The healthcare industry has received a lot of scrutiny from the media and the general public in the past few years. The rising cost of health care has been a great concern to many, and interventions such as the Obama Healthcare Initiative have also not evaded the attention of many. Having such chatter in the healthcare niche is understandable due to its importance in society. With the much that has happened and a lot still happening, one may wonder where the industry will be headed next. Here is a brief look at some of the trends in healthcare management which we can expect this and in the coming years-:
A shift towards cost-cutting
The past few years have seen a general move by most healthcare providers to adequately cut costs to care for their clients’ healthcare needs. Many hospitals are looking for measures to reduce operational costs by up to 20% within the next five years.
Additionally, it is expected that the amounts of co-management agreements between various providers will increase dramatically since it is out of such contracts that some providers can meet their costs. In as much as there will be jobs for those with Master’s Degrees in Healthcare Administration, those who will be lucky to find employment will be the brightest among the pack.
Increase in demand for Healthcare IT management professionals
The use of technology and information management systems is becoming deeply embedded in the healthcare system. Since it is not the specialization of the doctors to also get concerned with IT management, the demand for healthcare IT management professionals has been on a very sharp rise in the past few years.
Technology is at the core of the industry. As it is used to improve treatment plans and efficiency within the facilities, those with relevant medical IT-related qualifications are now having a field day. The trend has seen most healthcare executive recruiting firms favoring applicants with healthcare IT management qualifications more than the other applicants who don’t have such skills. It is expected that this will continue for many years as IT in healthcare management continues to evolve and increase in demand.
Dealing with drug shortages will be a priority.
It is estimated that between 2012 and 2014, 99% of all the hospitals in the United States had a shortage of one or more drugs. With the increase in drug shortage, the apprehension about patient protection and care also goes very high, and the healthcare industry’s consequences are not ready to continue condoning. Many hospitals still spend millions of dollars on last-minute replacement of medications, though most of them usually plan well in advance for such scenarios. Consequently, most hospitals need to find a lasting solution to the drug shortage menace to avoid patient apprehension and the millions of dollars spent on eleventh-hour replacements.
The rise of Social Media in the healthcare industry
Many healthcare facilities have now resorted to social media to reach their current and potential clients. This is done using various types of content, such as videos, infographics, health guides, and slideshows designed to educate the general public on various health issues. However reserved the healthcare industry has always been, they can no longer continue to ignore social media’s effects on their operations.
Additionally, healthcare facilities use social media to share news, upcoming events, and research findings with peers and the general population. It is also important to observe that the general population will always use social media to ask for recommendations or share their experiences in various healthcare facilities. As such, the healthcare industry has no choice but to keep its feet wet with social media, and this trend is bound to continue for many more years as more facilities embrace social media.
Privacy is becoming more important.
Patient privacy is becoming a great concern to many healthcare providers and facilities. Breaches and violations have made patients more aware of healthcare privacy. They are keen to ensure they won’t worry about privacy before attending the facilities. Facilities known to breach privacy and security policies are seeing a decline in the number of patients and overall growth, while the others that can give such assurance are continuing to get more clients.
Improvement of the healthcare processes
Healthcare processes in many facilities are witnessing a lot of improvement to streamline service delivery to make them more efficient and effective. With the improved method, the facilities are not just hoping to serve better and more efficiently. Still, they are hoping to cut back on various costs associated with facility operations and management. It is also a trend that will improve privacy concerns, compliance with federal and state laws, and ultimately increase their profits. In general, the facilities need seamless processes to adapt to the industry’s fluid nature so that they may also remain competitive and relevant to their clients.
Changing leadership opportunities
Gone are the days when the qualification of healthcare managers was a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Management. A lot is expected from the managers, and the healthcare executive recruiting firms are keen on finding versatile candidates with skills that transverse the normal leadership skills. They are expected to have cross-functional abilities, which will allow them to understand the main functions within healthcare facilities. They should also be able to bring others together to achieve the facility’s goals.
