News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. May, 15, 2020: Society is continually changing. As it changes, the healthcare industry has to evolve to overcome new challenges, meet demands, and provide appropriate care. The healthcare industry plays an important part in the economic and physical health of everyone in the U.S. Healthcare professionals are crucial to enforcing and enacting policies and making sure the systems run smoothly. Today, we need these professionals more than we’ve ever needed them before.
A number of current challenges have reinforced our need for qualified professionals in the healthcare industry, such as:
- Changes in health care policy
- The aging Baby Boomer generation
- New technological advancements
These professionals are needed to be able to:
- Implement policy changes quickly and effectively
- Lead hospitals
- Manage information systems.
Almost every country around the world needs more healthcare professionals. Working as a healthcare professional is a very rewarding career choice. You will play a part in keeping large numbers of people fit and healthy. What could be more rewarding than that? Keep reading below to find out why healthcare professionals are needed more than ever in the Caribbean and in fact around the world:
Healthcare Professionals Can Have an Impact on the Whole Nation
Healthcare professionals work together to try and keep us healthy. One brilliant example of a healthcare professional who had a major impact on the health of a large group of people is that of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. In 2016, Dr. Hanna-Attisha discovered that the drinking water in Flint, Michigan was contaminated with lead. She noticed the link when a number of children visited the hospital with high levels of lead in their blood. Dr. Hanna-Attisha remembered that the water source in Flint had recently been changed and realized that this could have been the possible cause of the problem. Dr. Hanna-Attisha raised her concerns and they were found to be correct.
This led to a new children’s hospital opening nearby to look after patients. The public health initiative worked alongside a number of other people to reduce the impact of the Flint Water Crisis and to try and stop it from happening in the future. Dr. Hanna-Attisha is just one example of a healthcare professional who has made a huge impact on society.
Why the Caribbean Needs Healthcare Professionals Now More Than Ever
Political party changes, demographic shifts, and technological advancements have helped shape our health care systems for a number of years, and these will continue to play a part in the future of healthcare. Here are some of the main reasons why the Caribbean needs health care professionals now more than ever:
1. An Aging Population of Baby Boomers
Between the years of 1946 and 1964, approximately 76 million people were born. They were given the label of the Baby Boomer generation. Here are some facts about the Baby Boomer generation:
- It was the largest increase in population in America’s history
- In 2012, the oldest members of this society reached retirement age
- The younger members of this society will reach retirement age by 2030.
- On average 11,000 people are retiring every day.
- Most baby boomers have to rely on Medicaid or Medicare for their healthcare after retirement. This is having a huge impact on the economy and on resources.
Our life expectancy is increasing, which means more and more people are relying on healthcare provision for longer than ever before. This means that more healthcare professionals are needed to take care of the increasing population.
Healthcare professionals also need to be able to manage staff, provide care, and manage IT systems. This means we need more professionals who specialize in leadership, management, finance, and technology.
2. A Growing Biopharmaceutical Industry
The market research firm Evaluate Pharma has predicted a 6.3% growth in the pharmaceutical industry by 2022. This has increased by over 5% since its last predicted growth rate in 2020. As demand increases, we need more qualified professionals in this industry.
3. An Ever-changing Environment Led by Politics
Of all the economic, social, and technological factors that affect health care, the main driver of change has to be politics.
In 2014, a Gallop Poll discovered that party affiliation is the most relevant factor in America’s opinions on health care.
The Affordable Care Act is likely to change soon, thanks to the current political mood. These changes will be implemented over the next few years and the healthcare industry must have trustworthy, well-educated, and knowledgeable staff to implement the changes made.
The three main categories of health care policy jobs are:
- Healthcare settings careers – as the health care system in the Caribbean continues to change, many healthcare providers are looking for qualified individuals who are experienced with health policy to fill positions. These types of jobs require ongoing education. If you’re thinking of improving your knowledge and education, then accredited online MHA programs might be the right choice for you. This program will help you gain the knowledge and skills you need to be a leader in the healthcare industry.
- Healthcare consulting career – most health care providers can’t afford to employ professionals who are trained in health care policy so they choose to outsource this work instead. These companies have access to advanced modeling and data which health care providers cannot access.
- Government policy career – these careers give you the opportunity to make changes in government policies before they’re implemented. Professionals in this industry are expected to analyze the success or failure of current policies and suggest possible changes.
4. Competition Improves Creativity
It has been shown that competition leads to creativity when professionals are excited about the task they’re completing. However, professionals who feel anxious about a task will be more likely to use unethical behavior.
Individuals who succeed will be more likely to make a difference through their work. This will keep their creativity and drive flowing. All areas of the healthcare industry can benefit from increased competition and creativity. Creativity and excitement for a task will depend on the person’s preferences and strengths. As more professionals start their careers, there will be more chances to specialize in specific niches.
5. New Technology
Improvements to the existing technology and the introduction of new technology are affecting the healthcare industry with breakthroughs in:
- Research
- Data collection
- Treatment options
Remote patient monitoring will soon allow healthcare professionals to monitor their patients from the comfort of their own homes.
Technological advancements in the healthcare industry have led to doctors relying on telemedicine more than ever before. As this technology continues to evolve, there will be an increase in the need for healthcare professionals who can manage, analyze, and create this type of new technology.
People who choose a career in the healthcare industry can expect a very fulfilling and rewarding career. Dr. Hanna-Attisha is just one example of a healthcare professional who has made a huge impact on her local community.
In the next few years, we expect to see an increase in the demand for healthcare professionals in the Caribbean and around the world. Now more than ever before, the Caribbean needs more health care professionals to handle the increase in demand, design new policies, accelerate the biopharmaceutical industry, and manage technological advancements.
