Medical Assistant Growth in 2020
The healthcare industry has always been one of the fastest-growing in the world, demonstrating the ongoing need for trained professionals who are prepared to care for patients both healthy and sick. In the United States and around the world, 2020 is projected to be a year of unprecedented growth, as a variety of factors drive the sharply increasing need for a healthcare workforce.
The COVID-19 crisis, as well as several other issues, have created a perfect storm. Ultimately, it seems that the healthcare industry may be facing a serious shortage in 2020 – which is why the growth in workforce demand has increased at a rapid rate.
Medical Assistants are Needed Now More than Ever
The COVID-19 pandemic is just one of the numerous factors driving the growing demand for healthcare workers, with the industry as a whole expecting significant growth in the next several years. Although COVID-19 is a major force behind the need for medical assistants right now, there are several other elements that will continue to fuel demand in coming years, including:
● The aging population and an increase in chronic conditions in the United States, which will require a larger healthcare workforce than is currently available.
● A significant percentage of current healthcare workers are expected to retire, as the “Baby Boomer” generation reaches retirement age.
● Growing availability of new and advanced positions, leading professionals to seek opportunities outside their current positions.
For anyone considering a career as a Medical Assistant or another healthcare role, this means that employment prospects should be excellent in the years to come.
How COVID-19 Has Affected the Healthcare Workforce Demand
As the world experiences a widespread pandemic of historic scale and severity, the need for healthcare professionals have become more apparent than ever before. A newfound appreciation and respect for Medical Assistants and all healthcare workers have swept the nation (and the
globe), and a growing number of people understand how important trained professionals are to the health and safety of our society as a whole.
More Healthcare Workers are Needed Now
A significant shortage in healthcare workers has been one of the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, as medical facilities around the country realize that their staff simply can’t keep up with the demand for care. As patients are admitted and diagnosed at a steadily increasing rate, there are serious concerns about whether the current workforce will be able to keep up in the next several months. As a result, new healthcare professionals, including Medical Assistants, are discovering that jobs are plentiful. Many facilities are raising their hiring and employment rates, expanding their teams as quickly and effectively as possible to try to meet future needs.
Finally, additional measures are being taken to protect the health and safety of Medical Assistants, and other healthcare professionals. For many medical facilities, it has become very clear that without their healthcare team, quality and availability of patient care will drop – and so, protective protocols are being developed to help keep Medical Assistants, Nurses and other medical staff safe. For example, some facilities are offering their staff benefits such as private transportation to and from work, childcare, grocery deliveries, and sealed meals delivered to their place of employment.
Make a Difference as a Medical Assistant
Are you considering becoming a Medical Assistant (MA)? Not only is this an honorable decision that can allow you to make a positive difference in the lives of countless people, but it’s also one that can lead you to an extremely fulfilling career. As a Medical Assistant, your daily role will be one that centers around helping others, and you will have an important role in the health and safety of our society as a whole.
In order to protect our community during the COVID-19 crisis, The Allen School of Health Sciences is offering virtual campus tours for enrollment for our classes starting soon. Contact The Allen School today! We cannot wait for you to become part of the Allen School family. Visit www.allenschool.edu to learn more.
-Allen School