Category: Providers

In recent years, the healthcare industry has been marked by significant transformations, driven by technological advancements, evolving patient needs, and shifting economic landscapes. However, amidst this period of change, one recurring and distressing trend has been the occurrence of healthcare layoffs. These layoffs, often attributed to various factors such as financial constraints, organizational restructuring, or changes in healthcare policy, have profound implications not only for the affected individuals but also for the broader healthcare ecosystem.

A Wave of Layoffs

The healthcare industry in the United States is experiencing a significant wave of layoffs, resulting in tens of thousands of job losses, primarily aimed at bolstering profits. This trend is exacerbating the existing understaffing issues within the healthcare system. The layoffs are occurring across various sectors within healthcare, with notable cuts reported by major companies like Amazon. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, federal funding for healthcare has been slashed, further intensifying the impact of these job cuts. The situation is particularly concerning as it undermines the basic right to healthcare and targets a crucial segment of the working class, including healthcare professionals who have been pushed out due to untenable working conditions. The layoffs are also accompanied by a series of financial struggles and restructuring efforts within healthcare institutions across different states, leading to a reduction in services and workforce. This profit-driven crisis reflects a deeper problem of prioritizing financial interests over public health needs, highlighting the urgent necessity for systemic change towards public ownership and democratic control of the healthcare system to ensure the provision of healthcare based on human need rather than profit.

Nurses and Doctors Mostly Safe

Despite the upheaval, there’s a reassuring aspect for frontline healthcare workers—nurses and doctors have mostly been spared from these layoffs, which have predominantly targeted managerial and administrative positions. This dichotomy underscores a tension within the industry: while layoffs surge, so does hiring, particularly in patient-facing roles. In fact, healthcare contributed significantly to US job growth in January, making up 20% of all new jobs. This growth primarily occurred in ambulatory healthcare and hospital settings, reflecting the ongoing demand for clinical roles amid an aging population and expanding healthcare needs.

New Opportunities for Healthcare Workers: Permanent and Temporary

If you’re a healthcare worker who has been impacted by job loss, remember that you’re not alone. Momentum understands the challenges you may be facing and wants to offer support. Whether you’re seeking temporary locum assignments or permanent positions, we have a wide range of opportunities available and are here to assist you in finding the right fit for your skills and experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us or search our job board. We’re committed to helping healthcare professionals like—nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, physical therapists, radiologists– you navigate through uncertain times and thrive in your careers.

Sources:

Wsws.org
qz.org
openai.com

Experts in the healthcare industry have been sounding the alarm over worker shortages for decades, and the past few years have seen their warnings come to fruition in a big way. Nearly 20% of healthcare workers have left their jobs since 2020, resulting in a worker shortage already straining the nation’s hospitals.

And as the U.S. medical system sees a decrease in workers, the demand for their services is on the rise. Baby boomers – a huge demographic of around 76 million people – are reaching their twilight years. As these men and women age, they require more complicated and frequent medical care which the current healthcare system is ill-equipped to provide.

The current worker shortage and rising demand may paint a bleak forecast for the healthcare industry – but it also points to big opportunities for folks interested in a medical career. If you’re looking to work in medicine, consider these in-demand careers in 2024.

Physicians

As the U.S. population ages, there will be a sharp increase in the demand for physicians nationwide. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Americans over age 65 will need about 407,300 physicians to adequately provide their care. In contrast, the healthcare system only needed 280,700 physicians to provide care to the 65 and older demographic in 2019. Our aging population will clearly require more doctors, particularly in specialties like family medicine (physicians who provide basic healthcare across age demographics), psychiatry (physicians focused on mental health), and internal medicine (physicians who focus on treating and preventing internal diseases).

Online medical network, Doximity, reported that 2023 found that emergency medicine, urgent care, hematology, obstetrics and gynecology, and anesthesiology as part of the ten most in-demand specialties—a trend that could likely continue into 2024.

Individuals looking to become physicians do have a long journey ahead of them. Between a Bachelor’s degree, medical degree, and residency, it can take up to 14 years to become a licensed doctor. But once they’ve finished their education and licensing, physicians can expect to enjoy a rewarding and lucrative career.

Registered Nurses

Registered nurses are a critical part of the American healthcare system, providing patient care in hospitals, doctor’s offices, in-home, and more. Therefore, it should be no surprise that nursing is a highly in-demand profession.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for registered nurses to grow by 177,400 jobs by 2032, leaving plenty of openings for aspiring healthcare workers. This means that many people taking on the four-year challenge of RN training can expect to find work after graduation.  

Medical Billing and Coding

The growing demand for medical jobs extends beyond patient care. Medical coders and billers are responsible for sending claims to insurance companies and billing patients as needed. While this line of work is only expected to grow by 16,500 jobs by 2032, the BLS reports that this figure represents an 8% increase in the market – far greater than the national average. And because individuals can become trained and certified medical coders in just 10 weeks, this is a great opportunity for people looking to quickly start working in healthcare.

Whether you’re interested in providing patient care, navigating medical billing, or any other aspect of healthcare, there is sure to be a job opening in the medical industry for you in 2024 and Momentum Healthcare Staffing is here to help you find your perfect career match! Explore all our openings here .