For those with a master’s degree in psychology there are several careers available in the healthcare field. Can psychology and healthcare be married into a satisfying career? The answer is in specialty classes you take in your graduate education, and in specialty certification. Creative graduates can enter the professional world in a number of healthcare positions.
Psychology Careers with Specializations in Business
Those students with a master’s degree in psychology and a specialization in healthcare administration can become healthcare facility executives like hospital CFOs or CEOs. Larger organizations usually require doctor’s degrees, but small-to-medium facilities will often hire master’s degree holders. You might also use your business specialty and technical classes to become a Health Information Administrator. These professionals design and audit health information systems to monitor patient records. A business specialty within your psychology degree can also prepare you to be a public relations and marketing manager for a healthcare facility or health insurance corporation. Although average salary for executives is around $88,500, those working for large private organizations may make considerably more
Health Psychology
In the field of Health Psychology, there are two tacks: clinical and research. Healthcare careers in clinical psychology include those who have direct contact with clients or patients. These professionals conduct behavioral assessments, do clinical interviews and administer personality tests. According to “About.com/psychology” they also design and help implement interventions with individuals or groups. These interventions include things such as educating people about the dangers of tobacco and teaching smoking cessation techniques as well as how to reduce stress. The research path of health psychology involves focusing on healthcare problems such as the best methods of pain prevention or the causes of illness, and how to get people to seek healthcare. Both of these paths can lead to positions in healthcare policy, too. Those involved in policy work in private and governmental settings attempting to influence public opinion on healthcare issues. They might also lobby governmental agencies about inequalities in healthcare or consulting on healthcare reform. Entry-level health psychologists can expect to earn $45,000 a year, but advanced-level professionals make $85,000.
Examples of Actual Job Offerings
The following jobs were listed on “Career Builders.com.”
• Psychologist in Hematology/Oncology This person will provide support services to children with blood disorders and/or cancer, as well as to their families.
• Remote Care Manager This position is for someone who will work out of his/her home to assess healthcare needs of organization members, work with an interdisciplinary team to coordinate a comprehensive approach to member healthcare and do healthcare coaching.
In addition, there are listings for psychologists in geriatric care, in health education, and in medical social work as well as other jobs. Generally, these professionals earn about $80,000 annually.
The healthcare career options for those with master’s degrees in psychology are diverse. From a business orientation to actual patient contact, the opportunity exists to make a comfortable living while being of real service to the community.
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