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Complete Health Care Resources |
Finding Your Own Pathway to Specialized Health
Care
by: Joe Balestrino
We live in a highly specialized age. New industries and
professions spring up as the established sectors break down into smaller
categories. Driven by the wealth of detail in an increasingly complex
world, employers and clients prefer to hire specialists rather than
generalists. That decision is often based on cost-effectiveness. And with
so much more to know about everything, it pays to specialize in your areas
of interest.
This is particularly true in the medical profession. As
society becomes more health conscious, the general awareness of cause and
effect is bringing health issues into the mainstream of daily life.
Medicine no longer happens entirely within the walls of a hospital. Nurses
find themselves in other settings, playing the roles of social workers,
detectives or attorneys. These new career paths offer an expanding range
of professional benefits, including career advancement, job security, and
even self-employment opportunities. So, how can you get there from where
you are now?
Kaplan University’s Health Care Pathways Programs
This is where a school like Kaplan University enters the picture. As an
institution with almost 70 years’ experience in preparing adults for
rewarding careers, Kaplan offers Health Care Pathways, an online program
for nurses, therapists, social workers, and anyone whose professional life
is moving into the convergence of these fields.
There are five certificates available through Health Care
Pathways, each addressing a growing need within or related to the medical
profession.
Geriatric Care Management Certificate
A Geriatric Care Manager (GCM) arranges health and human services for
senior citizens whose self-care abilities are in decline. A GCM will
assess his or her patient’s needs, coordinate the services required, and
monitor the situation for ongoing effectiveness. If you have a passion for
helping the elderly and are trained as a registered nurse, medical doctor,
physical or occupational therapist, social worker, case manager, or
psychologist, you can easily enter this profession with Kaplan’s GCM
certificate. Although AARP statistics put the average hourly rate at $74,
this could vary widely depending on your background, the number of cases
you choose to handle, and whether you work for a government or insurance
agency, home health care or long-term care service, social service agency
or as an independent consultant.
Life Care Planning Certificate
A Life Care Planner (LCP) is committed to helping people with catastrophic
injuries or chronic health problems. As an LCP, you’ll develop and
implement plans to improve the quality of life for medically dependent
people. You’ll locate and coordinate all necessary care and treatment. RNs
and qualified rehabilitation professionals are needed in this field,
particularly if you have a Kaplan University LCP certificate. According to
the Certified Life Care Planners association, the salary range for this
profession is $80 to $150 per hour. This reflects the diversity of LCP
work environments, such as government agencies, law firms, insurance
companies, HMOs and independent practice.
Forensic Nursing Certificate
Forensic nursing is a field open to RNs with a deep interest in the
investigative sciences and a passion for victim advocacy. This can be
exciting work if you’re comfortable offering medical assessments at crime
or accident scenes. Certified forensic nurses examine and provide care for
survivors of assaults, disasters, abuse and negligence. You’ll be called
in to determine the causes of injuries and deaths, discover or help decide
who’s responsible for a victim’s care, and make appropriate referrals and
follow-ups. A membership survey of the International Association of
Forensic Nurses indicates that you could earn from $55 to $300 per hour.
Job opportunities for forensic nurses exist primarily with hospitals, law
enforcement agencies, and independent practice.
Legal Nurse Consulting Certificate
A Legal Nurse Consultant (LNC) might be the RN who handles data collected
by a forensic nurse, without actually handling the patients. Thorough and
timely information is just as important as hands-on care. You’ll thrive as
an LNC if your nursing education and clinical experience are a natural fit
with your research skills and interest in the legalities of health care.
Through your ability to identify standards of care, review medical records
and interview witnesses, you’ll be a valuable team member in malpractice
lawsuits, medical insurance claims, and workers’ compensation cases.
Completing this certificate program will qualify you to work in law firms,
insurance companies, HMOs, government agencies, or independent practice. A
compensation survey by the American Association of Legal Nurse Consultants
shows its members earning hourly fees ranging from $70 to $200.
Case Management Certificate
Case Managers play a similar role to GCMs and LCPs, assessing and
coordinating health and human services for patients with a wide range of
needs. With your Kaplan certificate you’ll plan and manage patient care,
research cost-effective options, be the point person on the team of
specialists that you assemble, and support your client’s family with
information and suggestions. RNs, therapists, rehabilitation counselors
and social workers are a natural fit for this career. Based on a survey by
the Case Management Society of America and ADVANCE for Providers of
Post-Acute Care, starting salaries in this growing profession might be
$55,000 for government agencies and insurance carriers, and at least
$75,000 for home health agencies or through independent practice.
Education on Your Terms
These Health Care Pathways certificate programs can be completed in about
12 months of online self-study. The pace is up to you, and this
flexibility leaves room for the healthy work-life balance already so
critical to busy professionals with family and other personal commitments.
You can participate in these programs from anywhere in the world with a
personal computer, email and Web access, and the ability to handle MS Word
documents.
To find out whether Kaplan University is right for you, or to learn more
about the Health Care Pathways program, visit
http://kaplan.searchforclasses.com . For other programs and online
courses visit
http://www.searchforclasses.com
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