The COVID-19 pandemic caused many changes in people’s daily lives. Healthcare workers have been affected in even greater numbers, which has dramatically impacted their personal and professional lives.
The growing use of telemedicine, the heightened focus on sanitation and cleanliness, and the recent shortage of qualified healthcare professionals have partly been caused by COVID-19. Keep reading to find out more information on these shifts!
Growth of Telemedicine
You may be wondering, what exactly is telemedicine? Telemedicine is when healthcare providers use technology and telecommunications to assess, diagnose, and treat patients remotely.
For example, let’s say you wake up one morning and notice a rash on your leg. You decide to schedule a telemedicine doctor appointment. This visit will most likely be completed via video call. Your healthcare professional will ask the same questions they do at an in-person appointment. They will probably ask questions like how long the rash has been there, what caused it, and they may even want to see it on camera. After assessing your rash and making a diagnosis, your doctor will provide treatment, like calling in a prescription to your pharmacy.
It’s become much more common to assess and treat patients via telemedicine because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One great benefit of telemedicine is that it allows healthcare providers to treat patients from their own homes, which can stop the spread of illnesses since people who are contagious don’t have to go anywhere to receive care. Another great benefit of telemedicine is that it provides doctors an effective way to treat patients who live in more rural areas, as these patients may not have a local healthcare facility they can go to.
According to McKinsey & Company, people using telehealth services increased 38 times from what it was before the pandemic began. With this significant increase in people using telehealth, there will be more opportunities than ever for those who want to work in telemedicine.
If you choose a career in the healthcare field, you could one day treat patients via telemedicine.
Focus on Sanitation
The focus on sanitation and cleanliness has increased from the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. For essential healthcare employees, many standards of cleanliness and sanitation must be followed for proper infection control in medical facilities.
Even at home or in public places, healthcare professionals and others have changed to a heightened focus on cleanliness. For example, experts recommend washing your hands for at least 20 seconds numerous times throughout the day with warm soapy water to prevent the spread of germs.
The CDC recommends that high-touch surfaces in community buildings be cleaned at least once daily. Light switches, desks, keyboards, phones, countertops, and shopping carts are all considered high-touch surfaces.
For essential healthcare workers, it’s critical to consistently perform cleanliness and sanitation activities to stop the spread of germs in the workplace and at home.
Shortage of Professionals
Even before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rising shortage of healthcare professionals. Factors like the additional care required for the aging baby boomer generation and increased access to healthcare means that the need for qualified medical professionals has been increasing for years.
Phlebotomists are one example of this growing need for healthcare professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the projected growth rate for phlebotomists from 2020 to 2030 is 22%, with an estimated 19,500 job openings for phlebotomists every year in the United States.
As the COVID-19 pandemic moved throughout the US, the need for healthcare professionals climbed even higher. Healthcare facilities like hospitals, doctor’s offices, and clinics have had to provide care to many more patients, and now, many of them are experiencing a shortage of essential healthcare professionals.
To try and attract more qualified medical professionals, some healthcare providers are offering sign-on bonuses and increasing employee salaries. With this growing need for trained medical professionals, now is a great time to start a career in healthcare.
If you’re ready to jump-start your career in the expanding healthcare industry, Boardman Training Center is here to help!
Discover our healthcare training programs in Cardio Phlebotomy, EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and Medical Office Specialist. Contact us at 330-729-9244 or request information now to get started on your path to a new healthcare career!