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Why are these jobs emerging?
They fit the category of:
-- New occupations created by innovations, shifting markets, or
regulations
-- Existing occupations that require substantial modification,
signifying new skills requirements
-- Existing occupations with new opportunities created by changes in
legislation, social concerns, demographics, industry, or the
marketplace
"Health care is a leading employment sector in the economy. Employment rose
steadily from 9.1 million in June 1990 to 10.2 million in June 1993, an
average annual increase of 3.8 percent despite the 1990-91 recession and the
weak economic recovery. Health care employment surpasses that of
transportation and public utilities (5.7 million); wholesale trade
(6.1 million); and finance, insurance, and real estate (6.6 million)."
U.S. Industrial Outlook 1994
HOSPICE ADMINISTRATORS
Facts......Facts......Facts
Hospice care was first introduced in the United States in 1974. Hospice
staff members provide palliative and supportive services that enhance the
quality of life of terminally ill patients and their families.
The National Center for Health Statistics reported that on any day during a
home health-care survey they conducted in 1992, an estimated 1,000 hospices
in the United States provided care to approximately 47,200 patients. These
findings are among the first national estimates for hospice patients.
What They Do
Hospice Administrators manage the budget, patients, employees, volunteers,
and hospice records. Some administrators network with businesses,
associations, government agencies, and other groups to acquire financial,
legal, and community support for their programs.
Administrators are responsible for ensuring that their hospice program is in
compliance with government rules and regulations. For example, Title XVIII
(Medicare) of the Social Security Act was enacted, limiting home health
services to post-acute care and focusing on recuperative care rather than
long-term maintenance care. Administrators must be knowledgeable of all
federal, state, and local laws governing hospice programs so that they
operate the hospice legally. They are also responsible for assuring that
appropriate documents are sent to Medicare and insurance companies if the
hospice is Medicare certified.
Hospice Administrators must be knowledgeable of licensing and certification
processes for hospice programs. Hospices are generally licensed as Home
Health Agencies, but they may also be licensed as Congregate Living Health
Facilities or Skilled Nursing Facilities. However, if Senate Bill 1603 is
passed, it will create a separate hospice licensing requirement.
Hospice Administrators oversee training for employees and volunteers. They
establish training policies for ensuring the proper care of their terminally
ill patients. To do that, administrators must be able to communicate
effectively with terminally ill patients, their families and the hospice
staff as well as maintain standards of practice for staff members.
Skills
- Ability to create and maintain hospice's budget
- Organize and coordinate hospice team members
- Interact with many kinds of people
- Gather, interpret, use, and report data
- Devise and evaluate procedures
- Set goals to be accomplished
- Have strong interpersonal skills
Training/Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Health Care Administration, Nursing, or related
field
- May be required to hold a Master's Degree
- Usually requires 2 years of experience in health care field
- May require 1 year of experience as an Administrator
- Financial Managers should hold a Master's Degree in Business
Administration
- Social Services Directors should hold a Master's Degree in Social Work
- Nursing Directors should hold a Master's Degree in Nursing and a
California license
- Medical Directors must be physicians certified in internal medicine or
family practice
Hourly Wage
Wage data are not available for Hospice Administrators.
Additional Sources of Information
National Hospice Organization (NHO)
1901 N. Moore St., Suite 901
Arlington, VA 22209
Occupational Codes
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., Rev. 1)
Not available for this occupation.
OES (Occupational Employment Survey (System)
Not available for this occupation.
MEDICAL INSURANCE SPECIALISTS
Facts......Facts......Facts
Currently, health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider
organizations (PPOs) service more than 25 percent of the U.S. population, up
from 3 percent in the 1970's. Managing health insurance has become a big
business because of rising health care costs. These costs are a result of
medical improvements that expand the number of treatable injuries and
diseases. People are also living longer lives which adds to the number who
need treatment. Medical Insurance Managers can either work for a private
insurance company or in a hospital.
What They Do
Medical Insurance Billing Specialists work in the hospitals, doctors' and
insurance companies' offices. They analyze patient records to determine
legitimacy of admission, treatment and length of stay in the health-care
facility, and verify that the patient's costs are covered by either a
government agency or a medical insurance company. Medical Insurance Billing
Specialists create fee schedules for patients who cannot afford to pay the
bill right away and keep track of those schedules until the amount due
is paid.
Private Health-Care Cost Managers are consultants who contract with private
companies and help them reduce their health-care costs. The Managers
contact hospitals and doctors to provide treatment at discounts and design
ways for employees to pay for more of their own medical costs. Health-Care
Cost Managers recommended cost reducing ideas like company owned pharmacies
that provide prescriptions at a lower cost and corporate wellness programs.
Skills
- Understand and use advanced math and statistics
- Interact with many kinds of people
- Gather, interpret, use, and report data
- Devise and evaluate procedures
- Set goals to be accomplished
Training/Requirements
- Master's Degree in Business or Public Health
- Be familiar with hospital rules and insurance company policies
- Hospital or HMO administration experience
Outlook
Managed health care, a system of prepaid plans providing comprehensive
coverage to voluntarily enrolled members, continues as the growth leader
in the health care industry. As a result, the occupations above are
expected to grow.
