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.

Can You Describe an Instance Where You Screwed Up at School or Work?

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Healthcare Field Job InterviewThis is the very type of loaded question interviewers are increasingly asking of candidates for job positions.  Ah, how quaint seem the days when they used to ask you about your 3 top strengths and weaknesses.  Listen, the job market is more competitive now than it has ever been.  Hiring managers are forced to sort though thousands of candidates before making the best choice and they are getting more pointed in the questions they’re asking.  They just don’t have the time to beat around the bush and with so many in line for the available jobs, they feel emboldened to ask more penetrating questions.  Questions like: “What bugs you about your co-workers or your current boss?”  or “If you’re currently employed, how do you have time to make this interview?”  They’re fishing for answers that shed light on how you’d be as an employee.  Forbes magazine put out a list of ten new and interesting interview questions used by hiring managers, what they’re really asking and how to best answer them.  Click here to read it before you head out to your next job interview.  You’ll be glad you did!

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…

Gift Yourself a Job for the Holidays – Step Up Job Search

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While Others Bake Holiday Cookies, Your Job Hunting Chances Improve

If you buy into the myth that holiday job searching is a waste of time, you are losing one of the better job searching seasons of the year. During this holiday job searching season, you enjoy reduced competition for jobs, easier access to decision makers who are actually in the office, and the opportunity to help people spend their budgets before year end.   Careerbuilder.com has an article up explaining exactly why job seekers should NOT take a few weeks off for holiday merriment.  Click here to read the story.

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

New Healthcare Law Requires Chain Restaurants to Post Calorie Counts

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Healthcare Law Requires Fast Food Calorie ListingAccording to a report by the Associated Press: WASHINGTON – A requirement tucked into the massive U.S health care bill will make calorie counts impossible for thousands of restaurants to hide and difficult for consumers to ignore. More than 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants will have to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards and even drive-throughs.  Read the whole article here. It may be a bit onerous for these restaurants to have to do this, but if you’ve ever seen those popular “Eat This, Not That” books and website, you know that often, seemingly “healthy” menu items can be worse than things that have a reputation for being “bad for you”.   In this blogger’s opinion, this step is a positive one because it will help American’s make more informed choices about what they eat.  Dietary choices are behind so many of the leading illnesses in our society from obesity to cancer.  The more info we have as a society, the better off we will be as we choose what to eat.

HHS Dept Commissioned Study Says Regular Mammograms Only Needed After 50

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mammogramSweeping new U.S. breast cancer screening guidelines are calling for an end to routine mammograms for women in their 40s and for women 50 to 74 they suggest a mammogram every other year.  This controversial new guideline was handed down by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF),  a group of nongovernmental experts convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to review published literature and develop recommendations for the use of clinical preventive services.   Coming on the heels of the controversial Stupak Amendment limiting coverage for abortions that was inserted into the House healthcare bill in the eleventh hour at the behest of Catholic Cardinals, this new guideline seems to many to be a part of a broader campaign to hack away at hard-won women’s rights. Continue reading…

Choosing the Online Program Path for the New Year

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As the nation’s population ages, the demand for health care workers is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. One exciting way for you to get into the growing health care industry is by training to become a medical billing and coding specialist. Of course, training for a new career is a big commitment and we know that not everybody has the time for sitting in on classes. Fortunately, the Allen School of Health Sciences offers an online program for those interested in medical billing and coding. By studying online, you’ll get the training you need to enter this booming industry while also working at your own pace and on your own schedule. What is ? Medical billing and coding are two separate jobs, although in small offices they are sometimes combined as one job. A medical billing specialist works with insurance companies to process claims so that a medical office can be reimbursed for health care services that it has provided. Billing specialists also work with patients to make sure patient data is processed correctly and that patients are billed properly. Medical billing and CodingMedical coding specialists typically don’t work with patients or insurance companies as often as billing specialists do. Patient data and bills have specific codes attached to them, which helps ensure the office runs smoothly. The coding specialist is responsible for entering and keeping track of these codes. As a coding specialist you will be spending a lot of time entering data, so ideally you will be attentive to detail and comfortable working with a computer. At the Allen School of Health Sciences you will also be trained in how to use the ICD-10 coding system, which is the latest coding system used in medical offices throughout the United States. Advantages of studying online Aside from being a growing field, another great advantage of studying Medical Billing and Coding at the Allen School is that you can do your studies online. Studying online is a great option if you need a program that works with your schedule. You may have other commitments, for example, such as a family to raise or a job during the daytime that make sitting in on classes and commuting to campus unfeasible. By studying online, you will be able to take your education into your own hands. As with our other programs, you may also be eligible for financial aid and benefits. The demand for medical billing and coding specialists is high and it is expected to keep growing. If you’re ready to start a career in a booming and exciting field, then don’t delay! Get in contact with us today and we can give you more information about how to train to become a medical billing and coding specialist.

Medical Billing and Coding Training in Summer’s Swelter

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Trying to complete your medical billing and coding training during the height of the summer’s heat and other distractions is as hard.  Its equally hard for people working on other projects from earning a certified nursing assistant degree to focusing on the needs of patients while working in a medical office.  The tendency is to want to slow down, or even take some time away from studies/work to go loaf at the pool, or in the air condition somewhere.  In fact, recent studies indicate that worker productivity slumps by as much as 20% in the summer months. The cool geeks over at www.lifehacker.com put together a “how to” piece, full of tips on how to maintain high levels of productivity in spite of seasonal distractions. The list includes advice ranging from changing the thermostat setting to switching up your work routine to working during different hours.  Not all of these may be feasible for those who’ve completed their medical billing and coding training and now maintain set working hours in a medical office.  However for students still studying medical billing and coding, certified nursing assistant training or any of the other courses offered here at the Allen School, these suggestions may just be what the doctor ordered.  Click here to read LifeHacker’s interesting article and sound off in the comments about how you beat the heat and stay focused on the work all summer long.

BLS: 19,000 Medical Office Jobs Added in April Alone!

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes an Employment Situation Summary wherein it examines the state of hiring in different career fields.  The latest Summary revealed that in April 2012 alone, more than 19,000 new jobs in medical fields were added to the American workforce.  That’s quite an impressive number given the overall sad state of affairs regarding employment in general.  Better yet, the top of the list, the number one job title in the medical field for new jobs added in April was none other than Medical Assistant.  Also in the top 5 was Medical Records and Health Information Technician.  Aren’t you pumped to be involved in studies at the Allen School Online now?  Compared to students in other fields of study, this report would indicate that you’ll have an easier time finding work once you receive your certification than others.  You’re so smart!