America’s rural areas are considered critical health care hot spots these days due to a lack of physicians, other primary care providers including physician assistants, and health care workers in general who can staff the numerous community clinics that serve rural populations.

The state of Maine has one of the largest percentages of rural areas in the country. I know this also from personal experience, having family there.

Sometimes it feels like going back in a temporarily pleasant time machine, where if a little wooden bridge goes out, a town becomes instantly divided, and where there are still waitresses in local diners who have memorized even the smallest branches of the family tree of every town resident.

I understand and embrace rural living, but unfortunately there do not seem to be enough health care workers who share this sentiment. In Maine, there is a high demand for pharmacy technicians.

Quick Job Summary:
-Training or informal on-the-job training is acceptable, however more and more employers (especially the higher dollar ones) prefer those with formal training and national certification
-32% employment growth predicted between 2006 and 2016
-Pharmacy Techs. are expected to have more responsibilities than ever, in coming years as hospitals tighten their belts and start redistributing the work of pharmacists and pharmacy aides, to pharmacy techs with more opportunities ahead.
-There are many different employment opportunities for pharmacy technicians, but the highest salaries are in hospital jobs

In response to the local demand for rural pharmacy technicians, Maine recently opened two new pharmacy schools at The University of New England in Portland and Husson University in Bangor. A representative from Husson, has stated that Maine has the third highest demand for pharmacy techs in the country.

The need for health care workers in all areas – from pharmacy technicians, lab technicians, medical imaging technicians and phlebotomists to medical transcriptionists, hospital administrators and dental assistants – does not stop in Maine. Health care workers are in high demand in all areas, especially rural, all around the country.

Overall, health care is expected to generate more than 3 million jobs through the year 2020, in addition to those opening up due to retirements, job changes, and a relatively high turnover rate for entry-level health care jobs. California is expected to take a large percentage of these openings, particularly at the nursing home and hospital levels.

Health Care Careers in California

Although options for careers in California health care are diverse, the largest growing fields include:

•    Licensed Practical Nurses (67,800 CA-based jobs by 2016)
•    Registered Nurses (298,000 CA-based jobs by 2016)
•    Nursing Assistants (122,200 CA-based jobs by 2016)
•    Home Health Aides (66,700 CA-based jobs by 2016)

Considerations for successfully finding work in the California health care market include being able to speak two languages (Spanish as well as other languages), having a two-year Associate degree or higher, and being willing to work in public hospitals and nursing facilities.

Wages for California-based health careers are also expected to rise, and continue to be offered at rates higher than the national average. Due in large part to differences in local cost-of-living estimates, many wages here are also supplemented by hiring bonuses or promised raises once the employee completes three, six, nine, or even twelve months of service.

Some health care organizations might even offer tuition reimbursement programs if you’d like to increase your health care education while on the job.

Because California is a heavily-regulated state as far as medical professions go, most careers do require both national and local certification. If you are considering moving to California with an existing certification from another state, you may want to contact potential employers to see if they offer assistance in making the transition.

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In fact, over half of all doctor visits made last year were for Baby Boomers in need of age-related tests and medications. And in order to supply this care, there is an increased need for trained health care professionals to do it.

That’s why one of the best moves you can make if you’re considering health care training is to consider careers that specialize in working with older populations. There are many different types of health care jobs available within this demographic, especially if you have the education to back up your drive.

If you’re interested in learning more about health care careers that require a Bachelor’s Degree or less, these ones are especially suited for working with the elderly:

Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians: Heart disease is especially prevalent among aging populations, and cardiovascular technologists assist physicians in diagnosing and treating ailments related to the heart.

Diagnostic Medical Sonographers: These professionals must be trained to use high-tech equipment (like x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, sonography, and ultrasonography) to help diagnose ailments.

Home Health Aides: More and more elderly individuals are opting for in-home long-term and hospice care. These “nursing assistant” positions are one of the most widely available throughout the country.

Licensed Practical Nurses/Registered Nurses: Nursing is one of the strongest fields for starting a health care career. You can specialize in geriatrics, cardiology, or orthopedics to get a greater stronghold for serving the aging population.

Laboratory Technicians and Phlebotomists: Drawing blood and preparing samples for diagnostic tests are part of treating patients of all ages, and training tends to be very fast for those who want to get started working right away.

Medical Assistants: These professionals serve primarily in a physican’s office, helping doctors to see and treat patients. As over half of all doctor visits annually are done by individuals aged 65 and up, this is a very strong field.

