The term ‘health care’ is usually associated with doctors and nurses. While these practitioners are an integral part of the health care industry, they need a support system for their smooth functioning. The health care support workers are a support system that aids doctors and nurses in giving the best possible treatment services to the patients.
Here is a guide about the health care support industry. You will also find some helpful tips to create the perfect resume to pursue a career in this field.
Health care Support Job Titles
- Healthcare Management
- Healthcare Project Manager
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Patient Services Representative
- Phlebotomist
Healthcare Support Cover Letter Examples
- Certified Medical Assistant Sample & Guideline Cover Letter
- Professional HHA Cover Letter
- Professional Helper Cover Letter
- Professional Medical Assistant Cover Letter
- Professional Patient Care Assistant Sample & Guideline Cover Letter
- Professional Personal Support Worker Sample & Guideline Cover Letter
- Professional Respiratory Therapist Cover Letter
Current trends in the health care support industry
The health care industry is the fastest growing industry in the US. It’s no longer restricted to hospitals. The aim is to bring basic preventive health care to homes and community health centers. All these factors would increase the demand for health care support workers.
Right from technical professionals to medical assistants, there are almost 31,000 occupations in this industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there would be a 16% increase in jobs by 2030.
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Salary and employment outlook for health care support jobs
Several factors can influence the average salary of a health care support worker. The job profile, place of work, location and the amount of experience you have will decide your salary. The median annual wage of health care support workers is $29,960 as of May 2020.
Medical or hospital-level aides
Medical or hospital-level aides typically work as hospital attendants and assistants under the supervision of licensed nurses. They are responsible for undertaking several nonmedical tasks like cleaning rooms, serving meals and helping critically ill patients bathe, dress and move around. They may also do certain technical tasks like recording temperature and blood pressure under close supervision. Sometimes, medical aides also work at the administrative level. On-the-job training is available in some companies to understand and recognize medications, treatment methods, medical equipment and medical compliances.
Job Outlook 2020–2030
Medical receptionist
Employment opportunities for receptionists, including medical receptionists, will show a 4% increase from 2020 to 2030. The growth would be excellent in the health care field.
Home health aide
With an increase in the elderly population, the demand for home health aides is likely to see 33% growth from 2020 to 2030.
Health care support and services management
Health care support and services management teams include administrators and executives. These professionals are responsible for managing an entire hospital, a specific department or the medical practice of a group of physicians. From planning, budgeting and managing the facility’s finances to ensuring that the place is run in compliance with the laws and regulations, they are in charge of running a smooth process.
Job Outlook 2020–2030
Nursing home administrators
The demand for all medical and health services managers, including nursing home administrators, is anticipated to grow by 32% by 2030.
Clinical managers
The job opportunities for clinical managers are likely to grow by 32%, just like other medical and health services managers from 2020 to 2030.
6 of the top skills needed for health care support jobs
Although a health care support professional does not need medical knowledge, they need to acquire some technical skills. It is also imperative to have specific soft skills to flourish in this field.Knowing about medical procedures like endoscopy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, appendix surgery and general pediatric surgery and explaining the procedures to patients would comfort them and ensure their satisfaction.Here are six of the top skills that are essential for health care support jobs:Analytical mindse
A hospital or health care facility is likely to face issues every day. A good health care support worker, especially at the administrative level, should have the skills to analyze the problem, come up with solutions and resolve the issue on time. An analytical professional would also find it easy to understand, adapt and abide by current regulations and new policies.Verbal communication
Effective communication skills are essential for all professionals who are an integral part of health care. Health care support workers have to communicate with patients and their families from diverse backgrounds, especially when dealing with difficult situations. Effective communication skills with colleagues and team members are also essential at the managerial level.Adept at using technology
The health care industry is technologically-driven, and a health care support professional has to learn the latest software such as EHR or Electronic Health Records to maintain patient records. Apart from this, you will also have to master billing and coding software for the smooth functioning of your working facility.Flexible schedules
Flexibility is an important skill to have if you are planning to become a health care support worker. You need to be prepared to work night shifts or even start your work early in the morning. Professionals also have to adapt to the different situations in the hospital or health care setup to create the best outcome possible for the patients.Medical procedures knowledge
Certain jobs in the health care support industry require you to have technical knowledge. For instance, as a phlebotomist, you would need to draw blood from the patient’s veins. Similarly, radiologic and MRI technologists need to operate the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanners. In contrast, clinical laboratory technologists and technicians collect samples (tissue, body fluids and other substances) for testing.Detail-oriented
Paperwork is an essential part of all health care support jobs. You would have to log or record patient details, prescribed medicines and allotted procedures accurately. In the medical field, a patient’s life can depend on small factors, which is why you need to pay close attention to the small details.
Educational requirements for health care support jobs
To work in the health care support industry, a high school diploma or GED certificate along with on-the-job training is adequate for an entry-level position. However, most other health care support jobs require the professionals to have a certification, associate degree, bachelor’s degree and sometimes even a master’s degree.
Medical technicians are experts in their field of specialization. Technicians are essential for conducting tests that help in diagnosing a patient’s disease. Individuals looking for a career as a medical technician can go for professional certification courses offered by the American Medical Technologies or the American Association of Medical Assistants. These certifications would add credibility to your technical skills and help you earn a higher salary as well.
If you are interested in building a career in health care management, a professional degree or a certificate course is expected by most hospitals and health care facilities. The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) and American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offer e-learning courses, certification opportunities, seminars and conferences for professionals.
Health care support resume examples by experience level
The first step toward applying for a job is to create your resume. One of the most important things to do before building your resume is to choose a format to highlight your skills, experience and educational qualifications.
Resume formats can be divided into three types, and each comes with its advantages and disadvantages. The best way to decide among the three is to choose the best format for your particular job situation.
Here is a guide that will help you to create a resume as per your job experience level.
Medical Assistant
Health Care Aid
Patient Coordinator
Healthcare Support Resume Examples
3 tips to stand out and get the job you want
Customize your resume and cover letter.
It is common to send the same resume for all the jobs for which you are applying. However, if you want to stand out among other candidates and make an impression, it is important to customize your resume for every job to which you apply. Don’t forget to introduce the keywords that you find in the job description to make your resume more relevant to the employer. Including a unique cover letter that highlights your achievements and expertise would also increase your chances of landing the interview.Grow your knowledge.
The health care industry is ever-evolving and calls for health care support workers to upgrade their skills frequently by enrolling in diploma, degree and certification courses. This will help the professionals to acquire new knowledge, review the existing techniques and software and learn new abilities.Prepare for the interviews.
Before the interview, research the organization to which you are applying. Do not stick only to the official website of the organization. Check out a range of interview and networking sites like LinkedIn to get to know the business in detail and demonstrate your level of interest in joining the company. Most interviewers ask standard questions. Make a list of such questions and prepare your responses to answer confidently during the interview. Interviewers expect you to ask a few questions about the company culture and the position to see if it’s the perfect fit for you.
4 Easy Steps to Build an Interview-Winning Healthcare Support Resume
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FAQ
What font should I choose for my resume and cover letter?
Always choose a professional or standard font like Times New Roman and Arial to avoid affecting your credibility. Also, make sure the resume is no longer than one page.
What are some health care support careers?
The health care support industry offers a wide range of career choices. Some health care support jobs include home health aides, nursing assistants, physical therapist assistants and pharmacy aides.
What is the highest health care support degree?
The highest degree in the health care support industry is a master's degree. Professionals like orthotists and prosthetists, speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists are expected to have a master’s degree in their field. A bachelor’s degree and associate degree are the common qualifications required for health care support jobs.