Facebook Linkedin

Top Healthcare Jobs in Demand: Fall 2020, Part 3 of 3

In the past two months, we talked about some of the in-demand jobs this Fall. In this final installment, we’re discussing: lab techs, facilities director/managers, radiology technicians. Read on to learn about the benefits and skills needed for each of these positions.

Laboratory Techs

Lab techs are a vital component of any healthcare facility. They work behind the scenes to help doctors detect diseases or illnesses and determine treatment options. As a lab tech, you’ll work under the supervision of physicians, lab managers, or lab technologists to conduct lab tests on specimens.

Laboratory techs perform various tests using microscopes and other advanced lab equipment to assess the chemical analysis of bodily fluids. Using these tools, techs can detect abnormalities or diseases and then record them. They also help set up, maintain, calibrate, clean, and test the lab equipment’s sterility. You can also find yourself preparing solutions of reagents to be combined with samples and collecting blood, tissue, or other samples from patients.

Laboratory technician
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Job Requirements and Skills

Lab techs primarily work in the lab, with and around samples, and occasionally interact with patients. To be a laboratory technician, you must have precise technical skills and high attention to detail. Some other valuable skills to have as a lab tech are data entry, quality assurance, good communication, troubleshooting, and teamwork.

To become a medical lab tech, you’ll typically need a minimum two-year associate degree and pass a national certification exam. You can also opt to obtain a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Laboratory Sciences, which will increase your earning potential. You’ll also need training as a lab technician to learn about particular company methods, report preparation, and waste disposal, among others. Most of this training will be on-the-job, but you can also receive training off-the-job at scientific seminars and conferences. The Medical Lab Technician certification demonstrates your ability and requires an extensive training course and an associate’s degree to earn it. The Medical Laboratory Scientist certification shows you can perform a higher level of responsibility in the lab and requires a bachelor’s degree and prior lab experience.

Salaries

The average salary for medical laboratory techs in Phoenix, AZ, is $41,578. The typical range is between $48,301 and $58,901 as of November 25, 2020. Your salary can range depending on factors such as education, certification, and experience.

Benefits

While getting your bachelor’s may increase your pay range, you can also go the two-year route, making it quicker to get into this profession. You’ll also have options as to where you can work. Most lab techs work in hospitals, but you can also work in a small lab, clinic, long-term care facility, and more. If you work in a small lab, you’ll likely be doing various tasks, but working in a large lab, you can specialize and work in specialized fields as a phlebotomist or histotechnician. Depending on where you work, you might have the option to select a schedule that fits your needs, working days, nights, and even weekends.

Facility Directors/Managers

If you’re looking for a medical career that involves leadership, then a healthcare facility director may be the right fit for you. Facility managers help with the smooth operations and oversight of facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, and skilled living centers. Depending on the kind of facility, the title for this position may vary from healthcare facility director, health services manager, and healthcare administrator, among others.

As a facility director, you’ll act as the spokesperson for your facility’s media relations, being responsible for fielding media questions, organizing press conferences, and sending out press releases. You’ll also be responsible for planning the day-to-day and long-term vision for the facility, making sure that the facility’s vision, patient needs, and budgetary constraints are all in alignment. Many healthcare managers are also expected to work with key stakeholders, collaborate with medical staff leaders, and work with all departments to ensure they are working within budgetary constraints. Additionally, you’ll need to handle any personnel issues that arise in your facility.

Job Requirements and Skills

Healthcare facility directors oversee the financial, technical, and administrative operations within their organization and plan, implement, and monitor all facility programs and departments. They must be able to see everything from a high-level overview, manage departments and personnel, have strong leadership skills, and work well with budgets and numbers. As a healthcare facility manager, you should have knowledge of staffing and scheduling, working knowledge of regulatory guidelines and local laws, and a strong technical knowledge of environmental services and how to utilize resources effectively.

To become a facility manager, you’ll need an accredited degree and a few years of supervisory experience. While a healthcare-related degree is generally preferred, many facilities will also accept a business management or administrative degree. Obtaining a Certified Healthcare Facility Manager certificate can help boost your odds of getting hired. To obtain the certificate, you must have a Bachelor’s degree with three years of experience or an Associate’s degree with five years of experience, then complete the Certified Healthcare Facility Manager exam.

Salaries

The average salary for healthcare directors is $90,908 as of November 25, 2020. Salaries typically range between $83,744 and $100,527. Your years of experience and education level will also play a factor in your salary.

Benefits

Working as a healthcare facility manager is a rewarding experience as you get to make a difference in people’s lives daily. It’s your responsibility to make sure your nurses and doctors are giving quality care, and you can help bring cutting-edge healthcare to your community. You’ll also have many workplaces to choose from, including hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, nursing homes, universities, federal agencies, and private medical practices. As the responsibilities are higher for facility directors, so is the pay. Salaries for healthcare management offer higher wages than most other medical fields.

Healthcare facility director
Photo by Fabio Rodrigues on Unsplash

Radiology Technicians

Radiologic technologists work with a variety of medical imaging equipment, including X-rays, sound waves, and MRIs, to perform diagnostic imaging on patients. Most radiology techs are trained in X-rays and computed tomography (CT) imaging, but you can also choose to focus on a specialized area such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Job Requirements and Skills

As a radiology technician, strong technical skills, as well as good communication and interpersonal skills, are beneficial as you’ll be working with both technology and patients. Some of the daily tasks radiology technicians help out with are completing patient intake processes, histories, educating patients about the imaging procedures, reviewing and updating patients’ charts, monitoring patients, calibrating and sterilizing equipment, and assisting with the interpretation of the radiograph results.

Radiologic techs typically need an associate degree and must be licensed or certified in most states. Most radiology techs spend around two years completing their associate’s degree in radiography or radiologic technology and will have some clinical experience included in their education.

Salaries

In Phoenix, AZ, the average salary for radiology technicians is $59,501 as of November 25, 2020. The range typically falls between $54,201 and $65,701 and can vary depending on your experience, education, and certifications.

Benefits

As a radiology technician, your day-to-day will be anything but boring. If you prefer to have variety in your job, this could be a good fit, as your day will be full of different patients and imaging needs. You’ll also have the opportunity to expand your skills and cross-train in other types of imaging. As a radiology technician, you can work all over as they are needed in hospitals and clinics, making it easy to find work wherever you move. You can also enter the field of radiology fairly quickly in as only as two years.

If you’d like to learn more about becoming a radiology technician, then check out our articles:

Get Started in One of These In-Demand Jobs Today

At Desert Medical Careers, we have years of experience placing candidates in the roles they aspire to. We can help place you in one of these in-demand medical jobs. We’ll help review your resume, offer interview tips, and ensure your goals match what employers are looking for.

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

[wufoo username=”desmedcar” formhash=”z1eq93o70h1yz3r” autoresize=”true” height=”547″ header=”show” ssl=”true”]

Resources: