
Why working in healthcare services is a reliable career choice
There has never been a better time to work in the healthcare sector if you are looking for a steady, reliable career with plenty of scope for progression. The healthcare industry currently employs more people than any other sector in the U.S. Healthcare has always offered good job security because there is a constant need for the provision of healthcare services, and this need grows as the population increases. This demand is projected to continue to grow for many years to come. Some of the factors that are contributing to the growth of the sector include an aging population, the need to make healthcare services more equitable, and the introduction of new healthcare technology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has predicted that the number of jobs in healthcare services management will increase by 32% this decade. This means the rate of growth in healthcare will be higher than in any other sector in the U.S. In addition, the sector saw higher levels of staff attrition during the pandemic, with some leaving due to burnout and others due to ill health. As a result, there is an even greater demand for people to join the healthcare sector to fill the additional staff shortages. Here is a closer look at some of the factors driving the rapid expansion of the healthcare services sector.An aging population
The U.S. is currently undergoing a major demographic shift, with the number of people over the age of 65 set to increase by as much as 143% from 2018 to 2038. This will create a significant increase in demand for healthcare services, with two thirds of older people having at least two chronic conditions. Other issues faced by seniors include needing support with managing prescription drugs and mental health challenges.More complex and growing needs and demands
As healthcare improves and medical care evolves, patients’ expectations regarding healthcare are growing. These increasing demands mean that the sector will need to grow overall. In addition, healthcare services need to expand to meet the needs of a growing population. Although population growth has slowed down in the U.S., it remains in net growth, which means there are hundreds of thousands of additional people who will need to be able to access healthcare services each year. It is forecasted that around 2.4 million new jobs will be created in the health industry overall by 2029, with continued growth in the following decade.Advancing technology in healthcare
The technology used in healthcare is constantly evolving, and healthcare professionals must stay on top of the latest technology to make the most of its ability to help people. There are many roles in healthcare designed to provide the support required for safely introducing and using technology in healthcare.Technology-resistant areas
Although technology is driving progress in some fields of healthcare, it has not had the same impact on the industry as it has in other fields. The complex and specialist nature of healthcare service provision means that there are many areas where automation is not a viable alternative to human resources. In these areas, growth in the demand for services can only be met by recruiting more people to deliver the services.More equitable healthcare
Social factors such as income and location have a significant impact on many health outcomes for patients. Working in healthcare services management and administration gives you the opportunity to help address inequalities in access to healthcare and health outcomes. This may be accomplished by developing and introducing changes to policy and strategy at a high level, in addition to ensuring that effective care plans are put in place where they are needed at the client level.The importance of healthcare services administration and management
Healthcare administrators and managers are responsible for the continued delivery of healthcare services. They need to have a broad spectrum of skills to take care of the business aspects as well as overseeing the delivery of healthcare. They must be well-versed in general business management, and they need to have an in-depth understanding of the healthcare industry and the issues specific to this sector. At the most senior level, the business element of administration includes managing the profitability of the organization and ensuring that it can continue to operate. More junior roles may have responsibility for the profitability of a department or a particular service element. Healthcare administrators also need to ensure that the organization is delivering effective and relevant services to clients and communities. Key responsibilities include:- Strategic planning
- Managing operations and finance
- Project management
- Policy development
- Human resources
The best path into a career in healthcare services
There are some jobs in this sector that will not require an undergraduate degree, but many roles in healthcare will require a bachelor’s degree at a minimum. Once you have your bachelor’s degree and some years of relevant work experience, you may want to continue your studies with a master’s degree in healthcare.What subjects are covered in a healthcare services degree?
A bachelor’s healthcare degree covers a wide range of subjects, including topics such as:- Anatomy
- Biology
- Economics
- Health policy
- Public health
- Sociology
- Administration
- Epidemiology
- Healthcare economics
- Health finance
- Health law and regulation
- Science ethics
- Aging and mental health
- Case management
- Clinical reasoning
- Evaluation and research methods
- Neuroscience
- Foundations of nursing
- Human anatomy
- Microbiology
- Nutrition
- Nursing care
- Sociology
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Dentists’ offices
- Outpatient care centers
- Home healthcare providers
- Insurance providers
- Pharmaceutical corporations
- Residential care facilities
- Diagnostic laboratories