With a healthcare professional shortage in America there is a huge need for new and emerging healthcare workers. Community colleges play a vital role in educating future healthcare professionals and shaping the healthcare landscape. According to Dr. Kevin Fleming the CEO of Telos Educational Services, the past several decades have seen a large emphasis placed on the importance of people receiving college educations and advanced degrees. The belief has been that with a more advanced degree comes higher pay. There is a misalignment between education and the workforce. There’s been a “college for all mentality” instead of a “post-high school credential for all” mentality. Fleming shares that 66% of high school graduates enter college; but only 1/4 finish their bachelor’s degrees. Experts have predicted that by 2018, only 33% of the workforce will be required to have a four-year degree.

If you have made the decision to begin your career in the healthcare field, you undoubtedly are already spending plenty of time searching for openings, writing cover letters, and sending out resumes. On its own, the application process can be stressful. So what happens when you add the pressure that comes with your first interview for an entry level healthcare position?

Understandably, you may feel a bit intimidated at first. After all, you are getting set to enter a new field with new surroundings. But by taking the time to prepare and research your potential employer, you can master the art of the interview and put your best foot forward. When preparing for your interview, keep in mind the Three R’s: research, rehearsal, and references. These tips for interviewing for healthcare positions will help you on your journey to landing your first position in the healthcare industry.

Thank you for reading our newest series, in which a day in the life of a number of different healthcare professions will is explored. Today’s post will walk through a day in the life of a Pharmacy Technician to help you decide if this career is the right one for you.

In our continuing series, we're exploring "a day in the life of…" various entry level healthcare careers. If you're considering a job in healthcare, this is a perfect series to keep up with because it will offer a broad overlook for potential entry points into the industry.

Thank you for reading the fourth part in our newest series, in which a day in the life of a number of different healthcare professions will be explored. Today’s post will take you through a day in the life of a sterile processing technician.  

The Portland Community College Institute for Health Professionals offers six entry level healthcare training courses that will get you hired. You can courses to become a certified nursing assistant, pharmacy technician, phlebotomist, sterile processing technician, medical coder, or a patient access specialist. Each course offers entry level healthcare training, which includes classroom and/or online lectures and/or lab training, and practicums to prepare each student for his or her healthcare career and the necessary exams for certification. This post will discuss each course in-depth.  

Updated May 3, 2022

One of the most critical questions to ask when exploring options for a new or changing career is what the day-to-day expectations of your new role will look like. After all, knowing what to expect as a patient access specialist or in any other entry-level healthcare career will help you know if the role is the right fit for you, and if you can see yourself enjoying your work and finding what you do fulfilling.

We understand that it can be confusing to know exactly which path in healthcare is right for you, so we’ve created this series to help you navigate your options. In this post, we’ll explore a day in the life of a patient access specialist.

Welcome back to our latest blog series where we explore a day in the life of various entry level healthcare careers. If you're considering a job in healthcare, this will be an excellent series to keep up with, offering a broad view for potential entry points into different roles in the industry.

Today's post is the second in our series, and we'll be taking a look at a day in the life of a medical coder.

Thank you for reading our first blog in our newest series: A Day in the Life! In this series, we’ll explore a day in the life of a number of different healthcare positions. Let's begin by taking a look at a day in the life of a phlebotomist, one of the programs offered by PCC Institute for Health Professionals.

Choosing a career in healthcare is not only rewarding, but needed! According to a recent survey, there is a healthcare professional shortage in America due to baby boomers leaving the field and healthcare professionals moving up to higher paying teaching jobs. This shortage of healthcare professionals is creating a real need for emerging healthcare workers. If you have ever considered entering the healthcare industry, there is no better time than now. The following eight tips for choosing a career in healthcare will help get you started today.