Health science is a general term used to describe a number of different degrees in health care that you can earn. Many of these programs require that you take the same courses in health science or similar courses. Some of the jobs you might apply for after earning one of these degrees include positions as a doctor’s assistant, office manager or chiropractor. Payscale puts the national average of health care jobs between $45,000 and more than $80,000 a year. Take some time to look at some of the courses you might take before enrolling in a health science program.
Health Information Technology
As a health science major, you can look forward to taking some courses on health information technology. These courses often focus on teaching you how to use the software that medical offices and hospitals use every day. Some of that software keeps track of patient records and ensures that all patients receive the necessary treatments. Other programs focus more on the billing of patients and their insurers. You may also work with programs that allow multiple facilities to share information.
Medical Billing and Coding
Though some think that medical facilities use automated software that automatically takes care of billing and coding, most facilities still rely on employees who work in offices or at home. Even if you do not want to work in this specific field, you will still need to take courses that teach the terminology that medical professionals use and the codes that relate to various treatments. Doctors often need to work quickly and cannot take the time to fill out a complete record of everything they do during a simple appointment. You’ll need to understand what each code means and how to bill patients based on those codes.
Health Care Administration and Management
Two of the fastest growing fields in the health care industry are administration and management. Administration refers to those who work within an office or facility to keep things running smoothly. Those working in management positions are responsible for all employees working underneath them. Administration courses in health science teach you how to run an office. You might learn about taking an inventory of supplies, ordering new supplies, using software to schedule shifts and general secretarial work. The management courses you take focus more on leadership, hiring new workers and maintaining a healthy workforce.
Laws and Ethics
Many health science degree programs now require that students take courses in medical laws and ethics. Those courses look specifically at the laws that protect the privacy and confidentiality of all patients. You’ll also learn more about medical malpractice laws and how those laws protect patients from mistakes made by doctors and other health care professionals. Ethics courses delve into topics that might come up while at work that do not necessarily relate to any specific laws. You might look at how to treat surrogate mothers, patients with certain religious beliefs or those facing life threatening conditions.
There are dozens of job types available in the health sciences industry. You might work as an assistant to a doctor, get a certificate to treat patients yourself or work in a management position. Some of the
courses in health science you might take include courses on health care management and medical laws.
For additional information on a degree in health science, please see: Top 10 Best Online Health Science Degree Programs.