Healthcare has always been a critical area for humans, but its importance will only grow in the future. As a result of the development of this sphere, new professions appear on the labor market, which are becoming more popular and widespread every year. According to Healthcare careers in 2020: Medical field jobs [Interactive Report] (2021), the fastest-growing medical professions are home health aide, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and radiation therapist.
One of the fastest-growing medical professions is home health aide. Indeed Editorial Team (2021) notes that the number of these professionals will double from 2016 to 2026. HHAs care for people with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, cognitive impairments, or age-related problems who live in their own homes and not in a nursing facility. Depending on the situation, their responsibilities include doing some household chores, including cooking or cleaning, helping with the patient’s hygiene, and accompanying the patient to the doctor or other business. Moreover, HHA is engaged in providing health care services, including medication, changing dressings and checking vital signs, and emotional and social support to patients.
To build a career in this direction, a high school diploma or GED is the minimum requirement. Certification requirements vary by state and employer. Home health aides who work for employers receiving Medicare benefits must complete a set standard of training. The popularity of this profession is associated with demographic, epidemiological, social, and cultural trends that are changing traditional models of care. These include the breakdown of the traditional large family group, urbanization, people’s preference for emotional and physical comfort at home, and increased life expectancy.
The profession of a respiratory therapist is no less relevant in modern conditions. They assist people who have respiratory or cardiovascular problems. Among the patients of such a specialist are premature babies whose lungs are underdeveloped and people with chronic diseases, including bronchitis, asthma, or cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, they also provide care for patients in need of emergency care after a heart attack, drowning, or shock. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021), the number of respiratory therapist jobs held every year will increase by 30 thousand in 2026 and reach more than 160 thousand. A respiratory therapist is responsible for diagnosing respiratory and pulmonary disorders, recommending treatment, and performing the necessary procedures using non-invasive techniques such as CPAP and BIPAP therapy. They also analyze respiration, tissue, and blood samples to assess oxygen and other gas levels and operate ventilators for patients.
Respiratory therapists can practice in various settings, including hospitals, emergency departments, diagnostic laboratories, rehabilitation centers, patient homes, long-term care facilities, and health centers. They are expected to have at least an associate’s degree, although many employers prefer candidates with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy (BSRT) degree. The increase in demand for these specialists is due to the rise in the proportion of older people who have a higher incidence of respiratory diseases and respiratory and cardiovascular disorders in people associated with COVID-19.
Recently, the physical therapist profession has gained particular popularity, which restores or maintains physical activity and health of patients of different ages. This specialist aims to improve the patient’s ability to move, reduce or control pain, restore function, and prevent disability. According to Healthcare careers in 2020: Medical field jobs [Interactive Report] (2021), over the past 15 years, the number of jobs for a physical therapist has tripled and is about 240 thousand. Experts predict their growth so that by 2026 the number of jobs for physical therapists held each year will be more than 300 thousand. US News & World Report ranked the physical therapist as the eleventh place on its list of the best medical professions for 2021. In most cases, Physical therapists work in a private office or clinic. Some physical therapists may work in a hospital, nursing home, or at the patient’s home.
To become a physical therapist, a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) must be completed. At a minimum, a physical therapist must have a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum qualification for admission to the DPT program. Upon completion of the DPT program, physiotherapists will be required to complete a residency program. A physical therapist will need a government license to work in the United States. The relevance of this direction lies in the fact that it significantly reduces the intake of medications, has no side effects with an adequately selected method, accelerates the rehabilitation process, and helps avoid complications after injuries and operations.
Another fastest-growing medical profession in the field of rehabilitation is occupational therapists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021) predicts that the employment of occupational therapists will grow much faster than average, and 32,800 new jobs will be created by 2022. An occupational therapist can help people of all ages when physical and mental illness, disability, long-term condition, or the effects of aging prevent them from performing the actions they need or want to do. The objective of occupational therapy is to restore lost motor functions and re-adapt a person to ordinary life, and help achieve maximum independence in everyday life. Occupational therapists can find work in hospitals, long-term care/skilled nursing facilities, freestanding outpatient clinics, and schools.
The first step to working as an Occupational Therapist is to obtain an appropriate bachelor’s degree. Since 2007, a change has been introduced according to which occupational therapists professionals must have at least a master’s degree. Occupational therapists are in great demand because accidents, illnesses, disabilities, mental health problems, and aging affect many people, making it harder for them to go about their daily activities.
Among the fastest-growing medical professions are radiation therapists, who are part of the cancer patient care team. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2021) suggests the use of radiation therapists to grow faster than average. With the significant aging of the population and advances in radiation therapy, the demand for radiation therapists is increasing. The goal of these specialists is to carry out the treatment prescribed by the radiation oncologists. Radiation therapists work in hospitals, doctors’ offices, and outpatient clinics. To become such a specialist, it is necessary to obtain a bachelor’s degree and complete a certification program in radiation therapy. Credentialing requirements vary by state, but many employers prefer certified radiation therapists. They must complete an accredited training program or work full-time for two years before they are eligible to take the American Registry of Radiological Technologists (ARRT) exam.
For many centuries, humanity suffered from terrible infectious diseases because medicine was not sufficiently developed, and people themselves did not have an idea of the elementary methods of preventing the disease. Now the development of health care provides a person with a wide range of opportunities to prevent and treat many diseases. Every year, due to specific social trends, the demand for particular medical specialties is increasing. Thus, the fastest-growing medical professions at the time are home health aide, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, and radiation therapist. These professionals have specific responsibilities, practice conditions, and educational and certification requirements.
References
- Healthcare careers in 2020: Medical field jobs [Interactive report]. Gwynedd Mercy University. Web.
- Indeed Editorial Team. 20 of the fastest growing health care jobs. Indeed. 2021. Web.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational outlook handbook: home health aides. 2021. Web.