According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, seven of the 20 fastest-growing jobs are health care-related. In fact, health care is expected to generate 3 million new jobs nationwide between 2006 and 2016, more than any other industry.
If the idea of working in health care makes you squeamish, don’t worry. There are many nonclinical health care jobs. These positions do not involve blood or patient care.
“A great way for someone not familiar with health care to think about health care jobs that are not clinical is to picture a hotel,” said Roger Smith, vice president of human resources for HCA-HealthONE. It has several hospitals and clinics in the Denver area.
“Many of the jobs are the same: food service, housekeepers, IT positions, controller, financial, greeters and admitters. So, part of our business is like running a hotel,” he said.
Food service is one area of growth. Many hospitals now offer meals that patients can order through room service. There also are senior communities that strive to offer its residents restaurant-quality food.
“Hospitals are busier than they have ever been,” said Jared Flayer, regional vice president for Morrison Management Specialists. “From the dining service standpoint, the models are changing, and the jobs require people who have higher competency and higher skill levels.”
Morrison, a member of Compass Group USA, is an Atlanta-based company that provides food, nutrition and dining services for hospitals and assisted living communities nationwide, including several sites in Colorado.
*Much more than Jello*
Flayer said many of the chefs that work in health care facilities have restaurant backgrounds. “People who come into our environment as executive chefs are far more apt to stay in this environment because of the flexibility and the creativity they are able to have,” he said.
Food service in health care once meant large trays of bland food. Today, it often is custom-made meals, interesting ingredients and recipe challenges.
“They have to adjust recipes in order to provide patients with something that is nutritious, has low salt or low sugar and is still enticing,” said Wayne V. Strauss, area support manager-nutrition and patient services for Sodexo’s Healthcare Division. “Chefs who love cooking understand the value of a meal.” Sodexo provides food service and facilities management nationwide and in Colorado.
Other kitchen-related jobs include meal delivery or transporting food to patients. There also are store room clerks who order and manage food and other inventory.
Other nonclinical positions are available. Centura Health recruiter Joanell Pegg said many jobs are entry level and require no certifications. “Kitchen, janitorial and patient transporting are a few of these positions,” she said. “To apply for entry- level positions, a candidate should possess customer service skills, good computer skills and the essential skills of the job.” Centura Health employees work in several hospitals and senior living communities throughout the state.
Some positions do need certification or experience. “Coders are in high demand right now,” Pegg said. “Coding requires a certification and experience to work in the hospital inpatient areas. Certified outpatient coders are not in as high demand as inpatient, but there is still a need.” Coders are office workers who assign medical codes to diagnoses, procedures and services for billing, and other documentation.
Pegg said that higher-level jobs in outreach services will be in demand in the near future. One area that is seeing growth is outreach and physician services, or helping physicians transition from the office arena to the hospital arena.
*Customer is king*
Soft skills are important. “They would have to have customer service skills and a positive, upbeat attitude,” Strauss said. “We are looking for people with the service spirit. They are not just preparing food. They are impacting the experience of patients in the hospital or residents in a senior community.”
Smith said HCA-HealthONE sees applications from workers who don’t have health care experience. “We have seen it from entry-level to vice president because, in a recession, many people think health care is the place to be.”
Strauss agreed that client skills are No. 1. “No matter what the position is, we are looking for people who are positive, customer-friendly, trainable and interested in helping others.”
“The customer of tomorrow is going to demand more than the customer of yesterday,” Flayer said.
_Nora Caley is a Denver business writer._