Ever since the pandemic gave us a taste of what it’s like to work from home, many of us have made up our minds to work remotely as much as possible. We’ve traded commutes for more time with our loved ones and swapped out business casual wardrobes for cozy, athleisure ensembles.
Remote work has redefined work-life balance. While some argue working from home has its drawbacks, one thing is clear: People want jobs that provide remote work opportunities.
As of 2023, 41% of employees whose jobs allow for remote work have a hybrid work schedule (meaning they spend some days onsite and others working from home), according to Pew Research Center.1 Offering this kind of flexibility can be a way to attract top talent. But for some industries, remote work is a lot more complicated than just relocating office employees.
Healthcare, for example. Can you work remotely in healthcare? How would that even work?
We have good news for healthcare professionals who crave a little more work-life balance--hybrid and remote healthcare jobs have become more prominent over these last several years. And, as technology keeps advancing, we may see further increases in remote work options. Read on to see how it works.
5 Healthcare jobs to consider if you want to work from home
Healthcare organizations today offer a combination of fully remote and hybrid positions. It’s even becoming more common to see healthcare practitioners with fully virtual private practices. So, whether you’re just starting out in your career or seeking a change, the good news is, there are some options for adaptable work arrangements.
1. Registered nursing
Wait, remote work nursing? Did you read that right? Yes!
If you thought remote work and patient care don’t go together, well, think again! Thanks to the advent of telemedicine, registered nurses (RNs) can get quite a bit done, even while working from home. In fact, telemedicine makes it possible to see patients who may otherwise not have access to the care they require. Susan Williams, RN and senior health contributor at Retirement Being, can attest to that.
Like many of us, Williams spent most of her workdays on-site before 2020. “The pandemic catalyzed a transition to remote work, where possible, to maintain the continuity of care and support for my patients,” says Williams.
Now, she enjoys a hybrid work schedule and works remotely two days a week. The rest of her workdays are split between working on-site at healthcare facilities and providing in-home patient care.
Remote work has “pushed the boundaries of accessibility, allowing patients in remote or underserved areas to receive care,” Williams says. But, of course, not all tasks can be completed remotely when you work in nursing, as Williams explains.
“[T]he remote model also presents challenges, especially in geriatric care, where face-to-face interactions often yield invaluable insights into a patient's condition and well-being,” she says. “Building trust and rapport can be more challenging through a screen.”
Working from home is definitely not the norm for nurses in patient care. But with so many telehealth platforms taking off, remote or hybrid positions do exist. For many nurses, this isn’t an arrangement they’d spend their whole careers in however.
“The tactile and personal aspects of healthcare—such as physical examinations and the direct observation of a patient's environment—are irreplaceable.”
Williams says the freedom to work from anywhere brings flexibility to her workweek. And we can probably all agree: Flexible work schedules make everyone’s lives much easier. With so many conversations around burnout in bedside nursing, maybe hybrid working arrangements are one solution healthcare employers will continue to explore.
It is important to check the minimum requirements set by employers for remote nursing positions. Most employers will require nurses to have a specified level of work experience including patient care experience prior to being eligible for remote work.
Think you’d like to learn more about a potential career in nursing? Check out our article, “How to Become an RN Fast.”
2. Roles in mental health
Telemedicine is also popular with mental health practitioners. There are quite a few services mental and behavioral health specialists can provide to their patients via telehealth, according to The Health Resources and Services Administration (an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services):
- One-on-one therapy
- Group therapy
- Text therapy
- Addiction counseling
- Medication prescribing
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Medication monitoring
- Mental health screening
- Referrals
- Anxiety and depression monitoring2
Not only does virtual care allow therapists to enjoy the rewards of working remotely—like saving the time it would take to commute and being able to work from the comfort of home. It also dramatically increases access to mental health care resources for patients, according to Kendra Wilson, therapist at Wind Over Water Counseling & Consulting.
“I love the convenience and portability,” she says. “I can be in a comfortable environment and not wear shoes and have my dogs in my office with me every day!”
There is a huge shortage of mental health practitioners in the U.S. today. Encouraging more people to pursue this role by touting flexible work arrangements and the work-life balance mental health professionals need to be at their best is a win-win for society.
Just like with other healthcare roles, remote work isn’t ideal for all circumstances, and it definitely has its drawbacks. “The main thing I miss is consulting with colleagues about clinical issues and having a multidisciplinary team on a day-to-day basis,” Wilson says.
There will always be clients and patients who prefer to be in-person for their treatment or therapy as well. But this growing sector of healthcare is a good area to aim for if you think you’ll want more options to work remotely in the future.
Rasmussen University does not offer any programs that are designed to meet, and do not meet, the educational requirements for professional licensure as a therapist, counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other similar licensed careers, in any state.
Mental health is also a specialty nurses can focus on if they advance their education to become a nurse practitioner. If you haven’t looked into that role before, check out How to Become a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 6 Steps For Future Healers.
3. Medical coding
Not every job in the healthcare industry involves seeing patients. From private practices to sprawling hospital networks, healthcare organizations all have their fair share of administrative tasks, such as information management.
Medical coders are kind of like translators: They work for healthcare providers and communicate patient information to insurance companies. When a patient visits a doctor, for instance, the doctor documents the details of that visit. Then, the medical coder “translates” this documentation into universal medical alphanumeric codes.