Nursing Assistants: Providing much of the routine daily care for patients, nursing assistants are always in demand. Those willing to work in long-term care facilities, in nursing homes, or for home health care organizations can find job opportunities almost anywhere.

Pharmacy Technicians: Being a pharmacy tech allows you to work in grocery store and retail outlet pharmacies, as well as hospitals and nursing homes. Prescriptions are an especially important part of aging health care, so jobs in this field will continue to rise.

Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, and there are plenty of opportunities at the Master’s Degree level for those interested in fields like physical therapy, occupational therapy, and physician assisting.

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However, because the health care industry is such a specialized field, it’s important to remember that there are certain key areas of focus that might give you an advantage over other recent health care graduates seeking employment.

Education

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve recently received your diploma from a medical transcription vocational school or your Bachelor of Nursing from an accredited university – your potential new employer wants to know where you went to health care school and what you learned there.

Health care education is an integral part of working in the field, and most professionals with a degree or recognized certification are more likely to land the job than someone who hasn’t been formally trained. Highlight what you learned and how it applies to your ability to do the job. Be sure to include all relevant certifications, licenses, and accreditations, as well as any continuing education credits you’ve picked up along the way.

Experience

Some health care professionals place experience above education; others do the exact reverse. The truth is, it’s the fine balance of both these qualities that make excellent nurses, medical assistants, occupational therapists, and others who work in the medical field.

The most important step here is to be sure and include strong descriptions of the skills you’ve learned along the way. Although many employers will have a general idea of your tasks as an X-ray technician, emphasizing the range of your skills and how they contributed to the success of your previous employer can go a long way in giving you an edge.

Employment Goals

Working in the medical field is often a benefit all unto itself. After all, most students go to health care school because they want to help others.

However, it’s also a good idea to set out your goals on paper where your employer can see them – especially when they relate to the job you’re applying for. Do you want to expand your knowledge of physical therapy to include massage? Are you hoping to use your new nursing position as a way to complete an RN-to-Bachelor degree?

These types of long-term goals demonstrate that you are serious about your health care career, and that you will continue to contribute to the company for the long term. At the end of the day, that’s really what health care organizations are after – someone who is willing to grow and learn with them to provide the best care every day.

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Whether they aspire to work as a medical secretary, phlebotomist, home health aide, medical imaging technician, dental assistant, or in medical billing, the 10% national unemployment rate is motivating people to jump out of their career comfort zones and try something new.

Health care is one of the most solid sectors to take that leap into, but only if you have the necessary skills. Fortunately there are accredited health care training programs online, in vocational schools, at community colleges and at universities that are offering all the skills a person new to health care needs to succeed in the field.

Recent stimulus package funding is also making the transition to a career in health care even easier by offering financial assistance to those going back to school to learn the necessary skills to get a health care job. This is good news to employers across the country in health care and other industries who are becoming more and more frustrated with the growing field of recently unemployed job applicants who simply do not have the right skills for the job.

There is no excuse for those aspiring to a career in health care to use training requirements as an excuse to give up that dream. Most health care training programs require only a high school diploma for entry and many health care jobs require only that to get your foot in the door.

Despite the high demand for health care workers, the overall job market now is being listed as a “buyer’s market” where employers have the leverage to sift through job applications and select the person who they feel is the perfect fit for the job. It is every job applicant’s responsibility to do everything in their power to stand out from the rest as this person.

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Don’t worry – the government is not asking everyone to go to law school or medical school. The academic goal set by the president is a doable one: at least one year of post secondary education, since that is what more than half of the new jobs created by the act require of applicants.

What better way to answer the president’s call to action than by going to school for a health career? Health care careers are the perfect recession proof jobs and most meet the post secondary training requirement.

There are vocational schools, technical programs, community colleges and even online education, all offering training for health care careers in high demand areas such as medical imaging, medical transcription and coding, dental assisting, home health and more.

Some health care jobs that require short-term training but pay well above minimum wage include: dental assistant, medical office assistant, lab technician or assistant, medical transcriptionist, patient care technician, and medical secretary.

If you are unsure of which health care career is best for you, do your homework first. Research online or contact a local workforce development organization to find out what which health care jobs have the greatest demand where you live. Every area of the country has specific patient demographic and community needs and therefore health care demands may vary.

Do you live in an area with a predominantly older population that may require more home health aides?  Or perhaps there is a greater population of families with young children and therefore numerous family dental practices in need of dental assistants. Rest assured that all health care jobs are in desperate need of skilled, qualified applicants right now, so be sure and pick the job and training that is the best fit for you.

