Online College Degree

[navygirl0118(Brandon's Wife)]

I'm considering trying to get an online Bachelors degree in either Health Sciences or maybe Healthcare Administration. I was just wondering if anyone else has gotten a degree from an online school or is thinking about it too. I've heard mixed opinions about it. I'm not sure if having an online degree would be looked at the same by employers as a degree from a university. Any help/advice would be appreciated!

 

 

Thanks!! :)

 

[Christina]

Well, it depends honestly. I don't know what you mean by health sciences. Typically that means ultrasound tech or EKG/ECG tech(which isn't really a singular job anymore). Those of course cannot be done primarily online because you have to have clinical hours (hands on experience) in order to complete a certification to practice/be hired for those professions. As far as Health Administration I assume you mean billing, coding and/or reception type work. You can get these online. I did several courses online and am a certified ICD9, etc. biller/ coder and transcription nationally. I did it all online. I only had to take finals in person and national certification is done separately of course. You don't get paid that much honestly. They want experience and it is a struggle to get a job without it because what you learn online versus what you actually do on a day-to-day basis is just not comparable. They want you to know compusystems, mysis and medisoft. And various other systems. Classes do not teach this. I had to get it from on the job training and at Mysis headquarters. It is a long process. So your training is far from over when your class is done and your certification is in hand. Part of your job is telling patients they are denied drugs(precertifications) due to insurance denials, etc. and if they don't get that medicine they will die(MS patient at a Neurologist practice for example). Or they pay out-of-pocket 3k and up, which of course most people don't have. You have to be trained specifically to deal with Government insurances--primarily Medicare and Medicaid(which is all HMO now mostly). You are more likely to get hired if you know how to work these 2 insurances as denials and submissions are vastly different for these insurances. Of course there is also the element of the fact that the economy is tanked and jobs aren't really available, even in this field. Temp companies have taken over these professions(administration mostly only). And Obamacare of course as we all know was passed so the lucrative pay one might receive and stature is going to be gravely different from what it is or used to be. People are dropping out of the medical field aka dr's are hopping ship and people are not going to med school or are dropping out. No way to know where this is headed if it is not repealed. Depends on what you believe and trust really. I hope this gives you some things to consider or helps answer some questions for you. I loved my job and what I did before I became an in-transit military wife. I was very, and still am passionate about billing and coding. And I have generations of family in the medical field of all types. So it is all about what you are wanting out of it, time, money investments and if it is your passion, livelihood, etc. Either way good luck and Trident in GC is a great place to talk and get a career advisory going. There are also a lot of good on-line forums to Google and ask around. Also go to some private practices in the area. Ask to speak to the biller or the practice manager and get the info first hand. Go to www.indeed.com and look up the jobs you seek and their pay in the area. Happy hunting and good luck!