Healthcare jobs were suddenly brought into focus in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, working in healthcare is more than just commuting to a doctor’s office or travel nursing: a growing number of healthcare jobs can now be done remotely.
If you’re passionate about health, care about your patients, and want to work remotely, there are many work-from-home positions open in the medical field. Check out the top work-from-home medical jobs on JobsFuel.
1. Insurance Claims Examiner
You no longer have to commute to a stuffy call center to process insurance claims. A growing number of health insurance companies have switched to remote work or hybrid models, allowing you to answer the company phones and handle claims at home.
In addition to handling insurance claims, part of your job may involve helping patients with questions about their insurance or treatment plan and available treatment or insurance options. Some insurance companies call this role a “patient care advocate,” although that term is traditionally used to refer to on-site healthcare workers.
What’s Required
While processing insurance claims typically requires only a high school diploma or GED, many health insurance companies employ registered nurses to answer the phones.
Depending on the company and where you live, you may need a license to work with insurance, although this requirement is not universal. You may be able to work under the company’s license, for instance.
A health insurance claims examiner must also have good customer service skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to critically analyze all information in the claim you’re processing.
2. Medical Transcriptionist
Medical transcriptionists either listen to a recording of what a healthcare provider said and type it into the file or review and correct a document generated through speech recognition software.
Working as a medical transcriptionist is more than just typing what you hear: transcriptionists are also expected to note inaccuracies and double-check with the provider to ensure the information is correct. Since much of the job involves working with electronic records, it can be done remotely with little problem.
What’s Required
To become a medical transcriptionist, you’ll need to complete a medical transcription program offered at community colleges and trade schools. It’s also possible to become certified as a medical transcriptionist. Becoming certified isn’t strictly necessary, but it can give you a better chance at a job.
Transcriptionists also need to have a strong grasp of the language they work with, have good writing and listening skills, and work quickly to meet deadlines. A thorough understanding of medical confidentiality laws is necessary since you’ll often be handling some patient information.
3. Medical Coder
A medical coder focuses primarily on reviewing and updating a patient’s medical records. They often work with a practice’s billing department, using the information on a patient’s record to enter the corresponding insurance code. Medical coders typically work closely with doctors to verify information and fix patient file mistakes.
Since the job has so many moving parts, it may seem like medical coders have no choice but to work in the office. However, with many practices using electronic records and communication systems, finding a remote job as a medical coder is possible.
What’s Required
The educational requirements for medical coders depend on the job. Some simply require a high school diploma or GED, while others require you to take relevant courses at a trade school or community college. However, almost all employers will need you to be certified, regardless of educational requirements.
Medical coders must have a sharp eye for detail, ensuring they enter medical data and insurance codes correctly. Strong communication skills are necessary, as the job requires regular communication with other employees within the practice. Finally, they must strictly adhere to medical confidentiality laws to keep patient information private.
4. Medical Writer
Even if a doctor has neat handwriting, the complexity of some medical terms can make it challenging for the average person to decipher what they wrote. As a medical writer, your job is to translate technical terminology into audience-appropriate language so that the person reading it can understand what’s being said.
Some medical writers curate content primarily for patients or other doctors, focusing on patient guides or professional medical manuals. Other medical writers draft more technical or salesy documents, like grant proposals, press releases, research documents, or marketing materials. Luckily, no matter what type of writing you do, many medical writing jobs can easily be carried out remotely.
What’s Required
According to the American Medical Writers Association, there aren’t specific requirements to become a medical writer. Many medical writers have at least a bachelor’s degree in medicine, science, communications, or English, although it’s common for them to hold higher qualifications, like a master’s degree or a doctorate.
A medical writer’s specific skills will vary depending on your writing niche. However, all medical writers need to be strong writers, have a good understanding of medical jargon, math, and medical ethics, and communicate information clearly and concisely.
5. Phone Triage Nurse
Even pre-pandemic, many insurance companies and doctor’s offices provided telehealth services in the form of phone triage nurses. A phone triage nurse handles patient questions and concerns when the doctor is unavailable, usually answering questions about prescriptions, medical equipment, treatment plans, or whether an illness needs immediate attention.
Since the job mostly involves being on the phone, it’s no surprise that it can be done remotely.
What’s Required
Phone triage nurses are usually expected to have a bachelor’s degree or higher and typically need to be a licensed nurse in the state where they work. They also need strong customer service skills, good listening skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work with computers.
6. Medical Case Manager
Patients undergoing long-term or specialized treatment almost always have a case manager to help manage their treatment. As a medical case manager, your job is to handle treatment plans to ensure the patient gets appropriate, high-quality care.
You’ll be expected to communicate with not only your patient but their care team as well. You’ll also communicate with doctors, relatives, caregivers, and health insurance agents.
Given how much interaction their job requires, it might seem surprising that a medical case manager could work remotely. However, a growing number of case managers have switched to hybrid or work-from-home models, as their role doesn’t require them to be in the office every day.
What’s Required
Becoming a case manager requires more experience than the average entry-level medical job. Case management requires at least an associate’s degree, although a bachelor’s degree is highly preferred. In addition, you’ll need to have good clinical understanding and knowledge and the skills to use practice management software or systems.
Find Your Next Healthcare Job Using JobsFuel
The medical field is exploding with open positions, but the job search process can be tricky, especially if you want to work remotely. With JobsFuel, you can easily search for open healthcare positions and set up job alerts to inform you about new openings.
JobsFuel gives you career advice and search tools you need to land a medical job that you can work from home.
