The general consensus is that a career in the healthcare or medical field is going to be an asset for at least the next ten years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are going to be 2.8 million healthcare jobs created in the next few years, a 26% increase between now and 2008. When you compare that to the average for all industries, which is a 16% increase, it is clear that the medical field will be growing much faster than almost any other industry. If statistics are your thing, then you'll be interested to know that because healthcare is one of the largest industries, it provides Americans with more than 11 million jobs and medical employment will account for 13% of all wage and salary positions created between 2000 and 2010. Healthcare boasts 9 out of the 20 occupations projected to grow most quickly within the next decade.

As a medical laboratory technician, you'll perform general tasks in all laboratory areas, but, more specifically, you'll work under the supervision of a medical technologist and hunt for clues to the absence, presence, extent and causes of diseases. If you're accurate, self-motivated, and dedicated, you can easily learn the skills needed for success as a medical laboratory technician. To learn more about the programs available, check out the links below and send away for complimentary information.

Although the specific tasks of a medical assistant will vary based on the location, size, and specialty of the office that they work in, in general, as a medical assistant, you will handle both administrative and clinical duties. This usually means reporting directly to an office manager, a physician, or another health practitioner. In small practices, you will likely be a "generalist," involved in all aspects of the office; in larger practices it is more common for medical assistants to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators. Medical assistants may also work in physician's offices, clinics, and surgery centers, all of which are outpatient settings.

By studying health information technology, you will be prepared and qualified to work in fields that involve tasks like the structure and analysis of healthcare data, the coding and indexing of information, the management of retention and reimbursement systems for health insurance claims, the analysis and management of healthcare statistics and health record evaluations, and verbal and written communication. If you'd like to work on the administration side of healthcare, then health information technology may be right for you. To find out, browse through the links suggested below.