“Doctor” or “Nurse” will always be a good quick answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But these days, both professions rely on a large web of supporting roles that require shorter, more interesting, or more lucrative educational investments. Healthcare is growing at a faster rate than most areas of our economy, and its job market has kept pace.
Advances in biomedical technology require people trained to put them into practice. A more efficient healthcare system requires people with solid backgrounds in administration and technology. An aging US population has renewed interest in many different kinds of therapy. These ten careers are at the core of tomorrow’s healthcare.
1. Physician’s Assistant
What They Do:
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As demands on doctors increase, the Physician’s Assistant is becoming a better way for patients to receive timely care. The PA is trained to offer diagnostic advice, provide some preventative healthcare, and even take a look a clinical testing results. As we continue to see a shortage of trained MDs in the US, the PA is quickly becoming part of frontline medical care.
Where To Start:
Obtaining the education and license that will qualify you as a PA typically takes about two years. Many people start as registered nurses or paramedics before shifting into PA and outpatient care, but entry requirements vary for most programs. The PA track is perfect for someone with basic medical training looking for a step up the ladder.
2. Pharmacist
What They Do:
A Pharmacist is mainly trained to prepare and distribute drugs prescribed by doctors. It sounds fairly simple, but Pharmacy remains an attractive career track because our options for various drugs and treatments are constantly changing. Pharmacists do not just staff desks your grocery store; they are also part of routine hospital care, scientific research, and play key roles in treatment for diseases like cancer.
Where To Start:
You will need to get a Pharmacy degree. This fairly standard degree program will prepare you for necessary state licensing.
3. Physical Therapist
What They Do:
Physical Therapists help people recover physical mobility, find relief from pain, and prevent long-term injury from accidents or disabilities. This very hands-on world of medical care requires people specialized in working with different age groups and conditions. Given the wide-open nature of the profession, many PTs also function as social workers, teachers, or in related roles.
Where To Start:
Physical Therapy careers begin after taking a graduate degree in PT. Many students continue on to take a Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT), but this is not a requirement for most PT jobs.
4. Healthcare Information Technology Manager
What They Do:
Someone has to take care of all the records, billing, and data collection that goes into proper healthcare. The technology that has recently made this more effective requires people with backgrounds in computer science and IT administration. Biomedical scientists are also becoming more reliant on people with the skills to help them interpret data and create models of diseases and healthcare populations.
Where To Start:
Healthcare IT degrees now exist at the undergraduate and graduate level. Many people find access to this quickly growing industry by adding a Healthcare Administration degree to IT experience.
5. Occupational Therapist
What They Do:
Occupational Therapists work with people that need help learning or recovering routine skills. Whether as a result of disability or injury, people often need help learning to cope with stress, perform tasks, or find their place in the job market. In helping people live satisfying lives, OTs often find their jobs blended with social work, mental health, and education.
Where To Start:
An OT career begins with a Master’s degree. Many of these degree programs are becoming more flexible than the standard full time option, but they will help students pass the tests that lead to state licensing.
6. Radiologic Technician
What They Do:
Radiologic Technicians operate the complex machines that use radiation to scan and image the human body. These technicians are an important part of diagnosing diseases ranging from respiratory issues to cancer.
Where to Start:
Radiological Technicians are trained in specialized Associate’s and Certificate programs. Many technicians decide to pick up this skill after having some previous training in medical care.
7. Medical Technologist or Laboratory Technician
What They Do:
Medical Techs and Lab Techs perform all the testing requested by doctors when diagnosing and treating patients. Whether it involves information or tissue, it takes skilled technicians to operate the equipment and technology that makes this possible.
Where To Start:
People become Med Techs through a variety of degree programs, from biology to computer science. But there are now dedicated Medical Technology degree programs that train students in highly specialized laboratory skills.
8. Paramedic
What They Do:
Paramedics are first on the scene in emergencies and disasters. They are trained specifically in caring for patients between the site of a crisis and a hospital. A current national shortage of paramedics should make this a high entry on future career lists.
