As 2021 draws closer to its end, many people are already starting to look ahead to 2022 and discussing what it may bring. The healthcare industry has been under the microscope for quite some time, drawing plenty of attention. With that said, there are plenty of professionals both in and outside the industry, wondering what kind of healthcare trends will play out in the upcoming year. This can help to shape job growth, investments, technology advancements, education and so forth.
While it’s impossible to accurately predict every trend, some healthcare trends have already begun and show no signs of slowing down in 2022. So, let’s take a look at what some of the biggest and most exciting ones are.
Watch for AI to Play a Bigger Role
Artificial intelligence is nothing new, but it seems as though most industries are only scratching the surface of what it’s capable of. Healthcare is no exception as it seems people are only just starting to understand how it can benefit and transform the industry. It’s hard to predict where this trend will go, but one thing is for certain and that’s the fact that it will be sticking around. The only question is how advanced it will become and what new tools, technologies and equipment will be introduced over the next year.
If we were to point out one trend, it would be medical mobile apps. Watch for these to blow up and take hold in the upcoming year. These apps are meant to make healthcare more accessible and easier to understand for the everyday person. Some of these can help with symptoms, others can track and monitor health conditions and readings, and then some use ‘augmented intelligence’ as a way to assist physicians.
The idea isn’t that AI will take over healthcare in the sense that you no longer need to see your doctor; instead, it offers extra help to doctors.
Wearable Devices Continue to Hit the Mainstream
While on the topic of AI and technology, this leads to the next trend that shows no signs of stopping and that is wearable devices. These have truly become mainstream with more and more people wearing devices that give insight into their health and well-being. Not only are they interesting, but they can offer doctors and healthcare professionals a more in-depth look at the patient’s health profile.
Online Schooling – Making Education More Accessible Than Ever Before
Another trend that is continuing its upward track is the number of students choosing online schooling for their healthcare-related paths. Online schooling has come a long way since its initial introduction. Today, people can find a huge variety of courses and programs available, and the schools are highly respected in the industry. An online degree will gain the same amount of respect as attending in-person – something that wasn’t the case in the beginning.
As for what specific courses people are interested in, the online ABSN programs from schools like Baylor University are proving popular, giving students all that they need to succeed in healthcare. The Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing will ensure that, as soon as the student graduates, they are ready to find a job as a registered nurse, allowing them to work in a variety of workplaces and cities/towns. It truly opens the door to a very exciting future.
Registered Nurses – Very Much In-demand Country-Wide
Speaking of registered nurses, this is another trend worth noting in healthcare. While the pandemic has certainly highlighted the shortage of RNs across the country, this was an issue that was already occurring pre-pandemic days. So much of the job force is either retiring now or looks to retire within the next couple of years. The baby boomers are creating shortages in all kinds of industries as they leave the workforce, and RNs are one of them.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, registered nurses are expected to grow by 9% from 2020-2030, which is about the average rate of growth in the country. But keep in mind there are some states where the growth will be much faster and higher.
Some of the areas where growth is expected to be much higher are outpatient care centers. These centers are unique in that patients are just there for same-day treatments, so there is no overnight stay. They have become very popular and quite busy, requiring plenty of staff to keep them operating.
Other areas where RNs are expected to be in demand in the coming years are long-term care or residential care facilities. Again, this trend can be attributed to the aging baby boomers who will need more care. For those wondering what kind of salary you can expect as an RN, the median pay for 2020 was $75,330 with some states paying more or less. Registered nurses that worked for the government made more, with hospitals coming in second.
Healthcare Will Continue to Become a More Personalized Experience
We can attribute this trend to technology as well, as this is another big transformation in healthcare. Watch for things to become more personalized, meaning our overall health and well-being will take a more customized approach thanks to the use of genomics and genetics. The deeper doctors dive into this reality, the easier it becomes to start to identify risk factors and indicators in people.
This is a movement towards preventative medicine and care, rather than reactionary. The idea is that you can predict what issues may arise so you can hopefully address them in advance and even prevent it from happening.
Information can also be used to help determine how a patient may react to a particular type of treatment course or medication, which means healthcare professionals can pick the treatment that best suits that particular patient.
As discussed, there are several interesting trends in the healthcare industry that will continue to be big throughout 2022. The healthcare industry, in general, is filled with exciting opportunities and advancements that can benefit the public at large, so it’s well worth staying on top of them.
