3 Ways Healthcare Training Has Been Impacted By COVID
Regardless of the time that has passed since the Covid-19 shutdown, schools, training facilities, and jobs are still adapting to operate online. This timeframe has brought unique challenges, timely innovations, and emerging trends that are crucial to the development of healthcare fields, especially with obtaining certifications and proper career training.
The healthcare industry is fundamental and necessary, as is the work these employees put in each day is paramount for society. Certainly, this field will continue to expand, diversify, and seek qualified individuals to fill various health care roles. As career training programs look forward to helping educate the next line of healthcare workers, it is important to first look back and reflect on the ways that healthcare training has been impacted by Covid-19.
Challenging Transitions to Online Learning
Training is crucial for certification, especially in a hands-on or virtual simulation, because understanding and experience are obtained by putting information into practice. One solution that alleviated this challenge, as schools transitioned to an online format, was to supply students with an at-home lab kit.
Dental Assistants received kits with materials to help them practice and apply different terms they learned about the human mouth and technical terms for this field of study.
Having these tools at home provided opportunities for students to practice whenever they wanted, without the need to be present during specified class hours. This transition to online learning has also helped explode the popularity of externship opportunities.
Timely Innovations
The transition to an online learning platform also increased the demand of students who wanted to take courses because they could not attend in person. Because students could not physically be in school, the vital face-to-face instruction was also missing.
Therefore, another hurdle that had to be considered was switching from an asynchronous format of learning to synchronous learning. This fostered an environment where, although online, students could still engage in group learning and instruction from a faculty member.
Group learning is still important to implement because transitioning to online teaching has shown that community and accountability is still necessary so students do not feel isolated and can discuss assignments with their peers.
As a result of few places being open during COVID, proctoring of exams also needed to switch online. This method allowed for more accessibility when scheduling an exam and made it easier for students to get their certification tests completed in a timely manner.
Emerging Trends in Healthcare
In 2018, healthcare became the largest workforce, proving there is stability in a healthcare career. As the healthcare field grows and people recognize the necessity of it in our world, there will be an increased demand for education and jobs in this field. Individuals want a return investment on their educational dollars, which can be achieved with a certificate in a healthcare position.
High schoolers are also gaining an understanding of the significance of holding a diploma/medical certification before going into nursing school/pharmaceuticals, etc. It looks great for college applications, is more cost effective, gives them experience to decide what field they want to be in, and provides opportunities for employers to pay for their nursing school, or pharmacy training if they are working as a medical office assistant or pharmacy technician. Subsequently, holding a medical certificate can lead to higher health care opportunities.
Finally, because a lot of businesses switched to remote work or instruction, the healthcare field will see a growth in telehealth appointments for patients. As a result, training will become very popular in programs and will be a necessary resource for students to understand.
Looking Forward
The healthcare industry is in a continual process of evolution, as the newest technologies and education is provided to our next learners. This helps ensure that qualified candidates procure these important jobs, and also helps us develop as a health-centric society.
Career training programs blend technology with these emerging healthcare trends. As you grow familiar with information technology skills (which have become an increased priority in medical fields), you will also expand upon your education in a specific discipline.
Blackstone Career Institute offers affordable, self-paced certificate courses in budding healthcare careers. Learn the skills necessary to excel in a new career, or pursue additional credentialing to improve your job security prospects.
