If you’re interested in changing careers to the health care field, there is likely to be plenty of information to go through and absorb. Here’s a brief overview of the health care industry and the numerous opportunities it offers, as well as the wide range of settings and organizations that it can provide.
The health care sector is the biggest industry of all in the United States, and with increasing numbers of Baby Boomers retiring every year, the sector continues to create jobs to meet the needs of a growing population.
In fact, as per estimations by estimates from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of health professionals has increased by 29% over the past ten years, whereas the population grew only 10 percent. Health care employment is currently 16.6 million, and it is predicted to rise to 19.8 million by the year 2018, with a growth of 20 percent.
Jobs in Healthcare
One of the primary reasons for the huge growth of jobs is that the field of health care is so varied, as it is a variety of jobs and professions. These opportunities are an opportunity for anyone who wants to make a career change into the health industry.
Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, future job growth is expected for a variety of health care occupations. Nurses, physicians assistants, physician assistants and physical therapists along dental and medical assistants as well and home health aids are all predicted to see growth in jobs.
Careers in health care that require hands-on experience for those who wish to aid or treat people include:
- Doctors (many different types)
- Nurses (many different types)
- Assistants to physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Physical Therapists
- Medical emergency technicians (EMTs)
- Speech pathologists
- Technicians in Radiology
Additionally, the health care sector also includes jobs that do not provide direct care to patients:
- Research
- Management
- Marketing
- Accounting and finance
- IT and Internet
- Administrative posts
Although transitioning into an IT job in healthcare after an IT job in another sector may not require as much change, an entirely new healthcare career usually requires further education as well as training and certification.
Healthcare Employers
Alongside the huge variety of possibilities and opportunities, another striking feature regarding the health care sector is the wide variety of workplaces and the various types of organizations you could join in these careers.
- Hospitals: Hospitals remain the largest employers in this sector, as more than one-third of all health professionals work in our national hospitals. Hospitals provide a lively, bustling, vibrant, and thriving environment that is stimulating; however, some jobs are filled with stress and stress. It is a setting that must be analyzed and studied thoroughly before deciding to take that step.
- Health Maintenance and Preferred Provider Organizations: PPOs and HMOs are another rising field for employment opportunities in the healthcare field. They provide medical coverage as well as health services and provider networks to their customers. The jobs in these fields involve the same range of jobs that are mentioned above, like nurses, doctors’ assistants, managers, IT, business, and administrative personnel, just to mention a few.
- Clinics: Candidates for career transitions who are interested can look into clinics and other organizations that offer MRIs as well as physical therapy treatment for alcohol and diabetes, drug rehabilitation, chemotherapy, and kidney dialysis.
- Research: Being employed in research clinics or labs does not offer hands-on experiences working with patients. These jobs are for those looking to conduct clinical trials or conduct diagnostic tests in order to aid in the improvement of medical conditions for many patients. The jobs in this fiel,d as well as those in other fields, require a significant amount of training and education.
- Home Care: Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Long-Term Care Organizations
As a result of our population’s aging and the aging of our population, home care and assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities are booming at a rapid rate. It is also the ideal place to start your journey into the healthcare sector. Many of these businesses offer weekend and part-time work, which allows you to see whether this career path is the right fit for you. - Hospices: Hospices provide quality care for seniors nearing the end of their lives and for patients who are terminally ill. Anyone who is looking for a position where they can offer the strength and compassion to families and patients is likely to find a suitable match in this.
Bottom Line
These companies are ideal for people who wish to work in a field that is related to the care of patients and is in close contact with patients. They also offer many of the same kinds of jobs that every other employer that does not directly interact with patients. These include accounting, finance, Internet, administrative, and so on.