The Future of Healthcare Careers

Jobs in healthcare have, for the most part, always been in high demand — from behind-the-scenes administrative positions to direct patient-care roles. But the pandemic has especially impacted the need for those jobs and how healthcare works in general. What does that mean for the future of healthcare jobs? Here’s what you should know.

How has healthcare evolved since the pandemic began

The need for social distancing has changed how in-person healthcare providers see patients and accelerated how we use technology for healthcare. From limited in-person appointments to at-the-door temperature checks, visiting a doctor or going to the hospital isn’t as easy as it may have been in the past. All these changes have also impacted how those in the healthcare field do their everyday work. Some of the “new” changes include

• More people using telemedicine. Telemedicine, or telehealth, has been around since before the pandemic but it didn’t take hold as a regular way of seeing patients until social distancing became a priority. With more people using telehealth for wellness visits and simple medical issues, it’s easier to safely space out in-office appointments.
• Remote work opportunities. For most healthcare jobs, you’ll go into an office or the hospital for your shifts. But because of the need to stop the spread, jobs that could be were transferred to a remote work option — even if only for a few days out of the week.
• An emphasis on different jobs and new roles. The pandemic caused some previously overlooked jobs to be more in-demand and created some new jobs.

While many of these changes have been necessary because of the pandemic, they’re here to stay, offering new opportunities for those looking to start a career in healthcare.

What jobs have become available in healthcare in 2020

Many roles that were in demand before have continued to grow because of the pandemic. More support staff have been needed to handle appointment scheduling, check -ins, billing, and more hands-on tasks like taking a patient’s vital signs. In addition to these, new or previously low-demand jobs have become just as important to the healthcare field during COVID-19. The jobs that have become available — or more important — in healthcare in 2021 are

• Contact tracer. Contact tracers work to ensure the spread of the virus is contained and are responsible for contacting those who may have been exposed.
• Home health aide. COVID-19 can be the most dangerous for older patients, so it’s been safer for them to stay home instead of travelling for routine care. That’s where home health aides come in. They’re able to come to a client’s home, check vitals, ensure medications are filled and taken properly, and more in order to ensure the health of the patient.
• Medical assistant. Medical assistants play a vital role in healthcare, completing both administrative and clinical tasks. With more patients worried about their health and the roll out of the two COVID-19 vaccines, more medical assistants could be needed to support the office they work for — from checking in patients and taking vital signs, like temperature, to assisting a physician with vaccines.
• Sterile processing technician. Sterile processing technicians are responsible for ensuring that surgical tools and other medical items are properly sanitized before and after use. In a pandemic, making sure things are sterile as possible is an important role in hospitals and clinics.
• Pharmacy technician. As the vaccines continue to roll out to Americans, the Department of Health is allowing qualified, certified pharmacy technicians to assist in immunizing patients. More pharmacies will soon be receiving vaccines and qualified technicians will be in-demand to make sure as many people are vaccinated as possible.

Why are these jobs doing so well during the pandemic

As essential employees, those working in healthcare have been on the frontlines of the pandemic. From hospitals to private physician’s offices, healthcare jobs are important to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and ensuring overall wellness for all patients. With more people seeking healthcare and new vaccines available, those who play a role in keeping others well will see more demand and job growth.

Prepare for a healthcare career today

Whether you’re interested in helping behind-the-scenes or want to be on the frontlines, there’s no better time than now to take the next steps toward a rewarding career that can help others. With Ashworth’s flexible, online healthcare programs, you can get ready for a potential job in a variety of roles — all from home! To find the right program for you, reach out to our Admissions Team at .