Officials told the news source that the associate's degree completion track for medical assisting enables students to develop the skills they need to advance in their careers or to broaden their employment opportunities.

"Medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the nation," said Bill Hillard, Anthem College Online interim president. "Today's busy medical facilities need [these professionals] who possess excellent communication and problem-solving skills as well as exceptional technical skills."

Officials noted that the program is an attractive choice for busy professionals because it enables them to decide when they attend class, study and complete assignments. Furthermore, students meet with instructors and fellow students in online discussion forums.

According to the 2010 Sloan Survey Learning, out of more than 2,500 colleges and universities in the U.S., an estimated 5.6 million students were enrolled in at least one web-based course in the fall 2009 semester.

For instance, Indiana State University recently announced that it will be offering a physician's assistant program next semester, according to the school's website.

Officials said that the program will expose students to real-world experiences, and focus on education and practice with students from other healthcare practices. The curriculum is seven semesters long, and by the second term, enrollees will be mentored by current healthcare providers in preparation for clinical experience in the second year.

"Thirty million more people are going to access healthcare that previously did not [by 2014]," Randy Stevens, the school's medical director, quoted on the website. "That is going to pose a real dilemma for the medical community because the providers, particularly physicians, are in short supply."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the number of job opportunities in this field is expected to increase by 39 percent over the next seven years.

Indiana University opens up two new nursing programs

Other in-demand healthcare professions are experiencing increases in the programs being offered at schools, such as a masters degree in nursing (MSN). For example, Indiana University Kokomo recently announced that it has been approved to offer a graduate-level nursing curriculum, Inside Indiana Business reports.

Officials told the news source that the program is set to begin in the spring 2012 semester and will bring a much-needed graduate level curriculum to the area. The school will team up with the university's East campus to offer the two-track masters program, which incorporates online and classroom learning.

The two-track master's program will offer classes in both nurse education and nurse administration. Officials noted that nurse administrator track will help prepare students to take on advanced-level management positions at hospitals, clinics, surgery centers and extended care facilities, among others.

Meanwhile, graduates of the nurse educator track will be prepared to pass the Certified Nurse Educator Certification Exam, which can qualify them as a certified nursing educator through the National League for Nursing.

"Many of our hospitals have been calling for a pathway whereby their nursing staff can enhance their credentials to meet the demands of the complexity of healthcare today," Susan Sciame-Giesecke, vice chancellor for academic affairs, told the news source. "The MSN degree will provide the nurses within our local hospitals the opportunity to earn their graduate credentials close to home."

College begins program in health information technology

Finally, the University of North Carolina Greensboro recently announced the launch of a graduate certificate in health information technology, according to the school's website.

The university's Bryan School of Business and Economics will house the certificate program, which is designed to meet the needs of two groups of students – individuals who want to branch out in healthcare delivery and those who do not have any clinical training.

Officials said that the certificate program will provide students with information technology competencies and experience that are an essential skill set for effective managers in hospital and clinical settings.

“It is an opportunity to work in a sector of the economy where you make other people’s lives better,” Eric Ford, a professor in the program, told the news source. “The hospital never closes, so there are always jobs available.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for health information technicians are expected to increase by 20 percent over the next seven years.

And while we’d all like the perks of being a doctor, that path isn’t for most people. Trust me, my brother-in-law is a practicing doctor with a prestigious job and the bills to match. Plus, it takes so many years to complete that you’ll be a grandparent before you can put your own name on the office door.

So I did a little research into the medical field…and there are so many accessible and interesting fields to study. It seems within medicine it pays to specialize. I surfed the Concorde Career Colleges web site, but there are many others out there to consider.

Here are some options you might find fits your lifestyle and your family’s needs:

• Medical assistant: In this position, you are a “multi-tasked” helper. So you get trained on the clinical and administrative ends. On the clinical side, you would take patient histories, help the physician, do tests and more. On the administrative side, you’ll schedule patients, prepare medical records and handle calls along with a bevy of other things.
• Dental assistant: Hope you like pretty smiles! Clinical responsibilities include sterilizing and preparing instrument trays, exposing and processing x-rays, conducting oral inspections, preparing patients for treatment and taking vital signs. Administrative responsibilities include patient charting, appointment setting, completing insurance forms, and processing accounts payable and fee collections.
• Occupational therapy assistant: Occupational therapy is going to be a huge career in the years to come. Its goal is to help patients get back to everyday life — doing things like eating, dressing, bathing, leisure, work, education and getting out there for social occasions. The occupational therapy practitioner works directly with patients  to assess them for needed services, set therapeutic goals, develop a plan and implement intervention to enable the person can function in any way they need.

Granted, being an “assistant” might not sound very sexy. But these are important, necessary positions that improve people’s lives – and help you pay for yours! Plus, the degrees are readily available and can be completed within the confines of a busy family life. That aspect in and of itself is substantial.

I am especially intrigued by the Health Information Technology (HIT) program. According to Concorde, it “provides the skills needed to organize and manage health information needed by patients, hospitals and insurance companies.” The job handles the accuracy, accessibility, and security of medical records including medical history, symptoms, examination results, diagnostic tests, and treatment methods.

Here’s a description of the program: Students are enrolled in general education courses, health information courses and clinical practice. The health information courses begin with classes that introduce students to medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, database structures and health information management. Students then advance through courses that include more complex concepts in health data systems, healthcare statistics and managing personnel and processes in the healthcare setting.

How about that? It mixes technology with health care. So there are two of the hottest career areas in most geographic locations all rolled into one job. And the coursework takes a little under two years, so you could be up and running within a reasonable amount of time. That to me is exciting. I am not the one doing the work for you, so do the research before getting too hyped up. (Trust me, I’m always getting into things before I think about the ramifications on me and everyone around me!)

I’m constantly impressed with how much information is available to students on the Internet – you can do online chats with the colleges and universities, email for more information and get packets sent to you via snail mail. All of it is worth checking out if it means a new, better life for you and your kids.