WTOL.com - Toledo's News Leader | Demand for health care jobs varies by field

Demand for health care jobs varies by field

By Colleen Wells - bio | email

Posted by Lisa Strawbridge - email

TOLEDO (WTOL) - Health care jobs are often recommended as good fields in a bad economy. However, the specialty area within health care makes a big difference in whether there may be a job opening.

Anne Loochton with Mercy College says nursing positions for recent grads are especially tight in northwest Ohio. "The economy has forced hospitals to be very, very, very intentional about hiring, and very careful."

Other areas within health care are still in demand. Loochton says those careers include mental health professionals, health information management and technology, and medical coders and transcriptionists. "Those jobs are out there right now. They are hot. If they can fill them with people, they'd love to."

Administrators in the ProMedica Human Resource Department say they're always looking to fill positions in the rehabilitation field, such as occupational, speech, and physical therapy. They also recommend long-term care positions and lab technology.

There will be more careers to choose from eventually. Loochton expects every area to open up in the next two years. "We have the makings of a perfect storm in health care: The population is getting older. The faculty and managers and workers are getting older. And, there's going to be a greater need for healthcare."

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