Quickest Routes to Working in Healthcare with AIMS
March 4, 2014
Not everyone has the time or money to pursue a four-year degree. Thankfully many high-paying jobs in healthcare do not require a college degree. Certifications are often enough to get started in the field; these are often completed at a fraction of the time and cost of lengthy degree programs. In addition, certificate programs rarely require the type of general education classes that most bachelor's and associate's degrees require.
When it comes to length and cost, certificate programs vary greatly. You can find training programs that can be completed in as quickly as one month or more intensive programs that can last more than two years. In addition to the hands-on training that students receive on campus. many of these programs also include clinical externships at hospitals or other healthcare facilities. In this post, we'll take a look at some of the options available to you at AIMS Education.
Source: Free Digital Photos
Phlebotomy Technician Training
Phlebotomy, on its own, is one of the shortest programs offered at AIMS. Phlebotomists are specialists who draw blood and prepare it for lab testing. At 80 clock hours, it's designed to last for about one month. If you decide to join the weekend class, however, it will take approximately three months to complete. If you're looking for a broader program, but still want phlebotomy training, the Medical Assistant program might be a good option as well.
Certified Cardiographic Technician Training
For students looking to complete a short program, but also want the experience of a clinical externship, the Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) program at AIMS is a great option. It offers an advanced form of EKG training. In addition to learning how to monitor an electrocardiogram machine, which measures the electrical activity of a patient's heart, students will be trained in stress testing and holter monitoring. This 200 hour program can be completed in as little as 2 months and it includes an 80 hour clinical externship.
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Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Training
Medical coding is one of the fastest growing jobs in the medical industry, especially as health systems transition to the more complex ICD-10 code set later this year. Coding specialists take patient records and other hospital data and convert it into codes that insurance companies use to process billing. These codes are also used for research and statistical purposes. Medical coders are an integral part of the healthcare system. The AIMS Medical Billing and Coding program covers 300 clock hours. The first 240 hours of the training are completed on campus, and the last 60 hours are dedicated to the clinical externship. The program takes approximately 4 months to complete.
The Pharmacy Tech training program prepares students to be useful members of a pharmacy team. Most job opportunities in this field are available in local pharmacies, however some pharmacy tech students are able to find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, and pharmaceutical companies as well. The training includes instruction in pharmaceutical terminology, correct drug administration and classification, and pharmacy management. The program at AIMS takes approximately 4 months to complete. It is a total of 400 clock hours, which includes 240 hours on campus and 160 hours for the clinical externship.
Playing an integral role in patient care, medical assistants work closely with doctors, RNs, and other health care personnel to deliver proper patient care. Covering a wide variety of disciplines (which include some of the previously covered subjects), medical assisting students are in a very strong position to move on to higher levels of education if they desire. At AIMS, in addition to standard medical assistant training, students are also taught specialty skills that apply to careers in OB/GYN and IVF (in-vitro fertilization) practices, making them more marketable candidates. The medical assistant program takes about 9 months to complete. It's a total of 835 clock hours, which includes 635 on-campus hours and 200 hours for a clinical externship.
Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist Training
In the growing field of neurology, electroneurodiagnostic technologists play an essential role. These highly skilled techs study and record the electrical activity in the brain and nervous system. The training at AIMS covers a broad range of neurodiagnostic procedures, including EEGs, EMGs, nerve conduction studies, evoked potential tests, and intraoperative neuromonitoring. This 900 hour program takes approximately 9 months to complete and includes 600 on-campus hours and a 300 hour clinical externship. With higher than average job growth expected in the future, this career holds great potential.
Embryology (IVF) Technologist Training
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Technologists in the field of embryology work closely with IVF patients who are struggling to conceive a child. Also known as embryologists, these health care professionals work primarily in labs dealing with embryo cultures. IVF labs provide a variety of testing services and require technologists with highly specialized skills. The AIMS Embryology Technologist program delivers in-depth training, through 900 clock hours which, broken down, includes 600 classroom and lab hours and 300 hours for a clinical externship. The program takes about 9 months to complete.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging technologists use complex tools that visualize the internal structures of the body. MRI tech students learn to conduct patient exams using MRI equipment, according to guidelines determined by radiologists. Graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the ARMRIT national certification exam for magnetic resonance imaging. This program is comprised of 980 classroom hours and 1000 clinical hours. It can usually be completed in less than 2 years.
DMS (Ultrasound and Vascular Technologist) Training
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This program is one of the longest, including 2100 hours of classroom instruction and labs as well as 560 hours for the clinical externship. The classroom instruction and hands-on experience makes graduates of the program particularly marketable, able to sit for the ARDMS and ARRT examinations. Ultrasound techs use imaging technologies so that doctors can make better informed diagnoses.