These codes represent the diagnosis, procedures, medical services and equipment for which a claim will be created with the patient’s insurance carrier (sometimes referred to as the “payer”), as the American Academy of Professional Coders® (AAPC®) explains.3
Most coding positions are not considered entry level since a combination of education and work experience is typically required. New coders should not expect to find a position where they can work from home. Most coding positions require onsite work.
4. Medical billing
Some companies combine medical coding and billing into one job, but it’s not uncommon for coding and billing to be split between separate roles.
Medical billers review the medical codes we just discussed to create insurance claims and bills for patients, according to the AAPC. They routinely liaise with healthcare providers, patients, insurance companies and—when the roles are handled by separate people—medical coders.4
Because medical coders and billers have “desk jobs,” they can clock in from just about anywhere, as long as they have a secure internet connection. Still, they do have to be very careful about where they log in (think twice before using use public wi-fi in this role.) Remember, these professionals handle sensitive patient data, so ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations is a key part of the job—no matter where they work.
Medical coding and billing company, Find-A-Code recommends remote coders and billers work with “fairly modern computer[s],” in addition to:
- High-speed internet with “a secure, HIPAA-compliant connection”
- An environment that supports concentration (i.e., distraction-free)
- Access to medical billing codes, either online or in print
Interested in learning more? Check out, “How to Become a Medical Coder in 6 Steps.”
5. Physical therapist assistant
Physical therapist assistants—sometimes referred to as “physical therapist aides”—work under the supervision of physical therapists to “help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses,” according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).7 That might not sound like the type of career path that lends its way to a remote healthcare job, but, as it turns out, telemedicine is revolutionizing physical therapy.
There are so many benefits of telehealth technology, but its applications in physical therapy might just be the greatest. Traveling for doctors’ visits can be cumbersome enough, especially for patients living in “medical deserts,” or regions where residents have limited or no access to local healthcare.8
And, in the case of physical therapy patients, who may be struggling with impaired mobility, making a trip to the doctor’s office can be especially challenging. Telehealth options for physical therapy can make treatment possible in some situations.
But it’s important to know, PTAs typically have a very hands-on, in-person job.
Specifically, any treatments requiring specialized equipment or instruments will, of course, call for face-to-face interactions with patients and physical therapists, as PTA Guide explains.10 In a remote work position, the role would be different than that of a typical PTA. Still, the opportunity for a hybrid schedule that combines work-from-home days with time onsite aren’t unheard of.
If becoming a physical therapy assistant is something you’d like to pursue, check out “How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant (and Why You Should).”
Which remote healthcare job opportunities are you most excited about?
There’s no denying it: Healthcare jobs offer incredibly rewarding experiences. Whether you work in a hospital or from your home office, when you’re a healthcare professional, you get to spend every day helping people.
And remote healthcare jobs make working in medicine even better. Having the chance to make such a positive impact on others’ lives while also enjoying the freedom of an adaptable work environment truly does give you the best of both worlds.
With a remote or hybrid schedule, you can be available to people who need you—both in your work life and personal life. Email, phone and communication tools like Zoom®, Slack® and Microsoft Teams® are great, too, to help forge a sense of community among remote professionals worldwide. Plus online networking groups and industry associations can assist you with your profession.
Now, there’s just one question left: Which healthcare jobs are you interested in?
From nursing to health information management to medical billing and coding and more, Rasmussen’s online programs can help you gain industry-relevant skills. Learn more about our Health Sciences Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs.
Microsoft Teams® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation
Salesforce Inc. acquired Slack Technologies in 2020. Update to “Slack® is a registered trademark of SALESFORCE, INC.
AAPC® is a registered trademark of American Academy Holdings, LLC
American Academy of Professional Coders® is a registered trademark of American Academy Holdings, LLC.
Zoom® is a registered trademark of Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
1Kim Parker, About a third of U.S. workers who can work from home now do so all the time, (Mar. 30, 2023), 35% of workers who can work from home now do this all the time in U.S. | Pew Research Center
2Health Resources & Services Administration, How do I use telehealth for behavioral health care?, (accessed April 2024), How do I use telehealth for behavioral health care? | Telehealth.HHS.gov
3American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), What is medical billing?, (accessed April 2024), What is Medical Billing? - AAPC
4American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), What is medical billing?, (accessed April 2024), What is Medical Billing? - AAPC
5Is working from home here to stay? Association of Professional Billers and Coders (accessed April, 2024), https://www.aapc.com/tools/medical-coding-salary-survey/#IsWorkingfromHomeHeretoStay
6Find -A-Code Articles, Remote Careers: Can Medical Coding And Billing Be Done At Home?, (Apr.5, 2023), Remote Careers: Can Medical Coding And Billing Be Done At Home? - Find-A-Code Medical Coding and Billing Articles (findacode.com)
7Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Handbook, Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides, (accessed April 2024), https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm
8Monica G Brînzac , Ellen Kuhlmann, Gilles Dussault, Marius I Ungureanu, Răzvan M Cherecheş, Cătălin O Baba, (accessed April 2024), Defining medical deserts-an international consensus-building exercise - PubMed (nih.gov)
9The Health Resources and Services Administration, Telehealth for physical therapy, (accessed April 2024), Introduction to telehealth for physical therapy | Telehealth.HHS.gov
10PTA Guide, Can a Physical Therapist Assistant Work From Home?, (accessed April 2024), Can A Physical Therapist Assistant Work From Home? (physical-therapy-assistant.org
