The healthcare industry continues to be one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. Now, thanks to the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, medical professionals are needed more than ever. 

As of 2018, more than 16 million people across the world worked in the medical industry in some capacity. Some are doctors, some are nurses, some are medical transcriptionists, while others are administrative workers or researchers in medical diagnostics working with labelled deuterium compounds. 

But, did you know there are many jobs within the healthcare sector that you can actually do on your own? Being self-employed comes with its challenges, but for some people, it’s the career move of a lifetime. If you’ve always been interested in healthcare but you’d rather work as a contractor or “freelancer,” there are jobs available that can fit your needs!

Let’s take a look at a few of them. 

1. Virtual Pharmacist

Pharmaceuticals are a huge part of the healthcare industry, but you don’t have to actually work in a pharmacy in order to make a difference. If you’re willing to go for a Bachelor of Science or doctorate in pharmacy, you can become a virtual pharmacist. 

Virtual pharmacists do everything from assisting with cost management of medication to conducting medication reviews. It is all done either over the phone or the computer, so you can work remotely from anywhere and still give people the help they need. 

2. Music Therapist

Many studies have shown the healing power of music, and if it means something to you and you want to help people, you might consider becoming a music therapist. 

It is typically a contract position. Music therapists are often hired by hospitals, clinics, and even places like nursing homes. A music therapist works with physicians as part of an overall treatment plan for patients. Music therapy can help people with mobility issues, stress, and even depression. They can even work with children in therapy sessions. 

3. Home Health Aide 

If your passion rests more with personal care, you can consider becoming a home health aide to an elderly individual or someone with mobility issues, or with an illness. Home health aides work hours as needed by the patient. 

The tasks you might do on a daily basis include everything from doing household chores to helping with medication and general care for the patient. Some health aides only work with one patient, while others visit several each day. This can be an incredibly rewarding job as you get to know your patients and become a part of their daily lives. 

As you can see, you don’t necessarily need to work in a hospital setting or even go to school for years to get a specific medical degree. Not only are many jobs in the healthcare field available with just a few years of school/training, but they can be done remotely or by setting your own hours. If you’re interested in self-employment or working in the gig economy but you also have a desire to work in the healthcare sector, any of the three jobs listed here could be a perfect fit.