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Healthcare Job Demand as AZ Elective Surgeries Open Back Up

As Arizona starts to open back up for elective surgeries, select healthcare jobs are coming back into demand. Many of the surgeries that were deemed technically elective can have an impact on patient’s lives if not treated within a reasonable timeframe, which varies greatly depending on the procedure needed and the pain level of the patient. Due to these elective surgeries being shut down, there is now a backlog of patients looking to get their elective surgeries scheduled, and hospitals and doctors’ offices once again need the staff to provide care for these patients. 

Elective procedures will be able to be implemented in hospitals, dental offices, and other health facilities so long as they show that they have implemented measures to keep patients and healthcare workers safe. Some of these include enhanced cleaning procedures of waiting areas, screening for staff and patients, and having a 14-day supply of PPE. As some offices and hospitals may still be dealing with limited resources, doctors will need to factor the urgency of the procedure, pain level, and quality of life when deciding the priority and scheduling for the elective procedure.

Medical assistant preparing blood work sample
Image by Darko Stojanovic from Pixabay

Here are some of the jobs that are coming back in demand, their job overview, and what you’ll need to get hired in that position.

Medical Billers & Coders

Medical billers and coders provide essential roles on the revenue side of the healthcare system to keep the gears going. Every procedure scheduled will need a coder to review the services provided and translate them into current procedural terminology (CPT) codes and needs billers to create the claims based on those codes.

To apply for a medical billing or coding position, having official training from the AAPC or AHIMA is ideal, though not strictly necessary, and can lead to higher pay. After training, you can also choose to get certified, which will increase your potential earnings.

Read more about how to get started in medical billing and coding here.

Medical Front Office Employees

Medical front office employees encompass a range of positions from medical front office assistant to medical front office manager. Many of these titles involve similar tasks and have some overlap, but will vary depending on how many people are on the team. Front office employees help keep the office and day-to-day operations of a practice running smoothly.

Prior medical work experience will help contribute to the roles you can secure as a medical front office employee. Most assistant and associate positions are entry-level and can be ideal first-jobs for those looking to get started working in a front office. If you have a few years of experience in healthcare, then a supervisory or management position could be a good fit.

Check out our article on what it’s like to work as a medical front office employee, here.

Surgery Schedulers

Surgery schedulers play an essential role in getting patients scheduled for surgery and making the administrative process more efficient. They need to obtain authorization from insurance companies, provide patients with pre & post-surgery instructions, and sometimes set up follow-up appointments. They also need to keep in communication with the surgical team and patient to ensure everyone is aware of the plan for the day of the surgery and recovery process.

Surgery schedulers will typically have two-three years of experience in an administrative or clinical surgical specialty, in addition to a strong understanding of medical insurance. There is no required certification, but having a certificate can help get you noticed when applying for positions. The CAP, Certified Administrative Professional credential, from the International Association of Administrative Professionals, is one that can help show you are serious about your career and have knowledge of the areas necessary to stand-out in your role.

Check out our article on how to become a surgery scheduler for more information here.

Pharmacy Techs & Clerks

Pharmacy techs and clerks work alongside pharmacists to get medication to patients. Pharmacy clerks help to perform administrative and organizational tasks, creating and maintaining patient files, but are unable to fill prescriptions. A pharmacy tech works under the pharmacist and can assist in filling and labeling prescriptions, processing insurance claims, and calling doctors for refills. If they work in a hospital, they might also prepare prescriptions such as intravenous medications.

Pharmacy tech stocking prescriptions
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

To apply for pharmacy clerk or technician positions, you’ll need your high school diploma or GED. Many technicians complete postsecondary education in pharmacy technology, which can help in certification. Certification is done through the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) or the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). While you can still become a pharmacy tech without certification, it is becoming rarer and will help in landing a position if you are certified.

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants help out with both their clinical skills and electronic administration skills. Typical job duties can include: recording patient history and information, measuring vital signs, helping physicians with examinations, giving injections, preparing samples for laboratory tests, scheduling, and entering patient information into medical records. They must be able to handle confidential information and discuss it with only the personnel involved in treating the patient. 

As EHRs, electronic health records, become more prevalent, aspiring medical assistants need to stay informed about the latest healthcare trends. Having a combination of clinical and electronic administration skills can help you stand out when applying for a medical assistant position. Certification will become more important moving forward, as the Meaningful Use requirements in the ACA specify that only certified medical assistants will count toward Meaningful Use statistics, which allows doctors offices and hospitals to earn incentives for employed certified medical assistants.

Learn more about how to get your first medical assistant job here.

RNs

RNs, or registered nurses, work in a variety of healthcare settings from hospitals to nursing homes, but their primary responsibilities involve caring for patients. RN’s work with diverse patient populations, though each nurse will typically work in a specialized area assisting physicians in providing treatment to patients. They may administer medication, monitor patient recovery and progress, and educate patients and their families on post-hospital treatment.

To become an RN, you’ll need to obtain the proper education, either an Associate Degree in Nursing or a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. After you’ve obtained your degree, you must pass a licensing exam called the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN), which tests your knowledge, understanding, and competency in nursing.

MRI, X-Ray, and Ultrasound Techs

MRI, X-Ray, and Ultrasound techs work with specialized equipment within their field and are typically employed at hospitals or diagnostic facilities. Depending on where they work, they may also interact directly with patients by educating them on what to expect and helping them be comfortable. Each tech position will have different duties based on the technology they are working with.

X-ray tech reviewing x-ray
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

To become an MRI tech, you’ll need an associate’s degree from an approved AART program (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists), at which point you can take the AART certification exam. X-Ray techs must obtain at least an associate degree through an accredited institution to be certified through The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. While a license is not required in all states, most employers expect X-Ray techs to at least be certified, and getting your certification will allow you to apply for any licensure requirements. Ultrasound techs can complete a one-year certificate program, which is only available if you have had experience working in other healthcare occupations or earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in diagnostic medical sonography from an accredited program. While not strictly mandatory, after graduating, you can take a national credentialing exam to become certified. Additionally, some states may require you to be licensed.

Find a Position in Healthcare with Desert Medical Careers

At Desert Medical Careers, we have years of connections in the healthcare industry, which allows us to help place you in the position you’re looking for. We make it a priority to place individuals in jobs that match their career goals. We help by reviewing resumes and providing interview tips based on our experience placing thousands of people in healthcare positions.

If you’re looking for one of these in-demand healthcare positions, contact Desert Medical Careers at (602) 468-6300 or fill out the form below to get contacted by a DMC expert.

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