Healthcare The American Medical Association (AMA, 2011) lists more than eighty careers in the healthcare industry. All Health Care (2011) points out that ten of the twenty fastest growing occupations are in healthcare fields. The fifteen most promising jobs in the healthcare industry include home health aides, medical scientists, physician assistants, athletic trainers, dental assistants, dental hygienists, veterinary techs, physical therapy assistants, medical assistants, veterinarians, physical therapists, occupational therapy assistants, radiation therapists, occupational therapists, and surgical technologists (All Health Care, 2011). However, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, dentistry, counseling, gerontology, and health information systems also remain growing fields in the healthcare sector.

Occupational therapy and related professions address the needs of patients needing assistance with daily living. Occupational therapists help patients with physical, mental, emotional, or developmental disorders, who would otherwise struggle with living independently. Projected growth in the occupational therapy field is over 26%, and the median wages earned by occupational therapists is $66,700. Occupational therapy assistants help occupational therapists. Whereas an occupational therapy assistant only requires an associates' degree, an occupational therapist requires a post-baccalaureate degree (All Health Care, 2011).

Physical therapists are required in a number of different healthcare organizations, and treat a wide range of patients. Physical therapy is a distinct field of study, and licensed physical therapists need post-baccalaureate degrees. The estimated growth in the field of physical therapy is over 30%, and the median wage is quite high at $72,790 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011).

Home health care is one of the fastest growing fields in the healthcare industry. A home health...

Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011). Home health aides provide a minimum of medical care, but do provide for the daily living needs of clients such as cooking, cleaning, and health monitoring. Home health care is related to careers in long-term care and gerontology. The gerontology field focuses on senior patient populations and their attendant occupational as well as medical needs. Careers in gerontology range from those in the research sector to those in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacology.
Medical records and health information technicians also have solid career outlooks. The increased digitalization of healthcare information makes this field increasingly important. Medical records professions reveal the interface between information technology and healthcare. Healthcare information systems require software developers, coders, engineers, and technicians. Health information systems also need to be regularly maintained and monitored, and may also involve interfacing between healthcare institutions and insurance companies. Medical transcription is a related field, as is medical and health services managers. Medical and health services managers help to administrate the business aspects of a healthcare office or institution. As a subset of business administration, health service management may entail a background in management or business. An associate degree is usually sufficient to enter the medical records and health information systems field as a technician, but more specialized jobs such as software engineering will require advanced degrees. Job prospects are good, but salaries are relatively low with a median annual wage of just over $30,000 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011).

Pharmacy is a large and growing field, within which a number of rewarding careers can be found. Pharmacy is a profession requiring specialized and advanced education. Earnings can be correspondingly high. Pharmacists work with the patient population directly but also with physicians as consultants. Some pharmacists might…