| One of the fastest growing sectors of the | | | | at a whopping 66.8%!One may think the vast |
| medical industry is that of home health. There are | | | | majority of home health related jobs are lower |
| many reasons for this growth, but most | | | | paying aide jobs. Fortunately, this is not the case. |
| important are:The number of aging and infirm | | | | As previously mentioned, private home health |
| citizens in the country.The lower cost of care in | | | | companies will need to increase their |
| relation to hospitals and long term care | | | | administrative and support positions like medical |
| facilities.The fact health providers consider home | | | | coders, accounting and billing, medical secretaries, |
| care to be the most humane and compassionate | | | | nurse managers, shift schedulers, information |
| form of care.Because of the rapid growth in this | | | | technology and marketing. Working for a home |
| category of healthcare, a variety of employment | | | | health company doesn't necessarily dictate |
| opportunities have become available. Many | | | | providing direct patient care.Even among the |
| hospitals are turning to home health as a method | | | | patient care positions, there is a lot of variety. |
| to recapture revenue that would be otherwise | | | | Though patient care is primarily provided by lower |
| lost. Despite the efforts of hospitals to enter the | | | | paid home health aides; as demand increases, |
| home care market, private companies dominate | | | | wages are expected to rise. There are also a lot |
| home health. Since these are primarily businesses | | | | of opportunities for CNAs, LPNs and registered |
| that have not been in existence for long, they | | | | nurses (RNs). Some patients only require short |
| need to hire not only for in home providers, but | | | | term care - a few hours a day, or for a fixed |
| also for support and administrative positions.The | | | | period of time. Others require long term care - 24 |
| future demand for home care will be staggering. | | | | 7 for the rest of their lives.The bottom line is, |
| In 1997, over 22.4 million households provided | | | | there are a lot of employment opportunities in the |
| home care to a loved one over 50. Over time, | | | | field of home healthcare. The best paying jobs will |
| this drain on physical and emotional resources will | | | | be those that require some post secondary |
| result in a desire for outside help in the home. | | | | training. There is also a lot of variety of work |
| Additionally, Medicare funding of short term home | | | | needed, not all employment will provide patient |
| health care is projected to more than double by | | | | care. If you want a solid future, in one of the |
| 2010. Meanwhile, workers employed in the home | | | | most stable industries in the country, studying to |
| health field actually dropped by 29,000 in 2000. | | | | be part of the home healthcare market is a wise |
| The projected employment outlook for just | | | | choice. |
| home health aides leads all medical job categories | | | | |