Greetings! Regarding your computer skills query coupled with the
healthcare industry, I discovered many examples and statistics.
In an interview concerning "nursing infomatics" with a nurse named
Angela Lewis, she stated "RNs involved in nursing informatics are
valued because they possess both clinical knowledge and the ability to
translate that clinical knowledge into working information systems."
She goes on to add "I fell in love with the technological tools that
could improve my nursing practice and aid me in improving the actual
care that I delivered. I left the Home Health agency and accepted a
position that combined the two roles of nursing supervisor and
informatics coordinator. The position provided a transitional role,
and I currently work as a clinical applications specialist."
In the home care end of Nursing Infomatics, I discovered a blurb about
a scanner used by home health care workers:
"HOME CARE SCANNING - Home Care Information Systems, Bloomfield, N.J.,
released ASSESScan, a Windows-based software program that captures
OASIS questions from a scanner to assist home healthcare providers in
compliance with HCFA's requirements. Scanning for charge entry,
payroll entry, scheduling confirmation and patient satisfaction data
will also soon be available. "
In any field, improving one's skills leads to promotion. Because
computer technology is prevalent in almost every job and industry,
improving your knowledge of comuter skills will not only assist you in
your chosen occupation but also improve your knowledge on an off-time
basis if you have access to a computer online. There are many online
courses offered as e-classes through the Internet.
Ohio State University published an article that referenced women and
computer skills that stated "A researcher at Ohio State University
estimated that increased computer use in the workplace explains about
55 percent of the increase in the demand for women workers since the
mid-1970s. Many of the new jobs are in blue-collar industries."
This concerns primarily women in blue collar positions, but men's
careers are also assisted by having a good grasp of computer skills.
In an article titled "Blue Collar Technology" it was stated
"Machinist, mechanic, and steamfitter may not have the cachet of
engineer, scientist, or software developer, but don't look down your
nose at these typically blue-collar jobs. Unlike the 1950s when many
people entered a trade right out of high school and were up to
industry standards within a year or two, today's tradespeople need to
know almost as much about technology as any computer technician. Some
job descriptions even include "computer technician" as a require ment
except the computers are specialized equipment, not your average PC.
And far from being left in the dust salary-wise, many blue-collar
workers make $70,000 to $90,000 per year enough to own a home, live on
one income, and have time to enjoy life."
The article went on to include some statistics including:
"Even traditionally low-tech jobs in creasingly require higher degrees
of computer literacy and skill," said Cheryl Maslow, program
coordinator at North Valley Job Training Consortium Private Industry
Council, or NOVA, in Sunnyvale, Calif. "I would estimate that at least
80 percent now require computer proficiency and training in software
applications as a fundamental requirement for hireability."
And this from an in-depth report about the growing labor market - this
article is lengthy and includes many statistics:
"As medical facilities computerize information storage and delivery
systems, computer specialists with health care backgrounds will be in
demand. One personnel office manager at a major West Coast hospital
said the jobs he had the most difficulty filling with qualified
employees were in computer support services."
I hope this information proves of assistance to your quest. I would
personally recommend you expand your knowledge in as many ways as
possible. The home health care industry is growing as the population
includes more elderly citizens, and with computer skills, the home
health care worker has an advantage over persons not having the
knowledge.
SEARCH TERMS and LINKS:
computer skills "blue collar" [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=computer+skills+%22blue+collar%22
About Half Of New Jobs For Women Due To Increased Computer Use
http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/units/research/archive/womcomp.htm
Blue Collar Technology
http://www.hightechcareers.com/doc1099/bluecollar1099.html
computer skills healthcare [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=computer+skills+healthcare
Monster: Nurse Informaticist, Angela Lewis (Q&A) Nurse Informaitcs
interview
http://healthcare.monster.com/qanda/lewis/
computer skills in home healthcare [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=computer+skills+in+home+healthcare
Healthcare Informatics: October 1998 New and Improved
http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/issues/1998/10_98/improve.htm
"home health care" computer skills [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22home+health+care%22+computer+skills
Health Care Jobs Explosion
http://healthcarejobs.org/hcjebk2.htm
home health care online classes [Google search]
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=home+health+care+online+classes
Classes in Health Care - Online Learning
http://home.universalclass.com/i/subjects/healthcare.htm |