Where To Start:
The Paramedic/EMT track is very attractive to many because it requires only a basic training that leads to state certification. With this basic job experience under your belt, many additional healthcare careers will open up.
9. Clinical Research Administrator
What They Do:
Clinical research looks for new ways to treat different diseases and conditions. It is an important, but very complicated process. Scientists look to Clinical Research Administrators to take care of the nuts and bolts of complying with research regulations and managing research participants.
Where To Start:
This is a very specialized field, but there are now both undergraduate and graduate programs that will train students in clinical research from top to bottom. These skills are becoming very valuable to researchers.
10. Healthcare Administrator
What They Do:
In addition to Healthcare IT administrators, current hospital practice requires people trained in a variety of skills to manage patient care. In addition to marketing, accounting, and human resources, hospitals and institutions also need people that understand issues specific to managing patient care and the needs of medical professionals.
Where To Start:
Healthcare administration has become so vital that undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees are now fairly common in the field.
What Kind of Education Do You Need for a Healthcare Career?
Individuals who plan on pursuing a career in health care will need to look carefully at the different types of education they have available to them. There is more to education than simply earning a degree. Life lessons and performing techniques first-hand are important methods of learning that a future healthcare professional can benefit from. Taking advantage of what each type of learning offers is what makes an exceptional healthcare worker.
Degree Programs That Focus on Medical and Healthcare
The best careers in healthcare are supported by quality degree programs that provide all the necessary skills and knowledge a student will need once they graduate and start to look for work. There isn’t a single “best healthcare career”. Students have many choices to choose from. The more advanced the occupation, the more school you will need to be able to be effective in the workplace. Even the most advanced career options require a student to continue their education. In fact, most states require that a medical professional commit to a specific number of credit hours each year to keep their license in good standing. Failure to comply with this mandatory requirement will result in the loss of their license.
Hands-on Learning
Medical students must learn to perform a variety of procedures. To be more efficient, they must practice each one in a supervised setting. By practicing under the watchful eye of a teacher, their skills will begin to improve over time. While learning from a textbook and through lectures, nothing takes the place of hands-on experience. The more times a student is allowed to practice their skills, the faster their technique improves. Hands-on learning often takes place during clinical programs, or in some cases, during a medical residency.
Real-life Experience
Nothing will teach a student faster than real-life experience. Being able to make split-second decisions doesn’t come from reading a book or earning a medical degree. It comes from experiencing a situation first-hand and being able to weigh each option. The ability to come up with a solution to medical issues relies on the student’s knowledge, skills, and real-life experiences. The more a student is forced to think on their feet, the more effective they will be in real-life or death situations. Real-life experience takes many forms and each experience should be remembered for the lessons it holds.
Working With Patients
While a degree program can teach all of the fundamental knowledge a healthcare professional may need, it is not capable of teaching the art of human communication. Doctors, nurses, and anyone else who chooses to work in the healthcare industry must learn the importance of communication. Patients communicate in many ways. They may tell the doctor what is wrong or they may exhibit physical signs. It is up to the doctor to listen as carefully as possible. Being able to see and hear what the patient is trying to communicate is one of the most important aspects of being a healthcare professional.
How Do I Move Up in the Healthcare Industry?
There are several ways to move up or advance within the healthcare industry. Promotions may be offered, but this usually only occurs after the potential candidate has put in the work and actually earned the opportunity to advance to a higher position. If you want to be considered for the best healthcare career, you need to be willing to put all of your efforts into proving that you are worthy of the opportunity. There are several ways to accomplish this.
Continue Your Education
If you want to move up in the healthcare industry, the key is to continue your education. Explore a specialization. Take advantage of any chance to learn something new. Anything you can do to continue the learning process is beneficial to the future of your career. If you have taken state boards and earned a license or certification of any kind, you are required to complete a specific number of continuing education credit hours each year to remain in good standing. If these aren’t completed, your license or certificate will lapse.
