How to Write a Great Resume if You Are New to Healthcare

Posted on by
woman holding resume with tablet in background
job search on online internet. applying for a job concept.

Writing a resume is an important part of the job search process. Your resume is your potential employer’s first chance to get to know you and to see whether you would be a good fit for their company. Many times, recruiters won’t spend more than a few minutes scanning over your resume, so it is important to make a good first impression. If you are new to the healthcare field, you are already at a disadvantage in relation to those who have previous experience, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be competitive. So what can do to make sure your resume stands out in the crowd?

Highlight Your Education

Often, your educational background is just as important as your work history. If you have a degree, make sure it is prominently listed on your resume. If your degree is in the healthcare field be sure to highlight it on your resume. If you don’t have a degree or your degree is in a field outside of healthcare, still list your degree because it highlights your versatility and makes you stand out from other candidates. Even though you may not get the position that you initially applied for, it increases the likelihood that you might be considered for other positions in the broader field of health information management, positions that may not yet have been posted on a job website or advertised in a newspaper.

If you have a degree in journalism, English, or instructional design, for example, you might be hired to design courses to train new healthcare employees or write job aids as continuing education tools for employees and contractors who are already working in the field. Don’t forget to include science classes, math classes, computer applications, and medical terminology classes as well. Remember that you can transfer what you learn in these types of classes, and you can transfer the skills that you acquire from using different types of computer applications to your new career in healthcare. Don’t worry if you have no previous schooling. There are many healthcare classes that you can take to enhance your resume, and increase the likelihood that you will stand out as a viable candidate when you apply for a position in healthcare. Avidity Medical Design Academy offers classes like medical terminology and medical coding that can be quickly and easily taken from the comfort of your home.

Showcase Your Skills

Your skills and experience are what make you a valuable employee. Highlight all of your skills throughout your resume, even skills that may not be directly related to the healthcare position that you are applying for, such as customer service, which shows you have good people skills, and shows that you can resolve potential communication conflicts in the healthcare setting. If you are an expert in certain computer applications, say so. If you were on a special committee, talk about what you did on the committee. Choose a layout for your resume that puts your skills, education, and experience in the best light, and helps you put your best foot forward. If you don’t have direct experience in healthcare, create a functional resume instead. A functional resume focuses on your skills and experience, rather than on your work history. Regardless of the type of resume that you choose, remember to list your skills in all sections of your resume, including your work history, educational background, and other sections of your resume.

Tip: Did you know that many large companies use a computer application to automatically scan resumes for certain keywords? This means if your resume is missing those keywords, it may not even be seen by human eyes. Scan each job listing that you apply for and find ways to include terms from the job listing on your resume. If you have dreamed about moving into the healthcare industry and working from home, now is the time. Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to view our courses and see how we can help you find your dream job.

Ditch the Office Job — Work at Home in Healthcare

Posted on by
woman working on computer in home office

Are you a parent wanting to spend more time at home with your children? Do you have health problems that make keeping a typical 9-to-5 office job difficult? Or maybe you are tired of making that long commute to work every day or you’re sick of the office politics. There are many reasons why you might not want to work in a traditional office setting. Thankfully, now more than ever, there are a growing number of work-from-home options available. 

The healthcare industry provides many opportunities if you are interested in transitioning to your home office. But the field is very competitive. So how do you prepare yourself and become a standout candidate?

Emphasize Your Skills

Whether you are a stay-at-home parent or you are looking for a career change, you probably have more transferable skills than you realize. Think about the jobs you have done in the past. If you worked in an office setting you probably have extensive experience with computers, phones, and customer service. Maybe you were trained in SharePoint file management, computer database systems, or different word processing programs. These are valuable skills you can add to your resume. 

Don’t undervalue your skills if you are a stay-at-home parent. Think about your hobbies, volunteer positions, and any classes you may have taken. Were you the president of the PTA? You likely have experience fundraising, creating emails, and managing others. Did you supplement the family’s income with freelance writing? There are many writing positions in the healthcare field. It’s important that you emphasize all the skills you bring to the table, both on your resume and during your interview. 

Take a Class

You don’t have to get a degree to get a job in healthcare, but taking a class can help boost your skills, your resume, and your confidence. Avidity Medical Design Academy offers many classes, designed for people just like you. Our How to Make Money in Healthcare Working from Home (Full Time!) course is a great place to start. This course will teach you about 10 different healthcare careers that allow you to work from home full time, including jobs that offer full benefits, such as 401k, life insurance, and medical, dental, and vision benefits. You will learn about each career as well as the required skills, training, professional licenses, and certifications, how you make money, and how to get started right away, as soon as you finish the course. With each of the careers, you also get a real-world example, so that you can see what your typical day will be like if you chose to work from home in a particular area of healthcare. At the end of the course, you will be ready to take the steps you need to take in order to enter the world of healthcare. We also offer other courses to help you succeed, including medical coding and medical terminology. 

Visit Avidity Medical Design Academy to view our course offerings and find out more about how you can work from home in the healthcare industry. 

How to Work From Home in the Healthcare Industry

Posted on by
woman working in home office on computer

More managers than ever are offering employees the option of working from home. Whether it’s staying out of rush-hour traffic, being closer to your loved ones, or improving your work-life balance, there’s never been a better time to telecommute.

In this post, we’ll look at the steps you can take to work from home in the healthcare industry.  

Target the Right Industry

Before you start your search, make sure you have the right training in the right field. Not every industry is telecommute-friendly. Some industries allow you to work remotely, but in lower-paying positions with less specialized skills or required knowledge.

