As times and current events change around us, so do the education and training priorities for health care workers. There are many examples of how things are changing. For instance, in the past, individuals training for a career on the front line of health care would take part in trauma/mass casualty drills demonstrating how health care workers at a hospital mobilize during traditional disasters such as plane crashes, earthquakes and bomb scares.

These days, health care workers being educated in triage and mass casualty are also likely to participate in a biological warfare scenario drill. Along the same lines, phlebotomists, lab technicians and other direct patient caregivers are now likely to receive special training to handle the outcomes of fresh mutations of virus strains arriving in America from overseas as well as being created here in the states through antibiotic resistant organisms.

On the technology front, new medical transcriptionists and coders are fast becoming computer savvy as more and more hospitals make the required switch to digital and electronic charting. Newly installed computer systems that don’t always interface with other hospitals add to the challenge of staying current with new technological developments and troubleshooting through continuing education.

On the administrative side, the economic crunch means opportunities for all members of the patient care team to step up and be proactive. Critical thinking and problem solving are valuable skills to hone during your health care education.

There is one of the highest demands in recent history for health care workers across the board, from imaging and lab technicians to physician’s assistants and medical coders. From prevention to diagnostic treatment and follow up care, several different patient populations are growing fast and require specialty, skilled care.

Overall, these challenges and current events make it a very exciting time to work in health care. Moving forward, the demand for skilled, dedicated providers is high and the opportunities for competitive salaries are growing.