Macro-Trends effect on healthcare careers

Macro-Trends effect on healthcare careersMichelle cvach, alice shryock, Charlene palma, and jaya sharmaUMUC-hcad 600 9080

Career openings by 2020Cyber SecurityHealth Information TechnologyEpic Systems CorporationConsulting FirmsHealth Care Quality Assurance

As the healthcare world continuously expands, there will be a multitude of career openings by the year 2020.2

Cyber securityTechnology growth is booming.Jobs will be needed in order to protect patient information.Recent data breaches in stores, this can also happen to patient records.HIPAAHow can we tighten security procedures?

With most health care institutions becoming more and more involved with online patient record systems, blooming technology, and prevalence of smart phones, patient information is at risk of being leaked. Jobs in cyber security will be much needed in the future of health care in order to protect this valuable patient information. The annual cost of healthcare fraud was between $75 billion and $250 billion in 2009 (Diana, 2014).

In the past few years, there have been many data breaches at universities and even department stores, such as Target. If hackers can access this information so quickly, what will stop them from targeting health care systems?

HIPAA rules provide a framework for securing private health information, but the regulations are fairly hands-off in terms of the specific technologies and policies used to achieve compliance (Colias, 2004, pp. 60-4).

According to this article written by Colias, the tightening of security procedures includes the following: authentication by managing user IDs and passwords, configuration by not using default settings as they are as open as possible, patch management, and the proper education and training of end users.3

Health information technologyEHRs and Meaningful Use

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are becoming more prevalent in medical institutions as part of Meaningful Use requirements. With the growing amount of EHRs in hospitals, there is an increasing need for health information technology assistance. These jobs can be anywhere from entry level to high level. Approximately 272,286 people will be EHR technicians by 2022, compared with 186,300 two years ago according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates (Diana, 2014).4

Epic systems corporationWhat is Epic?Different applicationsEmploying many people and growing

To go along with EHRs and cyber security, Epic is the most widely used EHR in the world. Epics applications support different aspects of patient care tailored for each department, such as ASAP is for the emergency department and Beacon is for the oncology department. The company had revenue of $1.5 billion this year, up from $1.2 billion in 2011 and $47 million in 2000. It employs about 6,800 people, and its workforce has more than tripled since 2005 (Gallagher, 2013). The author also states that in the past eight years; on average Epic have hired more than two people every weekday. This company is booming and will continue to grow as the need for EHRs in hospitals increases.5

Consulting firmsNeeded because of the growth of EHRsWhat do consulting firms do?

The growth of Epic has produced hundreds of consulting firms that help hospitals and health care providers install and operate Epic electronic medical record systems (Gallagher, 2013). Consulting firms recruit experts who are available for hire for short term or long term assignments in order to evaluate practice or complete an assessment of something such as Epic. The demand for these consultants is continuously growing and is currently at an all-time high. These consultants need to be able to manage systems such as Epic once the system is up and running at a medical institution. This includes optimizing software to be harmonious with the hospitals preferred workflows and educating super users and end users to be proficient in using the system before and after go lives.6

Health care quality assuranceAlways neededWhy are these careers important?

There will always be a need for quality assurance in a healthcare setting. Careers in this field are important because they audit processes by prescribers and providers to assure that patients are receiving the safest and top quality care that they can receive. The IT side of this deals with testing the quality of different types of software before they are used in a hospital setting. As technology increases day by day, there is a greater need for quality assurance managers in order to provide the best products to hospitals to ensure patient safety.7

U.S. Health care system and the economyThe future of the U.S. healthcare system will continue to evolve.One-sixth of the US economy is spent on healthcare.

Need to recognize the misuse of funds

Eliminate fee-for-service payment models and focusing on quality, not quantity

With the amount off money that is spent each year, we need to get a grip on how to make the necessary changes to use that money correctly. There are many systems that are being implemented and looked at that can be used but it will take some time to get some traction. One of the most reconizable is of course trying to eliminate the old antiquated system of fee-for-service

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Impact of Demographics on Future Healthcare ProfessionsThe older population, persons 65 years or older numbered 39.6 million in 2009The baby boomers are going to retire

We are living longer

The aging population is going to continue to grow

Because the aging population is going to continue to grow. This will continue to put a strain on your entire healthcare system, especially if we do not start to make the necessary changes now. The medicare and social security sytems will and are going to take the hit.

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Personal lifestyles and behaviors of patientsChanges in the environment and lifestyles of patients are creating health problems in the US.ObesityDiabetesHypertension

Obesity is not always a choice, but the way in which many Americans live is contributing to this new epidemic and creating uncertainties in how the healthcare industry will successfully handle future obesity problems. Diseases such as diabetes and hypertension are results of obesity and the increase in patients with these illnesses will put a tremendous strain on the healthcare system in the future

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Personal lifestyles and behaviors of patientsIn trying to kick the cigarette habit, many Americans are turning to e-cigarettes.Are they safe?What are future problems associated with e-cigarette use?

The idea that smokers can still get the nicotine fix they crave without the carcinogens is appealing; however, not much is known about the long-term effects of e-cigarette usage. The uncertainty of exactly how future healthcare costs are unknown

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Nano-biotechnologyNano-biotechnologytechnology applied at the nano-scale.What is it used for?Treating illnesses and disease at a much smaller scale/cellular level.

According to Safdar (2010), Biotechnology is a field of technology that applies technology to biological sciences; nano-biotechnology applies this technology on the nano-scale (para. 1). In some cases nano-robots can complete processes and procedures in less invasively.

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Smartphone usageSmartphones are another trend impacting future healthcare in the U.S.Patients can receive healthcare from the convenience of their own home.Streamlines appointment process.Reduces costs in care.

The ability to seek health care over a phone, via chats, texts, and video calls will allow patients the benefit of care without having to leave their homes. According to Sullivan (2014), Mobile telehealth is an exciting new opportunity to advance how the industry administers and consumes healthcare as well

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Government (state and federal) policiesA final trend affecting healthcare in the future is the application of government (whether federal or state) systems.Most controversial government program at this time is the universal healthcare plan, or the Affordable Healthcare Act.

The country is split on AHA, but for the first time, many Americans who have never had health care in the past now have a strong health care plan.

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