5 Online Healthcare Programs to Consider

Healthcare is a $4.1 trillion industry in the U.S. with a much faster than average growth rate predicted through 2030. If you want a career with stability and growth—that also lets you help others—the healthcare industry checks all the boxes. And you can gain the education and training you need for many jobs online. Whether you want to enter healthcare as a brand-new career or advance in your healthcare profession, there are numerous certificate and degree programs you can take at every level. Here are just a few online healthcare programs to consider, depending on where you are now in your career and what your long-term goals might be:

1. Online Healthcare Coding Program

Coders assign alpha-numeric codes to medical diagnoses, procedures, and treatments. These universal codes help patients receive the benefits they’re entitled to and make sure providers get paid for their services. Coders work in a variety of healthcare settings such as physician offices, multispecialty clinics, nursing homes, surgery centers, healthcare systems, and insurance companies, and medical. An online healthcare coding program allows you to focus on one aspect of billing and coding. Your program should teach you how to:

• Assign ICD and CPT codes on patient records
• Collect, analyze, and maintain health records
• Apply healthcare billing and reimbursement processes
• Prepare for the Certified Coding Associate exam
• Create a professional development plan to maintain certification

2. Online Medical Billing and Coding Program

Medical billers and coders determine how much a patient or insurance company owes for medical services based on the procedures provided and bills accordingly. Like coders, they can work across healthcare organizations and with insurance companies. An online Medical Billing and Coding diploma program will teach you how to:

• Complete insurance claims
• Code patient diagnoses and medical, surgical, and diagnostic services
• Handle patient and insurance billing
• Comply with all government and insurance regulations
• Coordinate communication among healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients

3. Online Medical Administrative Assistant Program

All medical offices need trained professionals to ensure patients are well taken care of and the appropriate records are kept. An online Medical Administrative Assistant Associate degree will teach you the skills you need to work in a variety of healthcare settings including hospitals, outpatient care centers, physicians’ offices, rehab facilities, assisted living centers, and nursing homes. In a medical administrative assistant training program, you will learn how to:

• Set appointments using medical software
• Schedule hospital admissions
• Provide medical transcription and record management
• Code for insurance, customer billing and collections
• Ensure office compliance with state and federal regulations

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than average through 2030.

4. Online Medical Staff Services Management Program

Whether it’s a huge hospital complex or a group physicians’ practice, healthcare facilities need to be well-staffed with properly credentialed professionals. And someone needs to make sure that all the documentation is accurate and up to date. An online Medical Staff Services Management Associate degree program would teach you how to:

• Document education, licensure, experience, and continuing education requirements for physicians, allied health, and other practitioners
• Perform initial reappointment, and delineation of privileges processes
• Maintain compliance with medical staff services accreditation and regulatory standards
• Coordinate processes related to medical staff bylaws, policies, and rules and regulations

5. Online Healthcare Management Program

If you’re looking for a career that combines the medical and business sides of healthcare, a career as a Healthcare Manager would provide you with both. There is a soaring need for medical and health services managers because of aging baby boomers, innovations in technology, new reporting requirements, and the large increase in walk-in medical centers. Healthcare Managers work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and doctors’ offices to ensure everything functions as smoothly as possible. You might manage an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or a medical practice for a group of physicians. In an online Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management Degree program, you will learn how to:

• Hire and supervise healthcare and support professionals
• Develop effective communication and relationship management skills
• Create plans for ongoing staff professional development
• Establish and maintain budgets
• Design and implement strategic plans
• Ensure regulatory requirements are followed

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Healthcare Manager jobs are projected to grow much faster than average through 2030.

The most direct way to become a Healthcare Manager is to obtain a Bachelor’s degree specializing in Healthcare Management and then find entry-level healthcare work. Medical experience in an administrative or a clinical role in a healthcare facility will also help when you seek a job in this field.

At National American University, we offer a variety of online healthcare programs that will help prepare you for a rewarding career. Call 800-209-0182 to speak to a counselor or fill out the form to request more information.