August 27, 2009

Colleges offer a variety of degrees to meet high demand for health care workers

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Medical research, technological advancements and a population that is living longer are all reasons that the health care field continues to grow. Many new jobs are emerging in this ever-changing field each year, and to meet this demand, many colleges are offering new degree programs.

Here are some new health care degrees that are projected to be in high demand in 2009 and beyond:

Associate Degree in Applied Science Electroneurodiagnostic Technology
There is a high demand for people who can help doctors diagnose brain and nervous system disorders. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor projects a 26 percent increase in jobs in this field by 2014. Electroneurodiagnostic technology (ENDT) is a good option for students looking for a unique and fast-growing health care segment.

“Electroneurodiagnostic technology is the scientific process of recording and analyzing electrical activity in the human brain and nervous system,” explains Forough Ghahramani, dean of business technology and director of electroneurodiagnostic technology at DeVry University’s North Brunswick, N.J., campus.

“As an ENDT technologist, students operate sophisticated EEG equipment to help doctors in diagnosing brain and nervous system disorders such as brain tumors, strokes, sleep disorders, epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. Due to major technological advances, the demand for skilled ENDT technologists is rising.”

Associate Degree in Health Information Technology
If you have an interest in the health care industry, but you’d rather not work directly with patients, a career in health care technology could be for you. An associate degree in health information technology (HIT) could be your doorway to a career as a clinical coder, data analyst, patient information coordinator or health record technician.

“The future of health information holds many opportunities,” says Dasantila Sherifi, associate professor and HIT program chair at DeVry University in Fort Washington, Penn.

“Health information technology impacts every component of the health care system in the U.S. HIT graduates give their contribution in working with physicians, patients, payers, government agencies and other health care organizations. They focus on information management, privacy and security, public health education and research, electronic health records and more.”

Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering Technology
Biomedical engineering is a career field that will increase at about 26 percent per year through 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Biomedical engineering technology (BMET) degree holders work with physicians, therapists and other technicians in the design, construction, implementation and maintenance of sophisticated health care equipment and lifesaving devices.

“Modern medical equipment such as CT, MRI, Ultrasound, PET and Proton therapy have transformed how medicine is practiced today,” says Dr. James McGinn, chair of the BMET program at DeVry University − Fort Washington.

“Graduates receiving a B.S. degree in biomedical engineering technology are technically positioned to work with some of the largest medical imaging companies in the world to bring these medical advances to medical centers across the country.”

Certificate in Health Services Management
A health services management certificate could help you develop a foundational background in finance, marketing and health services that will help move your career forward in this growing field. You’ll learn a variety of management skills that are in high demand in the health care industry that will help you stand out from other candidates for leadership positions.

This article was originally published in March 2009.

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Resumes and Job Hunt, health care, market trends

1 Comments

Anonymous on October 14, 2009 2:11 AM | Reply

Very nice post. Thanks for providing useful information about various job oriented health care degrees. In recent years healthcare has emerged as one of the most dynamic and growing fields.Look forward to read more article from you in future.

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