The Future of Healthcare is Strong!
Train for an Essential Healthcare Career with HDMC
Career training for an in-demand, essential healthcare career can provide you with a path to a more stable future! Despite the economic uncertainty of the last year, the healthcare field has continued to grow at an incredible 15% (BLS 2021)! Healthcare workers such as nurses, medical assistants, medical biller/coders, dental assistants, pharmacy technicians, and ultrasound technicians are integral to our healthcare system, and High Desert Medical College offers the career training programs students need to get started in these fields. With HDMC’s hands-on, hybrid, and online classes, you can get the training you need to get started in the healthcare field quickly!
Healthcare workers are essential to our medical system, and because they are essential, these workers remain employed even during times of economic instability such as the last year. Even through a global pandemic, as many workers experienced job instability and even unemployment, healthcare careers remained stable. The United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that employment in healthcare occupations is growing at a rate of 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. This incredible rate of growth is projected to add about 2.4 million new jobs, adding more jobs to the American economy than any of the other occupational groups!
With this strong growth in the healthcare industry, it is imperative to prepare workers to fill these jobs. At HDMC, our mission is to prepare graduates for the healthcare careers that are in high demand in their communities. HDMC offers several different programs for students interested in entering the healthcare field, most of which can be completed in about a year! At HDMC, healthcare training programs are focused, comprehensive, and prepare students for immediate entry-level employment. HDMC’s healthcare programs include:
Clinical Medical Assisting (35 weeks)
Medical assistants work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes, and other healthcare settings, directly with both patients and other healthcare workers. Employment for medical assistants in the U.S. is very strong, and growing at an incredible rate of 19% from 2019-2029, much faster than average. In 2019, there were 725,200 medical assistants employed in the U.S.; and an additional 139,200 jobs are projected to be added over this decade (BLS 2021). HDMC’s Clinical Medical Assistant program teaches the essential skills students need for entry-level positions as medical assistants, including measuring patients’ vital signs, administering medications and injections, preparing patients for procedures, and using the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system. HDMC’s Clinical Medical Assistant program can be completed in as few as 35 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and will be prepared to test for the nationally-recognized CMA certification.
Dental Assisting (34 weeks)
Dental assistants usually work in dental practices, and work closely with a dentist. The demand for quality dental care is strong across the country, and according to the U.S. BLS, there were 354,600 dental assistants employed nationwide in 2019. This field is projected to continue to grow at a rate of 7%, adding 23,400 more dental assisting jobs nationwide by 2029 (BLS 2021). HDMC’s Dental Assisting program teaches students how to perform administrative and clinical tasks to support dental offices, including interacting with patients, assisting the dentist or hygienist during exams and treatments, delivering X-rays and taking dental impressions and fabricating molds or crowns. The Dental Assisting program can be completed in as few as 35 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion, an x-ray certification, and are prepared to test for relevant industry certifications, such as through the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA).
Medical Billing and Coding (35 weeks)
A heightened focus on health data and the increasing digitization of medical records has created a growing demand for Medical Records and Health Information Specialists, including medical biller/coders. According to the U.S. BLS, there were over 340,000 jobs nationwide in the medical billing and coding field in 2019, and over the 2019-2029 decade this field will grow at a rate of 8% annually, adding approximately 29,000 more positions (BLS 2021), HDMC’s Medical Billing and Coding program prepares students for these important healthcare positions through training in comprehensive medical coding and billing procedures, medical terminology, and medical billing software. The Medical Billing and Coding program can be completed in 35 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion, as well as CPR and First Aid Certification from the American Red Cross.
Pharmacy Technician (34 weeks)
Pharmacy technicians work hand-in-hand with licensed pharmacists, performing supportive administrative and clinical tasks. Over the last decade, pharmacy technicians have been among the fastest growing occupations in the country. The U.S. BLS found there were 422,300 pharmacy technicians employed nationwide in 2019. Over the 2019-2029 decade, there are projected to be an additional 15,200 jobs created in this field (BLS 2021). HDMC’s Pharmacy Technician program prepares students with the skills they need for these positions, including how to fill prescriptions under the direct supervision of a pharmacist, recognize the classifications of drugs and scheduled drugs, and adhere to HIPAA privacy regulations. The Pharmacy Technician training program is designed to be completed in 35 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion and will be prepared to test for the Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB). Graduates also receive their California state licensure from the Board of Pharmacy.
*Licensing by the California State Board of Pharmacy requires fingerprinting, criminal background check, and official High School/GED transcripts to be submitted with the State Board of Pharmacy application. This process may take up to 45 days to complete after graduating from the program; a criminal background may delay the process.
Ultrasound Technician (84 weeks)
Digital medical sonography, also known as ultrasound technology, is used in healthcare to produce images of internal organs, soft tissue, and blood vessels, as well as to observe developing fetuses in the womb. Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (Ultrasound Technicians) are in high demand in today’s healthcare marketplace, and in 2019 there were 131,700 individuals employed in these positions nationwide. This field is growing at a rate of 12% (much faster than average), and there are projected to be an additional 15,600 more jobs added to this field over the 2019-2029 decade (BLS 2021). HDMC’s Ultrasound Technician program prepares students by providing the theoretical knowledge and practical hands-on skills to understand medical terminology, anatomy, physiology and physics and work with specialized equipment. The Ultrasound Technology program can be completed in 84 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion. Students may choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree by completing additional General Education courses (108 weeks total).
Vocational Nursing (56 weeks)
Nurses are critically important to the American healthcare system, and are in high demand across the country. According to the U.S. BLS, Licensed Practical and Vocational Nurses held 721,700 positions nationwide in 2019, and the field is projected to grow by 9% (much faster than average) over the 2019-2029 decade, adding 65,700 more jobs nationwide (BLS 2021). HDMC’s Vocational Nursing program prepares students with the skills to provide basic nursing care, administer medications, document a patient’s signs and symptoms, and perform therapeutic and rehabilitative measures. The Vocational Nursing program can be completed in 56 weeks, and graduates receive a Certificate of Completion. Students may choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree by completing additional General Education courses (101 weeks total).
All of these healthcare professionals work directly with patients to provide the highest level of care, and these workers are in high demand all across the country as the healthcare field continues to grow. At HDMC, you can gain the skills you need to enter one of these in-demand healthcare fields. If you are ready to move forward in life with a better career, then come see what HDMC has to offer you! With locations in Bakersfield, Lancaster and Temecula, California, flexible hybrid-online learning formats, and programs in every field of healthcare, HDMC is Southern California’s choice for healthcare career training. Give us a call at 888-633-4362 to find out how you can get started today!