The healthcare industry represents the best of both worlds. The field of healthcare offers a variety of positions that require more specialized skills, and a greater degree of knowledge, in return for relatively high compensation, benefits, and schedule flexibility. 

Optimize Your Home Office (and Internet)

The key to working from home is treating your telecommuting position with the same level of responsibility that you would if you were working in the office. This means signing on to work at your scheduled start time, and adhering to your required schedule from your home office. The key to effective telecommuting also means responding to emails and instant messaging in a timely manner, and adhering to quality and productivity guidelines for the work that you are doing. While working from home can support a variety of workspaces and setups, two components you’ll need to have are a computer and a reliable Internet connection. You can only benefit from the flexibility of working from home if you have the tools necessary to communicate and complete each task on schedule.

Identify Your Options

The most common starting points when looking for remote positions are employment sites and job boards, using keywords such as “telecommute,” “remote,” and “work from home” in addition to the specific job you are interested in applying for, or the field of healthcare that you would like to explore. Some job boards offer only telecommuting positions, but they may be flooded with a large number of applicants. 

If you’re interested in working from home in the healthcare industry, we can help. Invest in yourself and improving your work-life balance by enrolling in our course entitled, “How to Make Money Working From Home in Healthcare (Full Time!).”

For more informative articles, visit the Avidity Medical Design Blog.

6 Questions You Should Ask At Your Next Doctor’s Appointment

Posted on by
doctor speaking to patient in medical office

Have you ever come home from a doctor’s appointment and realized you forgot to ask something? Maybe you didn’t understand why your doctor ordered a lab test or prescribed a medication. In the U.S., the average doctor’s appointment lasts 20 minutes, so it’s important to come prepared. To make the most of your next visit, ask your doctor these six questions:

1. Is my medication list up to date?

A nurse or a medical assistant may ask you if your medications are up to date in your medical record, but don’t count on them to do so. Give them the information if they don’t ask. Come prepared with a list of all of your medications, OTC and prescribed, as well as any supplements that you take, such as vitamins. Be sure to include prescriptions from other doctors, so that contraindicated medications are not mixed.

2. Am I current on my immunizations?

Once we reach adulthood, it’s easy to forget about immunizations. Taking into consideration your age, your travel plans, and other factors, your doctor can recommend the right immunizations for you. 

3. Are you aware of my drug allergies?

If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medication, it’s important that this information is in your medical record. If you have a medical emergency, you would not want to be given a medication that you are allergic to, or that might cause have other side effects.

4. What blood or lab tests should I have performed?

Factors like your age, gender, and family history are considered when your doctor orders lab tests. Ask your doctor what tests you need to have performed now. If you don’t understand the purpose of a test, ask your doctor to explain it to you. 

5. Why are you prescribing this medication?

Your doctor may decide to prescribe a new medication, or change the dosage of an existing medication. Make sure you understand why you are taking the medication, and how long you will be on it.

6. Can I see a copy of my medical records?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA law, guarantees that you have access to your medical records and those of your minor children. If you receive healthcare at different clinics, each clinic may have a different procedure for requesting your medical records. Your medical record contains a lot of information, and you need to know how to interpret it. Avidity Medical Design Academy offers a course entitled, “How to Read Your Own Medical Record (Learn What is in YOUR Medical Files!).” This course teaches important information that you should know in order to understand what is being entered into your medical record. You will also learn how to read your medical record, and how to report any errors or omissions that you find. Visit the Avidity Medical Design Academy homepage to learn more about this course.

doctor updating medical records in computer

Do You Know How To Read Your Medical Records? 4 Ways To Learn How

Posted on by
Professional Dress in the Medical Office

Most of us understand the importance of good healthcare, but few people actually know what is in their medical records. Understanding what is in your medical records is important because some of your information may be inaccurate or incomplete. Reading and understanding your medical records is not only important in terms of your health, but it is a skill you also need to have if you are pursuing a career in healthcare.

If you want to be able to read and interpret your own medical records, here are some tips on how to do this:

1. Learn the Fundamentals of Medical Records

Know the key pieces of information in your medical records such as your medical history, treatment history, and medication history. You should also learn how the information is entered, and how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) pertains to your medical records.

2. Learn How to Access Your Medical Records

Under HIPAA law, you have the right to access your medical records. You should be able to access your medical records whether they are stored in electronic or paper form. Your records include your doctors’ notes and the results of laboratory tests, x-rays, physical examinations, and much more information pertaining to your health as well as your family’s health.

3. Learn How to Correct Any Errors That You Find

Determine exactly what the error is, and whether it needs to be corrected. Not all errors need to be corrected since they will have no effect on your care. For example, you may not need to correct some typos. Once you have determined that an inaccuracy or omission must be corrected, you must take the necessary steps to get the error corrected.

4. Take a Course on How to Read Your Medical Records

The course entitled How to Read Your Own Medical Records (Learn What is in YOUR Medical Files!) from Avidity Medical Design Academy, can help you learn how to read your medical records, and correct any errors that you find in your medical records. In addition to the course content, you also get free bonuses, including additional resources that allow you to continue learning after you finish the course. Watch two sample lectures below:

Lecture 15 from “How to Read Your Own Medical Record (Learn What is in YOUR Medical Files!)”
Lecture 16 from “How to Read Your Own Medical Record (Learn What is in YOUR Medical Files!)”

Click here to take the full course for only $29.99!

Remember that knowing how to read your medical records can help you understand your personal health and also help you succeed in your career, if you are thinking about becoming a healthcare professional.