BPO (business process outsourcing) companies in the Philippines are hiring nursing graduates to provide clinical and medical coding services, according to Pasig City representative Roman Romulo. The “well-paying” jobs are coming from the growing number of companies providing healthcare services to the U.S.

Positions like medical coding and clinical support services require strong communication and analytical skills, as well as a willingness to work in shifts, said Romulo. Coders convert medical records and other information into international codes that make it easier for U.S. healthcare providers to manage and access their data.

Romulo named some companies hiring nursing associates for various jobs: Cognizant Technology Solutions based in Teaneck, NJ, VMCO Corp. based in Makati, and Accenture PLC based in Dublin, Ireland.

According to the IT and Business Processing Association of the Philippines, the healthcare BPO industry is expected to hit about $27 billion in annual revenue and expand its workforce to 1.3 million by 2016. Romulo hopes that the hiring would reduce unemployment among nurses in the country.