Clinics that focus on special treatments such as chemotherapy, MRIs and other scanning techniques, and physical therapy for the handicapped are also proliferating. Home Care Technology has recently done much to improve efficiency and reduce costs for both patients and home care staff. Today, home care nurses and aides can administer complex treatments, previously only available in hospitals or clinics, to the elderly and severely disabled in their own homes. And because almost all hospitals and HMOs now release patients before they are self-sufficient, home care is often the most viable choice. Olsten's Home Health Care is the biggest and best known of a growing number of agencies for registered nurses, home aides, technicians, and specialized therapists.
Hours are extremely flexible, and there is plentiful personal contact with clients.
There are several types of health care professionals requiring varying levels of education and training. Doctors of Osteopathy and Medical Doctors both complete four years of post-graduate work to earn the titles of DO and MD, respectively, as well as the right to prescribe medicine and perform surgery. The government even predicts continued growth opportunity for physicians, despite the current state of oversupply. As a job seeker, you should know that HMOs have been the catalyst for many of the efficient business practices imposed on all aspects of health care in recent years, and technical and administrative support are in high demand as the health care industry evolves in a competitive market. IT is a steadily growing sector, due to the industry's relative lack of IT investment thus far.