jobs are generally not candidates for unionized workforces (except maybe in large healthcare organizations), it is worth noting that workers  “right to work” states generally suffer lower overall earning power than their counterparts in other states.   So unless you’re super fond of painted desert landscapes, native American artwork and motifs or warm winter months, you may be better off staying coastal.  After all both Oregon and Georgia made the list too!