If you’ve been thinking about jumpstarting a career in healthcare, there’s no better time than now to make it happen.
Current challenges, such as an aging baby boomer cohort, shifts in healthcare legislation, and innovative breakthroughs, exacerbate the demand for competent individuals to run hospitals, manage data systems, and implement new policies.
Additionally, as the world struggles with the post-pandemic implications, changing demographics and political party transitions have also contributed to shaping the US healthcare system for decades and will do so.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare jobs will rise 13% between 2021 and 2031. This article outlines several reasons for the increasing demand for healthcare workers today.
How to get started in the healthcare industry?
Now that you know the reasons contributing to the demand for healthcare workers, you might wonder how to get started.
Although there are no hard and fast rules, entry-level positions often call for at least an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a health-related field.
Suppose you don’t have a prior healthcare degree. In that case, a good start is to take an online nursing degree for nonnurses at Baylor University to get acclimated with the principles and practices in the work setting.
Getting a nursing degree online has the benefit of being flexible and accommodating to working people. Consider the scenario where you are an administrator for a healthcare institution but have always desired to work with patients.
Depending on your chosen academic institution, you can easily enroll in online coursework and get your degree as quickly as six weeks.
Aging population of baby boomers
The growing baby boomer population is arguably the most critical factor contributing to the proliferation of jobs in the healthcare sector. Data shows 76 million people were born between 1946 and 1964. Regarded as the baby boomer generation, this is the biggest in history.
Healthcare companies are in a difficult situation due to these baby boomers’ average life expectancy. This inevitably puts a load on the healthcare system. Because of this burden, healthcare organizations must have enough staff to fulfill growing demands and provide high-quality care to function efficiently.
Moreover, to keep this aging population healthy and active, healthcare practitioners must ensure payment and insurance systems are operating effectively and utilizing technology advancements. Additionally, healthcare experts will be needed to handle the increased workload on IT systems, deliver care, and oversee staff.
Avoid the next pandemic.
How can the world stop the ensuing pandemic? Healthcare companies will undoubtedly be considering COVID-19 errors as they address that issue, and rightly so.
Although healthcare companies can learn from their previous mistakes, dwelling on them can only get you so far. To meet the growing demand, medical institutions must hire more staff after the pandemic claimed the lives of thousands of healthcare professionals.
Organizations must increase the public health workforce in outlying and rural areas to lessen the health issue’s impact. By effectively distributing regular medical services, they can adopt reforms that enable national healthcare and maintain strict control over fundamental medical disorders.
Recent data indicates that rural health units in the United States failed to handle COVID-19 contact tracing due to persistently low staffing levels. The next outbreak is more likely to occur in rural regions due to novel diseases and degradation. Hence it is essential to have the necessary staff in these regions to stop it. In remote places without trained medical personnel, outbreaks may go unnoticed for months or years.
Current healthcare professionals rethinking their careers
As of this writing, the pandemic has killed more than a million people in the United States and caused over 93 million cases. But the adverse impact of the pandemic didn’t stop from there. It also harms healthcare professionals, especially those on the front lines of treatment.
A recent survey found that almost a third of doctors have changed or plan to relocate their practice location. But why are they leaving the industry? Is working in the healthcare industry no longer fulfilling? Not quite.
The same survey adds that most healthcare professionals leave their jobs to transition to telehealth visits. Additionally, fewer insurance reimbursements and more regulations have reduced the number of hours that many doctors work. This implies that there will probably be a greater need for more doctors and nurses in the coming years.
Interprofessional teams
Healthcare is a rapidly growing industry that is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of society. One of the key factors contributing to this growth is the increased focus on interprofessional teams in delivering healthcare services. Interprofessional teams can bring together individuals from different professional backgrounds to provide patients with more comprehensive and effective care.
Interprofessional teams comprise healthcare workers from various disciplines, such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other professionals. These teams work together to share their unique perspectives and expertise and provide patients with coordinated care. The collaboration between these professionals leads to improved outcomes, increased patient satisfaction, and more efficient use of resources.
With the aging population and the increasing incidence of chronic diseases, there is a growing need for healthcare professionals who can work together to provide patient-centered care. This increased emphasis on interprofessional teams is one of the reasons why healthcare workers are in high demand. This increased emphasis on interprofessional teams is one of the reasons why healthcare workers are in tall order. Additionally, interprofessional groups allow healthcare organizations to better meet the needs of diverse populations, such as those living with multiple chronic conditions or requiring complex care.
The benefits of interprofessional teams extend beyond the patients they serve. For healthcare workers, being part of an interprofessional team provides professional growth and development opportunities. Healthcare workers can learn from their colleagues and gain exposure to different specialties and perspectives, which can help them expand their knowledge and skills. They also have the opportunity to collaborate with other professionals and contribute their expertise, which can help increase job satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment.
