When people think of the healthcare sector, an image of a doctor or nurse likely springs to mind. Yet, there are many more occupations that support patient care, efficiency, and department operations.
If you don’t have a desire to enter a clinical field, many other paths provide exceptional salaries, a rewarding working life, and many career opportunities.
Make a positive difference to a community by learning about some of the best non-clinical healthcare careers.
A Healthcare Economist
Healthcare organizations must juggle various financial challenges alongside adhering to many laws and regulations and improving patient standards. For this reason, the sector is reliant on intelligent, skilled healthcare economists to provide insightful financial guidance.
If you’re looking for the right degree for healthcare Economists, you can’t go wrong with a master of science in applied economics program. Plus, you can pick elective courses connected to healthcare economics, such as empirical health economics.
Once qualified, you can help a healthcare organization deliver more cost-effective, efficient services to maximize every dollar while improving patient care. For example, you will likely need to allocate funding for drug research, healthcare training, and the building of public health centers, to name a few.
A Healthcare Administrator
If you want to make a positive difference in the healthcare sector without providing patients with direct care, consider a career as a healthcare administrator. While a healthcare economist focuses on improving a hospital’s finances, you will be responsible for ensuring its smooth running.
For example, you will ensure tasks happen on schedule, manage different departments’ finances, and improve efficiency and productivity across the organization. Due to the level of pressure and responsibility on your shoulders, you will need an advanced degree to kickstart your career.
A Patient Advocate
A traumatic injury or a life-threatening illness can be overwhelming for patients, which is why many will depend on support from others. Patient advocates are essential in the healthcare sector, as they will serve as a liaison between patients, physicians, insurance companies, and healthcare administrators.
For example, you will be responsible for recommending doctors and alternative treatment options to patients, which can help them make more informed medical decisions. Plus, you can ask the questions they would never consider or provide the support they didn’t know was available.
While there are no strict entry requirements for entering a patient advocate career, you’re more likely to enjoy success in the field with a bachelor’s degree in consumer advocacy or health administration.
A Legal Consultant
Most healthcare organizations rely on legal consultants for legal protection. As physicians and organizations are at risk of being sued for medical malpractice, a legal consultant can provide the support required to win a legal case or claim against a hospital, practice, or practitioner.
Legal consultants will often need to review various medical records and identify if a case or claim has any legal merit. They can then recommend the best course of action to protect a healthcare organization’s reputation, trust, and finances.
