When you think about healthcare professionals traveling the world, the first and only thing that might come to mind is travel nurses. Traveling nursing offers abundant opportunities to explore the country and make memories while doing what you love, but it’s not the only option if you crave adventure.
There are thousands of nursing careers available. Because of how large the healthcare industry is, the chances are high that you’ll find a position that suits your interests and matches your abilities. So if travel nursing isn’t exactly the path you want to stay on but you still dream of traveling the world while making a living, we have a few options to consider besides taking on a travel nurse assignment.
1. Patient Services Representative
Also known as medical secretaries, medical assistants, and patient care representatives, these healthcare professionals perform administrative duties for a hospital, doctor’s office, or another healthcare facility. They usually answer phone calls, schedule appointments, submit insurance claims, keep patients’ files organized, and communicate with patients via verbal or written exchange.
To become a patient services representative, you must obtain an RN license and proper experience and certifications in medical assisting, including BLS and CPR certifications.
2. Travel Therapist
These medical professionals help patients relearn and increase skills to improve their quality of life following an illness or injury. Similar to travel nurses, travel therapists fill in staffing gaps within various facilities due to absences and leaves, staffing training, or other circumstances. Just like travel nursing assignments, contracts for traveler therapists last from 13 to 26 weeks, with the opportunity to travel somewhere new afterward or take a break between jobs—you have the freedom to choose wherever you want to go.
If you are a physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, or in any other therapy-relevant position, traveling could be just what your career needs! All travel therapists require great communication skills, flexibility, emotional intelligence, patience, and time management.
3. Medical Scribe
Not yet fully into the healthcare field, but want to get some great experience in a hospital job before continuing your education? Medical scribing could be for you as these positions are held mainly by college students studying to pursue medical school—and travel opportunities are still available.
Medical scribes accompany physicians during examinations and help speed up the process by entering detailed notes in real-time on the computer so the physician can focus on the patient. They also perform additional tasks, including assisting with electronic prescriptions, entering medical records, and monitoring incoming tests and patient files.
There are both online and on-site training programs available for people interested in a role as a medical scribe. If you already have experience as a medical scribe, you may be able to become a Certified Trainer Scribe. Although certifications are not required for this role, they will give you a competitive edge. Some certifications to consider are:
- Certified Medical Scribe Associate (CMSA)
- Certified Medical Scribe Specialist (CMSS)
- The Medical Scribe Certification and Aptitude Test (MSCAT)
- Apprentice Medical Scribe Professional (AMSP)
4. Sports Medicine Consultant
Sports medicine consultants have the chance to travel across the country and deal with some of the finest athletes around. There are a few different positions for sports medicine consultants, including physical therapists, athletic trainers, nutritionists, and more. Athletes usually pay a pretty penny for the best consultants as their treatments reduce the need for surgery and prescription drugs and improve mobility, pain relief, and overall function of the injured area. Some managers and companies who oversee athletes and their development will hire sports medicine consultants for extended periods to ensure they maintain their teams’ well-being and physical fitness throughout the athletic endeavor.
For those healthcare professionals looking to travel across the country, work with athletes, and view some of the most attractive sporting cities or venues, this might be the occupation for you.
5. Healthcare Consultant
Hospitals and healthcare facilities need additional expertise to ensure that they can raise revenues, reduce costs, and improve patient care outcomes. Healthcare consultants have prior experience in specific regions or overall healthcare business management. They assess the efficiency, security, and structure of a healthcare organization, then provide solutions to standard issues. They also connect with clients to understand their needs and develop strategies to meet business objectives.
Each facility will present its own unique challenges and opportunities, and you will be tasked with showcasing your problem-solving skills and providing feedback. Depending on the task, healthcare consultants can be brought on for a short or extended duration based on your expected role.
6. Healthcare IT
Technology plays an important role in improving patient care outcomes; that’s where healthcare IT providers come in! They keep servers and systems safe from hackers, cybersecurity issues, and other breaches. They may also set up internal systems with role access to patient files and continue to stay updated on how to remain HIPAA-compliant.
There is a big need for implementing new healthcare technology and many positions are available, many of which can be done remotely. Plenty of information technology jobs offer travel opportunities for programmers, data analysts, software engineers, and informaticists who wish to improve patient care in the healthcare industry.
Travel nursing isn’t the only way for healthcare professionals to travel. With the number of location-independent careers on the rise, more and more people are living nomadic lifestyles and exploring the world while they work. If you can adapt and take opportunities as they come your way, you may be well-suited to life on the road!
If travel nursing is the path you want to stay on then check out our job board for the latest travel nurse jobs in the top travel nurse locations!
