Why Medical Coders and Transcriptionists Are Working from Home

The healthcare industry is again in front and center of the American public’s attention, thanks in no small measure to the presidential elections this year. Less in the news are the careers and healthcare training, other than those of doctors and nurses that are increasing in popularity according to statistics from the Department of Labor. These careers such as medical coding and medical transcription have been embraced by those who prefer to work from home or from another place other than home or the office.

Working from home or working from an alternative convenient location (often called telecommuting) is not new—it’s been around for years—but its popularity among employees and employers has surged in recent years because of the convenience, speed, and cost effectiveness that the Internet has introduced into the work paradigm. 

If you haven’t tried this work arrangement yet, here are a few reasons why many people are switching from office desk to living-room easy chair as their primary workstation.

You own your work hours. When you work from home or when you telecommute, you’re your own boss most of the time. That means in most cases you can choose when you start your workday, when you can have a break, and when you will press the shut-down key and say, “That’s all folks!” Working from home means you can craft your schedule (and deadlines) around your duties at home, making for less stress and more time for yourself and your loved ones.

You have more time for your family. Because you’re home when your loved ones are home (and not toiling at your office desk trying to beat a deadline) you get to take care of their needs more fully and effectively. Many a working parent would give an arm and a leg to have more time and a closer relationship with his or her family, but unfortunately can’t because they have to be in the office from 8 to 5—and even beyond.

Fewer expenses. It’s as simple as pie. Working in an office spells extra expenses: for the commute, for the food (overpriced and a health liability, if you’re not careful) you’ll eat for the day. If you work from home, you not only won’t have to spend for the gas or the bus, you’ll likely eat healthier food too!

No more commuting. Working from home or telecommuting means saying goodbye finally to time-wasting, stress-inducing commute in rush-hour traffic. It also means more productive (and healthier) hours at home for both work and your personal projects. Now isn’t that fun?

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Obama Says Healthcare Ruling a Victory for All, 12K Healthcare Jobs in July

The recent Supreme Court’s landmark healthcare ruling drew praise from President Obama, who said that “it’s time for us to move forward to implement and, where necessary, improve.”

Obama took special note of the provisions of the law that he explained will for the first time provide health insurance for nearly all Americans when it is fully implemented in 2014. He allayed fears that millions of Americans have to give up their current insurance plans.

The new healthcare law is expected to bolster the already-soaring demand for healthcare jobs. Among these jobs are for medical office assistant, registered nurse, pharmacist, clinical laboratory technician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, paramedic, and massage therapist.

The president’s statements came shortly after the Supreme Court upheld his proposed healthcare law, which earlier had incited much political debate. The decision is available on the Supreme Court website.

A majority of the justices essentially said that the individual mandate—the controversial requirement that most Americans purchase health insurance or be fined—can be likened to a tax and thus is constitutional.

“Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness,” Chief Justice John Roberts pointed out in his opinion.

Obama took pains to point out that, “it should be pretty clear by now that I didn’t do this because it was good politics—I did it because I believed it was good for the country.”

After the great debate at the Supreme Court nod, the healthcare industry quickly demonstrated its clout on the job market by adding 12,000 jobs to the national economy in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported recently.

For starters, nonfarm payroll employment hit 163,000 in July, even as the unemployment rate essentially held steady at 8.3 percent. Significantly, the total number of unemployed persons, at 12.8 million, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged in July, both showing little movement in fact since the beginning of this year.

Ambulatory care services accounted for the biggest growth area in the healthcare sector, with 8,900 jobs. Nursing and residential care facilities, on the other hand, were the only negatives, shedding 2,200 jobs.

In comparison, June 2012 added 64,000 jobs to the economy, 13,000 of them healthcare jobs. May 2012 was significantly more robust though, with healthcare growing by a whopping 33,000 jobs.

The BLS report also indicated that employment improved in professional and business services, food services, and drinking places and manufacturing.
Meditec.com, a portal of e-learning hub 360training.com, offers medical office assistant training, pharmacy technician training, and other healthcare education.

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Growth of HealthCare Industry

NEWS: Healthcare Posts Excellent Growth Trajectory

A 4.2 million healthcare jobs is projected by Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany by 2020 and according to the Employer Needs Assessment Report, 10k employees are required by medical facilities between now and 2013 in Texas alone.

Of the 155,000 jobs added to the economy in April 2012, 19,000 were created by the booming healthcare industry, reported the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The health of the healthcare sector was confirmed by the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany, State University in New York, which projected that more than 4.2 million healthcare training and jobs would probably be added by 2020.

The figure stands in contrast to the ambivalence of experts over when the next economic boom may occur, considering the inability of the other industries to match the unexpected growth trajectory of the healthcare industry.

"There have been some concerns that the economy may be headed for a repeat of last year’s spring and summer slowdown. While job gains may indeed hit a lull in the coming months, we do not foresee a sudden upsurge in downsizing activity,” pointed out John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, according to an article from medzilla.com, a career website. “Even with the increased job cuts in consumer products, retail and transportation, the monthly totals remain well below levels that would signal a reversal in the recovery.”

In Texas alone, according to an Employer Needs Assessment Report, medical facilities are projecting a requirement for at least 10,000 employees between now and 2013.

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HealthCare Industry for the Next 8 Years

Healthcare Jobs Among the Growth Careers in the Next Eight Years

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the healthcare industry will be one of the four sectors that will experience job growths by 2020. They expect 5.6 million new healthcare jobs by the said year.

This year 2012 has pitched a curved ball as far as employment projections go—surprisingly, it has gone against doctors, but not against most everyone else in the healthcare industry.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released in February its employment projections for the next eight years, reporting that four industries will experience rapid job growths by 2020. One of these industries is the healthcare sector, which the bureau expects to create 5.6 million new healthcare jobs by that year.

The U.S. News & World Report ranked the top careers in healthcare, producing the following rankings: registered nurse, pharmacist, medical assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist, clinical laboratory technician, paramedic, and massage therapist.

Medical assistants, often known as medical office assistants—who usually must acquire medical office assistant training (no college degree required) to be considered for hiring—placed top three on the U.S. News list of best healthcare jobs. These professionals work in a range of medical environments including hospitals, doctor’s clinics, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes. Their principal duties lie in administration, but they also assist with clinical functions.

The BLS forecasts a 30.9-percent increase in jobs by 2020 for medical assistants, with over 162,000 positions added.

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