Emerging Roles In Healthcare

Upskilling and training current and new employees to fill vital emerging healthcare roles is essential to the success of your organization. Here’s what you need to know about emerging healthcare roles:

Emerging Healthcare Roles

There are many support roles that play a part in maintaining and growing a strong, dedicated healthcare team, but many organizations may struggle to fill these open positions. One good way to get the people you need is to offer training and certification programs as a benefit. Additionally, allowing current employees to upskill into these roles can help your healthcare facility fill the gaps. All of the following careers have gained traction because they address emerging needs and challenges in healthcare, including:

• regulatory compliance
• patient safety
• digital transformation
• operational efficiency

By investing in these roles, healthcare facilities not only improve patient outcomes but also create a more adaptable and forward-thinking workforce.

Medical coding and billing specialist

Medical coders and billers are key players in financial operations within healthcare. By translating medical services into standardized codes, they ensure that claims are processed accurately and that providers receive timely reimbursements.

Why this role is emerging: With the increasing complexity of healthcare insurance and regulatory requirements, accurate and efficient medical billing is essential for a healthcare organization’s financial health. As telemedicine grows, billing practices are evolving, which requires skilled professionals who can navigate these changes.

Training Focus: Providing coding system education and certification training can help existing employees transition into this role, which is foundational for efficient revenue management.

Pharmacy technician

A pharmacy technician supports pharmacists by managing prescription preparations, handling inventory, and delivering customer service in both clinical and retail settings.

Why this role is emerging: As pharmacists take on more direct patient care responsibilities, especially for managing chronic conditions or providing vaccinations, pharmacy technicians are taking on a larger role in handling prescriptions, inventory, and insurance claims. This trend has been amplified by the pandemic, which highlighted the need for accessible medication management and pharmacy services.

Training Focus: Certification programs for pharmacy technicians, including training on medication management and insurance claims, can provide current employees with the skills necessary to effectively support the pharmacy team.

Medical assistant

A medical assistant plays a versatile role, handling both administrative tasks and clinical duties. Their dual expertise in patient care and office management allows facilities to operate efficiently.

Why this role is emerging: With the rise of outpatient care centers, telemedicine, and primary care expansions, medical assistants help bridge gaps between patient care and office management. Their versatility has made them indispensable as healthcare demands continue to grow, especially in smaller practices that require multifaceted support staff.

Training Focus: Upskilling in both administrative and clinical areas can prepare employees for this multifaceted role, with specific training in lab procedures, patient interaction, and medical documentation.

Read more: Nurturing Success: The BNHC-CareerStep Partnership and its Impact on the Future of Medical Assistants

Healthcare IT professional

With technology at the forefront of healthcare, the need for professionals who manage electronic health records (EHRs) and ensure HIPAA compliance has skyrocketed. Healthcare IT professionals oversee and secure facility technology systems, ensuring seamless data flow and secure patient information.

Why this role is emerging: Technology is transforming the healthcare industry at an unprecedented rate, from electronic health records (EHRs) to telehealth and advanced diagnostics. Healthcare IT professionals are emerging as vital roles to manage these technological advancements, ensure data security, and support seamless access to digital health records.

Training Focus: Provide employees with training in health information management systems, cybersecurity, and data privacy to enable seamless integration of IT and healthcare knowledge in their roles.

Patient care technician

Patient care technicians provide essential support to doctors and nurses, delivering basic patient care in various settings, from hospitals to long-term care facilities.

Why this role is emerging: As healthcare facilities, including hospitals and long-term care centers, focus on improving patient experience and quality of care, the need for patient care technicians has risen. This role is becoming more important as patient volumes increase and healthcare providers look to improve bedside care efficiency.

Training Focus: Equip employees with hands-on clinical skills, focusing on patient interaction and basic medical procedures to improve patient experience and support clinical staff.

Sterile processing technician

Sterile processing technicians are vital to maintaining safety in surgical and medical procedures by ensuring that instruments are clean, sterilized, and properly assembled.

Why this role is emerging: With the increasing emphasis on infection control and patient safety, sterile processing technicians have become essential for ensuring that surgical and medical equipment meets rigorous safety standards. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of sterilization practices, and as healthcare organizations prioritize patient safety, this role continues to grow. Hospitals, surgical centers, and clinics rely on sterile processing technicians to prevent infection and safeguard patients, which has placed a higher demand on this role in recent years.

Training Focus: Provide specialized training in sterilization techniques, infection control, and compliance with safety protocols, allowing staff to seamlessly step into this critical role.

Supporting upskilling and training for your team

Investing in upskilling for these roles not only creates a more resilient and adaptable team but also strengthens your healthcare organization’s capacity to respond to patient needs and industry changes. Here are some effective approaches to supporting your team’s development in emerging roles:

1. Offer Certification Programs: Many of these roles require specific certifications, which validate knowledge and skill in specialized areas. Partnering with online programs, such as CareerStep, can streamline training efforts and ensure employees receive quality instruction.
2. Incorporate On-the-Job Training: For hands-on roles like patient care technicians and sterile processing technicians, on-the-job training combined with mentorship programs can offer practical experience, enhancing employees’ confidence and competence.
3. Provide Flexibility for Learning: Enabling employees to upskill through self-paced programs allows them to balance learning with their job responsibilities, which is particularly beneficial for those transitioning to new roles within the organization.
4. Create Career Pathways: Show employees a clear progression path from entry-level roles to advanced positions. Offering additional training in healthcare IT or advanced coding, for example, can open pathways to career growth within your organization.

Read more: Preparing Learners for Success: The Role of Certification in Higher Education

The Long-term value of upskilling in emerging roles

Preparing your workforce for emerging healthcare roles helps ensure that your organization is equipped to meet future challenges with a well-trained, dedicated team. As healthcare continues to evolve, the organizations that prioritize training and development will not only attract and retain skilled staff but also enhance patient care, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Investing in upskilling today is an investment in your practice’s resilience and growth tomorrow.

Read more: How to Attract and Retain Healthcare Workers

Prepare your healthcare staff for success

Your team members are full of potential. Help them reach it by partnering with a trusted training program like CareerStep. Our programs can help prepare your team members for certification in all of the above fields, providing you the opportunity to promote from within and aid your team in achieving success. Request more information and make a decision today!