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Fortunately, there are slightly more even odds in the health care industry for people seeking health care jobs, whether as a medical imaging technician, home health aide, phlebotomist, physician assistant, medical secretary or in a variety of other health care jobs.

The state of Arkansas is using actual state lottery profits to help fund their education system via the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery Act. The Act, number 606, became active on March 29 and will take effect during the 2010-11 school year. The lottery profits will help fund scholarships and grants for Arkansas citizens who attend public schools, colleges and universities within the state.

One of the targeted demographics of recipient is “nontraditional” students returning to complete school, perhaps after a recent lay off or during a career transition. Act 606 awards $1,250 in annual scholarships for students at two-year schools and $2,500 for students attending four-year schools.

In addition to providing new training and career opportunities for nontraditional students, the Lottery Act also opens new doors for new high school graduates, hoping to get their adult life started on a positive note. The Arkansas Department of Education website (http://arkansased.org/ ) lists the eligibility requirements for the “lottery money.”

This is an excellent opportunity for Arkansas residents who have been considering a health care career, but lack the finances to fund their health care training. As the stimulus package money continues to be allocated, from state to state, there may be more similar opportunities like the Lottery Act coming in the future.

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In this challenging job market, health care jobs are a stable port in an otherwise turbulent storm. Training for careers in health care is also providing hope for young people who have taken the wrong paths in life and seek to be rehabilitated. The girls at Oregon’s Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility are being given the opportunity at a new life through a new career as a medical transcriptionist.

The facility, which is home to female juvenile offenders, is now teaching medical transcription courses along with an array of other technical skills and job training courses. The medical transcription course is offered at the facility as a response to a facility wide survey ranking the medical profession as the top area of interest among residents and staff.

The course teaches computer basics, medical terminology and other technical requirements for a health care career as a medical transcriptionist. The girls who complete the medical transcription course will emerge with a clean record and all the skills and knowledge needed for a career in health care.

Whether you have taken a detour in life through bad choices or whether circumstances beyond your control such as sudden unemployment have left you at a crossroads, there is no better time than the present to get trained for a career in health care. Job opportunities in all areas of health care are increasing by the day, especially as the patient demand grows and the present workforce starts to retire.

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In some countries there are simply not enough dentists to serve patient populations or patients can simply not afford dental care.

This has prompted many professionals in the dental field to come together on dental teams, including dentists and dental assistants, and travel to foreign countries such as underserved areas of Mexico.

For instance, a group of two dentists and three dental assistants traveled from Idaho Falls to Punta de Mita, Mexico and set up a local community center as a temporary dental clinic.

The team provided free dental care to numerous children who otherwise might never have seen a dentist.  During a ten day period, the Idaho Falls team filled cavities, capped teeth, provided dental hygiene education and gave each resident of the small Mexican village a toothbrush.

Back in the states, in some communities, various church groups have come together to sponsor mobile dental care, typically via specially designed and equipped vans. The mobile dental clinics include members of the dental profession such as dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.

The services most in demand by communities visited by these traveling dental care teams are primarily urgent such as tooth extractions and fillings. They also provide an opportunity for dental care professionals to reach out and educate the community about the importance of maintaining a healthy smile.

Whether your interest lies in working in a conventional dental office or taking your skills and training on the road to help those who might never otherwise see a dentist, a career as a dental assistant is rewarding in many different ways. Visit our “Careers” page for more information on the training requirements and job opportunities for dental assistants.

28.7% of those surveyed by the National Research Corporation Ticker earlier this year, revealed that at least one member of their household had “deferred” medical care within the past month. 33% percent of that group said they did this because they were simply unable to pay for medical care. 15.1% said it was because the necessary medical or dental treatment was not covered by their existing health insurance plan. Fortunately, free clinics are beginning to pop up here in the states and around the world, to provide much needed medical and dental care to those in need who cannot pay for it.

In addition to providing medical care for those who need it the most, free clinics and similar charity run projects, are an excellent training ground for many different types of health care providers. Dental assistants are needed to care for long ignored tooth and gum problems in the poor, homeless and addicted.

While in most of these situations, the quick solution is an emergency extraction, a clinic staffed by volunteer dental assistants can provide more comprehensive dental care. Physician assistants are valuable in supplementing the primary medical role that physicians typically play in free clinics.  Medical assistants and phlebotomists are also valuable additions to free clinics.

This is all evidence of how a career in health care pays dividends far beyond a paycheck (although as recession proof jobs, health care paychecks are pretty accessible these days). Health care truly works when you can provide it to those who need it the most.