Medical care is one of the world’s largest industries, employing people with a wide range of skills, interests, and levels of education and experience. There are hundreds of different medical careers in both clinical and administrative settings when the number of specialties is considered. Physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, medical billing and coding specialists, and medical assistants are just a few of the rewarding medical careers available. Professionals can work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private offices, clinics, and home health care.
Physicians and surgeons are doctors who are licensed to diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases and disorders. Doctors are trusted patients to provide the best treatment for their symptoms. Physicians usually specialize in one or more treatment areas, such as primary care, pediatrics, cardiovascular disease, cancer, or cognitive function. Surgeons perform procedures to repair damaged organs or body parts, transplant new organs, and remove cancerous tumors. Surgeons are often more specialized than physicians.
Nurses and nursing aides are responsible for a variety of tasks that ensure the treatment, recovery, and comfort of patients. They may help doctors with various medical tests and procedures, or they may provide immediate, direct care for wounds and other ailments. Many nurses choose to specialize in a specific patient population, such as the elderly, women, or cancer patients. Nurses and aides can work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, mental health clinics, private doctors’ offices, and nursing homes. Because patients and doctors rely on knowledgeable nurses to provide expert services, medical nursing careers are among the fastest growing and most stable of all professions.
Some medical careers do not require direct patient care or contact. Clinical laboratory technicians and technologists are scientists who conduct tests on human tissue, fluids, and blood in order to determine the presence and identity of various diseases. Professionals collect and analyze samples, meticulously record results, and communicate information to doctors in order to prescribe effective treatments.
Administrative personnel with specialized training ensure that a hospital or private office runs smoothly at all times. Medical billing and coding specialists are in charge of gathering information from doctors about patients’ diagnoses and treatments, coding data into computer files, and organizing billing materials for submission to insurance companies. Patients and visitors may be directed medical assistants, who may also verify paperwork and answer phones. Accounts receivable and payable specialists, payroll clerks, and human resources directors are just a few of the medical jobs that require administrative work.