For quite some time now, America has been experiencing a shortage of medical professionals. New people are coming into the healthcare field but not as quickly as people are leaving it. Because of that, quite a few jobs in healthcare are going to be in high demand in the years to come. Though virtually all branches of the field need qualified professionals, some are expected to be more in-demand than others.
Nurse Practitioners
For one, the medical field needs nurse practitioners. America’s aging population and an ongoing uptick in the number of people suffering from chronic conditions is driving up the need for medical care. Nurse practitioners can provide that care in conjunction with doctors or own their own. Additionally, the world of medical care is shifting right now from a focus on reactive treatments to preventative medicine, and nurse practitioners can aid in that respect as well.
Within the next decade, the need for nurse practitioners is expected to grow by 40 percent or more. Those who are carrying out a nurse practitioner job search will find numerous openings available in clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, correctional facilities, and many other settings. Positions are available in an array of specialties as well, and in some areas, NPs can open their own practices rather than working alongside physicians.
Physician Assistants
There’s also a growing need for physician assistants. Growth in this arena is expected to surpass 28 percent in the years to come. As is the case with NPs, PAs can help bridge many gaps in the medical field, including those left by the growing shortage of physicians and the surging need for medical care. Furthermore, concierge medicine is becoming more common, and in these practices, doctors look to PAs to help them give patients more attention and provide more customized care. Physician assistants can work in general practices or specialty arenas, and numerous job openings are available.
Home Health Aides
Home health aides are also in high demand. People are increasingly choosing to age in place rather than in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. More people are realizing the value of receiving medical care in their homes rather than going to a doctor’s office or hospital as well. On top of that, insurance companies are making more allowances than ever for at-home care. All of that is driving up the demand for medical professionals to provide care in people’s homes. This is a physically and emotionally demanding job, but it can also be highly flexible and rewarding.
Genetic Counselor
Genomic medicine is a fairly new development in the medical field, but it’s expected to grow and branch out in numerous directions in the future. With that being the case, genetic counselors are going to be in high demand. They work with people who are living with genetic conditions and who could pass them along to future generations. They provide genetic testing and risk assessments while also offering counseling services and helping people make decisions about treatments and other matters. This is going to be a rapidly changing profession as the field grows, and it’s sure to have profound impacts on people’s lives.
Choosing a Healthcare Career With the Future in Mind
Jobs in almost every branch of the medical field are expected to grow in the future, and new positions are bound to emerge as healthcare becomes more advanced. These are only a few of the possibilities. Numerous others are also available for people who want to look to the future and devote their careers to making a major difference in people’s lives.
