Photo by Hush Naidoo Jade Photography on Unsplash
Healthcare has almost always been a large industry with stable employment demand. But since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, all areas of this field are feeling the need for qualified talent more than ever before. Not only are doctors, primary care providers and nurses needed, but various allied health careers are also in high demand as well.
Allied health provides essential support services that help clinics and hospitals run as smoothly as possible. Some of these career areas include:
- Dietetics
- Personal Training
- Emergency Medical Sciences
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Health Administration
- Health Information Management
- Medical Technology
Doctors and nurses are well deserving of any positive attention they receive, but it’s important not to forget that the supporting allied health positions make up the majority of the industry while providing essential services for patient care.
Learning With a Strong Online Model
Demand for these roles can also increase the need for quality educational access so professionals can learn how to perform these jobs properly. Yet another big change for many with the onset of the pandemic was the move to virtual learning from home. Not everyone had as big an adjustment to make. University of Phoenix has offered numerous opportunities for remote learning in a wide range of academic disciplines since 1978.
In the healthcare field, online learning includes innovative outcomes the University’s collaboration with CareerStep, an allied health division of Carrus. The joint goal is to make courses applicable to specific allied health careers as well as for use as credits in other programs available at University of Phoenix and colleges across the country.
Why Choose an Allied Healthcare Profession?
Allied health jobs give employees the opportunity to work with both patients and medical providers, bridging gaps in care and communication. In some roles, allied health professionals help keep patients clean and comfortable. In others, these individuals can perform supporting tasks, administrative and billing work or perform patient tests under order and supervision of other healthcare staff.
While a healthcare career may not be a solution for everyone, the industry can be fast paced, challenging, and a way to make a difference in the lives of others. People who pursue these jobs come from a wide variety of backgrounds, levels of experience and goals before they enter their official education. Many are looking for a change while others are considering a career as a physician or nurse and interested in testing the field to see if it is the right environment for them.
Allied Health Programs and Transfer Credit at University of Phoenix
Starting a new career in a new field can feel overwhelming. Even something that seems fulfilling at first could lose its luster as time goes on. Many professionals are hesitant to pursue an education not just because of the financial and logistical strain but also because they do not want to be cornered in a field with limited flexibility.
With coursework from the CareerStep Program and University of Phoenix, it is easy to see where hard work can serve another purpose if needed. There are various courses that can be applied to a degree program in physical or biological science or in an interdisciplinary or elective capacity. Here are a few examples.
- Medical Coding and Billing: 390 hours provides 10.5 interdisciplinary or elective credits and 1.5 physical/biological science credits
- Medical Assistant: 495 Hours provides 15 interdisciplinary or elective credits and 0.5 credits of physical/biological science credits
- Patient Care Technician: 462 hours provides 10.0 interdisciplinary or elective credits
- Healthcare IT Professional: 323 hours provides 8 interdisciplinary or elective credits
Whether your interests remain in healthcare or expand more generally into other fields, the skills learned in these programs can serve as a springboard for an educational and career path. By being able to put experience and credit from the CareerStep Program into use in a practical role, students can decide when the time is right for them whether to stay in the field or transfer their eligible credits to University of Phoenix to be used towards an advanced education and the next step in their career. University of Phoenix provides flexibility and affordability for working adults to experience an education and offers several scholarship opportunities to those who qualify to help them on their way.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix provides individual courses as well as degree programs from associate through doctoral level in a wide variety of disciplines. Students can choose specific non-credit, self-led professional development courses that can help support their career in a matter of weeks. They can also choose to enroll in a degree program in any number of fields including business, management, accounting, communication, business administration, healthcare, technology, nursing, education, criminal justice and psychology. Visit www.phoenix.edu to learn more.