Explore New Opportunities
Advancing your career comes naturally if you are in a career like health care administration. If you work in the medical field as a practitioner, you may have to look for new opportunities. Doctors who specialize in a specific type of medicine often create their own advancement opportunities by going out on their own and opening their own practice. Moving up in your field means different things to different people. The best career in healthcare is sometimes what you make it. Knowing the future potential of your position gives you a chance to alter it or move beyond it at any time.
Accept New Challenges
When it comes to advancement in any type of career, accepting new challenges is a great place to start. Anything that challenges you offers you the potential for growth and expansion. If you are willing to open yourself up to new challenges, the amount of growth you achieve is limitless. Challenges come in many forms. It may be a new promotion or an opportunity to explore a whole new field of medicine. The potential for growth in your particular field is often limited to what challenges and opportunities you are willing to open yourself up to. If you’re an RN, become a nurse practitioner. Only have a high school diploma? Get your bachelor’s. Take a chance! Go back to school to learn about a new technique or new specialization. How far you are willing to take your career is totally up to you!
What Does the Future Look Like for the Health Care Industry?
The future of the healthcare services industry is very bright. Although there will always be the need for direct, hands-on care, technological advancements in the field of medicine and health care, in general, are opening the door to many new horizons. The use of robotics for very intricate, precision surgical techniques have been around for several years. It’s the expansion into the digital world allowing individuals to receive quality health care without ever leaving their homes that is in the news currently. People are also able to access their medical records and manage their own health care, helping patients develop an active role in creating their care plans.
Technological Advancements
The “teledoc” programs offered by many hospitals and healthcare centers are making it possible for more people to receive the care they need. They schedule virtual appointments, allowing them to speak to their physician without ever leaving their home. They can also visit their regular doctor while they are on vacation instead of speaking with a provider they don’t know. Patients also have immediate access to all of their medical records and prescription medications through online patient portals. This allows them to monitor their own treatment plan. They can ask more questions and play a more active role in their own care.
Maintaining Patient/Practitioner Relationships
If you want to be successful in any type of health or medical field, it is up to you to maintain a positive patient/practitioner relationship. Be open to questions. The biggest part of communication is learning how to listen when you treat patients. Show your patients you are actually hearing what they say by expanding on what they are telling you. Ask them for details. The one thing that all of your years of schooling cannot teach you is empathy. The best way to show your patients that you truly care is to show them that you are not just listening, but hearing what they are saying to you.
More Opportunities for Advancement
The future of health care holds more opportunities for advancement than we could ever imagine. As technology advances and more doors are opened, medical professionals will be able to address many conditions more effectively and efficiently than ever before. If you are in a position where opportunities for advancement are few and far between, make your own. Explore a new field of medicine that compliments what you are doing now. Use your continuing education hours to learn a new technique. The future is open to possibilities, even if you have to create them yourself! Creating your own path will give you a chance to build a career that you can be proud of.
In-demand health professionals include:
- occupational therapy assistants
- nurse practitioners
- physical therapist assistants
- physical therapist aides
- medical assistants
- nurse anesthetists
- physician assistants
- home health aides
- vocational nurses
- nurse midwives
Other health professionals in the healthcare sector may work in technology like medical imaging or massage therapy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows enormous job growth in these areas. In the next decade, we will see new jobs that may not even exist today.
Build Your Own Future
The key to the future of health care is in your hands. You can choose to stay where you are and wait for the best health care jobs to come to you or you can take the initiative and make your own path to a brighter future. Apply for a new position. Look for an area in the medical or healthcare field that will offer you the type of challenges you are looking for. Going back to school and enrolling in an online degree program allows you to learn and work at the same time. Sometimes enrolling in a new program will put you on the path to bigger and better things. Completing the program will give you the boost you need to go above and beyond your own expectations.
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