While nursing school graduates are still having trouble finding work, healthcare jobs for information technology specialists and data analysts are opening up, according to a report by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
Technology jobs answer growing pressure for healthcare to cut waste, improve outcomes and do more with less. The federal government is requiring hospitals and physicians' offices to have electronic medical records, but "there's a real shortage of people" to make it happen, said Julie Jacko, who teaches healthcare informatics at the University of Minnesota.
When hospitals and physicians offices do hire nurses, they are often looking for more experienced nurses who have earned advanced practice degrees. These nurses will be working in teams with physicians and other providers to more efficiently provide care to a greater number of patients.
"The roles of nurse practitioner and physician assistant are growing," said Karen Mulder, director of coordinated care practice at University of Minnesota Physicians. U.S. News & World Report's list of the best healthcare careers for 2011 included physician assistants, radiologic technologists and lab technicians.
Healthcare continues to hire more people than other industries. While new hiring in many other sectors was stagnant in November, healthcare added 19,000 positions and 8,000 of those were in hospitals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Read the Minneapolis Star-Tribune report on healthcare jobs.
Read more coverage of healthcare jobs.
- U.S. News & World Report Lists Best Healthcare Careers for 2011
- Healthcare Adds Jobs in November While Most Industries Change Little
Technology jobs answer growing pressure for healthcare to cut waste, improve outcomes and do more with less. The federal government is requiring hospitals and physicians' offices to have electronic medical records, but "there's a real shortage of people" to make it happen, said Julie Jacko, who teaches healthcare informatics at the University of Minnesota.
When hospitals and physicians offices do hire nurses, they are often looking for more experienced nurses who have earned advanced practice degrees. These nurses will be working in teams with physicians and other providers to more efficiently provide care to a greater number of patients.
"The roles of nurse practitioner and physician assistant are growing," said Karen Mulder, director of coordinated care practice at University of Minnesota Physicians. U.S. News & World Report's list of the best healthcare careers for 2011 included physician assistants, radiologic technologists and lab technicians.
Healthcare continues to hire more people than other industries. While new hiring in many other sectors was stagnant in November, healthcare added 19,000 positions and 8,000 of those were in hospitals, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Read the Minneapolis Star-Tribune report on healthcare jobs.
Read more coverage of healthcare jobs.
- U.S. News & World Report Lists Best Healthcare Careers for 2011
- Healthcare Adds Jobs in November While Most Industries Change Little