The next step: Healthcare professionals often parlay one career into another
Career consultant Arnie Vallor specializes in medical administrative positions. He says he’s encouraged by the number of clients he’s gained who’ve spent several years in specific healthcare roles but now are looking to do something new. “It’s a great time for healthcare jobs and the number of nurses and technicians who know they can increase their salary and work in a field that interests them is growing every day,” Vallor says.
Vallor’s own background is indicative of his assessment of the current healthcare career market. “I was a public relations major at Illinois State University but then went for my MBA at the University of Wisconsin,” he says. “My first job was with a small drug firm in Minnesota, which eventually brought me to Advocate, then Aetna and eventually to what I do today.”
Vallor says there are a variety of careers in healthcare today for professionals looking for new opportunities in similar but different roles. He suggests a few jobs to demonstrate the diversity of the field.
Healthcare risk manager: Considering the amount of risk taken by medical personnel today—“and not risk as in reckless care but risk as in the alwayspresent possibility of an unforeseen accident or reaction,” Vallor says— healthcare managers have become an essential part of the process for medical facilities and physician groups. “The health risk manager oversees the process and looks for those steps that could prompt a malpractice lawsuit,” he says. “They are responsible for assessment and training— anything you can do to minimize risk to the hospital.”
Quality improvement coordinator: “This is the person who essentially manages the workflow of the healthcare team,” says Vallor. “The QI coordinator is the big-picture person, the one who looks at the process and finds ways to improve care and reduce costs. You look at a lot of data and have to put that data into practice.” Vallor adds that most QI coordinators have a background in medicine, usually a degree in nursing, which helps them understand the day-to-day impact of some of the decisions they may have to make.
Certified diabetes educator: As Americans continue to struggle with obesity issues, diabetes has become a major health concern for an increasing number of people. Vallor says this trend is creating a demand for certified diabetes educators who help patients create a dietary and exercise plan that will help them deal with diabetes. Most CDEs are nutritionists or registered nurses who have decided to become more specialized. “If you have diabetes, your CDE is the person who is consulting you on your meal plan, your daily habits and other factors that will help you control your blood sugar levels,” says Vallor, adding that the number of CDEs will continue to increase as insurance companies continue to be more proactive to help ward off the long-term medical costs that are usually associated with their diabetic members.
Clinical educators: Similar to certified diabetes educators but broader in scope, clinical educators help patients follow healthy diets and habits that should enable them to deal with or recover from illness or injury. “You’re the information source for patients,” Vallor says. “You create a plan and then help teach them why it’s important to follow it.”
Most clinical educators have a bachelor’s degree in health education and often earn a master’s degree in a similar field. “Again, this is a position the insurance companies place a high value on because they’ll be the ones who help keep patient costs down in the long run,” Vallor says.