More and more people are weighing the pros and cons of looking for jobs where they can work from home, and employers are increasingly open to this option. With the telehealth industry on the rise, health care organizations, especially those serving rural areas, are opening up more opportunities to work remotely. Here are some options to explore:
Medical Coding
Health insurance is complicated, and when doctors’ offices and hospitals submit claims to insurance companies, they need to be sure the patient’s procedures are coded to the correct Diagnosis Related Group. In addition, submitting claims to Medicare and Medicaid requires coders to be up-to-date on the most recent federal regulations. Many coders are also taking DRG auditor training courses to be able to run the software hospitals are beginning to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Most of this work can be done remotely.
Registered Nurse
Nurse practitioner remains one of the fasting growing jobs in the United States as the Baby Boomer generation ages. In addition, the closing of health care facilities in rural areas has created a demand for more telehealth options to be covered by insurance. All of this means that more nurses are going virtual to screen patients and check on them as part of an aftercare program.
Physicians
Like nurses, doctors are increasingly screening patients and conducting follow up visits remotely. Explaining test results and providing treatment options over video conferencing can save travel time for rural patients and reduce the risk of exposure to viruses for people with compromised immune systems.
Speech-Pathologists
This is another profession that is increasingly in demand as Boomers age. Technological advances mean that treatment no longer needs to be in person, and this work could be done from the comforts of one’s own home!
Data Crunchers
Data analysis, statisticians, and risk managers on the rise in every industry, and health care is not exempt from this trend. To cut overhead costs, hospitals are finding it increasingly profitable to let administrative staff work remotely when possible.
Medical Schedulers and Patient Communication Specialists
Hospital systems with advanced telehealth capabilities need schedulers and other associates for their teams. These positions typically require less training than the other remote health care jobs mentioned, so they are available to a broader number of people.
Every profession is beginning to reexamine the pros and cons of allowing employees to work from home. But the increasing demands for telehealth professionals to serve rural and vulnerable populations means more opportunities in the health care field.
