Health Care Training in Waco

According to the Waco Chamber of Commerce, Health Care is one of the top 5 key industries in the area.  They reported that it has grown by more than $580 million since 2005.*  This means there are opportunities for careers in both medical services and in the equipment side that support them.  So what types of jobs are out there in the healthcare field in Waco?  Let’s explore…

Career options in the service side include practitioner offices, hospitals, nursing homes and residential care services.  Specifically, here are some options of the types of jobs you can get in the healthcare industry and what type training programs are available.

• Medical Assistants are trained to work in a medical office or institution to assist doctors, nurses and patients.  Trade schools train Medical Assistants in areas including anatomy, physiology, pathology, body systems, medical office procedures, terminology, venipuncture, lab procedures, and EKG.  Most schools offer theory and lab instruction and give you the opportunity to work in the field in an externship program.  
  
  
• The Medical Billing and Coding program helps to train students for entry level positions in data collection, documentation, diagnostic and procedural coding, processing insurance claims and updating insurance rules and regulations.   This program can lead to a career in doctor’s offices, hospitals, emergency and urgent care facilities, clinics, nursing homes, pharmacies, public health offices and other businesses like law firms that require knowledge of billing and coding.
  
  
• To work in a medical office, you need training in the latest office management tools with the knowledge of health care related procedures.  Medical Office Specialists need to learn a variety of skills including bookkeeping, billing and collections, records management, patient data collection, keyboarding, word processing, appointment scheduling, written and telephone techniques and best practices.
  
  
• Physical Therapy Technicians have the flexibility to work in hospitals, physician offices and nursing homes.  You’ll work mostly with patients recovering from an injury or adapting to trauma or a disability.  You’ll learn anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pathology, and modality applications including ultrasound, hydrotherapy, exercises, massage and electrical stimulation.
  
  
• Pharmacy Technicians support Pharmacists with prescription requests and can work in places like pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities.  Training includes measuring medications, packaging and labeling prescriptions, inventory management and tracking and more. You’ll be required to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) to obtain your pharmacy technician certification.

Schools like Southern Careers Institute, McLennan Community College and The College of Health Care Professions offer formal training that leads to certifications that help you compete in the job market. The goal of taking formal career training programs is to help you to become career ready, confident in your skills, and competitive in the job market.  Most of these programs can be completed in 9-12 months.  Waco’s health care industry is growing, and these career opportunities can get you working in the field quickly.

*Source: https://wacochamber.com/economic-development/key-industries/