There’s no denying that the healthcare sector has undergone rapid changes in the past few years. And ever since the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for healthcare professionals is now more than ever before.
In the face of the global pandemic, volatile situations, and economic recessions, it’s no secret that the need for healthcare services will grow at unprecedented rates in the upcoming years. But what does this imply?
In simpler terms, the higher-than-average growth rate of the healthcare industry translates to new employment opportunities, better healthcare services, and a chance to earn more income.
The steady rise in jobs is due to the combination of various factors. One evident reason is the shortage of healthcare professionals; the novel coronavirus underscored the need for practitioners to manage crises. In tandem with this is the aging baby boomer population. As older people reach the retirement stage, there will be growing demand for professionals to cater to their needs.
For all aspiring healthcare providers, the field provides unlimited benefits. Besides the apparent advantage of advancement and sought-after professions, the industry also offers high earning potential and job security.
But which fields within the healthcare industry are fast-growing? Here’s the roundup of some of the promising healthcare fields:
Healthcare administration
Whenever we hear the word hospital, the thought of nurses and physicians assisting patients crosses our minds, overlooking the brain behind the scenes that smoothly runs the healthcare facility. Healthcare managers and administrators are the professionals that offer exemplary leadership and leave a profound impact not only on patients’ lives but also on the communities served by healthcare facilities.
So, suppose you’re an ambitious healthcare professional wishing to progress in your career trajectory. In that case, an MHA degree might be the credential you need to thrive. But you may wonder what is a MHA degree and how it will strengthen your educational profile?
An MHA is an advanced degree that imparts an in-depth understanding of financing institutions, operations management, workforce development, and healthcare delivery. Additionally, it helps build core competencies such as analytical thinking, innovation, and strategic thinking to acquire leadership roles. So, make an impression on your community by providing visionary leadership and nurturing a culture of excellence at the healthcare organization.
The typical job responsibilities of healthcare administration professionals include:
- Manage mission-critical tasks and ensure adherence to regulations
- Keep tabs on medical supplies stock and oversee budget
- Update medical records and prepare work schedules for all employees
Dental medicine
Dental medicine, also known as dentistry, is the branch of healthcare that deals with diagnosing and treating various conditions and disorders related to teeth, jaw, gum, and mouth. Since oral health directly connects with overall well-being, dentists detect infections and diseases that exhibit themselves within the mouth.
These dental professionals also identify illnesses that somehow manage to crop up in the oral cavity before they appear in different parts of the human body.
Let’s review some of the job responsibilities dental professionals perform:
- Correct overcrowding and remove plaque, tartar, and stains
- Perform teeth cleaning and other preventative procedures such as extractions, root canals, fillings, and corrective surgeries
- Educate patients about good oral hygiene and teach proper brushing and flossing techniques
- Order diagnostic tests and prepare treatment plans
As stated by BLS, the field of dental medicine will grow by 8% by 2030, adding approximately 5,000 job openings every year on average. The fact that more people now emphasize preventive dental care is one of the reasons for the increasing demand.
Nursing
The backbone of the healthcare sector, nursing, is the profession that encompasses collaborative care for people of all ages. While nurse practitioners don’t enjoy the same autonomy level as physicians, their services are imperative to fulfill the growing demand for primary and ambulatory care.
On a given day, the job responsibilities of a nurse practitioner are:
- Work collaboratively with fellow nurses, physicians, and other healthcare workers to develop individualized treatment plans
- Keep tabs on patient’s symptoms and assess their conditions to deliver the optimum care
- Administer medications and watch out for possible side effects
- Render assistance in medical procedures, draw samples, and order clinical tests
According to BLS, these professionals are the fourth fastest-growing occupations from 2020 to 2030. And the field is likely to witness a growth rate of 52%, translating to heaps of opportunities in the forthcoming years.
Audiology
Essentially, it’s the healthcare branch devoted to dealing with hearing and other related conditions. Audiologists are highly skilled and experienced professionals that not only diagnose hearing issues and manage neural systems. They also provide treatment based on modern technologies and medical science.
As an audiologist, you might perform the following job responsibilities:
- Come up with various procedures to alleviate the symptoms of different types of vertigo
- Monitor condition and provide specific listening devices according to the psychological needs of patients
- Interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medication to patients, and assist them with aural rehabilitation
- Keep track of patient’s progress and perform research about various hearing and balance disorders
With a predicted rise of 16% by 2030, the field will offer 800 new job openings, on average, every year. However, to become a part of this in-demand and rewarding profession, individuals must practice compassion, effective communication, and collaboration skills.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is the branch of healthcare that assists people in contending with the problems that hinder their ability to perform everyday tasks. The professionals in this field primarily help people live their lives to the fullest at home, work, or any other place. Therefore, almost everything about this field is about growing independence and improving well-being.
Contingent on the job title, the job responsibilities may include, however, not restricted to:
- Demonstrate various exercises and monitor occupational therapy progress
- Consult with nurses, physicians, social workers, patients, and their families to develop treatment plans
- Perform general administrative tasks such as maintenance of records, report writing, and case notes
The job responsibilities may also vary depending on the work setting. For instance, some occupational therapists may work in hospitals and clinics, while others may opt for educational institutions. Those possessing an entrepreneurial spirit are likely to render their services in private practice.
The field will likely witness significant growth in the next few years, adding as many as 10,100 jobs every year.
Final Words
Selecting a career pathway is undoubtedly a significant undertaking that requires careful thought, consideration, and planning. Individuals who wish to work in a field with greater than average anticipated career growth in the forthcoming years should look no further than healthcare.
With the emergence of cutting-edge technologies and new medical research, there’s no right time like the present to become a healthcare professional. The field offers a world of opportunities for aspiring professionals. If we count up the number of job positions various professions will add to the healthcare industry, approximately 2.6 million new jobs will be available in the coming years. These jobs extend from entry-level to top executive positions requiring advanced and specialized education.
Given this astounding figure, it’s pretty evident how thriving the healthcare sector is. All professionals need is to refine their existing skillset and make themselves stand out in the disruptive healthcare field.
