Telecommuting to a health care job seems like a contradiction of ideas. Health care by definition implies caring for the health of patients. And unless those patients are coming to your home, it would be pretty hard to work from home and care for them.

There are some health care jobs, however, where telecommuting may be an option, especially now with health care employees in great demand. Employers may be more willing to be flexible. Some examples of health care jobs where telecommuting may be a possibility include: administrative and data entry positions such as medical transcription, medical billing and coding and health care administration among others.

You will need to check with your employer to find out if telecommuting to a health care job can indeed become a reality. Let’s say that you have that conversation with your employer and you land a health care job where you can telecommute. Now, let’s consider the pros and cons of such a work style.

Pros:

• Set your own schedule: If you’re more of a night owl than a “9-5” type this is truly a perk
• Declare your independence: You are only responsible for completing your set tasks on time. No co-worker politics or over-the-shoulder supervision by the boss to deal with.
• Being green: The environmental kind. By removing your car from rush hour traffic you reduce your eco footprint while also saving on gas money and automotive wear and tear.

Cons:

• Work Ethic: This is only a con if you don’t have enough of one. Avoiding procrastination, being extremely organized and absolutely independent are non-negotiable traits for the telecommuter.
• Distractions: This applies mainly to the telecommuter working in a bustling household with a demanding spouse, children and pets. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker – as long as you have a plan for dealing with distractions and getting your work done.

In addition to considering these pros and cons, I would also strongly advise you to have a proper workspace that is segregated from the rest of your home as much as possible (being able to close a door is a big plus). If you do manage to land a telecommuting health job and find a way to make it work from your home, the financial (cost savings) rewards and freedom will be well worth it.