Medical Social Worker

Job Duties

Medical social workers help people deal psychologically with the results of chronic, acute, or terminal illnesses. These may include such disorders as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, or AIDS. They may work with individuals, families, or certain vulnerable populations. They usually work with family caregivers as well as patients, planning for the patient's needs after they are discharged from the hospital. They may set up services such as meals-on-wheels or oxygen equipment. Some medical social workers work on specific teams that include other specialists. These teams evaluate certain categories of patients, such as geriatric or organ transplant patients. They may work for hospitals, nursing and personal care facilities, individual and family services agencies, or local governments.

Job Skills

Those interested in becoming medical social workers should have a number of desirable traits. They need to be very emotionally stable and mature. They must be able to handle a high degree of responsibility. They should have the ability to work on an independent basis without supervision. They need to be able to work well in a team setting and get along with coworkers. And they need to be able to inspire trust and respect in their clients.

Income

In 2002, medical social workers earned a median annual salary of $37,870. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $23,840, to the highest 10%, who earned more than $56,320.

Training and Education

The most common minimum educational requirement to obtain a job as a medical social worker is a bachelor's degree in social work (BSW). Those who have bachelor's degrees with majors in psychology, sociology, and other related fields may be able to qualify for entry-level positions. Many positions also require a master's degree in social work (MSW), particularly positions in health settings and clinical work. Jobs in public and private agencies may also require an advanced degree. There are about 436 BSW programs and 149 MSW programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. (CSWE).

BSW programs require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field experience in addition to academic classes. MSW programs last 2 years and include a minimum of 900 hours of supervised field instruction. Part-time programs are available, usually lasting about 4 years. Social workers are required to be licensed in all States and the District of Columbia. They can advance to supervisor, program manager, assistant director, or executive director of a social service agency or department. You can explore more about training for medical social worker careers by clicking on this link for schools offering human services degrees.

Employment

In 2002, medical social workers held about 107,000 jobs. About 40% were employed by State and local government agencies.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of medical social workers is expected to increase faster than the average. This will be due to a rapidly aging baby boom generation and a growing elderly population, which will create a much greater demand for the services of social workers. Those specializing in gerontology can expect extremely favorable employment conditions, and many job openings will result from workers who leave the occupation for various reasons.

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Medical Coding Career

Medical coding allows the insurance industry and the government, the two bodies that handle the majority of financing for the health care industry, to be able to agree to and pay for medical procedures in a simple and planned fashion. Most medical procedures that can be paid for via medical insurance are pre-agreed by the insurance industry and the AMA, and this list is the basis of the coding system. Medical procedures are recorded on the patient records, and these are then coded by professional coders and used for billing information. This billing information is passed to the insurers, and the procedure is paid for.

Most employers require coders to have a background of medical information so that they can code accurately and verify the information they receive. Increasingly employers are asking for qualifications in order for coders to enter the industry, and these are usually diplomas or certificates from one year courses, or associate degrees from two year courses. Subjects studied include anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, and other medical related subjects. Students learn computing, and insurance procedures – they need to be absolutely familiar with the forms that are required to be filled in detail. They also learn about the background of both the health care industry and the insurance industry.

Salaries are between $15 and $40 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience. Prospects are good, as the health service industry is expanding and will continue to do so for at least the next ten years.

Directory of Schools Offering Medical Coding Training


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Marriage Therapist

Job Duties

Marriage therapists work with individuals, couples, families, and organizations to help them resolve personal and emotional conflicts. They employ a wide variety of principles, methods, and techniques to their work. They help people examine their perceptions of certain situations and suggest changes they can make in the way they look at problems. They attempt to help people change their behavior and enhance their communication skills. The goal is to increase their clients understanding of each other's points of view and to prevent family and individual crises from occurring. Some marriage therapists work in nonmedical psychotherapy. They may refer patients to psychiatric resources. They may also work in research and teaching related to human development.

Job Skills

Those interested in becoming marriage therapists should have a number of desirable traits. They should be interested in counseling and helping people who are experiencing challenging situations. They need to be able to inspire trust and respect in their clients. They should have the ability to work independently without supervision. They also need to be able to adhere to the code of ethics for their counseling certifications and licenses.

Income

In 2002, marriage therapists earned a median annual salary of $35,580. Earnings ranged from the lowest 10%, who earned less than $20,960, to the highest 10%, who earned more than $59,030.

Training and Education

A master's degree is the most common minimum requirement for marriage therapists. This is usually a requirement to be licensed or certified. In some States, therapists who are employed by public agencies are required to have a master's degree, while some States only require a bachelor's degree. College courses include study in college student affairs, education, gerontological counseling, marriage and family counseling, substance abuse counseling, rehabilitation counseling, agency or community counseling, clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, and career counseling.

There are about 176 institutions in the U.S. that have counseling programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Many therapists become voluntarily certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc., earning the credential of "National Certified Counselor." Voluntary certification is also offered by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification. Therapists can advance to become supervisors or administrators, or they may move into research, consulting, or college teaching. You can explore more about training for marriage therapist careers by clicking on this link for schools offering human services degrees.

Employment

In 2002, marriage therapists held about 122,00 jobs. A growing number are self-employed.

Job Outlook

Between 2002 and 2012, employment of marriage therapists is expected to increase faster than the average. There are usually fewer graduates of counseling programs each year than there are job openings, resulting in very favorable opportunities. Demand for marriage therapists will grow mainly because of a growing societal acceptance of people who seek professional help with their personal and family problems. More employers are offering programs in which employees can receive help with mental health and alcohol and drug abuse problems. More and more people will turn to marriage therapists for help with these problems, as well as for assistance with improving their everyday well-being and stress management.

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