Hourly Wage
Wage data are not available for Medical Insurance Specialists, however 1993
hourly wages from selected areas for Medicine and Health Service Managers
(a closely-related occupation) were as follows:
No experience $11.00-17.00 per hour
Experienced $13.00-24.00 per hour
Over 3 years experience $16.00-35.00 per hour
Related Occupations
Administrators
Hospital Health Service Administrators
Medical Insurance Consultants
Medical Records Technicians
Utilization Review Nurses
Additional Sources of Information
Disability Insurance Training Council
1000 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1111
Washington, DC 20036
Health Insurance Association of America
1025 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
Occupational Codes
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., Rev. 1)
Not available for this occupation.
OES (Occupational Employment Survey) System
Not available for this occupation.
TRANSPLANT COORDINATORS
Facts......Facts......Facts
Solid Organ Transplants (pancreas, liver, kidney, heart and lung) in
California rose from 1,760 in 1989 to 2,177 in 1992, according to the
United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) in West Virginia.
What They Do
Clinical Transplant Coordinators coordinate transplant surgeries, evaluate
patients in need of an organ and decide if they meet the qualifying
conditions for surgery. While the patients are waiting for a donor, the
Transplant Coordinators educate them about the transplant surgery and
general information they need to know as a recipient of an organ. When a
donor is found, they notify the recipient patient and coordinate the
hospital team which consists of a surgeon, a nurse, and a coordinator. The
team flies to the donor and removes the organ. The Coordinators test the
blood type and organ size to see if the organ will match the patient's
needs. The Procurement Agency team (a private company that locates the
available organs and notifies the hospitals that are waiting for a donor)
does a series of tests on the organ to make sure it is not diseased and is
working properly. The organ is then flown back to the hospital where the
patient is waiting and the transplant surgery is performed. After surgery
the Transplant Coordinators track the progress of the patients, educate them
about the needed medication and any special follow-up procedures.
Skills
- Interact with different kinds of patients, their families, and other
health professionals
- Understand human behavior
- Gain trust of others
- Base decisions on measurable, verifiable information
- Work as a team member
Training/Requirements
- Registered Nurse or Physician Assistant
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing or related
field
- Previous experience in intensive care or critical condition units
Outlook
This occupation is one of a group of health care professions and
paraprofessionals estimated to grow over 41 percent from 1990 through the
year 2005.
This occupation is estimated to grow faster than average occupational growth
through the year 2005.
Hourly Wage
Wage data are not available for Transplant Coordinators.
Related Occupations
Organ Procurement Agency Transplant Coordinators
Physician Assistants
Registered Nurses
Additional Sources of Information
American Society of Transplant Surgeons
716 Lee Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Center for Organ Recovery and Education
5743 Center Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
United Network for Organ Sharing
100 Boulders Parkway, Suite 500
PO Box 13770
Richmond, VA 23225
Occupational Codes
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., Rev. 1): 079.151-010
OES (Occupational Employment Survey) System: 329990
TUMOR REGISTRARS
Facts......Facts......Facts
Because of the advanced Research being done in cancer treatment, it is
important to keep a record of cancer patients and their progress. This can
be a difficult task because of the large number of cancer patients in
California. According to the American Cancer Society, the projected number
of people with cancer in California will be 138,335 in 1995.
What They Do
As part of the medical records technicians and administrators team, Tumor
Registrars compile, maintain, and review patient data to use in cancer
management. To carry out the job, the Registrars identify all reportable
cancer cases at the hospital by reviewing all pathology reports, autopsy
reports, and medical records. The information is stored in the computer.
The Registrars make follow-up inquiries to the patients as well as to their
families and current doctors. Statistical graphics and written reports are
produced from the gathered information and reviewed by other medical records
staff and cancer treatment Research teams.
Skills
- Interact with different kinds of patients, their families, and other
health professionals
- Understand human behavior
- Gain trust of others
- Work as a team member
- Pay careful attention to detail
Training/Requirements
- High School graduate
- Associate degree usually required
- Prior experience in a hospital records department (usually a Medical
Records Technician is trained on the job to fill a Tumor Registry
position)
- Knowledge of cancer disease process and cancer therapy is preferred
- Professionally capable of handling public contact and confidential
information
Outlook
This occupation is one of a group of medical records technicians estimated
to grow over 42 percent from 1990 through the year 2005.
This occupation is estimated to grow faster than average occupational growth
through the year 2005.
Hourly Wage
Wage data is not available for Tumor Registrars.
Related Occupations
Health Information Managers
Medical Records Administrators
Medical Records Technicians
Medical Secretaries
Additional Sources of Information
American Brain Tumor Association
3725 N. Talman Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
National Tumor Registrars Association
505 E. Hawley Street
Mundelein, IL 60060
Occupational Codes
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., Rev. 1): 079.362-018
OES (Occupational Employment Survey) System: 329110
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
Note: This is NOT a job opening. The purpose of this occupational guide
is to provide you with useful information to help you make career decisions.
If you are searching for a job, go to: