There are certain industries and professions that will always be in demand from educators and law enforcement officers to engineers and computer technicians. The healthcare industry is one of these fields. Not only will healthcare always be in demand, but the job opportunities and different facets of business available in this industry are plentiful. Discover 6 more reasons why the healthcare industry is on the rise and the momentum isn’t slowing down any time soon.
1. Aging Population
There is an increasing number of people reaching their senior years at the same time. This influx in the elder population is expected to steadily increase until the year 2022. A huge part of this demographic is the Baby Boomer generation, which encompasses those individuals born between the 1940s and 1960s. This age group is growing faster than any other and means a large number of senior patients requiring medical care. It’s this spike in senior care that makes all positions in the healthcare field highly sought after from nurses and home health aides to management and supervisor positions, as well as medical coding and billing.
2. The increase of Chronic Conditions
Sadly, a nationwide increase in certain chronic and terminal conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease, keep the healthcare industry booming. The rise of cancer diagnosis in the last decade is staggering, with 1,735,350 new cases reported in 2018. Of those 1.7 million cases, 609,640 people have died from the disease. And those are just figured associated with cancer. There are nearly 30 million Americans suffering from diabetes and another 610,000 battling some form of heart disease. Sadly, studies show that the American population is getting sicker more frequently and at a younger age. Obesity is a chronic issue that impacts nearly 35% of the adults in the United States. Obesity leads to countless health complications. These statistics are somewhat surprising given the rise of health-conscious Americans. But no matter how you cut it, chronic diseases and life-threatening illnesses are on the rise, which means more healthcare positions are available and in high demand. Sick individuals need both general practitioners as well as specialists and surgeons, just to name a few. And unless the world’s population makes a drastic change, these numbers will continue to rise.
3. Widespread Medical Coverage
Lack of health insurance in the past would keep patients at bay. Meaning, if someone was suffering from the common cold or even an injury that wasn’t life-threatening, they’d forgo medical treatment in lieu of receiving a hefty bill. But now, medical coverage is more widespread than ever, making quality medical care more affordable and accessible to people from all walks of life. The care that was once reserved for only those who could afford expensive health insurance plans is now available for a widespread population. Many of these changes are connected to Obama Care, also known as the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act. While this may change under the current president and not everyone agrees on the details surrounding Obama Care, widespread healthcare coverage boosted the healthcare industry and job market significantly. So much so that the creation of nearly 5 million jobs was expected between the years of 2012 and 2022. People are taking advantage of their newfound medical coverage and reaping the benefits, which means the healthcare industry needs more feet on the ground.
4. Medical Advances Opening More Doors
There’s no denying that the healthcare industry has come leaps and bounds in terms of technological advances. Surgeries are being done microscopically, medications and treatment plans are stronger and done less invasively, and the knowledge and research performed provide doctors and other medical professions with the information they need to better treat patients. This means there is a wider range of jobs available for people with all skill levels. The hands-on portion of the healthcare industry will always be in demand. Medical practices will always need nurses, office staff, and technicians to perform specific jobs. Radiologists, ER doctors, and phlebotomists will never be obsolete. Learn more about the skills you need here. So, while many medical advances may replace some positions, numerous others will be created with the introduction of medical advances and new and improved technology.
5. The Evolution of Smart Healthcare is Changing the Game
Speaking of technological advances in the medical field, smart healthcare has virtually changed the game in terms of documenting patient information, connecting physicians, and transferring patient information efficiently and successfully. This makes life easier for both patients and healthcare professionals. The days of paper documentation are slowly fading. While patients are still required to fill out their annual documentation with updated insurance information, address changes, and HIPPA forms, the documents are more easily stored and shared between medical professionals. This helps streamline the process, cut down on weight times, and reduce the risk of complications, miscommunication, and lost or misplaced documents.
6. Improving the Patient Experience
Lack of medical insurance isn’t the only reason that some patients steer clear of the doctor’s office. Long wait times, misdiagnosis, inability to resolve the issue, and other complications and inconveniences cause many people to self-diagnosis and self-medicate versus visiting the doctor or hospital. But improving the patient experience is drawing more people into doctor’s offices, which has a long list of positive, adverse effects. Early diagnosis means easier treatment and a higher probability of curing and correcting the issue. When people avoid healthcare facilities, they allow their conditions to worsen. This requires more time, money, and medication to treat an ailment that could have been addressed much sooner. With more people flooding doctor’s offices and taking advantage of their medical coverage, quality medical care has never been more important. Although the medical field and healthcare industry are their own, unique business, they still require some of the basic necessities of all successful companies. These elements include customer service, budgeting, good business ethics, quality care, and maybe most important, clean and efficient facilities.
People will always need medical care and sadly, the need for chronic ailments will always be prevalent. Advances in technology, widespread healthcare coverage, and an increasing senior population are all impacting the medical industry right now and that trend is predicted to continue. If you’re uncertain, now is the time to break into the healthcare industry and could be an extremely lucrative decision.