Amazing Careers in Healthcare Industry

Are you looking for specialization with amazing future job opportunities or you’re a student with study-abroad aspirations? Then, read on! As a career mentor with many years of teaching and mentoring experience at universities in the United States, I monitor employability ‘trends’ in global economies that indicate which industries are thriving and where the jobs of the future will grow. Tech is certainly one of them. But, today I’m not talking about Data Analytics and Computer Science! This blog is about another industry that has grown immensely since the pandemic in the healthcare industry. The jobs in healthcare have seen an enormous spurt globally! And, this trend is projected to continue. Countries will implement what they have learned about the importance of health systems during the pandemic and translate that into projects. This will generate millions of job opportunities at different levels of the healthcare industry. In this blog, I will tell you about the types of careers in healthcare, what are the best study programs for careers in healthcare, etc.

Basic fact :

• Healthcare is not the same as the study of medicine! It’s a much broader term including a variety of functions and services related to the health and management of ‘Care-Work’. 
• Are all healthcare jobs in hospitals?  Not at all! The Healthcare industry has millions of jobs that do not require a medical degree.

Patients are the ‘clients’ but they can be serviced at health centres or other facilities. All patients may not be acutely ‘ill’. They may have chronic conditions which require supervision or need long-term rehabilitation, physical therapy, counselling, etc. Therefore, if you are studying Social Sciences, Humanities, Psychology, Public Health, Data Science, or any other subject, you can certainly explore jobs in healthcare.

What is Healthcare?

One of the largest industries in terms of both employment and revenue is healthcare. Hospitals, medical equipment, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance, and other businesses make up the industry. The public and private sectors make up the two main components of the Indian healthcare delivery system.

The organised delivery of medical care to individuals and communities is referred to as healthcare. Doctors, nurses, and other front-line clinicians are not the only professions in healthcare, according to the definition. Administrators, therapists, chiropractors, paramedics, and technology specialists are also included in this field.

The healthcare industry is expanding quickly as a result of rising public and private player spending, services, and coverage. In recent years, the healthcare industry has grown by about 25% annually. By 2022, the healthcare market is expected to grow by three times, or Rs 8.6 trillion (US$ 133.44 billion). India is ranked 145th out of 195 nations for healthcare quality and accessibility.

In recent years, the healthcare sector has grown by about 25% annually. Healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, lab technicians, pharmacists, radiologists, IT specialists, etc. are in demand due to the expansion. Professionals need to have a thorough understanding of the subject. Candidates can now choose from a variety of hospital management courses to further their education.

Relevant Read: Healthcare Management Courses: All You Need To Know

Why Pursue a Career in Healthcare Industry?

Opportunities in clinical work, therapy, leadership, and public health are attractive to healthcare professionals. Depending on the skill sets, different tasks, pay grades, and responsibilities apply. Clinical healthcare, therapy and rehabilitation, healthcare administration, public health, and other professions are available to those in the healthcare industry. Here are some justifications for choosing a career in healthcare.

• Job expansion and stability: One benefits from more options and much better job security as a healthcare professional. Healthcare professionals are also less likely to lose their jobs as a result of market downsizing.
• All levels of education and experience can find work: Regardless of education or experience level, there are many healthcare jobs available. Medical secretaries, medical coders, medical records technicians, health information managers, and many other in-demand healthcare professions are just a few of the positions that are open in the entire healthcare industry.
• Earning potential that is competitive: The high demand for workers in the healthcare sector makes careers in the industry some of the highest-paying options.
• The healthcare industry is exciting and quick-paced: The medical industry is fascinating and dynamic. Every day brings new information and challenges, keeping things interesting even in positions in healthcare that are behind the scenes.

What are the ‘Care-Work’ Jobs in Healthcare Industry?  

Here are some examples:

• Support Workers
• Pharmacists
• Occupational Therapists
• Nursing
• Child Psychologists 
• De-addiction experts
• Community Care Officers
• Disability Care Management
• Community Health

Here are some important specializations :

• Sports medicine (these professionals also accompany teams that travel globally)
• Physiotherapists specializing in Sports Injuries
• Movement Specialist (post-trauma treatment)
• Speech Therapist

Must Read: Top Tips to Build a Strong Profile

At What Level can I Study Healthcare?

You can study healthcare at many levels:

• Diploma level
• Undergraduate degree
• Managerial courses (Hospital administration etc.)
• Masters programs (in any specialization eg. Physical Therapy, Counselling, etc.)
• MBA with courses in Healthcare Management

Must Read: MBA Healthcare Management

Skills Required to Pursue a Career in Healthcare Industry

Here are a few soft skills required to pursue a career in the healthcare industry:

1. Communication skills
2. Teamwork
3. Initiative
4. Interpersonal skills
5. Problem-Solving skills
6. Analytical skills
7. Technical skills
8. Time Management
9. Confidence
10. Flexibility

Also Read: 5 Amazing Post-pandemic Career Options

Are All Healthcare Jobs in Hospitals? Do I have to Deal with Patients?

Not all healthcare jobs are in hospitals there are also many careers:

• MBA specializations ( innovation; entrepreneurship, finance, marketing as applicable to Healthcare business)
• Courses in Strategy and Risk Analysis with a focus on Healthcare Industry
• Engineering degrees that teach Design ( for medical devices like scans, Xray, MRIs, or laparoscopy)
• Data Entry assistants
• Software engineers and coders to design software for hospital data or patient records
• Cybersecurity experts to protect hospital data.

Although the pandemic is now receding in many countries, the healthcare industry will continue to grow. Every economy will calculate the costs and benefits of providing better facilities and programs for its citizens who are ageing, suffer from a disability, or lack access to basic healthcare. Jobs will continue to grow in healthcare research and management of hospitals and health centres. The work of every doctor in the world is supported by many other professionals. Thus, professionals who are paramedics, good administrators, managers, marketers, technology experts, psychologists, counselling professionals, and so on will be required apart from medical doctors.

Thus, depending on your aptitude, you can apply your subject background to any aspect of the healthcare industry. You can choose a study abroad program which will give you an understanding of healthcare systems. This will add to your base degree (whether it is in social sciences, public policy, computer science, engineering, or psychology) and equip you with amazing credentials.

Top Healthcare Courses and Universities Abroad

To help with your searches we have chosen a few programs related to careers in the healthcare industry that exist in the UK and USA (below). These are not on any list of priorities. They are to facilitate your searches for Study Abroad opportunities.

Relevant Read: Healthcare Courses in the UK

FAQs

We will be back next Friday with another amazing blog from Dr Maina Chawla Singh. Till then, if you have any questions or suggestions, just drop us a comment and we will get back to you. Want to study abroad? Our Leverage Edu study abroad consultants are ready to assist you in narrowing down the best course and university options according to your interests and preferences.